Chapter 8
Opal
Couldn’t this be… enemies to lovers?
I don’t think that works when your fated lovers are the enemies. I buried myself deeper under the blankets.
It was cold this morning after the hot flashes all night and my boobs ached something fierce. My teeth kept chattering. I was exhausted. All the signs were pointing to things going not so good, really quick.
Everything will work out. Even little Miss Positive didn’t sound so sure.
At least the bed was comfortable. I’d almost forgotten how soft these mattresses and duvets were. The clean rooms. Endless hot water. The treatment was perfect for an Omega.
I should’ve been more grateful.
My wolf hummed her agreement.
It’s not like I couldn’t have had these things at home. I had money. More than I knew what to do with—especially with the hush money from the show padding my bank account.
But it all seemed so… pointless.
It wasn’t about the creature comforts anyway. I wanted to feel safe. Loved. Complete. I’d never seen an Omega who didn’t have that, except my mom. And me.
Broken.
I think what we really need is lots of hot, sweaty, passionate sex. My wolf yawned.
That too.
Thinking about Dorian’s hands on me last night elicited all sorts of welcome responses. Something tightened low in my core. A building need as my skin flushed with warmth again.
Things were definitely heading in that direction.
I closed my eyes and let the sensations wash over me, remembering the burning desire on Dorian’s face. His masculine touch. The way he’d taken us around the dancefloor. Our bodies fitting together and pressed in all the right places.
In this fantasy, no other Lunas and Alphas were watching. Only the two of us were in the darkened ballroom. He leaned forward to kiss me just as the breath of another Alpha ghosted the shell of my ear.
A hard body pressed against my back.
Atlas whispered, “My turn.”
My legs dropped open and I whimpered, moving my fingers between them.
Dorian would—
A knock at the door had me bolting upright just as my phone started ringing.
Tell them to go away. The chaos made my wolf panic. She buried inside me, trying to hide. We were almost to the good part.
You’re the one with claws and teeth. I sighed.
Not that she’d ever use them. And it wasn’t her fault. We were all products of our biology.
Speaking of which, I couldn’t hide the flush on my face as I crawled out of bed.
I swiped my phone off the charger on the way to the door, relaxing a bit when I saw Aspen’s name on the caller ID.
“What’s up?” I answered, standing on my tiptoes to look through the peephole at whoever kept knocking on my door.
“Good, she’s already there,” Aspen said.
A magnified green eye blinked back at me through the glass.
“Who is she?”
“Clara Klevean at your service,” a female voice came from the other side—someone with shifter hearing presumably.
“I sent help your way.” I could hear Aspen smile over the phone and wasn’t sure I liked the sound of it. “Open up and let her in before someone from the show sees.”
I threw open the door to a freckled woman with curly red hair that frizzed in all different directions. The scent of coyote hit strong. She wasn’t much taller than me, but the beast of a male wolf shifter behind her was bigger than the two of us put together.
I sniffed again, frowning. They didn’t stink so that meant they were… mated?
Not that it mattered. I wasn’t one to judge.
“Aspen sent us.” Clara nodded at the phone as she and her mate pushed their way into my hotel room.
“Have fun,” Aspen said as she hung up.
Fun? I swallowed as my wolf whined. We weren’t used to anyone being in our space.
“Oh, don’t worry, sweetie.” Clara crooned as she looked the room over like she owned it. “We’re here for you.”
That bristled my fur a bit, but Aspen had sent them and I didn’t want to be rude. “Thanks for coming. Can I offer you some… coffee or tea?”
I hadn’t touched the complimentary packets that came with the room. Might as well have someone use them.
Clara gave me a funny look. “Is that an Omega thing?”
“Is what an Omega thing?” My heart sank, preparing for the snide comments and jabs.
It was too early in the morning to do this.
“Being nice even though you’re freaking out.” Clara’s blunt statement caught me off-guard. That was not the direction I thought we were heading.
“I… Um… I don’t know,” I stuttered. “Isn’t that a polite everyone thing?”
You know what was an Omega thing? Being hyper aware of everyone’s emotions all the time. It wasn’t often shifters picked up on subtle emotional hints when they weren’t paying attention.
“Definitely not everyone. And honestly, I’m okay with it.
I wish more grown women would speak their minds instead of trying so hard to keep the peace.
Other than a few Karens, I can’t think of many women who don’t have something fun to add to the conversation once they get talking.
But I know of more than a few men that I’d prefer keep their mouths shut,” Clara paused her rant to look at the big guy and her expression softened.
“Not you though, Ivan. Can you put cameras over here?” She pointed to a spot above the kitchenette.
Ivan grunted in response.
“Cameras?” I stepped back as he moved about the room. Vaguely, I remembered him from last season, hovering around Aspen.
“Not in your private space or anything,” Clara spoke fast. She was angry about something, but I got the feeling it didn’t have anything to do with me. “For your protection. We can keep an eye on you and make sure no one else comes in your room.”
No one? My wolf gulped.
That didn’t sound like a good time at all, especially not with the anxious mix of hormones that were swirling in my body now.
“You don’t need to do this,” I said, taking the coyote’s advice and trying to speak up for myself.
“Pssh.” She waved me off. “You took one for my girl, now you’re basically family. Plus, Ranger and Aspen are stinking the place up with pheromones as they get ready for this mating season. Honestly, you’re doing us a favor by being the excuse to get out of the house.”
I couldn’t help but smile as she continued to word vomit all over the place.
“And, don’t tell anyone, but Ivan and I love this show,” she continued.
My eyes went to the big guy who was installing a pin-sized device above the heater vent. He nodded.
See? Everyone loves love.
“No one’s going to believe I was actually on set this season.” Clara put her arm over my shoulder and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper, “Give me the inside deets. Which Alpha are you gunning for?”
My cheeks reddened as I thought of them. My mates. “Alphas,” I said, feeling the warmth spread down my neck. “As in two.”
“Get it, girl!” Clara squealed, jumping around like I’d just confessed losing my virginity to the prom king. “Double the pleasure, double the fun. I love a good why choose. Who are they?”
Ivan growled.
Clara blew him a kiss. “I only like it in the books, my love. One dick is enough for me.”
Her grin was infectious and I couldn’t help but return it. Goddess, it felt so real to say out loud. “Dorian Bailey and Atlas Volk.”
“Volk… Why does that name sound familiar?” She thought for a second and then shook it off. “But Alpha Bailey? Damn. Good thing we’re here.”
My stomach sank again. “Why?”
“Don’t you know who Dorian Bailey is?” Clara gushed.
I did. I’d looked him up last night. “He’s a new Alpha and was part of a traveling circus.” That was so cool. I couldn’t wait to ask him more about it.
“Yeah, and he’s also the hottest Alpha on the show this season.” Clara fanned herself as Ivan rolled his eyes. “You went right for the top.”
The heart wants what the heart wants.
I smiled at my beast. It didn’t matter who he was. Both Atlas and Dorian were the hottest males I’d ever seen. I knew that was biology pushing my tastes, but having Clara confirm it made my wolf puff up with pride a bit.
“Anyway,” Clara continued as she grabbed my phone. “We’ll be here at the resort staying low-key, but I’m putting our numbers in here. You can also wave to any of the cameras on the property if you need us for something. We’ll be watching.”
That didn’t sound weird at all.
I chuckled nervously. “You’re related to Aspen somehow?” I didn’t want to pry, but I was curious about who exactly would be watching me.
“Blood isn’t always thicker than water if you know what I mean.” Clara nudged my side. “We’ve been friends for what, four years now? But she saved my hide. I owe her everything.”
I could see that. Aspen was so sweet and it was nice having her as a friend. “She protected me last season, too.” I thought of Cindy Frazier and her aggression. I should’ve moved quicker than I did. It was not my finest moments.
“Yeah, I’d still be in prison if it wasn’t for Aspen.” Clara sighed wistfully.
The color drained from my face as my wolf went ramrod straight. “Prison?”
“Those idiots are going to piss themselves when they find out I was here.” Clara laughed as she shooed me toward the door. “But enough about me. Don’t miss breakfast on our account. We’ll finish up here and disappear. You go eat. I thought I smelled French toast on the way up.”
*
I stumbled in a confused haze straight to the cafeteria, pulled by the rumble in my stomach and the growing ache burning in my core. At some point, I probably needed to process the convicted felon hanging cameras in my hotel room.
Clara was right. They had French toast this morning and luckily for me, the pastry counter was still filled up.
My wolf licked her chomps as I hurried over to the sweets. The cafeteria reeked. I hadn’t realized how strong the scent of unmated wrong males would be once I smelled my Mr. Rights. But the promise of pink frosted doughnuts kept me moving.
And it was almost enough to make me ignore the way the few Lunas lingering over their empty trays got extra quiet when I walked past.
“It isn’t fair,” one of them spit.
Oh! That one has rainbow sprinkles.
My knuckles were white as I gripped the plate and piled it high with sugary treats. I’d done this a million times before. All I had to do was grab my food and get out before anyone decided to do anything.
We should eat here, my wolf said.
Since when did you grow a pair? I turned to leave.
Since him.
Everything seemed to go silent when I saw Atlas sitting by himself at a table in the back of the room. My heart slammed into my chest, punched with the knowledge of who he was and what he meant to me.
The noise of the cafeteria picked up again, becoming a dull roar and fading to the background as Atlas raised his eyes, seeing me too.
Yay! My wolf yipped excitedly. Let’s go meet our mate.