“Duty. Always.” No one misses the way his and Ren’s answers mirror each other. The conviction they both share, but for different reasons.
Thayer tries to keep his expression neutral, but I swear he flicks an apologetic glance at Ren before he answers, “Duty.” Anyone paying attention would see it for the lie it is. He answered ‘love’ to the most important thing in a pack question an hour ago.
Courtland, grinning like the deviant he is. “Why not both?”
I force my voice neutral. “Duty.” It's what is expected of us. All of us. Court can get away with a cheeky answer like that because no one expects anything different from him, the son of a duke, noble born but wild. Always wild.
I can’t. I’m the lowborn member of the pack. Even Piers is nobility. I can’t go against the queen's wishes, against what sheexpects of us. She already has enough reason to hate me. I can’t give her more.
But when my gaze finds Florence—she isn’t disappointed. She isn’t even surprised.
She just looks… sad.
Sad in a way that makes something inside me start tearing itself apart.
Episode 14: If the Slipper Fits
Most of us are herded away from the pool area and into the empty dining room while they tear down the set from the compatibility challenge. The winners of today’s challenge, Isadora (to no one’s surprise) and Odette, retreat to their cabanas with a handful of select “friends” so they can film their excited chatter while they get ready for their dates.
What a freaking joke.
This challenge, out of all of them, was rigged from the start. Oh, you mean the girl who’s known the pack since she was a kid won the challenge about how well you know them?Quelle surprise.
I mean really?
But thinking back on some of their answers, I can’t find it in myself to be angry about it… Honestly, I just feel a little sad. And embarrassed.
God, my answers must have felt so… childish compared to theirs. To everyone, with the exception of Petal who came across as even more naive and weird than I did, and Tristan who just answered with chaos. Thank god we were all sitting next to each other, in our own little clump of weird.
The pack is with us to give the losing omegas a chance to cry on their shoulders before they too retreat to get ready for their date.
I’m tempted to wander in their direction. More than tempted, my suppressed omega is practically tugging me toward them. But I ignore it.Her. The notion that more than half the pack would pick duty over love really… knocked me on my ass.
And I don’t even understand why.
It's just so sad, I think.
So counterintuitive to what they’re meant to be doing here.
How utterly unromantic.
Piers is lingering near the pack, at the edge of the deck. There but apart as always. And when my omega tugs me toward him. I don’t deny her, slipping over the empty space between us to press my shoulder into his arm. He looks down at me, surprised that I would approach him.
I hate that.
So fucking much.
“What’s your idea of the best date?” I ask him.
“What? Why?”
I frown. “Because you’re a part of the pack and I want to get to know you. Also, I already like you more than almost everyone here.” I can’t stop the coy little smile that curves my lips. “I want to see how compatible we are.”
He shifts, turning his body toward mine. “I don’t think we need a quiz to figure that out, little bird. I can already tell we’re very compatible.”
The certainty in his voice makes my stomach clench and my heart flutter, but I play it off with a shrug. “Maybe, but how will we be sure unless you answer the damn questions?”
He laughs. “I already know your answers, Ren. I could just match mine to yours.”
