Chapter 14
Opal
Like all the other females in the audience bursting into laughter behind me, I was really enjoying the show tonight.
Who knew all these Alphas had such hidden talent? My wolf cackled as she covered her eyes with her paws.
Henry Dawson from Ohio pulled a stuffed rabbit from a magician’s hat, raising it to the cheers and catcalls from the Lunas in the audience.
Their laughter was infectious. A general sense of relief seemed to lighten the air, something I’d never experienced in my time on the show. It was as if they could finally breathe and enjoy themselves after making it through the Luna Trials.
They’d earned their place here.
A bitter seed threatened to take root.
I didn’t belong here, not with them, not this season.
The isolation was overwhelming for a second.
That feeling of other was so strong it wrapped its claws around my neck.
Sitting in the front wasn’t helping things.
I’d never have chosen this spot myself, but the production crew insisted. It left me exposed. Alone.
But our mates are here, my wolf whined softly.
I nodded, done feeling sorry for myself.
This was my season whether anyone liked it or not. And I was so tired of being the damsel in distress. Maybe it was time for me to take life by the balls.
Multiple balls if possible. Four to be exact.
I giggled at my own wolf.
At least I always had her around to cheer me up.
And soon, we’ll have our own family. She pranced around on gentle paws. Then we can talk to someone besides ourself.
On that note, I paid more attention to the show.
Curtis Hanes from Kentucky landed on his butt as the hacky sacks he was busy juggling with his feet fell to the ground around him.
A roaring cheer came from the Lunas. His cheeks turned a ruddy color and a goofy grin lit up his face as he stood, brushing himself off before giving a dramatic bow. We all cheered harder.
I had to hand it to these Alphas, they were much braver than me. An anxious flutter built in my chest as I waited for the next name to be called. I couldn’t wait to see what Atlas and Dorian would do.
I barely knew anything about them. Other than they were meant to be my mates. Oh, and that Dorian was a flirtatious charmer while Atlas was reserved and a little bossy, but sweet.
Also, they hated each other.
But I was really hoping it was just some silly boy feud we could work through together.
That’s the spirit!
I couldn’t bear to think of the alternative. Fate wouldn’t be so cruel, would it?
“Lunas and viewers at home,” Jay announced from his corner of the stage. “We now present Alpha Atlas Volk from Wyoming.”
There were fewer whistles from the Lunas in the stands, as if Atlas had failed to make an impression on them. But that was okay. I cheered louder, ignoring the sense of eyes glaring at me.
I knew what it was like to have no one to cheer for you from the crowd. I’d be damned if I let my mate feel that way.
He was ridiculously hot. I didn’t know why the other Lunas weren’t drooling.
Because they’re blind.
Atlas stood on stage wearing dark jeans and a black thermal knit shirt.
His face was shaven clean and his hair was freshly cut.
With narrowed eyes, he scanned the audience.
I figured there was no way he could see us out here past the lights and shadows, but his eyes seemed to lock on mine and my heart skipped a beat as a small smile turned his lips.
I bit down on my own lip, feeling butterflies dance all over my skin as he walked to the microphone.
“I don’t usually do stuff like this,” Atlas’s deep voice echoed even without the amplifier.
He was nervous. I could tell.
“Come on, sweetie. It’s all in good fun,” a Luna called from behind me.
I withheld my wolf’s snarl of jealousy as the crew held the cue cards up for us to remain silent.
But Atlas didn’t seem to hear the other Luna. His eyes never moved from the spot they were fixated on, where I sat.
His large hand engulfed the microphone on its stand. The lights dimmed. Music notes drifted in the air.
Atlas’s throaty singing voice was almost more than I could take as his rendition of “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers echoed through the auditorium.
The lyrics rolled over me like silken, warm water, but goosebumps rose on my skin.
Heat flushed my face again as my wolf let out a needy whine. The suppressants weren’t going to be strong enough.
Atlas never took his eyes off me.
The song had a haunting quality that was somehow sexual and full of masculine energy.
He didn’t sing it perfectly, but the imperfections made it more real.
Better. The Lunas had gone silent, each of them hanging on his words, and by the scent in the room, I could tell each Luna wished he was singing to her.
I didn’t blame them.
Too soon, the song ended and the lights brightened, shaking me from his spell. But Atlas still lingered on stage, staring at me.
I cheered louder than the rest and felt my stomach swoop as he smiled bigger.
He gave me a little wave as he was ushered off stage. My wolf couldn’t quit howling.
That’s my mate.
“Looks like the Omega is bed-hopping already,” someone snickered behind me.
No sudden movements. My wolf froze. If you ignore them, they might let it go.
My hands tightened into fists in my lap. I was so sick of—
“Hush now,” Cindy barked in her southern accent. Lunas shifted in their seats as she made her way down the stands. “Atlas wasn’t interested in any of us anyway.”
I was surprised to feel the relief I did as Cindy sat beside me. Maybe I wasn’t so alone here after all. True, Clara and Ivan were somewhere in the building, and Jesse had gone above and beyond on my hair this morning, but Cindy was also here for a second season.
That gave us common ground.
“I did wonder how long it would take you to snag your first Alpha, especially after that little stunt on the dance floor with Dorian the other night,” Cindy half-whispered, knowing full well anyone listening could hear us.
I nodded, chewing my bottom lip as I watched Wright from North Carolina take the stage and pump his fist before he laid on a workout bench next to a rack of weights.
At least it was only two mates fate blessed me with. I’d known Omegas with harems of seven and eight. So many parts with so few holes.
“That was cute,” Cindy continued. “We could practically hear your wolves calling to each other. I’m glad he’s found someone. Though I was curious to see the size of Atlas’s wolf.”
He’s mine.
I was less shocked by Cindy’s admission than my own wolf’s territorial little growl. Mentally, I soothed my beast as I offered Cindy a smile, not sure how best to go about asking this delicate question.
But maybe I just needed to come out with it. “Are you hoping to find someone bigger than your wolf this season?”
I’d seen the final episodes in the hospital wing for Omegas, watching as Cindy’s enormous wolf took the head off Chad.
It was all some viewers could talk about for weeks.
Not that I blamed them. I was just lucky to have survived the last season when she’d gotten it in her head that I had any interest in that fleabag.
Cindy sized me up as if checking to see my underlying motives. I didn’t have any other than curiosity and was relieved when she realized that.
“I guess we have more in common than I thought. We’re both freaks.” She added that last bit under her breath.
Speak for yourself.
What has gotten into you?!
“But no,” Cindy said. “I don’t suspect I’ll ever find a wolf bigger than mine. Not that I care much, anyway. Can I tell you a secret?”
I nodded and she lowered her voice to a real whisper this time, one soft enough for only me to hear. “I’m only here because my daddy wants me to show the board I can make it through a season without taking off anyone else’s heads. Then I get a higher position in the company.”
If she wasn’t looking for a mate, she wouldn’t see me as competition. I relaxed for the first time in ages.
“What happened with the Tulia Pack after that… situation with Chad?” I asked, curiosity making me bolder.
“Why do you think I want to move up the ranks?” Cindy winked. “I’m going after their empire next. Or whatever is left of them once Ranger settles down.”
I gave her a warm smile, mentally wishing she’d get what she wanted in the end. That wasn’t the life I’d want for myself. Even knowing I’d have to be a Luna for two different packs, I wanted something quiet. Less stressful. Somewhere that felt like… home.
“And now, without further ado,” Jay Renfro spoke on stage as the colored lights began to swirl, “It is with great pleasure that we introduce you to tonight’s main event.
Alpha Dorian Bailey from the acclaimed Circus Versipellis will be performing a never-before-filmed feat of talent and strength for us tonight. ”
The cheers were deafening. Claps and whistles and hollers came from every direction. The lights continued to swirl, orange and red, as fog from a smoke machine filled the stage and music blasted from the speakers.
I’d known Dorian was well-liked from the polls and what Clara had said, but I didn’t think he was movie-star famous.
You’d have thought we’d bought tickets to be here, and I was surprised the other Lunas didn’t rush to push me from the front row.
But then I saw what all the fuss was about.
Silk descended from the thirty-foot ceilings. The twin silk ropes were a blood shade of red. Hanging onto them, with his light brown hair falling forward over his eyes and chest bare, wearing skin-tight leather pants and looking like every woman’s wet dream, was my delicious mate.
The silks’ tails pooled onto the ground. Dorian stepped off and threw his arms in the air. The music pulsed faster as the Lunas whistled louder and cried out their excitement.
Even Cindy gave a low, appreciative whistle.
Dorian was masculine art, cut from stone, and beautiful.
He bowed before flipping backwards and catching the rope with his hand. His foot hooked the bottom tail of silk, and arm after arm, his muscles flexed as he hoisted himself back up. Shifter strength added to his dexterity, but this wasn’t something I’d be able to do without extensive training.
He moved like he’d been born doing this.
Hanging with one arm, he rolled his body around the silk, gathering it at his waist.
I held my breath, watching, knowing he was about to do something.
But not that!
I clapped my hands over my mouth as a few of the Lunas screamed, watching as Dorian let go of the silk. He dropped ten feet before the silk caught him by the middle.
The audience went wild.
I swear I saw him wink before he started spinning, making me dizzy for him as he seemed to roll down the length of the silk before coming to a sudden stop, holding on only by his hand and ankle.
Cheers and laughter accompanied swoony sighs when he blew a kiss to the crowd.
I laughed a little to myself as I pretended to catch that kiss. My cheeks were burning. Deep parts of me were beginning to ache with an emptiness I’d never felt before. Dorian was perfect. I wanted him. So did every other female in this room.
He doesn’t belong to them.
Desire swirled, tugging at my chest. The music seemed to grow louder as it reached a crescendo.
Dorian wasn’t done yet.
Every muscle in his body tightened as he posed in an impossible feat, kicking off from the ropes and holding on with both hands, extending his legs straight in the air. He was a picture of strength and agility, his body moving in a way I couldn’t help but gawk over along with the others.
If he moves like that outside the bedroom…
I was no better than a man.
Then he—
“Goddess, no!” I shut my eyes, knowing I couldn’t watch what came next and needing to get ahold of my wolf. Judging by the feral cheers of the Lunas, Dorian had done something death-defying.
My eardrums rang with their hollers and then his scent hit me. Hard. That peppery, spicy perfume teased my nose. I wanted to bask in it.
But I needed to focus. To deny this building heat.
Keep it together until the show is over. I tried to coax myself to open my eyes and see what he’d do next.
It wasn’t until Cindy nudged my thigh with hers that I realized how quiet the room had become.
“This is going to be good,” Cindy whispered.
I looked up.
Dorian stood before me, breathing heavily. Every inch of his exposed skin and muscles glistened with sweat. That mischievous grin lit up his face as he held out his calloused hand.
“Dance with me, again, mate?”
And, despite the outraged gasps and heated glares burning holes into my back, how was I supposed to say no to that?