I brush that thought off and tell my Omega to behave. The fact they don’t have an Omega yet doesn’t matter and has nothing to do with why I want to work with them so badly. Notonly does the three-Alpha-and-one-Beta pack produce quality content, they’re also progressive thinkers that make thought provoking shows, featuring people of all body types in their work. Body types like my plus-size one. Which isn’t the norm for an Omega. Most of my designation is short, thin, and lightly curved in all the right places. I’m tall, heavy breasted, and big hipped. I literally have meat on every inch of me. Not that I mind. At least not anymore. I’m confident in who I am, and that’s that.
Sadie slides her phone in her jean pocket before holding out her arms for a hug. I step into them easily and exhale a breath, letting her hold me. She’s been such a great assistant and companion for the last three years. With my schedule, I hardly have time to breathe let alone get a friend group. Then there’s dating. No time for that either. If I need a hug, Sadie provides.
I breathe in her lavender scent that’s back to normal now, and allow myself to melt into her embrace and soothe some of my stress. The way I’m at ease with even a platonic Beta hug is a stark reminder of what my doctor told me last week.
One of the biggest reasons he said I needed to go off my suppressants and have a heat was that my blood panels showed abnormal cortisol levels indicating touch starvation and undue stress to my body. I tried to deny it, but with how my Omega’s been lately, I knew he was right. The oversensitivity, wanting ice cream, the ache between my thighs…
My system is out of whack and I need to have a heat with Alphas. Not only that, I need to feel strong hands on my body and a knot stretching my pussy, or more than one knot. It’s been far too long. Unfortunately, it will need to be a bit longer.
I hug Sadie tighter before pulling back. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll get everything and be back soon. You stay and run your lines. They shouldn’t need you for another hour.”
We say our goodbyes and I lock the door behind her. I walk to the small dining table in the trailer, picking up my scriptand looking down at the cover page.Knotting Hillby August Quinn.
My stomach flips thinking of the hunky Beta who reminds me of Clark Kent but with lighter brown hair and thick-framed glasses. He’s an amazing writer and a two-time Oscar winner. I’ve been watching his work for years now and have dreamed of getting to bring one of his layered characters to life. I can’t wait to meet him. Not only him but his whole pack.
The only pack member I’ve spoken to is their lead Alpha, Wilder, who’s the director of the film. My toes curl when I think of his deep and soothing voice during our phone chat prior to my arrival. It reminded me of a calming cup of mint tea. It made me wonder if he smelled like it too. I shake that thought from my head. The entire pack is attractive, and I’m going to just have to deal with it. It’s not like I haven’t worked with attractive men before. This town is full of them.
I move to the couch and sit with the script in my lap. This really could be the beginning of something bigger for me. I know it. I’m going to have to be strong and keep my focus. No matter if Wilder’s voice makes my toes curl, or August looks like a hotter Clark Kent, or if Jett’s beautiful blue eyes captivate me more than any Alpha’s ever have even through a screen. There’s also the third Alpha, Mateo, the cinematographer, who’s layered black hair and dark brown eyes would make anyone’s underwear melt.
“No.” I clear my throat. “It doesn’t matter at all.”
Yep, everything is going to be just fine.
Chapter two
August
“OurBetalookslikehe’s going to hurl his guts up.”
I narrow my green eyes at my Prime, but Wilder’s right. I do feel like I’m going to hurl. I take a shallow breath through my mouth. “I’m fine.”
“He’s nervous about meeting Iris finally. You know he’s been crushing on her since before we all met in college, right?” my Alpha packmate and mate, Mateo, asks rhetorically as he adjusts a light on the bookstore set while other production assistants, grips, and sound artists mill around us, getting ready for our first day of shooting with our new Omega lead.
The handsome asshole knows Wilder already has this information. My whole pack knows it. It only became more of a topic since Iris’s audition forKnotting Hillcame to us last fall and I practically begged Wilder and Jett to cast her until the film’s investors convinced us to go with “rising Omega star Molly” before she got pregnant.
“Sometimes I think he lovesKnot Hollowsmore than he loves me and our pack,” Mateo adds.
Wilder snorts and I turn to him. He smirks from the director's chair seated next to mine, rubbing a tattooed hand over his well-trimmed beard as he glances from Mateo to me, wiggling his eyebrows in a way that seems too playful for how huge and intimidating the Alpha is with his dark tresses in an undercut pompadour-style haircut and all his ink.
I look back to Mateo. “You know that’s not true. And you like watching too sometimes, in case you forgot.”
“It’s a good show and Iris was phenomenal in it, but you still binge it, mi amor.”
My heart flutters at the endearment he’s called me since the early days of our relationship, even before he gave me his claiming bite on my neck and bonded me for life our junior year of college. But that’s not going to make me less annoyed at him for outing me in front of everyone who’s not my pack in ear shot. At least Iris isn’t on set now. We haven’t met yet, and the last thing I want is for her to hear I’m a major fanboy before we even have a chance to shake hands.
I grunt, cheeks turning pink. “Haven’t you heard of comfort shows, Mateo?” It’s the only thing I can think of to say right now.
Wilder is silent but I sense him eyeing me and the pack bond I have with him buzzing at attention, making sure I don’t become too upset by the teasing. I may not be in an intimate relationship with him or my other packmate, Jett, beyond helping them through ruts on a rare occasion, but I love them. And as our Prime—the leader and most dominant of our pack—he’s always watching and directing. It’s what makes him so good at his job, too. He’s level-headed, fair, yet strong. Everything a good Prime should be.
Mateo finishes his light set up and nods at a Beta helping him before he prowls over, his honey scent wafting into my nose. He places his hands on the arms of the chair, encroaching his six-foot-two muscular body into my space, his earthy brown eyes alight with mischief and pink lips that look way too kissable in an apologetic half-grin.
“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you, mi amor,” he says so only Wilder and I can hear. “I was just trying to lighten you up a bit since Iris will be here soon.”
I stare into his eyes, feeling the sincerity and apology of his words through his tone and our bond. I exhale and dip my chin in acceptance. “It’s fine. Just don’t do it in front of Iris, please.”
“I won’t,” he assures me.
