“The pack has made their choices and will be here in a moment.”
I shift on my heels, wishing I’d worn the flats I had been debating on. But the slight pinch of my toes makes the nervous energy slightly less invasive. My breath catches as Elliott enters the room, followed by Rafe, then Miles on his crutches. They line up across from us, and it takes everythingin me not to throw myself across the space and into their arms.
I’m vibrating with the need to do so as Rafe picks up the first trinket and lifts his gaze to mine. A secretive smile plays on his lips, one that reminds me of this morning, and my whole body flushes. Hope blooms, and I swallow, ready to accept whatever he has to offer. Then he flicks his gaze over, and a different type of smile forms on his beautiful face.
When his lips part, I know it’s not going to be my name on them. Because no matter what we shared this morning, he didn’t mark me as his. And I accepted that. But when he utters Hailey’s name and I watch her cross the space and hug him tight, ensuring her pheromones are wafting from his suit jacket when she leaves the room, I almost give the show exactly what it wants.
Drama.
Because I’m two seconds from giving in to that possessive beast who lives inside of me. The one that wants all three of them and will keep them all even if one of them resists. The one that already lost an alpha and doesn’t plan to do it again. I don’t even realize that I’m growling until the back of Chad’s hand brushes mine, and the sound cuts off abruptly.
He lifts his eyebrows as if to say, ‘You good?’
I attempt a smile, but it feels brittle on my lips. The best case scenario now is them picking Chad and Rafe following through with him being the last omega standing. At least then, Hailey will have no claim on the men I love.
Shit.The men I love.It’s not just make believe or playing pretend with Miles and Elliott’s marks on me. My heart is involved, not just my body. And I am utterly screwed.
CHAPTER 44
Lilah
Time wasa combination of too fast and too slow after the last ceremony. Chad and I joined Hailey as the final three. After that night, we were each sent home to prepare for the family visits. So thankfully I haven’t had to restrain myself around Hailey. But on the flip side, I also haven’t had a single conversation with Chad in the three days since we left the villa.
Ashlyn watches me as I nibble at my food. She’s brought me to my favorite restaurant in New York to butter me up and get the details on the guys. Even the day is beautiful, sunny with only a slight chill in the air. It’s like the weather is on her side.
“Final three,” she says with a slight raise of her eyebrows.
I wave her away with a fry. “It’s all fake.”
Her forehead creases at my lie and false cheerfulness. “It doesn’t look fake.”
I laugh. “Rafe Carson’s an actor,” I say before dipping my fry in ketchup.
“The other two aren’t,” she says stubbornly. “And even actors aren’t that good.”
While chewing on my fry, I pick another and dip it. Maybe keeping my mouth full will deter her questions.
“I’ve watched every episode, Lilah. I know what I’ve seen.”
“Then you’ve also seen that they are half in love with Hailey,” I say. Her name tastes like ash on my tongue, and I grimace. And I know it isn’t true, they’ve had to stop filming so many times that I couldn’t be more positive.
She gives me a bland look. “What I’ve seen is how fake Hailey has been the entire time. I don’t understand why they’ve kept her. She’s obviously a terrible choice. They had more chemistry with Tyler or even Tamika than her.”
Well, at least that is a small comfort. Focusing on my plate of food, I can’t find a single word to say. Just the idea of the pack spending time with Hailey and her family and then taking her to theirs is too much for my heart to take.
“And don’t get me started on Chad. Do you know the scheming that snake has been doing behind your back?”
I snort and shove another fry in my mouth. Chad’s going to love that at least part of his plan worked.
“He’s so much worse than Tabby.”
“He’s nothing like Tabby,” I say, my voice heated in his defense. Lifting my eyes to hers again, I pin her with a determined look. “It’s all fake, Ash. Believe me, I’ve lived it for the last few months. Chad came to me the first night and said we should play off each other because it was clear that the show wanted to paint me as a sweetheart with the way they dressed me to meet the guys. And Chad just wanted to make it to the end. He has something to prove to someone, and he basically did it in my opinion. He knew drama would keep him around. Can he be abrasive and mean? Yes. Absolutely. But at least he’s honest about it.”
She presses her lips together in a tight line, clearly notbelieving me. We eat in silence for a few minutes, or at least I do. Ashlyn just watches me, not touching her food.
“You’re different,” she finally says.
I blink. “What do you mean?”
