More cameras flash and my pack gathers in closer, Mateo and Wilder making me laugh when they start to whisper flirty and dirty things in my ear. The photographers love the joy radiating off us, and so do I.
If you had asked me a year ago if I’d be walking down the red carpet forKnotting Hillwith not only a career soaring to heights I’ve always dreamed about, but a pack that loves me wholly and completely, I would have laughed in your face. I thought that I couldn’t have one without the other, but Pack Quinn has proven me wrong.
Was building a pack hard? Yes. It continues to be some days. We all have our ups and downs, and we worked backwards with how a modern-day pack would usually come together. But we made it work. They courted me, took me on dates, integrated me into their studio, and I got to know each of them for who they are beyond what they show the world.
Wilder is fierce and loyal, tough and scary on the outside, but soft on the inside. He’s silly and romantic when he’s alone with me and our pack. We love to go on motorcycle rides down the coast and go for ice cream dates. I always laugh with him and my Omega is at ease when he’s around.
Jett is my light in the darkness, someone I go to when I need to reconnect with myself and nature. If I’m his star, then he’s my compass. He’s taught me how to surf—though I’m not very good—and we love going star gazing together on the beach and finding all the best burger places in town when we’re not filming.
Mateo can be similar to Wilder in some ways, which is why they often push each other’s buttons. But unlike our Prime, he doesn’t give one persona to the outside, he just is who he is. He’s devoted to his pack, his family, and especially Augie. We can spend hours in bed talking about anything, and he loves to takeme on spontaneous adventures and snap far too many photos of me when he finds good light.
Last but not least, there’s my Augie. Creative and kind, the dictionary definition of a Golden Retriever mate. He’s my deeply sensitive and kind soul who writes me poetry and knows enough film and TV trivia to keep me entertained for hours. Don’t tell my Alpha’s, but he’s the best cuddler. If I ever need a hug, I go to him first.
“Iris,” Mateo says softly in my ear, pulling me from my thoughts. “They’re calling everyone in to watch the movie.”
“Sounds good.” I take a step forward but Wilder and Mateo’s grip on me tightens. I look up at them then over to a smiling Jett and Augie. No, not smiling, smirking.
Every one of my packmates is smirking, the mischievous nature of it making butterflies erupt in my stomach and heat course through my body. If I wasn’t wearing the special Omega panties that Wilder got me that conceal the smell of slick, there’s no doubt even the photographers would be scenting strawberries right now.
Mateo’s lips brush the shell of my ear and I shiver. “We’re not going to see the film, mi conejita.”
I swallow. “We’re not?”
“Nope,” he says, popping the P.
I don’t have a chance to ask where we’re going, because I’m ushered off the red carpet toward the entrance to the theater. I spot Sadie as we approach, who’s become like a little sister to my packmates. She’s speaking to another Beta assistant, a flush on her cheeks. When she spots me her cheeks get redder and I make a note to ask her who that is later.
“Are you all ready to go in?” she asks.
“We just came to tell you we’re taking Iris on a little adventure,” Jett says, Mateo’s hand on my back guiding me past her. When her wide eyes meet mine briefly, the only thing I can do is shrug because I have no idea what’s going on.
“What?” she sputters. “But the screening!” Her worried voice follows us.
“We’ve seen the film already,” Wilder notes.
“But the after party!”
“We’ll be there,” Jett assures.
More butterflies build in my stomach from the anticipation of whatever is going to happen, as I’m guided through the theater doors, my silver body con dress made of shimmering material catching light as we step through the doors.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” I ask, Jett and Augie now in front of us, Mateo’s hand still on my low back and Wilder’s between my shoulder blades.
“Have patience, sweet girl,” my Beta says playfully over his shoulder.
I puff out a breath as I’m led past the front of the lobby of the theater where people are mingling, some I know and some I don’t. My pack waves and greets those who try to stop us with promises of seeing them soon and to enjoy the film. An announcer over a speaker calls everyone into the screening so they can start the movie on time, but that’s the last I hear before I’m led to an entrance behind the theater that says employees only.
Jett holds the door open for us and I grip Mateo’s arm as I walk up a flight of steps. When we reach the small room at the top, I know immediately where we are.
“The projection room?”
Once we’re standing near the center of the space, Mateo pulls me back against him so my ass is pressed to his groin. I gasp when I feel his half-hard cock. His fingers hold my hips and he shifts my hair to the side to run his nose along my scent gland.
“We thought since we’ve seen the movie, we’d watch it from a new perspective.”
He pulls me back tighter and grinds his hips into me, replacing his nose with his tongue, licking over my rapidly beating pulse.
My hand flies back to coil in his hair, and I raise my gaze to meet the rest of my packs who have gathered in front of me. I’m aware the film is starting because the projector comes to life—everything is remotely run these days—and the already dim room gets darker due to the light in the theater going down.
