Page 28 of Bliss & Her Idols (Pack Bonds Omegaverse #10)

“Stay behind me.” Torin’s voice is like sheeting ice.

Cricket struggles to push himself up with the same bravery, as if he was twice his actual size.

My heart is speeding. My pulse is roaring in my ears.

The door bangs open, slamming against the far wall.

An Alpha marches into the bedroom like it’s his room. In fact, as if the entire hotel is owned by him.

He’s shockingly pretty for an Alpha, slim and elegant with dirty blond curls. He looks to be in his early thirties. His eyes are green and cat-like. He’s dressed in a designer charcoal gray suit with a silk emerald handkerchief tucked into his suit pocket.

Who the hell is he?

Despite smelling like he’s in a rage, he’s holding himself tightly coiled.

It’s an impressive level of control.

The Alpha’s contemptuous gaze sweeps the room, lingering for a moment on Cricket and me.

Is that longing in his eyes, before he masks it?

I peer into the corridor outside.

My heart sinks, when I see that it’s swarming with Jin’s black suited security team.

There is no way to fight our way out of here.

Torin’s expression tightens, as he seems to do the same calculation.

“Brother,” the new Alpha says through clenched teeth, “quite a mess you’ve created for me.”

Brother?

Despite the fear, excitement winds through me at seeing one of the elusive Idol siblings.

My gaze slides to Torin, but he’s wearing a bored expression now, giving nothing away.

Yet Jin is trembling, clutching his arms around his middle.

His distress is enough to make me choke.

Torin shrugs. “Alphas will be Alphas. You know what it’s like, when you see an Omega you want.”

Rory bares his teeth, as if he wants to snap something but is holding himself back. “I don’t, as you well know.”

Something like regret flashes across Torin’s face, before he can hide it. “Watch your tone, Rory. What would Mena do, if she heard you talking to me like that? Have you forgotten your place in the pack in the couple of years that I’ve been away? Do I need to make you bare your neck?”

I gasp.

Making another Alpha bare their neck in submission is brutal. Doing it in public is the ultimate humiliation.

Jin ducks his head, letting his hair cover his face to avoid watching.

As if he’s seen this happen before.

“Why is Charming bullying his brother?” Cricket whispers.

I shake my head at a loss.

When I think of all the times that elite Omegas sneered, trying to put Piper and me in our place, it makes me shake.

I’d burn the world for Piper and Chase.

I had imagined that Torin was the bullied, younger brother within the pack and not the other way around.

Why is this older Alpha being deferential to Torin?

Fear and shame flit across Rory’s expression.

He takes a hurried step toward his taller brother. “Please, Torin, I’m only doing my job. I haven’t forgotten that I’m the adopted son. When do any of you let me forget that?”

Torin snatches Rory by the tie and yanks him closer. “Careful, brother, that sounded like you were complaining.”

When I stare at this cold, deadly man, it’s like I don’t know Torin at all.

Yet I became so close to Torin during the heat.

Except, the Alpha in front of me now…?

He’s dangerous. Not to Cricket, Jin, or me. But to anyone who he sees as a threat.

This side of him is both frightening, and I have to admit it, thrilling.

After all, Rory is the manager who has made Jin’s life hell.

Jin is slouching like he’s trying to appear invisible but at the same time, he’s subtly blocking his manager’s view of Cricket and me.

Rory pales, when Torin toys with his tie; he doesn’t try to free himself from Torin’s grasp.

“I wasn’t…I mean… I don’t want to be chasing after you either.

What do you think the twins have been doing to me for the last few days, while you’ve been rutting because you made such a big spectacle and I let my Idol ruin his career?

I’m that asshole’s manager. Everything he fails to do properly falls on me as well.

It always has. If the Betas aren’t perfect, then I’m not as well.

It’s okay for you. You got to escape to Ireland. ”

“Is it,” Torin says, quietly, “okay for me, huh?”

“Look, your knot is bigger than mine, brother. Pissing contest over. You’re the one who carried some Omega away in your arms like you’d turned feral. I’m happy that I’m not the one answering for this stunt. Hey, Omegas, he didn’t bond you, right?”

“Don’t talk to them, brother.” Torin growls, yanking Rory up onto his tiptoes. “Someone like you doesn’t even look in their direction.”

The smaller Alpha desperately grabs at his tie, scrabbling at it to try and loosen it.

I notice that he doesn’t dare to shove Torin away or break free.

My throat is tight. “Let him go. You don’t need to fight my battles for me. I don’t want you to hurt him.”

“You’re protective. I understand that you would be just after a rut,” Rory rasps.

Torin finally lets Rory go with a push, and Rory stumbles, rubbing at his neck. “You’re lucky that Bliss is more forgiving than I am. Don’t disrespect any of my pack again.”

“ Your pack? ” Rory is breathing hard. “Oh, you have it bad, brother. They’re not your bonded pack. Mena would never allow it.”

Is Mena Philomena , the Head Alpha?

Torin stiffens like he’s only just realized what he’s said.

My chest tightens.

Please don’t take it back.

Torin’s eyes narrow. “Bliss is my scent match. It has brought out my possessive, dominant side. Just because Mena has forbidden you from using that useless knot of yours, doesn’t mean that she won’t let me.”

I wince.

Harsh.

Rory looks like he may cry. He pushes the hair from his face, as if he needs to do something with his hands.

Then he bursts out, unable to hold the words behind his teeth anymore, “You know what…? Fuck you, Torin. Kick my ass or make me bare my neck. You don’t respect me.

No one does. You’ve been able to act the playboy, however, writing songs and lazing around for years.

I didn’t get to choose my job but now, I’m that Idol’s manager.

You may think that you can pick your pack but you can’t have him . ”

Rory backs up a step like he’s expecting Torin to attack him.

Cricket’s gaze is flicking between the two men.

Instead of launching himself on Rory, however, Torin simply takes a deliberate step between Rory and Jin.

“He’s my pack now,” he simply says.

Jin raises his head, laying his hand on Torin’s shoulder. “And he’s mine, sir.”

Rory blinks. “I must not have made myself clear. Our sister will no doubt find you a lovely little Omega and Beta to bite and bond at some elite matching ball, just like she did for Una. But you know the rules with Idols. They’re not chocolates that you can select and taste.”

Torin gives a wicked smirk. “But they’re so delicious.”

“You’re impossible. I advise you not to push me, brother.

” Rory clicks his fingers at Jin like he’s a dog.

“Here, Idol. You have some explaining to do back on the estate. Then you have appointments and practice. You have a lot to catch up on. I’ve had to rearrange things on your schedule three times. Let’s go.”

Cricket and I throw ourselves forward, grabbing hold of Jin’s arms.

Jin’s shaking but trying hard to appear strong. “I don’t want to go with you, sir.”

Rory gapes at him. “What?”

“These two Omegas,” Jin smiles down at Cricket and me, “have shown me that I’m not your possession, sir. I’m not just an Idol . You can’t treat me like this. I’m worth more than that.”

Torin grips Jin by the chin, kissing him deeply. “Proud of you.”

Rory sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I need a drink.”

Cricket bounces on his toes. “We’re rebelling.”

“I can see that.” Rory taps his foot. Then he looks at Jin with an edge of desperation that I don’t understand.

“Come on, Idol. We can still salvage this situation. The PR department have set up some good interviews with friendly journalists, where we can spin all of this. Then we’ll drop a new song as soon as possible.

I’m harsh, I know. But I’m on your side. I’m trying to help. Don’t make me…”

“What?” My throat is tight. I know that tone. “What are you going to do?”

When Rory’s gaze meets mine, his green eyes spark with a mix of frustration and defiance. “You simply need to sign NDAs—”

“Not happening.”

He grits his teeth. “Idol, this is your last chance to return to the estate with me. I have already given you more chances than Mena told me to. Immortal has been sent to the Re-education House because of you.” I don’t know what the Re-education House is, but it’s clearly nothing good because both Torin and Jin look like they want to hurl.

“I’ll pretend that I haven’t heard you break the rules about sharing our secrets with outsiders.

Do you know the risks that I’m taking for you?

If you don’t obey me this time, then I will go with option two, and I promise you that you’ll hate it. Here. ”

He clicks his fingers again.

“I’m a Dragon and not a dog,” Jin drawls. “Fuck. Off.”

Rory looks so shocked that I’m certain no Idol has cussed at him in public before.

Torin laughs, running his fingers through Jin’s frost white hair. “Only I can tame dragons.”

Suddenly, Rory looks very tired. “Don’t you remember last time you tried?

Did you think that because this time it was in public, our sister would have changed her mind?

That she’d have cooled off and would let you have some fairy tale happily ever after?

You can push me around as much as you like but you’re still my baby brother. I protect you from Mena.”

Torin looks startled and taken aback. “I don’t understand.”

“When did you?” Rory snaps. “Jin has broken too many rules. Mena wants to make an example out of him. If you try to fight now, then Mr. Stapleton and those nice men outside with the guns, are ordered to drive you to the Alpha Center to be locked up for the remainder of the year. It won’t be as fun as your stint in Dublin.

Your precious Omegas will be taken separately to the Institute for, as they put it in their own words, being rebellious .

They’ll probably be auctioned and bonded to some other pack, once they’re reconditioned.

If they speak about any of this to the press, then our lawyers will eviscerate you. ”

Cricket whimpers in distress.

I’m frozen in fear.

No, please, no.

I want to rage, shout, scream.

Just how powerful is this Idol pack that they can order that?

“I’m going to kill you, Rory,” Torin says with such quiet intensity that I believe him.

So does his brother.

Rory hugs his arms around himself. “I’m trying to protect you, whether you believe it or not.

You’re an asshole. The Idol only had a year left on his contract.

Why couldn’t you dumbasses have waited that out, huh?

Mena may have let you bid on him after that.

But now, she wants him to be the star of the show in a week’s time. ”

Jin makes a sound like his soul is being torn from him.

Dread grips my throat.

I remember Cricket showing me the evidence of the rulebook:

A rock star Beta who divulges to journalists or fans the Idols’ rules, training regime, or punishments will be matched with an Alpha and Omega in the Pack Bonds TV show. Idols cannot refuse this bond.

I can hardly get out the words. “You’re going to force Jin into a bond.”

Rory smooths down his tie, until it’s wrinkle free. “I’m going to allow the top singer in the country to salvage his public image on a beautiful island paradise. All he needs to do is appear on a televised show to find his perfect, bonded pack, and you’ll all be saved.”