“Whatever, I’m going to get a shower.” I leave him in the kitchen, intent on washing off the proof of my desire for the girl that was splashed all over the tabloids with Rafe.
Film crews greetour limo as it drives down the long driveway. Rafe groans and flops back on the seat.
“This is the last thing I want to do with my time,” he says.
Elliott shifts, drawing my attention. He rolls his eyes and scoffs. “Life isn't about the party scene. You'll see that soon, if you let yourself.”
Rafe snorts, turning to stare out the window. “If you say so,” he mumbles under his breath, still sulking.
“Don't worry, Eli, we will go with whoever you pick.” I wish my words were as reassuring as they sound.
Lilah's pale blue eyes, pink plump lips, and pert nose flash in my mind's eye, and it's my turn to look away. Of course one of the omegas would tempt me. I haven't found a single one in months, but now…when it matters the most to Elliott, my hormones betray us both.
Our conversation is cut short as the limo comes to a stop in front of the sprawling mansion. Three sleek buses line the other side of the round drive. And I know, without Thomas telling us, that the plan’s for each one of us to travel separately with the omegas.
Rafe sighs and pushes curls away from his forehead. “Let's get this done. If we get to pick, I want the omega that thinks he's too good for us on my bus.”
“And I want the one that thinks omegas climb me like a tree,” Elliott adds.
A low growl unexpectedly rumbles in my chest at his words, and he laughs, delighted at the possessive sound.
“No,” Rafe says, looking between us. “Not her.”
“What's wrong with her? Does she make you feel things?” Elliott taunts him with a smirk. “You're not made of the stone you thought you were, are you?”
He rolls his eyes and pushes the door open. “Never mind, take who you want. Just don't leave me with Hailey.”
Rafe has a wide smile pulling at his lips as he strides to the front steps, using all of his acting skills to appear for the crew as the picture of a willing and eager bachelor.
“That went well,” I say.
I push open my door to trail after him, a slight feeling of excitement buzzing in my veins.
Elliott laughs again, sliding across the seat to climb out. “He needs to stop lying to himself.”
CHAPTER 9
Lilah
In an attempt toavoid the other omegas, I grab a pastry and take it outside to eat in relative quiet. Willow, the girl from last night—when Chad insulted Ben—lounges in a chair, overlooking the huge backyard and infinity pool.
I settle onto one a few seats away from her and stare off into the distance nibbling on my breakfast.
“It’s nuts in there, isn’t it?” she asks.
I nod. “Yeah. It isn’t what I expected.” The fluttering of activity as they all stress to get ready has a sour smell clinging to the air, even with the blockers.
I sniff my wrist for any lingering perfume, but the soft smell of my lilac body lotion soothes me, reassuring me that I smell nothing like the cookies and cream I normally do when I'm off the pills. Or like the sour grapes scent in the air inside.
She laughs. “What did you expect?”
I shrug half-heartedly. “I’m not sure. I’ve watched every season, but I guess I didn’t imagine what it would actually be like to be here…in the midst of it all.”
Voices rise inside with a wave of excitement, cutting off our conversation. The film crew arrived a short timeago, so I assume it's the alphas arriving now. Pushing to my feet, I take a steadying breath as a strange fluttering takes hold of my belly.
Willow stands up with a sigh. “I guess we should get in there.”
“Yeah.”
