Page 46 of Bliss & Her Idols (Pack Bonds Omegaverse #10)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Dining Room, Idol Manor

I sweep with the long train of my dress dramatically swishing behind me like a top elite Omega into the dining room. I struggle with the desire to hide my Rej bracelet by holding my hand behind my back.

In such a grand setting, knowing that we’re about to meet Torin’s family who are strangers to us, Cricket is walking behind me. I can hear how fast his breathing is. His shaking hand is resting on my shoulder, as if he’d fall apart without the touch.

This may be the hardest part of my mission: meeting my Alpha’s family and kissing their asses.

Kicking them would be fun.

Yet Torin’s plan relies on hiding in plain sight, while he quietly plans his coup.

He needs his second sister, Una, to back him.

I take a steadying breath.

I never intended to win over anyone’s family. At the same time, however, it’s equally hard to hide the journalistic thrill that I’ll be meeting the secretive Idols pack.

Rory is pretty but complicated.

What will these other Alphas be like?

After my parents were shockingly arrested and then killed, my brothers and I became each other’s worlds. We chose to love each harder, rather than let the worst thing that could have happened to us break us apart.

Why did Torin’s parents’ deaths do the opposite to his family?

Or were the problems already there?

Torin’s eyes are hard like cold glass. He’s been stiff and silent from the moment that we left his bedroom, leading the way through the imposing hush of the manor next to Rory.

Rory casts Torin quick glances like a kicked puppy.

I don’t know what to make of Rory.

Did he mean his apology?

Rory is one of the prettiest Alphas I’ve seen, but also, one of the most confusing.

He’s been harsh as Jin’s manager. He betrayed Torin to the Head Alpha, leading to Torin being exiled from the pack.

Yet he’s also the closest in age to Torin. I know what it’s like to crave a relationship with your brother.

Rory practically vibrates with his desperation to be loved around Torin. Rory isn’t ignoring his brother. It feels more like he’s the one who is begging to be seen.

But why?

What’s truly going on in this pack of beautiful but troubled Alphas?

The formal dining room has high molded ceilings in dazzling white. Light washes through from the wall to ceiling domed windows, which look out over the terrace and manicured rose garden.

The white walls have been painted with giant musical notes in duck egg blue. A modern light hangs from the ceiling like three tangled guitars.

A vast mahogany table runs the length of the room. It gleams mirror-like. It’s been laid with platters of pastries, fresh fruit, sweet potato pancakes, sage scented sausages, and crispy bacon.

My stomach grumbles.

I’d forgotten how long it has been since I’ve eaten.

A willowy woman in her forties sits in the high backed chair at the head of the table. She’s dressed in a simple, white dress and no jewellery.

She doesn’t need the adornments. She’s as classically beautiful as a Grecian statue.

I could have told that she was Torin’s sister, Una, by the shade of her long, black hair, however, which falls gently to her shoulders with glints of gray threading through it.

Also, by her blue eyes.

The startling difference, however, is that they’re not hunter cold like Torin’s are.

Instead, they’re doe-soft.

“There you are,” Una says in a dreamy voice. “We were about to send out a rescue mission.”

Rory stumbles, hitting his hip into the side of the table, rattling the plates.

He winces. “Sorry, Una. We’re here now. This is—”

“We know who the Omegas are, dumbass. We were watching the show. It was riveting.” A handsome man, who appears about a decade younger than Una, drawls.

Now, this man is definitely a hunter.

“Like a car crash,” the man, who is sprawled in the chair next to him on the far side of the table and looks identical to him, adds with a smirk.

Since the twins are also dressed the same in suave black suits with pearly white waistcoats, it’s impossible to tell which Alpha is Devin and which Aran.

They laugh mockingly.

Torin stiffens but doesn’t reply.

I bite my cheek.

Don’t react.

This is fucking hard.

My skin crawls, and I haven’t even met these Alphas properly yet.

I study the twins.

They’re both as beautiful as the other siblings, but there’s a sadistic gleam to their eyes and a scornful uplift to their lips that makes them ugly to me.

Their crow-black hair is longer than Torin’s is. It falls to their sharp jaws, past even sharper cheekbones. Their smiles are as nasty as the look in their blue eyes.

“I’m always happy to entertain you,” Torin deadpans.

“And you never let us down.” The first twin laughs again.

Cricket tightens his hold on me.

Torin brushes his fingers lightly over my hip in warning.

I understand.

Torin told us to stay away from the twins.

Since Torin knows how much danger Cricket and I have already faced in our lives, it makes my mouth dry with fear about what these men must be capable of.

What they must have done to the Betas under their care.

Plus, to Torin.

The twins nudge each other. Then they move as one, standing up and prowling toward Torin.

Torin immediately takes a step back from Cricket and me, leading the wolves away from us to protect our scent.

Rory neatly steps in front of us at the same time to create an additional barrier.

It takes me by surprise.

The twins circle Torin, who stands casually with his hands in his pockets, as if he’s not bothered.

I know Torin well enough by now, however, to tell that this only shows just how much he hates this.

“Tortor, we’ve missed you,” the first twin, who appears to be the more dominant of the two, declares with an enthusiasm that I can tell is faked.

Torin flinches on the Tortor .

“Plus, you’ve brought us sweet souvenirs.

Always so considerate.” The second twin casts what he probably thinks is a seductive look at me, but actually makes me want to knee him in the balls.

Then he beckons at Cricket. “Don’t be shy, sweetheart.

Aren’t you just the cutest thing? You’re too tiny for Tortor.

The brute will probably break you. Why don’t you come and sit on my lap over breakfast? I’ll keep you safe.”

Cricket backs even further behind me. “Don’t touch me.”

He’s shaking.

“They’re my Omegas.” Torin’s voice is as cold as ice. “My promised bonds. Nobody can touch them. They’re under my protection.”

“Also, under my protection.” Rory’s voice breaks with nerves, but he puffs up his chest.

Surprised, I blink.

Does Rory mean that?

The first twin shoots Rory a disgusted look. “Shut up and sit down, mother hen, before we make you.”

“Here, Rory.” Una pats the chair to her left-hand side.

Reluctantly, Rory walks to Una, pulling back the velvet chair and sitting down.

Una reaches out and adjusts Rory’s tie, brushing his hair back from his face.

Rory doesn’t protest but he doesn’t look at his sister either.

The first twin chuckles. “You always get so angry. It’s only a joke. Still can’t take a bit of teasing?”

“He’s forgotten all his manners in Ireland. I did hear from our cousins that you’d turned into a hermit. It seems we have some work to do with you,” the second twin sneers. “We’re already thoroughly re-educating Immortal, and that’s your Beta’s fault.”

I bite my lip hard not to growl.

The thought of Immortal being re-educated by these Alphaholes makes me want to hurl.

Torin is right. We must find Immortal and save him, before we take on this brutal idol system.

“Now, Tortor, come sit down and tell us all about your latest fuck up.” The first twin grabs Torin by one arm, while the second twin grabs him by the other.

They drag him to the table and push him down to sit between them like a hostage situation.

I dither, still standing, unsure what to do.

Una catches my eye and smiles kindly. She smells of gentle, herbal tea.

It settles my jangled nerves.

“Why don’t you sit by me?” Una pats the chair on the opposite side of the table to Rory. “Cricket, isn’t it? You sit closest and then Bliss beside Devin.”

I grit my teeth.

Fun.

I get to dine next to the most dominant of the playboy twins, Devin.

I hold onto Cricket’s hand as I trail to sit down next to Devin.

I slip into my seat, glancing under my eyelashes at the delicious food. My mouth waters.

Next to me, Cricket ducks his head.

“We’re family now. There’s no need to be shy or stand on ceremony.

” Una leans closer to Cricket to whisper, “my youngest Omega daughter finds it hard to meet strangers. She would hate this situation too. If you need to leave, just go. I won’t hold it against you.

The last thing that I’d want is to give my brother’s Omega a panic attack. ”

Cricket looks up at her, startled. “Really?”

Una picks up an éclair and places it onto her plate, licking her fingers, before placing a second one onto Rory’s plate. “Really.”

Cricket exchanges a glance with me, before relaxing. “Thank you, Mrs. Idol.”

“No need to be so formal. Mrs. Idol makes me feel old. Call me Una.”

“Una,” Cricket repeats, giving her a shy smile.

Una pats his hand, smiling warmly. “Good boy.”

Torin watches the exchange in surprise.

Cricket is doing better on our charm offensive, than the rest of us.

“Now, everybody start eating,” Una commands. “Torin, make sure that your Omegas get enough. They must be starving, after you left that horrible island in such a rush.”

“I can help myself.” I grab my fork and snag a sausage.

I deposit one onto Cricket’s plate and then another onto my own plate. The fat sausages smell of sage.

When I bite into the juicy sausage, I can’t hold back the moan.

I devour it in three bites. “Wow, that’s amazing.”

Una looks pleased. “My Beta is in charge of the kitchens here. They pride themselves on both the fresh ingredients, which are grown on the grounds, and their cooking.”

“Impressive.”