Page 30 of Knot Our Reality (Heated #5)

Gavin

A s the last suitors and with our date on the same day as the rose ceremony, we’re given an hour to get cleaned up before Bree needs us back in the second-floor living room to meet the other suitors and for our interview.

I take a quick shower to wash away the dust from the ride back in the UTVs. Not only was I still slightly damp from our swim, but George hadn’t been kidding when he said he was going to take us for a ride. It was amazing.

It’s not something I would’ve signed up for on my own, but I think it would be fun to come back one day and do their all-day excursion package. If I have the right people to come with me, that is.

Because I know I’ll have to wear a tux to the rose ceremony tonight, I just pull on a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. I’m only going to be wearing the clothes long enough for the interview and dinner before having to get ready for the ceremony. Best to just go casual.

I still have some time before we’re supposed to meet with Bree, but I decide to head downstairs now. Maybe some of the other suitors will be there too.

Paxton and I have the rooms closest to the game room, while Alexei and Nikolai share one of the two third-floor pack suites. I’m pretty sure the other rooms up here are filled, as I heard people shuffling around as I made my way to my room after our date .

Since most of, if not all of us, are from previous seasons, I wonder who else might be here from my first season. Obviously not Pack Reyes or Skylar and Cora, since Emilia isn’t bisexual—that I know of.

I frown as I step into the hallway, trying to recall if that information had been included in what they’d given us.

I guess I’ll find out soon, won’t I?

I consider knocking on Paxton’s or the twins’ door, but decide against it. They might be getting a quick nap in or something. I’d rather not bother them if they’re relaxing. We all agreed to meet in the living room, anyway.

Hurrying down the stairs, I step into the living room to find it already packed. It seems like me and the other day four suitors are the only ones missing.

I grin when I see two familiar faces. “Evander. Bradley.”

“Gavin?” Evander grins, slapping his hand on Bradley’s shoulder before they make their way over. “It’s good to see you, man.”

We do the bro hug thing before Bradley nods. I don’t think he’s much of a hugger from what I recall.

“It’s good to see both of you as well. Is it just us from our season?” I ask, eyes scanning the room but not seeing anyone I recognize—at least not from our season. “Is that Camden Montgomery?”

Evander chuckles. “I didn’t realize you were a baseball fan, but yes, that’s him. He and his alpha are here. Come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

It turns out Camden is the only new suitor, while the rest of us are from past seasons. Even his alpha is from Bree’s season. Apparently, he was kicked off the show because of his pack mate. They’ve since gone their separate ways and Wilder found Camden.

Next, I meet Sasha, Dalton, and Maverick, who are also from the first season. I vaguely recognize Sasha from his ballet days, but that’s only because my mom and older sister are obsessed with him.

By the time I finish meeting each of the other suitors, Paxton, Nikolai, and Alexei have joined us .

“Hey, guys. Come on in. I just finished meeting everyone, so I’ll introduce you.” I wave them over, but Paxton is waylaid by Dylan and Malik, who were on his season with him.

Then I lose the twins to a conversation with Lee and Ian from last season. Something about another suitor from their season being an asshole and getting kicked off the show already.

I shake my head, lowering onto one of the couches. “Damn, it sounds like there’s already been a lot of drama.”

“That’s reality television for you,” Evander says with a laugh. “It’s great for ratings. But don’t worry, I’ll fill you in on what you’ve missed.”

And he certainly does. I can’t help feeling for Emilia. She’s already had to deal with so much shit with her suitors, and it hasn’t been a full week.

She’s already dealing with enough shit from the asshole who assaulted her, plus being pregnant. I was kind of hoping for a calm season for her, but I guess that wouldn’t be as good for getting viewers in.

I can’t imagine what she’s going through, and it’s not just because I’m neither an omega nor pregnant. This amazing woman lost her entire pack two and a half years ago. She’s been a single mother to two children and is running a massive corporation. I don’t know how she did it.

I’m honestly in awe of her—as we all should be.

Then, taking into consideration how someone she trusted took advantage of her and assaulted her. Then suing her from jail over the custody of her unborn child?

I know our world isn’t perfect, but I thought we were better than this. How could we have allowed this to happen to her? How is it all the alpha got was essentially a slap on the wrist?

I shake my head, knowing the more I think about it, the angrier I’m going to get.

“Hello,” Camden says as he walks up, nodding to the empty spot beside me. “Do you mind if I sit?”

“Of course not. Sit. Sit. I can move over if you need more room for your alpha to join you. ”

Wilder shakes his head. “I’m good with sitting over here. Camden does what he wants, anyway.”

“As any omega should,” Evander says with a grin. “Just don’t go getting any ideas of hitting on Camden, Gavin. He’s decided he won’t be considering other suitors until after he knows where he and Emilia stand. Tessa thinks they’re an omega pair.”

“Like Sophia and Chase?” Paxton asks as he joins us, sitting next to Wilder.

Evander shrugs. “That’s what she said. I’ve never actually seen an omega pair together. Koda and Evangeline hit it off straight away, and boy, was that fun to watch, but there was no mention of them being a pair. They were just really hot for each other.”

“And what’s the difference between the two? How did they know Sophia and Chase—that’s their names, right?—were a pair, but Evangeline and Koda weren’t?” Camden asks. “How am I supposed to know which category we fall into?”

“Remington, Emilia’s brother—he would know,” Alexei says as he and Nikolai join us. “He is scientist of some kind. Works with omegas and not having babies.”

I chuckle. “That would be great if he was here, but since he’s not, where does that leave us?”

“Oh, Remington is definitely here. He and his pack are watching Hawk and Jasper.” Ian joins us with the rest of the suitors. “Emilia told me. I don’t know if there’s anything he can do about it, but I’m sure he will if he can. Assuming Emilia wants to know.”

“Oh? Her brother and sons are here?” I shake my head. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. Of course she wants them to be close.”

Evander nods. “They also have Sundays blocked off for her to spend with them, so we’ll be on our own tomorrow. I highly doubt she has any intention of introducing us to them this early.”

For the next little while, we listen to Alexei, Nikolai, Ian, and Lee tell us about meeting her last season and how amazing her boys are.

I think it’s smart for her to wait to introduce us.

I can’t imagine what it’s like for those boys.

They lost their fathers when they were so young, and now, their mom is pregnant with no dad in sight.

I wonder how much she told them about what happened—how she explained it.

At seven and five, they might not know exactly how it all works, but they have to know enough to know she didn’t get pregnant on her own.

Then they’re here while she’s searching for a pack. That has to be a lot for them.

When Bree arrives, she brings the cameramen with her. We rearrange the furniture until she’s satisfied and then sit down for the interviews. The questions are the same as they were after my first date with Evangeline.

What do we think of Emilia? How did our first date go? That kind of thing.

Then it changes to what it’s like to be back and seeing other suitors from past seasons.

Once we’re done, Bree tells us to head downstairs. The kitchen staff has a buffet set up for us, which is nice of them.

I feel like I should be nervous since today is the first rose ceremony, but I don’t foresee any of us being sent home besides Daniel, who’s already gone. Maybe in the coming weeks, I’ll be more worried.

Sure, Emilia could surprise us and send some of us packing, but I don’t think that’ll be the case.

Or at least that’s what I’m hoping.

For now, I’m just going to focus on getting to know the other suitors and filling up my belly.