Bridgette: We have loved seeing your reactions to this season. It was something else, wasn’t it?
Bradley: From the surprise of a lifetime to an emotional bonding, this season had us all on the edge of our seats.
Bridgtte: Let’s take a look back on some of our favorite moments of the season.
Chapter Forty-Six
The crowd isloud for being small. There are maybe only a hundred people in a semi-circle around the raised stage where Bridgette and Bradley stand, introducing the show and playing a recap of the season.
Grant fusses with his outfit, making sure his wide-sleeved shirt billows over the thick belt just perfectly. He’s wearing clothes from an up-and-coming designer and has struggled with nerves from the moment he got dressed.
“What if I sit weird and it lies awkwardly and people think the designer is terrible?”
I grab his shaking hands and squeeze them. “Stop worrying. People will be talking about your outfit for weeks. The designer is going to get so much free publicity over it. Bridgette is going to ask you who made it, so you can give him a shout-out. You look incredible.”
“Yeah, like a sexy swashbuckler.” Ivan claps our Beta on the back and swoops down to kiss his cheek. “I have no doubt you will spawn another round of thirst trap videos centered entirely around the outfit.”
Designers who want to work with Grant dressed us alltonight, but his outfit is the most “out there”. Ivan is wearing a well-tailored black shirt that clings to his thick arms and a pair of grey trousers with an interesting pattern sewn down the sides.
My peach trousers are so wide-legged they look almost like a skirt, and my white top is form-fitting with a sweetheart neckline but a back held together only by gold chains. Normally, I’d never wear anything like this, but when the guys saw me and nearly tackled me to the ground to rip it off, it boosted my confidence.
Derrick stands off to the side, flexing his hands. He’s nervous. Most of the negative reception to the show has been pointed at him, which we expected. He knew going into the experience that he wouldn’t be the fan favorite, and he’s afraid of the questions the audience will ask tonight. He wears a patterned Oxford like armor, but his eyes are worried behind his gold, wire-framed glasses.
“It’s going to be fine, Alpha.” I weave our fingers together.
“They love to have a little drama at these reunions. I’m the drama. Asking questions to bait me, to degrade me. That’s what’s going to give them that.”
“I won’t let them. Just squeeze my knee if you want me to answer instead of you.”
He doesn’t have a chance to agree before Bradley is crooning from the stage, “Welcome, Pack Sax!”
We chose to adopt the moniker for our official pack name. It felt right when I thought about it. My pack was always Sax. So we made it official.
The stage lights are blinding until we get settled on the navy velvet couch, and my eyes adjust. I sit between Ivan and Derrick, with Grant on Derrick’s other side, angled slightly toward where Bridgette and Bradley perch on a matching loveseat, but mostly facing the audience.
Bridgette looks incredible in a tight ivory dress as she reaches out and grabs my hand. “Ariana. Happiness looks good on you.”
“Thanks, Bridgette. I am happy.”
Her husband leans back and crosses his legs. “And you guys. America loves you.”
Grant comes alive under the studio lights, his prior nerves forgotten. He cocks his head with a flirty smile. “What’s not to love?”
Bradley laughs at his quip. “I think what everyone wants to know is how everything has been since you left the show? Give us the scoop!”
“Everything has been great. The guys moved in with me, and we’re getting used to being a pack and everything that comes with it.” I drop my hand to Derrick’s knee, giving him a reassuring squeeze. “It’s been really wonderful getting to explore our dynamic without cameras on us.”
Bridgette’s eyes brighten. “Does that mean you bonded with Derrick?”
Ivan wraps his arm behind me and squeezes the other Alpha’s shoulder. “Oh, that didn’t take too long.”
“Oh?” Bridgette looks like an excited child. “Do tell! When did it happen?”
Derrick blushes and pulls his shirt collar aside to show the silvery scar of my bonding mark. “On the plane home.”
The audience’s gasps and cheers at my eagerness have me blushing. “There was no reason to wait. I love Derrick, and I didn’t want to have a pack without him. We grew so close those last few days over the phone, and it felt right. Natural.”
“Do you want to talk aboutthatphone call, Ariana?” Bradley’s suggestive tone clues me in to exactly what call he’s talking about.
