I nod as if she can see me, then her words sink in. “What do you mean in my situation?”
She sighs, and I can hear it through the line. “You thought you were going to be bonded a few short months ago. Andthe way that alpha treated you, it’s understandable that you would be afraid.”
“You keep saying that. I’m not afraid.” I can feel my molars grinding together as what she’s saying settles into me.
As if to prove her words wrong, I toss the phone back at the guy and push open the door. The cameraman rushes to flip the camera back on as I step out in one smooth motion, channeling my inner Ashlyn. Because if anyone could do this, my sister could. I have tunnel vision as I stride toward the alphas. I just need to get this over with.
I pause in front of them, putting on my best smile for the cameras. “Fancy meeting you here,” I say looking directly at Rafe. Rip the fucking bandaid off. The internet’s already going to have a field day with me on this show with Rafe as one of the stars.
Rafe squints at me, as if he can’t tell I’m the same girl that expelled the contents of her alcohol-filled stomach all over him three weeks ago. Then I see it, the recognition, as it flashes deep in his golden eyes.
“I’m Lilah,” I add. “We didn’t get that far the first time.”
“You know each other?” the alpha with vivid blue eyes and day-old scruff gracing his sculpted too-beautiful face asks out the side of his mouth.
Rafe shrugs and shoves his hands into his pockets as he watches me warily. “No.”
I give him a funny look and then focus on his pack mates, who up-close-and-personal are so panty-melting worthy, I almost forget what words are when my eyes land on the second one.
Dark eyes peer back at me with the same curiosity he had while I was still in the limo. His light hair catches the light of the fairy lights in the trees above their heads. And if I hadn’t sworn off alphas and love, I could believe I am half in love with the man with a single look. I hope the cameras caughtthat wistful look because they wouldn’t be getting many out of me.
“Lilah, beautiful name for a beautiful omega,” he says smoothly. I almost laugh, but I manage to hold it in. “I’m Elliott, and this is Miles.”
Don’t be awkward.Don’t be awkward. I open my mouth to say, nice meeting you, I’ll see you inside when what comes out is anything but those words. “I bet when the omegas scent your musk they climb you like a tree.”
A surprised laugh pops out of him as he glances at his friends. His face lights up with merriment. Rafe narrows his eyes at me, and Miles tilts his head, watching me like I’m from a circus side show and he isn’t sure if he should be amused or horrified.
I snap my mouth shut, heat flares up my neck to my cheeks, and I shake my head mutely, gesturing at the door behind them. They step aside as one unit, and I hurry past.
“See you inside, Lilah,” Elliott murmurs after me, making my whole body feel funny. That’s not a feeling I ever had with Jared.
CHAPTER 5
Rafe
The omegafrom Club Wisteria is here,on the show, and it feels like they sought her out to highlight my playboy ways. It takes all my restraint not to watch her walk away. Even though I can’t smell her, and damn did I try, she draws my attention like a moth to a flame.
Miles nudges me as another limo pulls up. “Interesting. We will talk about that later.” He barely moves his lips, the smile on them unwavering as he faces the new limo.
Elliott still looks bemused as he glances back at the way the omega went.Lilah Robinson. Elliott was right; she’s beautiful. Hell, most of the omegas are attractive. It’s the one thing I noticed as they were parading them in front of us like cattle at a market. But that one is top shelf. Too bad I won’t settle for any of them.
Bonding is serious, and a Reality TV show is not going to find my mate.
Still, Elliott insisted, and our manager said it would be good for our image. Even if we pick an omega at the end and carry on a fake relationship for the media before calling it quits, quietly and off-screen—it will be good for us.
The door opens to the new limo, and I focus on the man that climbs from it. Another attractive omega, not that I expected anything less. I want to scream, ‘finding love isn’t about looks’.
He strolls over to us, a pout on his face that I suppose is his smile. “Gentlemen.”
He nods, his gaze barely ghosting over each of us. This one isn’t here for an alpha or a pack. I study him, seeing if I can tell what motivates him. While some of the omegas are here for the show, others are treating it like a game. An opportunity they can get something out of, even if it isn’t a pack. One girl in particular even looked directly at the camera like she was on her own TV show and we were the extras. Though, I honestly can’t blame them. Look at me, I'm doing it for all the wrong reasons too.
“What’s your name?” I ask. Not because I care, but because he could be a useful shield to keep around, depending on why he’s here.
His lips curl up into a better semblance of a smile. I’m not sure he does it much in life, and I can almost feel him looking down his nose when he turns to look directly at me.
“Chad, your future omega,” he says boldly.
I laugh as he catches me off guard. He isn’t my type, and he’s a bit abrasive right off the bat, but he might work to field the other omegas off of me.
