Chapter 18
Opal
“I swear these lashes can’t be real.” Jesse tugged at my lower eyelid and let go.
I’ll bite him if he does that again.
No, you won’t.
Want to try me?
I didn’t even know what to say to that. Penelope was right. My wolf was going crazy.
“They’re real.” I leaned back as far as the small space in my hotel bathroom would allow, trying to save myself from any further prodding while the cheetah stylist gave a dramatic sigh.
“Why do the pretty ones always get the good lashes?” He dug through his makeup bag, looking for mascara.
“What I want to know is what really happened last night?” Clara’s reflection spoke to me in the mirror from her seated position on top of my dresser.
I appreciated her not sitting on my bed while my wolf was this worked up. We didn’t want another female’s scent in our nest. And Jesse was stinking up the place even with the bathroom door open. Too much male in my space.
That was a first.
“I told you it was just a little disagreement.” My lie made everything smell worse. “And I don’t see why we have to get ready in here now. Aren’t the producers going to say something?”
“We’re getting you ready here because someone decided to piss off all the Lunas last night.” Clara pulled up a still frame on her phone of me in Dorian’s arms as we twirled around the silks above the stage.
So romantic. My wolf moaned.
I smiled, thinking of the way he’d held me. And later, when I’d finally tasted Atlas. When he’d kissed me the way he did.
Then how quickly it all got messed up.
“First of all, I’m the one getting her ready. Second, that wasn’t any little disagreement. I saw the footage. Those Alphas were full on territorial over their mate.” Jesse held my chin as he dusted my cheeks with blush. “And third, you’re not in any trouble, so don’t worry.”
Ha. Worry is her middle name.
Clara snorted. “Especially not with Aspen and Ranger calling the shots.”
“I still don’t know why they had to send you and Beefcakes. I could handle this.” Jesse hissed in Clara’s direction.
“Because you’re here as a government snitch.” Clara smirked. “I’m here by my own free will.”
“What’s that? First time for you?” Jesse hummed.
My stomach hurt.
And it wasn’t just because I’d rushed to take a heat suppressant pill last night after I’d run from my mates, or that I’d taken another dose this morning before these two showed up.
The tension between Jesse and Clara was gnawing at my Omega sensibilities.
They should bone and get it out of their system.
I really don’t think you’re reading the room well.
Maybe stop drugging me, then?
“Why do you two hate each other?” I blurted out, trying to ignore the guilt I felt in keeping my wolf locked up like this. She didn’t ask for much.
Usually.
“What?” Jesse stared at me like I had two heads.
Clara swung her legs off the side of the dresser. “What makes you think that?”
I rubbed my temple, confused.
“Don’t ruin my art.” Jesse slapped my hand away.
My wolf bared her little fangs. I gasped.
Goddess, they were all so aggressive.
“So they didn’t fight?” Clara asked.
“They did.” I closed my eyes. “Or they started to, but the cameras were there, and then I ran away.”
“I see.” Clara nodded. “That’s the problem. You’ve got to let them throw fists and get the piss out of their system before there will be any change.”
“Why?” My stomach cramped again. The thought of either of them hurting made me hurt.
“Males.” Both Clara and Jesse shrugged at the same time.
The knock at the door saved me from having to get any deeper with this conversation.
“Coming,” I yelled as I jumped to my feet.
“Maybe you shouldn’t answer that.” Clara pulled a pocketknife out and flicked it open.
Eyes wide, I whirled on the two of them. “Stay.”
I closed the bedroom door behind me, resting against it for a second. I seriously needed to talk with Aspen. This was a little intense. I wasn’t used to this many people around. It was a good distraction from my thoughts, but I didn’t know if that was better or worse.
The knock at the door was a gentle one, way too soft to be an angry Luna or upset mate of mine.
I tried not to let that disappoint me as I stood on my tiptoes to look through the peephole, confused when I saw the producer outside.
“What’s up, Ken?” I asked as I opened the door.
He looked around the hallway. “Can I come in?”
“Of course.” I stepped out of the way, casting a worried glance over my shoulder.
Jesse and Clara were dead quiet.
A human wouldn’t be able to smell them, so unless he’d been watching the hall camera feed earlier, he’d think I was alone.
Maybe I’d hold off on that call to Aspen. The knowledge that I had someone hidden in my corner made me feel braver than I had in years.
“How are you?” Ken put his hands in his pockets.
I frowned, pretty sure he didn’t go around asking any of the other contestants how they were doing in their private hotel rooms. “Fine. Why do you want to know?”
“So…” He pursed his lips and blew out a breath. “I take it you’ve heard that you aren’t exactly popular with the other females on the show.”
I snort-choked on laughter. “Wasn’t that the point of having me join after the final votes had been cast?”
“I swear that wasn’t my plan.” Ken put his hand on his heart and I believed him, especially when his face fell. “Can I tell you the truth?”
People always did. It was easy to spill your soul to someone as unthreatening as an Omega, whether they realized they were doing it or not.
I nodded.
“I’m this close to getting fired.” He held his pinched fingers in the air.
“And it’s not my fault. The lack of chemistry on the show this season is killing me.
The most excitement we’ve had so far is when Dorian pulled that stunt last night.
He just might save us. I didn’t think he’d find a mate this season.
We all assumed he’d keep playing the field until the rut took over and forced his hand. ”
My wolf started to growl.
Ken didn’t notice. “Then you and Atlas too? What are the freaking odds?”
His anxious energy was making me skittish. My Omega instincts urged me to reach out and soothe his worries, but I didn’t.
Truth be told, I was a little angry at the way he was talking about my mates.
Let me out and I’ll show him…
Warmth flushed my body. Crap.
“But this is good,” Ken was still talking. “It’s the unscripted stuff the show is known for. Gold, as they say. And you’ll play along, right?”
“How?” My eyes narrowed.
The human gave me a placating smile, as if I were no threat. “Chemistry.”
“Come again?” This was biology, not chemistry. But I’d never been great with science. I preferred fantasy, not non-fiction.
“There’s not much chemistry this season besides you three,” Ken explained. “Since Dorian is the star and you’re our very own Omega, I think we can work with it. The speed dating was going to be garbage, but you and your trio gave me another idea.”
I wasn’t sure I liked where this was going.
If he’ll make it easier to be with our mates, let’s at least hear him out.
Ken nodded like he could hear my wolf. “Picture this: Each Alpha gets one chance to design a dream date for his potential mate. Just the two of you, alone, with the viewers watching your love story play out while you choose which one you’ll end up with.”
“That’s not how Omegas work,” I said. “We don’t have to choose.”
“And the viewers can pick their favorites too.” He clapped his hands together. “It’s been years since we had a love-triangle.”
Is he deaf?
I tried again, louder this time. “That’s not necessary. I literally don’t have to choose.”
“Not yet, of course.” Ken winked. “And we’ll get you whatever you need. No questions asked.”
“Hey asshole, she said she didn’t want to have to pick.” Clara poked her head out of the bedroom doorway, causing Ken to squeal and jump.
“Who is that?” he cried.
He really had no self-preservation skills if he chose to hide behind an Omega.
I patted his arm anyway, getting him to relax under my touch. “That’s Clara. She’s here for me. You did say I could have anything I want.”
“Right. I did.” Ken nodded, calming down. “This is fine. Perfect. Really. Looks like the two of you were getting dressed. I better leave you to it. Big date today. Or should I say, dates.”
Ken leaned closer to my ear to ask, “Is she a part of your why-choose thing?”
“No.” I sighed as I opened the door for him, wishing everyone would exit at once so I could curl up on the couch and disappear for a few hours. Maybe just get lost in a romance book where they didn’t have nearly this many problems.
But Ken’s words caught up to me as he stepped into the hall.
“Wait,” I said. “Did you say dates? As in, plural? Today? With both of them?”
“Don’t you worry about any details,” Ken tried to reassure me, and failed. “The guys are taking care of this.”
“They better be, after the stunt they pulled last night,” Clara growled. “Also, does everyone just talk over you like that and ignore what you say?”
“It’s fine.” I didn’t bother to point out the irony in her question.
Not when I had more important things to focus on. Like a date with both of my mates today.
The almost-empty pill bottle of heat suppressants sat on my night table, staring at me like a mocking joke as Clara and Jesse started arguing again.
I don’t have enough.
Or—hear me out—you could not take those last ones today…