I don’t know why I’m so hesitant. Don’t know why if he gives me an answer different from my own, it might gut me. But the hesitation—the fear—is there.
When I don’t say anything, Piers prompts, “Love or duty, Florence.Ask me.”
“Florence,” a sharp voice calls. One I recognize. Lulu.
At the same time, Forsythe moves a little closer to us. “Piers?”
I shake my head. I don’t want to know. I want to keep living in this fantasy world I’ve apparently created where maybe, just maybe this beta and I are compatible. Where maybe his pack would choose me too.
He sighs, leans forward again until a lock of his hair brushes my forehead. “Love, sunshine,” he murmurs. “Always love. Duty matters, but love is what makes duty worth doing.”
“Miss Karlin, a word?” Lulu is closer now. And so is Forsythe, so close in fact that I can practically feel his heat radiating into me.
“We’re heading to the room to get ready,” the prince says, addressing Piers. We both look up at him, still standing so close, still holding on to one another.
“And that concerns me because…” Piers pushes back.
I blink up at him in surprise. Not expecting that in the least, neither is Forsythe it seems, not if the way his brown eyes flash and his glower deepens is any sign.
“Now, Piers.” There's an edge of a bark there. The slightest tinge of command in his tone. Just enough that it makes Piers stiffen and me right along with him. Forsythe sees it and somewhat reluctantly adds, “please.”
The beta’s jaw tightens and so do his fingers on mine, and then he sighs, turning his attention to me. “I’ll talk to you later?”
I give him a small smile even though inside I’m seething. “Of course.”
His thumb strokes my skin and then he’s pulling away from me without another word to the alpha in our midst. Forsythe doesn’t follow him. Instead he moves into the space Piers vacated, staring me down like his a second away from eviscerating me… or kissing me. I can’t really tell.
My heart thunders in my chest as I glare up at him, even though every instinct in me is telling mesubmit, submit, submit. Tilt your head, show your neck, andsubmit.
“Piers mentioned you already know how this is going to go. Is that right, Miss Karlin?” I swallow and flick my eyes over to the beta’s retreating back. “No,” the prince growls. “Keep your eyes on me. Is that right?”
I don’t bother to try to keep from scowling at him. “Yes. I was informed almost as soon as I got here that the royal family has declared I am unfit to be your omega and so I shouldn’t get my hopes up.”
His jaw ticks under his neat beard. I wonder how often he needs to trim it. I wonder if he does it himself or if he has someone who does it for him…a stylist or maybe Piers.
“If you are aware of how this ends, then why are you getting close to my beta?”
It's a good question. A valid one too. If I already know that I’m not going to be their pack, then why bother? Why get emotionally invested in any of them if we all know how this is going to end?
I glance at the door Piers disappeared through. “Because he needs someone to be close to,” I mutter.
He rears back, almost like I hit him, or just really surprised him, with my answer. “You don’t think we—his pack—are close enough?”
I really shouldn’t say anything, I know this. I really should just bite my tongue and pat his head and tell him he’s doing a great job with his pack. Not my circus, not my monkeys. But… I just can’t.
“No. I don’t think you are. Not with…” I try to find a kind way to say it, but eventually give up tossing my hands in the air. “Not with how you keep literal distance from him, constantly. He’salwaysalone, Forsythe! Always separate. How is that being close?”
His jaw ticks. “I know you don’t understand pack bonds, because you don’t have one-”okay, ouch“-but we don’t need to be physically close in order to be enough for him. We have a connection in our souls and it doesn’t get any closer than that.”
I stare up at him, shocked that he just said that. Honestly. Is he stupid? He doesn’t come across as unintelligent, but this is just…Wow.
“He’s too good for you.” The words explode out of me in a frustrated huff. “Far, far too good for you. And you don’t even fucking see it! You take him for granted, all of you. And I just-” I choke on frustrated tears. “I cannot just stand by and let him be miserable because of yourduty. He deserves to be a part of this.”
“He is a part of this,” he growls out through gritted teeth. “He’s here, isn’t he?”
As if his proximity to the proceedings were enough.
Oh, this motherfucker,my omega seethes in my gut.
