Chapter 4 Bonnie #2
I peek towards them, unable to help myself. I’m so freaking glad I’m wearing sunglasses, and my eyes are hidden; I can watch them without being seen. Of all the luck. Is it too late to cancel?
Yes.
“Is this going to be a problem?” the murmur startles me. I look up from my backpack and find myself staring up at Vale.
Nope, this won’t do at all. I stand up and step into his space, and, to my utter amusement, he steps back. He should not be sneaking up on me; I certainly should have heard him and been more aware of my surroundings. Damn it, this day is not getting any better.
“What could possibly be a problem?” I say and force myself to look away, but it’s a bit like looking away from a wolf standing right in front of you.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see him narrow his, and before I can object, he reaches out and snatches my sunglasses off my face. Now, I feel exposed. His eyes widen slightly, but I feel the punch of him hit me. Stronger than ever. This is my scent-matched alpha.
Destiny is a fucking bitch.
“The problem between us, I’m asking if we’re going to have trouble?” His eyes sweep down my body once, then focus intently on my face. I wish he would look away. My skin heats, and I feel like my insides have turned fizzy.
I laugh a little too loud, a little too high, but he can’t possibly know that, and mentally pat myself on the back for doing a damn good job at pretending indifference. “There is no us, Alpha Prince.”
He scowls as if my answer displeases him.
“I am your guide on this magical adventure. Sit back, enjoy the ride, and, in three weeks, you can go back to whatever hole you crawled out of and stay there. Three weeks, Vale, can you be a professional?”
I shouldn’t have said his name. It’s like I make a connection between us, and he feels it, too; his fingers clench, and he leans towards me before he corrects himself.
His eyebrows have slowly crept up, and he gets this slight red tone to his cheeks, which only serves in making him look even more attractive. Why are my scent matches so damn tasty?
“So long as we’re not going to have an issue.”
I snort a laugh. “Over what? It was a million years ago, and I’ve moved on.
I didn’t even think you would have remembered me.
I’m flattered I made an impression, though.
” Buried in my careless words is a thread of rage, and I hope he doesn’t hear it.
Just thinking about all the people they’ve been photographed with over the years makes me sick to my stomach.
His eyes narrow, and I can see him reassessing and shuffling information.
“It wasn’t easy to forget the innocent little lamb who threw herself at us on the red carpet. The media still trots out photos from that night.”
HOW DARE YOU! In my head, I Sparta kick him into the car park and leave him there in the dust and crumpled metal.
I shrug. “Pathetic, right?” I laugh good-naturedly. “Thank God I woke up from that epic mistake.”
He doesn’t like that. Not one bit. We stare at each other; the tension growing, and I wonder if I’m going to have to hurt him.
All at once, he seems to recall himself and shrug. “Good. That’s good. Let’s just keep this professional. It’s three weeks; we can get along for that long.”
I don’t answer him, just reach out and take my sunglasses from his hand and then turn my back on him. His hissing inhale tells me my wordless barb hit true. There never was an alpha alive who could tolerate being dismissed.
I feel the incredible power of this alpha seething behind me, then he turns and walks away.
Meg sidles up to me. “Was that?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Wow, well, this is going to be fun.” She bites her lower lip and pops her hip.
I hit her with a side-eye that has her in a fit of silent cackles.
“I packed the popcorn.”
“Meg?”
“Yes?” she bats her eyes, all innocent.
“Bite me.”
She looks at me through her eyelashes. “If you insist,” and then launches. I catch her and hold her back, laughing as she chomps at me, trying to sink her teeth into my wrist.
“Now, omegas, we are professionals-”
Desi cuts off with a sexy groan as Meg sinks her teeth into him.
“Oh, babe, we do not have the time for me to be this hard.” Desi says the words breathlessly. I should be used to it, but it never fails to make me groan in disgust and exasperation. Desi is an absolute slut for his omega.
“Ew!”
Meg’s eyes glitter at me with deadly intensity. “Five minutes.”
I scowl. “We’re on the clock.”
“Five minutes, please, boss? We’re already late. I just need to take the edge off or Desi will be walking around with his cock weeping-”
“Enough!” I hold up my hand. “God knows I do not want to know anything else about Desi’s cock. No offense.”
Desi moans again. “None, uh, taken,” he leans into Meg and rumbles a purr.
I shake my head but let out a groan, knowing I’ve already lost. “I didn’t see it.”
Desi lets out a startled sound as Meg drags him into our cabin. I make a mental note to air it out and clean everything when I get back.
Omega urges are no joke. I’d rather Desi stomped his territory here than have to fight with these arrogant guys all trip because they think they are entitled to Meg.
And unlike me, she wears her omega self with pride.
I’ve got mine buried under the strongest suppressant patches money can buy, which, ironically, was created by my pack.
One of the rules of this adventure is that every unbonded omega wears the patches, and alphas put on dampener patches that suppress their scents and heightened emotions, just a tad.
Enough to make everyone manageable. My scent is muted; the peanut butter cookie only found if you press your nose to my skin.
I can’t remember when I smelled it last. I’ve spent ten years burying myself in drugs, but that’s what happens when you get rejected.
When the media picks up the story and does a smear campaign on my family and its entire lineage.
When my pack sits back and just continues to date and live a carefree life while I suffer.
Do I love them?
Fuck no.
Hate would be a much more appropriate description of my feelings.
Loathing. Disgust. Abhorrence. There is no love, no like left in me.
I have zero good feelings or will towards them.
They chewed me up and spat me out; that was one thing, but they hurt my family.
I won’t let anyone hurt my family. Especially not my dad.
It occurs to me that this might be a gift from the universe giving me an opportunity to get even, but I am a professional, and I will not risk my livelihood on the first day.
If I’m going to get even, I’m going to break them.
“Time’s up, ready or not, nature is calling!” I shout. “Let’s get this adventure started!”
Meg slips out, grinning smugly and dabbing her mouth. “Ready, boss!”
I let out an irritated sound, which makes her smile wider, but then I hoist my backpack and start walking. I do not look at them.
Not even once.