Did Cameo always have to be such a massive dick?
He had his moments, butsometimes—most of the time—it was like he didn’t think about anyone’s feelings but his own. And I was sick of it. I was in a really, really uncomfortable position, the least the alpha could do istryto be nice.
Tears blurred my vision, making it difficult to make out the movie. But it didn’t really matter, I’d seen it before. I’d probably see it again.
Even though I was happy for Indigo to get more time with Joon and Marcus on this date, I kind of wished they had stayed home with me. Or let me go with them. It wasn’t fair, honestly, it was pretty damn selfish. They needed an opportunity to get on the same page on neutral ground after Joon had surprised everyone and bonded with Marcus. To try and rebuild that easy trust that I’d been so envious of… But I really,really, wished it didn’t have to happen rightnow.
I closed my eyes, rolling to bury my face into the pillow for another deep inhale of Marcus, trying to steady myself.
It was only a couple of hours. There wasn’t any reason why I shouldn’t be able to manage it on my own. But still… the temptation to reach for my alpha in our bond was real.
Come on, Eva! You are so tougher than this…
The door creaked open, and I groaned, sitting up as I rubbed my puffy, tear-stained eyes.
“What? Have you finally decided to come apologize?” I asked, assuming Cameo had finally realized that he was being a massive dickhead.
But, instead of appropriately apologetic, he lingered in the doorframe silently, gloved hands flexing at his sides. His matching black-on-black outfit wasn’t much of a surprise, but the mask covering his face was. Unlike the mask that’d become my stupid, annoying alphas’ trademark, this one was starkly white. The eyehole cutouts basic circles in the overly shiny plastic instead of the semicircles that I came to expect. If anything, this thing looked like the sort of mask that you’d get at a party store.
Cheap.
I wrinkled my nose. “I’m not in the mood, Cam. If you want to talk, fine, but I’m not playing your games right now.”
He didn’t say anything, I didn’t even hear him move.
If I wasn’t so used to this pack’s unique ability to act like movie villains, I probably would’ve been creeped out. But really, Cameo’s inability to talk about his feelings were so not my problem.
“I don’t like that mask,” I told him as the bed dipped beside me. “It’s not as nice as your other one.”
Cameo grabbed my arm, pulling me to the side with a sharp yank that made my shoulder ache. I tried to pull away, but he was persistent, keeping hold of my bicep with a grip that was just on this side of too-tight.
“Fuck off, Cameo,” I snapped, irritation really starting to take hold. “Free use doesn’t mean free of consequences.”
He didn’t even have the decency to listen, yanking me hard until I landed on my back, the alpha’s body looming over me.
Something started to feel…off. Cameo was an asshole, but he never pushed boundaries…
Oh!Right!
My safeword.
“I mean it. Stop.Red,” I strained the last word, making sure it was nice and clear.
The masked figure above me didn’t move, tilting his head as he continued to press me into the mattress.
“Cameo, red. It means stop.” I said, giving his shoulder a hard shove, my pulse racing as the first whisper of menthol cigarettes hit my nose.
The figure leaned into my space, so close that the cold plastic nose of the mask brushed mine.
“I’m not your precious fucking alpha,” he said, in a voice thatdefinitelywasn’t Cameo’s.
My first thought was my knife, my hand plunging into my pocket to find it empty.
I screamed, bucking and thrashing in an effort to get free of the intruder. But he was heavy, and from my prone position, it was harder than I thought it’d be to get him to overbalance and grant me a couple inches of precious movement.
Fuck.
Cameo was right about one thing.
