“You probably shouldn’t trust any of the omegas here with your secrets on the first night,” I reply as I step back, putting needed space between us. “We are all here for our own reasons, some not for love,” I add, thinking of the one omega, Blair, who has been very vocal about her socials.
He straightens, the humor back in the depths of his eyes, and I wonder if he’s ever not in a good mood. “Fair point.”
I smile back at him, a real one this time. He’s the type of person that you want to join in with his smiles; you want to be part of his secrets. Just being in his orbit is like a hit of dopamine. Some people have so much charisma, it overflows onto the people around them, and Elliott’s one of those rare people. I want to soak it all in like a dry sponge, even while trying to push him away with my words.
“Well, my fair omega, I should stop ignoring my other guests, so I can at least pretend I haven’t already chosen my future mate.”
My heart does that fucking thing again, trying to serve itself up on a platter for him, like the organbelongsto Elliott already.
He’s dangerous, being mouthwateringly attractive and charming adds to that danger. Everything I wanted while I thought I was in love, before I didn’t believe in it, but now it’s like a gigantic warning sign flashing over his head, don’t let him past the walls. In fact, build those fuckers higher. Way higher.
I watch him as he strides away, a contained confidence in each step. It’s sexy as hell. A cameraman steps closer, and I flick my eyes to the lens for a second before looking back at Elliott’s retreating back. I’m sure the longing painted on my face will make for good TV. Too bad it wasn’t an act, and if I don’t get to work on those walls, he will make them crumble quickly.
CHAPTER 7
Lilah
The cameramen went home,the alphas said their group goodbyes, introductions were made all around, and I made it through the first night blending in with the crowd. Well, sort of. I fall back on my bed, which is actually pretty comfortable.
The sounds of the three other omegas in my room chatting with each other is nothing but background noise as I stare at the ceiling. If they didn’t take my cell phone, I’d call Ashlyn and tell her that this show probably isn’t for me.
My solitude doesn’t last long before Chad’s perching on the side of my bed, uninvited. I groan and fling my arm over my face, burying my head in the crook of my elbow.
“What do you want?”
“We need to plan. The group dates start tomorrow, and we need to go on the same one. Which guy should I wear down first?” he says, as he makes himself comfortable, puffing up one of my pillows and leaning against the headboard, his legs crossed at the ankles.
I roll my eyes, not that he can see me through my arm, and sigh loudly. “Why me, Chad?”
I peek out at him, and he stares down at me as if I should already know. “You are the only one besides me who deserves to be here. I think the perfect angle to spin for us is opposing omegas. We can bring the drama, stage a fight over one of the alphas. You know, how the girls on other seasons have done it.” He snaps his fingers as if he’s trying to remember something. “Like Erica and Sarah, you have watched this show right?”
Puffing out my cheeks, I release the air slowly as I push up to sit next to him. “You think their fights were staged?”
He scoffs. “This whole thing is fake. Love doesn’t exist. The only thing to gain is your place in this life, one that doesn’t include folding the laundry of an alpha who—” He snaps his mouth shut, his jaw working. “Never mind. What do you think? We will both get what we want out of it.”
I flick my gaze to the camera in the corner of the room. It’s probably picking up every word, even without our mics on. Although it doesn’t appear to be focusing on us. He follows my path up to the camera. The almost-there smile that’s more of a pout forms on his lips, and he chuckles.
“They want drama. This conversation won’t make it on TV. So?”
He’s like a dog with a bone, and I know if I don’t go along with his scheming, it might turn out bad for me.
“Okay,” I sigh. “Who do you have the best connection to so far?”
He lifts a brow like that isn’t even on his radar. “Connection?”
“Yeah. How do you expect to win in the end if you don’t get one of them to keep you each time?”
He purses his lips and wrinkles his nose like it’s a foreign concept at this point that they wouldn’t automatically want him.
“If you want them, you’ve got a lot of work to do,” I say.
He scoffs. “I’m a masterpiece. Any alpha would be lucky to have me.”
I roll my eyes to the ceiling. “You have the confidence down,” I mutter sarcastically, not that he catches on to it.
He nudges me, and I look over at him. “We will work on yours too.”
There is a friendliness to his face that seems alien. I’m not sure he has many friends; how could he, being so abrasive all the time. I’m not in the market for a new B.F.F., but his no filter, snarky self could probably make the running if I were. At least I would know where I stand with him.
