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The river was a twenty-minute drive. I was confused when he pulled off onto the shoulder of the road, woods around us but no obvious trails.
“Are you taking me to the woods to kill me?” I asked, mostly joking. “This feels a bit… underwhelming.”
Atlas rolled his eyes at me. “Come on, city girl, you can take it.”
“Hop on,” Dean offered. I didn’t think when he crouched down, jumping on and wrapping my arms and legs around him.
Atlas led the way into the woods, winding around trees and Dean having to duck under branches so he didn’t knock me down.
When the trees cleared we were standing on a rocky beach, the river clear enough I could see the river rocks lining it.
“This is beautiful,” I gasped. Not only that, but it was secluded. We were the only ones around and it felt like our own private oasis.
“I’m going back for the cooler,” Atlas said as he pulled me off of Dean. I kicked off my shoes, digging my toes in the tiny stones and sand.
It wasn’t hot enough to go swimming but I wasn’t afraid to step into the cool water, letting it rush around me.
“This is exactly what I needed,” Dean said as he came up behind me, wrapping his arms around me and resting his chin on my shoulder.
The breeze blew slightly but having the beta wrapped around me I felt warm and loved. I swear they could chase away all the bad feelings that Morgan brought out in me.
How could she throw away two of the most amazing men? I wasn’t glad they had been hurt but I was happy she left them, just like I was happy the Forrest pack did the same to me.
We’d found each other and now I refused to let anything tear us apart.
“I’ve got beer!” Atlas called out before dropping the cooler down and digging three out, passing them around.
We settled onto the shore, feet in the water and cold beers in hand. The real world would have to wait, right now was for rest, relaxation, and getting a little tipsy.
Ellie
Pizza and beer filled the coffee table as we all huddled around the TV. Nerves had me putting my second slice down and sitting back, waiting for Morgan to pop up on screen.
“And there she is,” Atlas said drily as Morgan’s face popped up in the corner. She looked different away from the set. She wasn’t airbrushed perfection like the makeup team always did for her and she was wearing an oversized sweater, hair in a bun.
“Morgan, we have been anxiously waiting for you,” Grady said excitedly. Being on this side of the process I could actually see the audience he was always talking to, instead of just his face.
“Oh, I saw yesterday’s episode,” Morgan said, giving a nervous chuckle.
“Then why not just dive right in. Tell us your side of things, Morgan.”
She let out a shaky breath. “I had a crush on the twins since high school. It just took me that long to get a chance with them. We knew we were chosen mates from the start but I quickly realized I didn’t want to be trapped into small-town life. I love the city, the nightlife, and the people. Our hometown was nothing like that.”
“So, why not just leave?” Grady asked. “Why did you pit the twins against each other.”
She shrugged. “At the time I didn’t know how to tell them I was accepted to be on the show. I wanted to leave this town and them behind. They weren’t my mates or future pack, I knew that much.”
“You’re not answering the question,” Grady pressed on. “Why break them apart as well?”
“They can’t blame me for their own lack of communication,” she said simply. “I told them what I thought was happening.”
“So, you’re feigning innocence,” he mused. “Interesting decision.” It seemed I wasn’t the only one whose buttons he pushed. The man was openly mocking Morgan and she looked downright miserable. I was just petty enough to not feel a damn bit bad for her.
“I’m at peace with it and it seems they’ve moved on just fine,” she said. “They weren’t right for me and if they were so easily persuaded, I guess their relationship wasn’t as tight as they thought.”
“So, how are things with the Forrest Pack?” Grady asked, switching tactics again.
“They’re not,” she said. “We’re no more than friends and occasional lovers. We’re also not mates and they want to find Ellie.”
