Page 29 of Bliss & Her Idols (Pack Bonds Omegaverse #10)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Beach, Pack Bonds Island

“ I can’t do this.” Cricket’s breathing is shaky. His huge amber eyes are wild. He looks close to tipping into a panic attack for real. “Too many people.”

“Breathe.” I coax Cricket to lean against me, hiding his face against my neck to hide him from the cameras.

“In, out. That’s it. Keep your eyes on me.

I’m here. Not long until the opening ceremony begins.

We’re not here for anybody but Jin. We’re going to win him in this Pack Bonds contest. Then it’ll be official and legal.

It’s all that matters. Now, concentrate on how my fingers feel between yours. ”

I say official and legal pointedly because microphones were fixed to Cricket and my clothes the moment that we stepped off the boat this sunny Tuesday morning and onto the tiny, private island off the coast of America, which is named Pack Bonds Island.

I can’t talk about secret missions or being undercover, until we’re in the privacy of our bedroom, where there are no cameras and our microphones will be switched off.

I don’t know who sent us the invitations to take part in the televised contest to become part of Jin’s pack.

It’s part of the mystery and hype of the event that the invites are delivered like the type of hand delivered invitations to matching balls that elite packs send.

A vast bouquet of purple roses was delivered to Coffee Knot Tea, along with two golden cards in metallic writing:

Pack Bonds Island

You are invited to take part in a unique television reality show for Alphas and Omegas.

For the opportunity to form a pack on the island and then compete to win a bond with the rock Idol sensation, Ice Dragon.

Details will be sent to you over the next week.

Congratulations on being selected!

I was frozen in shock.

Who sent the invites to the contest?

Rory? Philomena? One of the other Idol siblings?

Jin?

The Omega resistance?

The one person I know didn’t send it to us is Torin.

The Alpha abandoned Cricket and me, while we were still crumpled on the hotel bed and sobbing, with a simple command for me to call my brother .

Then he stalked after Rory without a backward glance.

Seeing Jin dragged away by Rory, knowing that he was going to be forced into a bond and being unable to stop it, was one of the hardest moments of my life.

Torin hasn’t contacted me over the last week.

It made me realize that he never gave me his number. I guess that he doesn’t have mine either.

Cricket and I barely managed to get in a final hug, before Jin was pulled away from us.

Jin’s cheeks were wet with silent tears.

“Thanks,” Jin said as quickly as he could like Rory was going to steal his voice, as much as his freedom. “For letting me experience what a real pack is like even for a short while. I won’t forget it…forget you…”

He thought that he’d done his best to escape but that it hadn’t been enough.

That he’d found his pack, but it’d been taken from him.

He’s wrong.

Even before the bouquet of roses and the invite, I’d known that I was going to find a way to rescue Jin from this island of jagged cliffs and pine forests.

I investigated and discovered that the island had once been used by elite packs for hunting and fishing in lodges, along with rumored infamous wild parties.

Then it was bought by the Idols’ Head Alpha and transformed into a luxury hotel and estate, used for big events, including the annual Pack Bonds contest.

One Idol, often close to the end of their contract, is matched with the pack who wins the contest.

I’ve watched as many episodes as I can.

How many of these Betas were forced into the contest because they broke a rule? Tried to break free?

It’s been hard to tell from their expressions. They’re all too professional. Yet there’s a stiffness about their smiles that I recognize, now I know the difference between Jin’s real and fake one.

I’ve spent the last week, alternating eating too much chocolate fudge ice cream and pastries with Cricket, while planning with my brothers and Lionzio on how to break onto the mystery island.

Those plans have ranged between a full-scale attack with guns and grenades to hacking the security systems.

But now, we’re here. We have these invites. We’re going to win our Beta through this contest.

The only problem is that I don’t have any of the skills like singing or dancing needed to win.

Plus, Cricket is crushingly shy.

But when have I let my fears stop me?

No one else here loves Jin like I do, and that gives me the advantage.

Plus, I can always go with Plan B: Call in Chase with his grenades.

I glance around at the beach, which is small and lit by flaring torches that are set into the sand. A high cliff rises up steeply on one side.

Four other Omegas and four Alphas mill around, excitedly chatting and drinking champagne. A buzz of thrilling anticipation and tension is in the air like before a storm breaks.

The Omegas are in their twenties.

They’re all beautiful and elites.

Cricket is the only male Omega.

I recognize the Alphas.

They’re an influencer, tech billionaire, Traditional Governor, and oil baron (who must be in his sixties).

Have these Alphas paid to be in the show because they’re Jin fans? Because they want a chance to bond him?

My stomach turns.

Or is it only business to them? A way to get press attention?

The other contestants are dressed in designer black tie, sparkling ball gowns, or evening dresses.

I glance down at my outfit self-consciously, running my hand along the lace.

I wince, when my Rej bracelet jangles, definitely loudly enough for the microphones to pick up.

Cricket and I are the only two Rejects on the island.

Despair sweeps through me.

How are we going to compete against these elite Alphas and Omegas?

Piper stayed up throughout the last three nights in a row to sew us some outfits that would be worthy of being seen on this show.

Of course, he gave them his own punky spin.

Well, at least we’ll stand out.

Cricket is dressed in sturdy boots, black leather trousers with studs, and a loose, asymmetrical silver top that makes him look like a punky knight.

It also reveals a strip of his tanned shoulder, collar bone, and stomach.

I don’t think Cricket has any idea how irresistible he is.

I pat at the front of my black leather dress, which is lacy at the front with long slits at the side.

I’m wearing knee length leather boots.

My long, golden hair is caught back with gleaming wolf clips.

Lion gave them to me to make up for the clip that I lost.

I know that he must have spent everything he’s saved on them.

When Lionzio placed the clips into my palm, I tried to push them back into his hand.

It was my fault that I’d lost his first birthday gift.

But Lionzio firmly closed my fist around the clips.

“I wish that I could have added the same technology into these to keep you safe. But your brother insisted that he didn’t want to risk the producers picking up on it.

You’ve adopted me into your pack, Bliss.

You treat me like your best friend and brother, when I feel lost and alone.

I don’t deserve your kindness, but you granted it anyway.

You should have something on you that shows you’re proud of being a Wolf. ”

Now, I glance at Cricket.

I squeeze his hand twice in our private signal. His hand is clammy, but he squeezes back.

“Can you smell the salt on the sea breeze and hear the soft lull of the waves?” I say.

Cricket nods. “I’ve never been to the beach before. It’s on my bucket list. But I never thought that I’d really get to visit the sea. It looks like it goes on forever. Like magic.”

His breathing starts to slow.

I feel like I may have my own panic attack. I have to fight hard to hold onto my emotions.

Cricket has a bucket list? Is it because of his Omegaosis?

I drop my hand to his hard abdomen, massaging in a way that I know helps him with the pain.

Over the last week, I’ve made sure that he has a daily bath, hot water bottles, and a warm nest.

He never complains about the pain, even when he’s suffering.

He’s fucking brave.

I’ve also had long conversations with Chase about doctors and treatments.

I hate that Cricket sounds like he’s accepted that our pack is only a brief escape from the inevitable, as much as Jin did on the morning of my heat.

I won’t let him die.

I won’t.

I’m possessive enough to steal this Omega from death.

I know how to deal with panic attacks because Piper had them, when he was younger.

He didn’t grow up unscathed, after the vicious bullying that he went through at school. Kids are cruel to both Rejects and outcasts.

At least I was nearly out of high school before I learned that.

“Then can you see the moonlight dancing a path along the sea?” I press.

Cricket pulls back to study me.

He’s now calm enough to smile. “You sound like a poet Omega. I can see the moon and the sea, but isn’t the way that the light is catching it basic physics?”

I flick Cricket’s nose. “Geek.”

I’m pleased that I surprise a quick chirp out of him. “Proud of it.”

All of a sudden, there’s a flutter of excited chatter from the other contestants.

The cameramen, who are ringed around the beach, swivel to point toward the far end of the beach.

“Look,” I point. “It’s Serenity Bright.”

Serenity Bright is an impressively successful Beta, the presenter of the show.

She’s tall with black hair that falls to her waist around a shimmering ocean blue dress with pearl necklace like she’s a mermaid who has just emerged from the ocean.

The torches flare brighter at some unseen signal.

The Omegas squeal and clap.

“Welcome to the new season of Pack Bonds.” Serenity holds up her hands. She’s so commanding that even the Alphas fall silent. “We have something more special for you this week than any series that has come before. You’ll be competing with each other to win a bond. But shall I show you who with…?”

I grin. “What an entrance.”