My stomach churns with anticipation, realizing I’m about to eat a ridiculous amount of food. Everything they order sounds too good to resist. I should have actually read the menu instead of using it as a shield to hide behind.
“And last but not least, what can I get for you, Mr. Carson?” Her voice dips into a husky tone as she shifts her attention to Rafe, clearly flirting. I can’t blame her. The first time I met him, my reaction was much the same, though I didn’t know who he was at the time.
“I’ll take the breakfast hash, extra veggies, please,” Rafe says, his eyes lifting to meet mine. The corner of his mouth quirks up into a knowing smile, and as I open my mouth to impulsively order the same, he adds casually, “And our omega would like some of that too.”
My breath catches in my throat.Our omega. The words echo in my mind, each syllable heavy with meaning. My eyes widen, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest as I try to process what he just said. The casual way he claimed me, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, sends a rush of warmth through me.
Holy crap. Did he really just say that?
My thoughts race, and it feels like the world tilts on its axis. Being called "our omega" by Rafe—by any of them—isn’t just a term. It’s a declaration, a step beyond flirtation, something deeper and more binding. My pulse quickens as the weight of those words settles over me. He just staked a claim, not just for himself but for all of them.
I try to maintain my composure, but I know my shock is written all over my face. The waitress, oblivious to the significance of what just happened, simply nods and finishes jotting down the order.
As she walks away, I’m left grappling with the new reality Rafe’s words have created. I glance around the table, my gaze flitting between them. Elliott grins as if this is all a game, Miles looks thoughtful, and Rafe… Rafe looks like he knows exactly what he just did. And he doesn’t regret it for a second.
This just got real.
Butterflies erupt in my stomach at the warmth coming from him now, a stark contrast to the instant annoyance he showed earlier at my lack of blockers. The world around us fades away—I barely notice the woman walking off or the cameraman capturing every moment. I’ve completely fallen under his spell.
Do I know it’s part of his act, something he’s slipping back into effortlessly?Yes. But a stubborn part of me doesn’t care that it’s all pretend. I’m willing to live in this fantasy, at least for today.
Still, a small flicker of doubt lingers at the edge of my thoughts.Did he really mean it when he called me “our omega”? Or was it just another line, part of the show, a way to keep up appearances for the cameras?
I push the nagging thought aside, reminding myself that Rafe had asked Chad to be his shield, a clear indication that this is all just a game. But today, I decide to lean into the act. I’ll flirt, I’ll touch, and I’ll indulge my omega heart’s desires, because none of it really matters. As Chad has said so many times before, this show’s fake. None of it is real.
I’ll just ignore the fact that I chose not to wear the lotion or take the pills. It’ll be fine.I hope.
My stomach acheswith all the food I’ve attempted to stuff into it. I lean back in my chair with a groan, holding my belly. “I think I’m having a food baby.”
Miles chuckles. “Are they starving you in the house? Do I need to smuggle you some treats?”
I smirk over at him. “I won’t say no to Twizzlers.”
“Done.”
“You really are the sweet one. Rafe tried to convince me that you weren’t,” I say, shifting my attention to Rafe, who only lifts an eyebrow at my lie. We didn’t talk about Elliott or Miles, besides what he overheard at the hot tub yesterday.
“What else did Rafe say about us?”
I purse my lips as if I’m thinking of what more he could have said, and he rolls his eyes, scoffing. “Nothing, because you two aren’t that interesting.”
“I think you two are fascinating. Anyone that doesn’t live for the spotlight is a-o-k in my book.”
Rafe hums his annoyance at my words. They may be a compliment to his pack mates, but they’re a definite poke at him.
“I think Lilah and I need a quick conversation before we leave,” Rafe says as he pushes away from the table and stands. He ignores my feeble protest and pulls out my chair, offering me his hand.
Once we are away from the cameras and his pack, he turns on me. “What’s that?” He gestures back at the table, and my brow furrows.
“Breakfast?” I play dumb.
“We have a deal,” he says, ignoring my fake ignorance.
“Rafe, there are no other omegas here.” I lean against the railing at my back and tilt my head to look up at him. “Do you want me to pretend for the cameras?”
He runs his fingers through his hair before rubbing theback of his neck. “Yes. Of course I mean the cameras. We have to sell it to the world, Lilah.”
Suddenly, the carefree and flirty way I was going to act today feels wrong. I want more. I deserve more. And if he can’t give that to me?—
