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Mrs. Violet’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. Both of the cameras swivel to her as she shifts into the next portion of the night. Voting and elimination. “Heat Fiends, the fate of Verity and the alphas are in your hands. We’ve had some interesting revelations, a potential new prospect on the radar, and answered some of your juiciest questions. Now it’s time to vote…”
She continues, but I tune it out. Karen motions for us to exit the seating area to the right, but it’s like neither Verity nor I want to get up for fear of breaking this connection between us. It’s so new and tenuous, neither of us are ready to go anywhere. I’m not sure anything could pry us apart right now.
Apparently, Karen doesn’t care though, because her face turns an ugly shade of red and she reaches to yank Verity out of my lap. I don’t know what her deal is, but that certainly won’t fly with me.
I’m on my feet in an instant, simultaneously moving Verity behind me before Karen’s fingertips can even brush her soft skin, while taking a step toward her. A growl rumbles from my throat that surprises me, but it especially startles the cameramen. Like a boomerang, the lenses whip back to us, capturing the scene, but I ignore them. Instead, I keep my attention on a certain beta who dared to try and put her hands on Verity. “Don’t you ever reach for her like that again.”
Karen squeaks and nods, quickly turning tail and exiting the room without saying another word. Verity places her hand on my shoulder and squeezes to garner my attention. It’s only then that I realize I’m still growling. I clear my throat and turn, expecting to find a horrified expression on Verity’s face. My size always intimidates people. Fuck, I hope I didn’t ruin this before anything can even blossom between us.
“Kyle?” she asks, studying me with those piercing cerulean eyes.
“Yes, Peardrop?” The term of endearment slides off my tongue easily, though my tone is rather uneasy. I can’t read her at all, but I don’t take it back. It fits her scent perfectly.
A beat passes between us before a grin splits her lips. “You didn’t have to do that for me. Thank you.”
“I’ll always protect you, Verity. I promise you that.”
The little control I have left snaps suddenly, and I can’t stop myself from throwing her over my shoulder like a damn caveman. She lets out an adorable oof sound and her hands instantly land on my lower back, pushing herself up so she can see where we’re going. I wait for her objections, but they surprisingly never come.
The hand holding her stable against me slips as her perpetually wiggling self shifts, and it lands on her ass. I can’t help but give a small squeeze. At the sound of her sucking in a breath, I move it down to hold her thigh. Apparently, that’s just as bad because she lets out a breathy moan, making my cock twitch in my pants.
My steps quicken as I waltz us across the room where there’s a large sign on a door stating it’s the omega waiting area. I ease her over my shoulder, setting her on her feet once more. I’m not sure if there’s more expected of her before the elimination, or if they need to touch up her makeup or anything, but I don’t really care either. If these are my last moments with her, I’ll be making the best of them.
Her cheeks are flushed in such a way that it adds to her attractiveness, and her lashes flutter as she gazes up at me. I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, and the motion has her plump lips parting. There’s something about her that bolsters my confidence, and when words fail her, I speak up, “Mind if I take advantage of the time we have left before the elimination? I can’t stand the thought of going home without getting to know you a little better.”
She leans to the side, glancing around my towering form to look behind me. I follow her gaze, finding the cameraman has followed us. I shouldn’t be surprised they want to get as much footage as possible. The show is on a break until the next live segment, but that doesn’t mean they won’t want to catch something to air later.
I roll my eyes, turning to face her again. It’s probably a good thing in the long run. I wouldn’t want rumors to spread about us being alone. Slut shaming should really be canceled by now, but it’s not. I wouldn’t want her to get any backlash from my inability to walk away. But I’ll do it if she wants me to.
Verity bites at her lower lip as she takes me in. The teasing glint in her eyes tells me she already made up her mind but wants to pretend like she has to think about it. Her being playful has my heart singing. I swear it’s as if I’ve found my soul mate. I can’t even pretend I didn’t already believe in the possibility. I’m a closeted, hopeless romantic.
I’m so convinced she’s the one, I’ll be forever devastated if I get kicked off the show. I can’t let her go. The alpha in me has claimed her. I’ll go to the ends of the earth to make sure she’s mine. Even if it means convincing her pack to take me in after the show ends.
“I’d like that, Kyle,” she finally says, lips splitting into a grin. I reach around her and open the door, gesturing her in and leaving it open for the cameraman once I’m through.
“Oh, good, you’re here!” an upbeat woman says as soon as she sees Verity. “I need you to sit in the chair so I can freshen you up.” Verity glances at me over her shoulder as I follow her. There’s something in her eyes that I can’t quite pinpoint. It’s probably hopeful thinking that she wants me to stay as close as I want her to remain to me. It’s as if I’m drawn to her. Two magnets pulling each other in.
She takes a seat at one of the many vanities lining the wall, and I follow, wanting to keep her in my line of sight. The stylist seems to notice me for the first time. “You can wait outside the door if you’d like. It’ll only take a moment.”
“No, thank you. I’d rather stay.”
Verity tilts her head at me. “You really want to watch her fix my makeup?” she questions, a hint of shock in her tone.
“Why wouldn’t I? It’s still getting to spend time with you.” I reach out to take her hand, my long arm reaching across the distance easily. “I’m not one to get caught up in everything being fast-paced. The point of forming a pack and settling down with an omega is to spend our life together.” I rub soft circles into the palm of her hand and watch the shiver she shakes off. “It’s about the quiet moments. Being cuddled together through stormy nights. Folding laundry and grocery shopping together. I want to be with someone who makes me excited to do all the mundane things simply so I can spend a few more minutes with her.”
Tears pool in her beautiful blue eyes. She opens her mouth and closes it a few times, like she doesn’t know what to say. “I’m glad you took a chance, Kyle,” she eventually whispers.
The stylist lightly swats her arm, and a growl rumbles from me. Verity squeezes my hand where I’m still holding on to silently tell me it’s okay. “Nuh-huh,” the woman clucks. “There will be none of that crying business on my watch. You’ll ruin your makeup.” She wags her finger at Verity before grinning. “That was totally the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard though, girlie. He’s a keeper.” And to me, she says, “The staff can’t vote, but if I could, I’d put my money on you and the twins. Now, let me touch Verity up before you go gallivanting off.”
I wait patiently while the stylist quickly reapplies Verity’s lipstick and touches up her powder. We’re all required to apply it before going on camera to take care of any hot spots on our faces. Verity keeps sneaking glances at me like she still thinks I’ll leave, but there’s no way. I’ve had my eyes on her this whole time, studying the shape of her face and the cute little tilt to her lips.
I’d love nothing more than to place mine against hers and find out if they’re as soft as they seem.
The stylist isn’t even completely finished when Verity hops from the chair and grabs ahold of my arm, waltzing me to the door.
A laugh bursts out of me. “Ready to get out of here, huh?”
“You have no idea.” She darts a glance at the cameraman, who is somehow out of earshot. “I never wanted this life. That’s why I ran.”
