She takes another look. “Wedding dresses are longer. You look beautiful.”
Owen strolls into the room, dropping a kiss on the side of my sister's head. His gaze roves over me with curiosity.
“What did they do to your sister?”
“Owen,” Ashlyn says, pushing him away playfully.
“What? She looks innocent, and we both know she’s anything but. Do I have to remind you how she got me drunk that one time and led me unsuspectingly to your nest?”
I roll my eyes. “Bullshit, you did that all by yourself, and I would have stopped you, asshole.”
He laughs and points at me. “See? Do you hear the mouth on her?”
I cross my arms and glare at him. “She should have seen you for what you are then.”
“Lil,” Ashlyn admonishes me with wide eyes.
“She did, the only alpha for her.” He captures Ashlyn around the waist and showers her with kisses along her face and throat until his musk and her perfume take up the entire space.
“Get a room,” I protest weakly. It’s good to see Ash happy, even if I can't stand the toad.
He pauses for a moment, glancing around the living room. “Technically thisisa room.”
Ugh.
The banquet hallis full of omegas when I enter. All of them look perfect and exactly what the show goes for. It's the first time I've been around this many in one space since school.
Shelly steps up on a raised platform and clinks a spoon against a glass to get our attention.
“Welcome to the 20th season ofOmega in Paradise!” Everyone cheers as if it's New Year's Eve and the ball just dropped in Times Square. “One of you lucky omegas will meet the pack of your dreams. No scent matching to drive you. No rejection based on the first sniff. I encourage each of you to take this opportunity to see if you are compatible with the alphas we’ve chosen for this season.”
An omega standing near me snorts, drawing my attention away from Shelly. “It's all fake, you know,” he says as he meets my gaze. There is a sort of pouty look to his mouth as he tries and fails to smile.
Everything in me screams he already has his claws out and he's ready to climb to the top.
He straightens a bowtie around his neck and slides his hands down an expertly pressed suit jacket, shifting on his feet, just a foot closer to me. “I plan on winning it all.”
I laugh. “It's fake, and you're going to win it.” I shake my head. He's delusional.
“I'm Chad by the way.”
“Lilah—”
He waves off the rest of my words with a floppy wrist. “I know who you are. Pity what happened to you; some alphas are real pieces of work.”
He's being snarky, and I roll my eyes, bringing my attention back to Shelly, who’s still giving some kind of encouraging speech.
“We could team up. You are obviously here because you need a media makeover, and I'm here for the prize of the pack. We can both get what we want.”
Inhaling through my nose, I press my lips together. Then they pop open of their own accord. “We don't even know who the pack is yet.”
“Does it matter? The history of the show pairs omegas with influential and usually rich alphas. What more do you need to know?”
“Who hurt you?” I laugh, giving up on trying to ignore him. I know hurt when I hear it. Guess that’s what experience gives you.
It's his turn to go silent. He looks away, his jaw clenching with some sort of emotion. He doesn't owe me anything. So Idon't say a word and focus on the tail end of what Shelly’s saying.
“Your order has been determined already. Get out of the limo, greet the men, and head inside. Leave them wanting more. And they will seek you out later. Remember…the first group date is tomorrow. The ceremony will take place directly after.”
