CHAPTER 43
Lilah
Even steelingmyself for the return to the villa wasn’t enough to prepare me for Chad and Willow’s reaction to me being gone all night.
Honestly, all I want to do is sleep until tonight. But the second I’m in my room and ready to do just that, Chad barges in uninvited, followed by Willow.
“Where were you?” he asks, his eyes wide as he examines my face.
Willow sinks down on the bed next to my legs. “Were you with the pack all night?”
I roll my lips between my teeth as I glance between them. A blush warming my cheeks as Chad gasps, clutching his chest. Willow grins at my non-answer and shares a look with Chad.
“All night?” he says, and it sounds like a question, but I’m not sure he’s expecting an answer. “Damn girl. Guess I really am second best this time around.”
“Was it good?” Willow asks, lowering her voice.
I glance at the closed door then back at the two of them. “Better than good. My whole body feels like I’ve run a marathon.”
That and I can still feel two of them through the bond, and it’s a comfort I don’t want to live without. Absently, I rub my fingers over the mark Miles left on me. It’s concealed beneath my shirt, but Chad zeros in on the action, shock lighting up his eyes.
“You bitch, they claimed you? Let me see,” he demands. There is no actual heat to his words, only a strong curiosity.
“You have a mark?” Willow watches as I lower the shirt just enough for them both to see the crescent, silvery mark on my skin.
“It will fade with my next heat,” I say, explaining it away. Even though the words taste like ash.
Chad purses his lips. “Not if you’re with the pack for said heat.”
I scoot up the bed and rest against the headboard. “It wasn’t all of them, Chad. I can’t bond to a pack without having all of them. That will only lead to heartbreak.”
He waves his hand on a floppy wrist. “Schematics. You’ll have all of them. Which one didn’t bite you? It was Elliott, wasn't it?”
I sigh. “Rafe.”
“He’s so in love with you already,” Willow says, shifting her legs criss-cross and leaning over them to touch my knee. “I know you don’t think so, but for the rest of us, it’s so clear. I think that’s why Hailey has become so unbearable the last couple of weeks.”
Chad pauses and blinks twice at Willow. “She has beenunbearablesince the start.” Then he pins me with a look. “She’s right about Rafe. He doesn’t take his eyes off of you.”
I don’t bother responding. Chewing on my lip, I look between them. “Who do you think will go home tonight?”
After tonight's ceremony, there will only be three left.Even with Miles parting words earlier, a slight flutter of nerves erupts in my belly at the idea.
He’d ignored Thomas’ attempt at rushing our goodbye. Cupping my face, he’d pressed a toe-curling kiss to my lips and said, “I can’t wait to meet your family.”
That’s not something you say to an omega you plan on sending home.
Willow straightens. “I’m sure I’ll be going home. The connection just isn’t there. On the group dates, it was easier to carry on a conversation, but on our single date…I can’t imagine how they will edit that for TV.” She rolls her eyes and laughs lightly at the disaster it must have been.
“That and you have the hots for that cameraman.” Chad nudges her and wiggles his eyebrows.
A smile plays on her lips, and her eyes sparkle. “Whatever.”
He shrugs and turns his attention back to me. “We know you’ll be here. If I’m not, keep in touch. Both of you.” He wags his finger between us. “I don’t give my friendship easily.”
“This is what you call friendship?” I ask with mock shock, widening my eyes and pressing my palm to my chest.
His lips twist into a pout, and I laugh.
