Page 33 of Bliss & Her Idols (Pack Bonds Omegaverse #10)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Band Room, Pack Bonds Island

“ I ’m going to be sick.” Cricket is pale.

He’s eying the line of instruments — a drum set, violin, piano, recorder, and electric guitar — that stand on the raised stage at the back of the Band Room like they may leap up and bite him.

I know how he feels.

My own pulse is racing. My hair is sweaty. I wrinkle my nose at the musty, sweet smell of old wood.

I’ve been eying the instruments in the same way from the moment that the producers led us into this Band Room after breakfast for the first task. The Band Room is circled by hidden cameras.

I have no idea how to play any of those instruments.

I wince at the type of sounds that I’ll produce if I even try.

It won’t be pretty.

Worryingly, the other packs who strolled in looking relaxed and rested reacted to seeing what was laid out on the stage with varying degrees of delight and excitement.

Easter, the small black haired Omega, even clapped.

The only Alpha who became ashen, before sneering and dragging out his phone and ignoring everyone around him, was the college aged influencer, Craven.

“Don’t worry, think of it this way. If you hurl, you’ll create the first viral moment of the show.

” Torin’s lips quirk, as he lays a reassuring arm around Cricket’s shoulders.

He makes the brave decision, considering how close Cricket truly does look to vomiting, to drag him against his neck.

“Breathe in my pheromones, mo stoirin. There’s nothing to panic about.

I was telling the truth, when I introduced myself as a musician.

Just relax and watch me make love to the guitar. ”

I snort. “You do know that we’re wearing microphones, right?”

Torin smirks. “I haven’t forgotten. Did you think that I was only speaking to you?”

I let out a surprised laugh.

Torin wants the world to watch him perform.

Now I’m intrigued.

I could barely sleep last night. I awoke exhausted but to the delicious scent of coffee mingled with tea.

When my eyes fluttered open, I found myself staring into Torin’s icy blue eyes.

He was holding out a mug of coffee to me.

He was already dressed in black jeans and an Ice Dragon limited edition band top.

His hair looked artfully mussed in a way that must have taken him at least an hour in front of the mirror.

“You hero,” I murmured, taking the mug from him.

Torin kissed my forehead. “I don’t want to risk caffeine withdrawal turning you feral. Well, after having a taste of being pinned down by both my feral Omegas yesterday, maybe it’d be fun to play with that.”

I could get used to Torin bringing me coffee each morning. I especially could become addicted to the tea tinged coffee scent.

The Band Room is large with windows that look out over the pine forests. Sun streams through the windows, gleaming off the wooden floors and the crystal chandeliers that hang from the high ceilings.

A silver throne, which is carved with untamed dragons, stands to the side of the instruments on the stage.

The other Alphas and Omegas are still dressed in suits and expensive dresses.

Cricket and I are defiantly wearing matching leather trousers and tight short sleeved tops that are the same amber color as Cricket’s eyes.

If the elites want to treat us like we’re the Reject pack…?

Then we’ll make sure that we’re the rebel pack.

Torin’s pupils dilated, when he saw us standing together in matching clothes like punky Omega twins. “Would the producers mind if we turned up late because I tore off your outfits with my teeth?”

Cricket blushed. “I would. These clothes were gifts from Bee’s brilliant brother.”

“Then how much can I pay him to make me some?” Torin tilted his head. “My ass would look amazing in leather trousers.”

My mouth dried.

He didn’t need to pay Piper because I would.

Torin’s ass would look fucking biteable.

To my surprise, the Omega with ginger hair in a pretty bob, who gave me a sneaky thumbs up last night at the opening ceremony, crosses the room toward us.

Cricket stiffens. “What does she want?”

I step protectively in front of Cricket.

The woman, who is wearing a simple white dress, waves at me with a friendly grin. Taken aback, I wave back.

The Traditional Governor hovers at the Omega’s side, awkwardly.

He’s handsome and in his late thirties. Dressed in a navy suit, which makes his deep blue eyes pop, he is the only elite Alpha here who hasn’t cast contemptuous glances at me.

“Hey,” the Omega says, when she’s close enough, “I’m Leah. And this is Sawyer. Overwhelming, right? Did your Head Alpha put you up to this as well? Is your matched Alpha being a gentleman?”

She rambles in a breathless, endearing way.

She also glances at Torin suspiciously, which I can’t blame her for considering just how much of a dominantly dangerous playboy he comes across.

Also, Cricket appears close to collapsing after only one night with him.

Of course, Torin may be an elite but he’s anything but a gentleman.

Torin looks like he’s trying very, very hard not to say anything in his defense.

I let out a breath of relief.

I love Omegas like Leah because Omega solidarity is everything.

“So overwhelming,” I agree. “Don’t worry. My Alpha looks like a cold wolf but really…” Next to me, Torin is virtually vibrating with furious, dominant pheromones. Am I going there? Oh yeah, I am . “…he’s a soft puppy inside.”

Sawyer bursts out laughing, before he pretends that it’s a coughing fit.

Torin shoots him a dirty look.

So much for Alpha solidarity.

“And is your Alpha treating you right?” I check in. “Being a gentleman ?”

The way that Leah’s cheeks tint with pink, before she smiles softly at Sawyer, says it all.

She nods, while Sawyer drops his hand to the hollow of her back.

“I’m glad that we matched.” Leah bites her lip.

“But don’t worry, neither of us chose to be here.

Our packs entered us for the show. It’s like that for pretty much everyone here.

I saw what happened in the opening ceremony, you know, how Jin looked at you guys.

You want to be together because you love each other, right? ”

Startled, I hush her.

I know that it’s too late for the microphones not to have picked it up.

Shit.

Leah shrugs. “Why hide it? Sawyer and I don’t want to match with someone whose heart is already won. This contest is cruel.”

Then it hits me.

This brave Omega, who doesn’t have a Rej bracelet around her wrist, is as much a rebel as I am.

She’s made the decision to say these things as her protest. She wants everybody at home to know what’s going on.

When I meet her gaze, I realize that we both understand each other.

I rest my hand on her shoulder for a moment. “We’re going to win our Beta.”

“Then good luck.” Sawyer is holding his hand out to Torin.

Torin’s eyes widen in surprise, before he takes Sawyer’s hand.

I never expected that a Traditional Governor would be on our side. Has witnessing this forced bond at the same time as finding his own Omega changed his outlook?

Will he become more liberal now?

Sometimes, change happens one person at a time.

I’ll take it.

“Thanks.” Torin shakes Sawyer’s hand firmly.

Unexpectedly, the drapes are yanked shut, plunging the room into darkness.

Omegas squeal in distress and yell out.

I take a step toward Cricket. He rests his hand on my waist.

I peer through the darkness, as my heart pounds.

Then Serenity’s voice winds through the shadows. “The first task in this year’s Pack Bonds will test your musical suitability to be matched with the best Idol singer.”

Suddenly, the stage is illuminated again.

I gasp.

Jin is now seated on the dragon throne.

He looks like an Ice Dragon King.

He’s dressed in a pale blue satin suit, which is covered by a gleaming silver robe. It is edged with metallic flames. His hair has been piled onto his head, held up by glittering clips like chips of ice.

He’s staring ahead expressionless, as if he’s been transformed into a beautiful marble statue.

He’s been made untouchable again.

I feel like his skin would be cold, when I know just how warm it is under my fingertips.

I can just make out Zoe, who is dressed all in black, hovering behind the throne.

“When the spotlight lands on one member of your pack,” the ghostly voice of Serenity continues, “step forward onto the stage to play to entertain your Dragon.”

“Wait,” Torin calls out, alarmed, “don’t we get to choose who plays?”

There’s a pause, as if Serenity is startled and unsure what to do now that their Idol sibling has gone off script.

“Contestants are not in charge of this game,” Serenity’s testy voice replies.

That’s bad.

My mouth becomes dry.

What the fuck do I do, if I have to produce a sound out of one of those instruments?

It won’t only be humiliating, but we’ll be sent home.

Now, I want to be sick.

Behind me, I can hear how fast Cricket’s breathing has become.

“Breathe,” I whisper, at the same time as Torin does. “In, out.”

If Cricket is chosen, he’ll put on a performance all right. But it’ll be the performance of an Omega having a panic attack.

“Give your best tribute to Ice Dragon,” Serenity announces, “because he will choose to give one of you a rose. They will be granted a reward. He will also be giving the one who performed the worst a withered rose. Then they and their pack will immediately be asked to leave Pack Bonds Island.”

Shocked whispers sweep through the room.

I clench my hands.

Instantly, spotlights rake across the contestants.

I stiffen, as if the lights are machine gunfire.

I feel like I should be diving for cover. Shouldn’t I be using Craven or Easter as a shield?

I’d rather face bullets than this.

Please, don’t stop on me.

Behind me, Cricket whimpers.

When the spotlight stops on Craven, my shoulders slump in relief.

Thank fuck.

Craven looks like he may have a panic attack.

Then he straightens his shoulders, before marching onto the stage, as if he’s walking to his execution.