I don’t.
The problem is, I’m already halfway there, halfway in love with him—with them—and that really doesn’t bode well for the state of my heart when this is over.
I can’t let myself be more vulnerable than I already am, give this alpha more of my soft spots and ammunition to use against me.
So I shake my head. “No one. I’m just… it takes me a while to get comfortable with people. I’m… shy?”
Half his mouth quirks up. “Is that a question, Florence? Because if it is, I would say, you are decidedly not shy. Quiet, maybe. Wary, definitely. But not shy.”
I sigh and shake my head. “Look, it's not really any of your business, is it? You have made it very clear that you want nothing to do with me. That I should keep my distance from you and your pack, emotionally and physically. I’m sorry that Imade today hard on you, on your alphas. I know it's not easy when there’s an omega in distress in your vicinity. But… I can’t imagine there’s going to be another challenge like the one today, and so it shouldn’t be a problem going forward.”
His jaw ticks. “Today was hard on all of us. I want to make sure nothing like that happens again. I have a list of the upcoming challenges waiting for my approval. If you don’t want to tell me about what happened in the past, would you consent to reviewing the challenges and telling me if there are any you have concerns about?”
I blink at him in surprise, that’s a very diplomatic solution. But I suppose that is the nature of being a prince. Finding solutions that work for everyone.
I give a jerky nod and in an instant he’s pulled his phone out, found what he was looking for and hands it over to me. I scan over the list, my eyes snagging on the kissing challenge, which I most certainly do have concerns about, but not because of my trauma. I don’t know how I’m going to sit there and watch the pack kiss a bunch of other omegas. But the other challenges—Capture the flag, Talent show, omega planned date night, scenting ceremony, alpha planned date night—those all seem doable.
I hand the phone back to him with a shake of my head. “I think those will be fine.”
He scans the list as well. “Capture the flag won’t be a problem?”
“No. Why would it?”
His brown eyes flick down my body, lingering on my knee in a way that makes me think he sees more than I want him to. I cut him off before he can say anything. “Trust that I know my own body’s capabilities, Your Highness.”
His lips press tight but he gives a tight nod. “Fair enough, Florence. None of the others will result in something like whathappened today?” He sounds… concerned. Really concerned. And as though I just have to say the word and he’ll storm into the conference room where production has set up camp and demand that they change their entire filming schedule to accommodate me.
Part of me, that deep down, greedy little omega, wants to test that. Wants to tell him that the kissing challenge will be too hard to get through, just to see what he’ll do about it.
But the kissing challenge is a well-known, fan favorite in any Alpha Love Getaway season. Haven gets downright giddy when it finally comes up.
Besides, testing this alpha is a dangerous thing.
Having him act on my behalf, to protect me would be even worse.
I know I’m not for him.
I know he’s not for me.
“You shouldn’t even be here,” I say, rather than answering his question. “Why are you?”
He jerks like I startled him, but then his face folds into a scowl. “I told you, I wanted to see how you were after today’s challenge.”
“Right, but you also told me to keep my distance from Piers last night. I thought that extended to the rest of your pack as well.” I frown. “I thought that extended toyou.So why are you here, Forsythe?”
His eyes flare when I use his given name, something hot burning in their depths. “I-I honestly don’t know,cor mea.I know I need to keep away from you. For all of our sakes. But seeing you today, feeling your panic, your fear? I couldn’t fucking stay away. Do you understand? There wasn’t a single ounce of a chance of that happening.”
The words hang between us, heavy and dangerous.
My heart stutters. My omega lifts her head, hopeful in a way I hate. I don’t want to hope. Hope is what breaks you.
“Forsythe,” I say softly, shifting back just a touch to put distance between us.. “You’re not supposed to—”
“I know,” he cuts in, voice rough. His hand comes up like he’ll stop my retreat, but he doesn’t touch me. “I know exactly what I’m supposed to do.” He laughs once, under his breath, harsh and humorless. “I’ve known my whole life.”
The air feels charged, tight. Too small for the two of us. I’m acutely aware of the open door at my back, the cameras that aren’t here, the fact that for once this moment belongs only to us. And I can’t let it go any farther than this. He can’t let it go any farther than this. We can’t afford to.
“You should go,” I tell him. Not because I want him to. Because I don’t trust myself if he doesn’t.
