Page 30 of Bliss & Her Idols (Pack Bonds Omegaverse #10)

All of a sudden, the rocky strains of “Caged Dreams” burst out across the beach.

Then strobing lights sweep over the moonlit clifftop.

I shield my eyes and look up, along with everyone else.

“My Dragon,” Cricket whispers.

Jin is standing on the cliff like something out of a fantasy novel.

He’s wearing a shimmering, ice blue silk suit with a satin coat that’s billowing around him like a dragon’s wings.

His frost colored hair is untamed.

He looks otherworldly.

Impossibly beautiful.

Untouchable.

I know that it’s all an image for the television show.

Yet I can’t believe that this is the same playful Beta who sat with Cricket tangled on his lap, while casually handfeeding me.

The one who happily cusses.

And desperately wants to be loved more than anything.

Jin isn’t moving. He isn’t even looking down at the Omegas and Alphas, who are clapping like he’s no more than a pretty prize.

Except, isn’t that what Jin is?

I hate that his face is mask-like. His eyes are flat.

Dead.

I can’t take it anymore.

“Jin!” I jump up and down, waving at the Beta.

Cricket appears to forget his social anxiety, waving as well. “Hey, we’re here! Down here!”

I hear a laugh and realize that it’s the presenter.

I flush but don’t care.

What I care about most is that Jin’s eyes widen, before he breaks position to peer down at the beach.

Jin’s gaze meets mine, before he gasps.

Then he breaks into a wide grin.

Jin waves back, before he catches himself and seems to remember where he is.

He forces himself back into position, shuttering his expression.

Yet his eyes twinkle with life now.

Hope.

Good.

Happiness surges through me.

Bringing that look back into Jin’s eyes is everything.

I clench my jaw.

No matter what trials I need to go through in this contest, it’s worth it to bring the life into that man’s eyes.

“Now, you’ve seen your reward,” Serenity smirks, “here’s your first task. Match up in packs of twos or threes. You’ve had a chance to mingle and see who you’d like to work with. Here’s the twist. If you win the Idol, then you’ll bond him together.”

The Alphas and Omegas pretend to look shocked and cast each other coy looks but they’ve been assessing each other from the moment that they stepped out here.

This was the one element that I was prepared to stand firm on.

I grab Cricket by the arm. “We’re making an Omega pack.”

Cricket raises his chin.

His voice is more even than I’m expecting. “I choose Bliss.”

Stunned silence falls over the group.

The influencer, Craven, begins to film us on his phone.

One of the Omegas with ginger hair in a pretty bob gives us a sneaky thumbs up, along with a grin.

I smile back.

This show is being shown not only around America but also, around the world.

I’m already marked as a Reject. I can’t be punished worse for being rebellious, while Chase is my Head Alpha.

Chase will be proud and not angry about my speaking up. He wants my voice to be heard.

I can, therefore, challenge the prejudices in society.

Serenity looks unsure what to say. “That’s not… I’m not…” Then she smiles to cover her awkwardness. “It’s against the rules to have a pack without an Alpha. You don’t want to be disqualified on the first night, do you?”

Jin lets out a startled cry, taking a step dangerously close to the edge of the cliff.

I gesture at Jin wildly. He takes a quick step back.

I get the point.

“We’re not separating,” I insist. “There must be a compromise.”

“That’s fine.” Serenity gestures at the other Alphas. “There’s nothing against an Alpha taking two Omegas.”

One of the smallest Omegas with black hair tightly coiled on her head in a bun, who is dressed in a sequin dress with diamond, star earrings, snorts. “As if.”

The tech billionaire, Montserrat, who has already paired with her, squares her shoulders.

She’s the only female Alpha. She’s also the wealthiest person on the show.

She slings her arm possessively around her Omega’s shoulders. “Easter, I’d never take another Omega.”

Montserrat is a short Alpha in her twenties with intelligent eyes.

“Who would want to pair with them ?” Easter sneers. “They’re Rejects. Why were they allowed on this island? They don’t deserve any Idol. What kind of Alpha would want Omegas like them in their pack?”

The other Alphas chuckle and nod, hurriedly matching with the remaining Omegas in case they’re going to be forced to match the Rejects.

Cricket’s eyes blaze.

He takes a step in front of me. “Say what you like about me. But Bee is the best Omega in the world. She’s better than any of you pampered Omegas.”

When several of the Omegas and Alphas only laugh mockingly at him, and the cameras focus on the way that Cricket’s hands are shaking, I pull him back.

“They’re the ones who aren’t worth it,” I say, quietly. “But thanks for having my back.”

Inside, I’m panicking.

What the fuck are we going to do?

Are we about to fail at the first task because these snobs won’t match with us?

I sweep my gaze desperately across the Alphas’ faces.

Craven is still recording us with a cruel little smile.

Only the Traditional Governor, who paired with the ginger haired Omega, is casting us a sympathetic look.

Yet he’s the last type of Alpha who’d want us, right? He’s definitely the last type of Alpha that we’d want.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

This is worse than in school, when you’re meant to pair up in sport or for assignments but no one wants to pair with you.

I know what that feels like.

Deep humiliation flushes my cheeks.

Unexpectedly, I’m filled with a heavy sensation that someone is watching me.

Hurriedly, I turn to stare at the base of the cliff and find myself looking into mesmerizing blue eyes.

I shiver.

I know who it is like a tugging at my soul, before Torin swaggers out into the torchlight.

The light dances shadows like tiny demons over his sharp cheekbones and strong jawline.

Torin’s thick, black hair is neatly brushed back from his face. He’s wearing a suave, velvet three piece suit that matches his eyes.

I’m pretty sure that he’s the only man who is gorgeous enough to pull off that look.

He’s like royalty.

I guess he is music royalty.

Torin’s pheromones are so dominant that every person on the beach instantly turns their attention to him.

I take it back.

Now, that’s an entrance.

Serenity smiles. “In an added twist, the youngest Idol Alpha, Torin, will be joining us this season. But what pack will he choose to join or save?”

I know that she means Cricket and me.

She’s mocking us.

Instantly, the other contestants burst into eager chatter.

The elite Omegas preen, simper, or cast Torin flirtatious glances.

I growl, before I can stop myself.

Cricket takes a step forward, trying to catch Torin’s eye.

Sweet optimist.

I deliberately cross my arms and look away at Jin instead.

Jin is staring down at Torin, no longer able to control himself, as if Torin is his white knight.

Another optimist.

How did I end up surrounded by them?

Perhaps, Torin and I are more alike than I’d want to admit? He’s definitely not the sunny one of the pack.

Except, he’s not my pack is he?

I swallow.

Once, there was a time, when I believed that there was only light in the world. I didn’t understand the darkness that lay just under the surface of what we call civilization.

Once, I wouldn’t have raised even my voice to an Alpha.

Once, I would have argued that a good Omega should suffer injustice submissively because I didn’t know just how brainwashed I was.

I didn’t understand that sometimes an Omega needs to fight back with fists and fangs as fiercely as any Alpha.

Because you’re fighting for good.

I take a steadying breath.

Saving Jin from his forced bond, working out what’s truly going on with the Idol Alphas on their estate, then taking down their music empire to save every Idol, is what’s good.

And I’m the Omega journalist to do it.

I watch with narrowed eyes, as Torin strolls, blissfully unaware, between the elite Omegas who are fangirling over him.

Cricket is shaking.

I rest my hand on his elbow.

Easter beckons to Torin. “Why don’t you join our pack? You need an Omega from a good family like me. You could certainly be Second Alpha to—”

“Do I look like a Second Alpha to anyone?” Torin’s voice is like a dagger carved out of ice.

The Omega whimpers, grabbing onto the tech billionaire.

Cricket looks delighted.

Torin ignores everyone else like they’re invisible, never taking his gaze from me.

My cheeks redden.

Torin brushes past Serenity, as if she doesn’t exist either, which makes her smile drop.

Then he grabs Cricket in his arms, spinning him around. “I missed you, my little darlings.” When he places Cricket down, Cricket looks dazed. “You’re both the most beautiful Omegas here. The choice is easy. I’d be honored if you’d match with me as your Alpha.”

Is he serious?

I glance over his shoulder.

The other Alphas are staring at Torin in amazement.

Easter is furious.

The Omegas are frowning, glancing at the cameras.

This is going to be the viral clip . Torin has made sure of it.

He knows how to play with the press. I’ll need to be careful of that.

He also knows how to play me because he’s standing so close to me that his delicious scent of vanilla tea is winding around me. All I want is to kiss his plush lips.

I can remember the feel of his giant knot stretching me in a way that I’ve never been filled before.

By Torin’s knowing look, he knows what I’m thinking.

I hurriedly clear my throat. “Offer accepted.”

“Oh, you romantic,” Torin teases. “Mo stoirin?”

Cricket chirps, which is answer enough. “Alpha.”

Torin leans closer, pretending to inspect my new wolf clip but really in order to whisper in my ear, “Did I make enough of an impression?”

Warmth floods through me, no matter how angry I still am with Torin for ghosting me for a week.

“Oh yeah,” I murmur. “They’re sick with envy. But only because they haven’t met you properly yet.”

When Torin chuckles, his hot breath gusts against my ear.

My eyelashes flutter.

“But I’m charming, remember?” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.

“You’re an Alphahole.”

“That sounded almost like thank you.” Torin draws back with a raised eyebrow.

“Don’t forget that bees sting,” I mutter. “Especially knots.”

“Ouch.” He winces. “Vicious.”

By Torin’s grin, however, I’m pretty sure that’s how he likes his Omegas.

When I glance up at the clifftop, Jin is grinning now too.

I wave at Jin again just because I can and I’m so happy that despite the dangers ahead of us, we’re united together on this island. Also, most importantly, because Jin has been brought fully alive again.

Serenity claps her hands together. “You’re now all matched in packs. Get a good sleep tonight because tomorrow the first big tasks will begin. You’ll be competing to win special dates and the chance to bond with the best singer in America. Good luck.”