Page 51 of Ashley & the A-Listers (Sweetverse)

CAMERON

Lights, flashes, red carpet beneath their feet. Cameron was arm-in-arm with River, and behind him were Ashley and Dylan. Everyone looked devastating in fitted suits, and Ashley was wearing heels, towering over him in a way that made him want to call her mommy or something equally embarrassing.

That dress had been made for her, and he and River found themselves distracted by it plenty of times through the night.

Cameras blinded them, belonging to photographers who called their names as if they knew them. They demanded they look left or right so they could get the perfect shot.

They were herded into the next area, where interviewers stood on their marks and waited for the stars to say hello. Ashley filed in behind them, and he felt her and Dylan and River’s support through the bond, their pride.

She was nailing her press smile—she’d been practicing—and Dylan was going full deadpan. It worked, since he was still technically the bodyguard.

Cameron greeted each interviewer, recognizing a few of them. He introduced his pack, engaging them as they discussed their time on the red carpet, and eventually wishing them a good night as they were signaled to move down the line.

“Cameron Thomas, how’s it feel to be here at the premiere to see all your hard work come to fruition?”

Cameron flushed and smiled. “It feels… like a relief. And it feels special that I can share this achievement with my pack!” he said, and nudged River. “This is River Thorton?—”

“The screenwriter, right? You’ve worked on all three movies!”

The interviewer earned points with Cameron, and he made note of their name.

River was clearly taken aback by the recognition, recovering quickly and grinning. “That’s me!”

Action on the screen, explosions and romance and overcoming the big, bad enemy. A standing applause chased them from the theater and into more press awaiting them after the premiere.

“With Heat of the Moment: Hotter ’s explosive debut, what’s next for Hollywood’s favorite action star?”

Cameron shared an utterly soft, puppy-love look with River. Cameron read his screenplay at least once a month, and couldn’t wait to push it into production. With time.

“I think I want to return to my roots. Maybe try my hand at a passion project, something indie.”

“Curiosity is killing us all. Who’d you bring with you to the premiere?”

Cameron squeezed River’s hand.

“This is my pack. River, who belongs here as much as I do, since he’s a screenwriter in the franchise; and Ashley and Dylan.”

“So it’s official? After all these months of teasing little photos?”

Cameron shrugged, and Ashley placed a hand on his shoulder, where his bite mark was, but to his credit, he hid the shiver very well.

“Don’t know how much more official you can get,” Cameron said, and River smiled like a fool.

This was their pack. They’d made it. Through too-long filming days and new management. Through the pains of selling Ashley’s house. Through the ups and downs of funding her own freelance training.

Through deciding on a place to live, people to call home.

“How are you going to celebrate the rest of the evening?”

Cameron smiled. “Pizza.”

“Pizza?” the interviewer asked. “Favorite topping?”

“River,” Cameron answered, and Ashley gasped before squeezing his waist in admonishment.

With a snicker, Cameron led them down the line, answering random questions and getting a laugh out of everyone at least once before moving on.

It was a long night, and while Cameron loved schmoozing with his fellow castmates, and Ashley was beautiful in a deep purple floor-length gown, and each of his pack mates looked dashing in their suits, Cameron was aching for the chance to drop his mask and relax with his pack.

Weeks of press tours and interviews and lightning-round questions ended tonight .

Finally.

They’d only been moved into their place for a few months, still making it their own. Ashley had taken this to heart, and it turns out she didn’t mind movie-star money when it came to the pack house.

After making their rounds, Cameron leaned into River, inhaling, scenting the cologne Ashley had given him ages ago. He wore it daily, much to Cameron’s delight.

He could smell like his favorite beta any time he wanted.

“Ready for home?” River asked.

“Ready for pizza,” Cameron corrected, and he laughed. “Where are the other two?”

Cameron and River scanned the room, looking for?—

They both gasped as Ashley and Dylan strode toward them, hair mussed. Ashley’s lipstick was fresh.

“At the premiere, ” Cameron whispered, scandalized and… proud.

“God, she looks good,” River murmured. “Do you think she’d turn around and flex for us again?”

Cameron snorted, and then considered. She’d done it in the safety of their home.

“Maybe I am ready for home,” Cameron purred, and River chuckled darkly.

“Hey, lovebirds,” River teased as the two alphas approached.

“God, I think an attendant saw me. I can never come to another one of these,” Ashley said.

Cameron laughed. “You weren’t the first and you won’t be the last. Will you flex for us again?”

Ashley arched a brow at that before leaning closer, whispering. “Once we get home, I’ll do anything you want.”

“Pizza tomorrow?” he asked River.

He grinned. “Pizza tomorrow.”

Through his bonds, he felt everyone’s playful arousal.

“Are all premiere events this horny?” Dylan asked bluntly.

“Believe it or not, yes,” Cameron told him, and grabbed Ashley’s hand. “Let’s go home.”

“I like the sound of that,” she said.

With one hand in River’s and one in Ashley’s, Cameron made sure to beam for the stray photographers they passed. Dylan followed them intently, keeping an eye out for them. To this day they still hadn’t had an incident, and Dylan was striving to keep it that way.

They made it home safely, and Ashley indeed flexed for them. Ever since she’d gone freelance, her training had gotten more tailored to the few clients she kept, and god, was it showing. She was lifting more, and her defined arms in that dress were mouthwatering.

A few moments after they’d arrived, the doorbell rang, and Cameron glared at the door, up until the moment Dylan opened it and the scent of pizza trailed in.

“Nuh uh,” Cameron said, and rushed the alpha, kidnapping the pizzas right out of Dylan’s hands and leaving him to thank the driver.

“The event was plying everyone with too much alcohol and not enough food,” Ashley complained. “I ordered it on the way home.”

“You think of everything,” he said, and kissed her on the lips before setting the boxes on their dining room table.

Theirs.

Cam caught her gaze, and was overwhelmed with such a wave of emotion that his throat stuck.

River was there, leaning into him, offering his scent as he provided plates.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing wrong. The opposite,” he said. “I love this house, this pack, our lives.”

River pressed a kiss to the side of his head, and Cam felt his lips curl.

“Me too, Cam. Me too.”