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I wasn’t going to take their money either, but I usually give them an opportunity to win it back before I leave instead of making them feel like lesser for not wanting to take any of what little they have.
A heavy sigh falls out of me as I stand in unison with Wolf. “I’ll see you another night, gentlemen. Thanks for the game. And sorry for my packmate.”
Wolf’s hand moves to my shoulder, and he squeezes it as we walk out the door. “We were worried about you. Don’t be mad at him. He’s doing the best he can.”
“I know.”
The besthecan do isn’t the bestwecan do if he’d simply stop for a minute and listen to reason, though. I know I can get him there, but I haven’t figured out how. “We need to slow him down. Get him to think this through.”
Wolf inclines his head in a slight nod. “We will. We’ll talk, but it doesn’t have to be tonight. Let’s just get some sleep, yeah? Tomorrow is another day. It doesn’t all have to happen right this very minute.”
Disappointment fizzes through me, but he’s right. Rome wasn’t built in a day and all. We’ve got time. Not much, but what we have will have to be enough. And it will be. I’ll make sure of it.
FIFTEEN
—
M A D D I E
It’s still darkwhen I wake up, thankfully not too hungover but definitely a little drowsy. Since it’s obviously not dawn yet, I’m not quite sure what woke me until I become aware of the pounding in my head and between my legs.
A soft moan slips out of me when I squeeze my thighs together. Then I grab the pillow from under my head and crush it over my face, but it smells like Tai.
“Ughh,” I groan, tossing the pillow away.
Why is it still this bad?
My suppressants really don’t seem to be doing their job. For some reason, the increased dosage isn’t helping much. After taking a deep breath, I realize I’m too restless to lie here. There’s no way I’ll be able to fall asleep again, so I kick the covers off and get up, which is when I spot Tai’s jacket lying on my bed.
No doubt it’s the culprit of the strong scent still lingering in my room.
Glum weight presses down on my chest as I think about the pack I wasn’t expecting to like at all.
After last night, the Omega numbers have been whittled down to ten, but I won’t win. Instead of being relieved and elated, I’m a little depressed. The only silver lining is that Antonio made it through as well. As much as I like my new friend, knowing he has a chance isn’t the same as having one myself. Over and above that, I haven’t heard if Kaz has made any headway on his part of the deal. Uncertainty churns like a living being in my gut.
My parents… They haven’t said as much, but I think they’re struggling without me at home to help out. Mum is hanging on to hope that I’ll win this thing. She’s so excited whenever I tell her I’ve moved on to the next round. I can’t find it in me to tell her I don’t stand a chance.
The knowledge of how hopeless my situation is only becomes harder to swallow with each passing day. I mean, I saw the way Tai was looking at me last night. I saw that he wanted to kiss me. Instead of simply saying he couldn’t, he said he wanted me torememberit when he did.
Why?
Urg!
With the way my body is reacting to them—complicating an already over-complicated situation—I’m bordering on insanity. In the last few days, I’ve rubbed up against Wolf, nearly kissed Kaspian in his chambers, and then point blank asked Tai why he didn’t kiss me. If that’s not insanity, I’m not sure what is.
Fucking hell, I need to get out of here.
I know my way around our wing of the palace pretty well at this point. I’m sure I’ll be able to get outside without anyone the wiser.Maybe I should go for a walk in the gardens to cool off and clear my mind.
After rolling out of bed, I dress quickly in jeans and a comfortable sweater with the OA’s logo emblazoned across it and head out. The hallway is dark and quiet when I emerge from my room. No one else is about as I shut my door with a soft click behind me.
The palace is peaceful at this hour, though it won’t be long until the staff prepares for breakfast. Since only ten of us are left, there will be a lot less food to make. I have a feeling the only people who will be more relaxed are the chefs and servers. I’m certain the atmosphere will be so thick between the rest of us that you’d be able to slice right through it with a blunt butter knife.
If I stood a chance, I might’ve used this time preparing myself to up my game, but my competitive spirit has died. All I want is tonotwant the RP so bad, but even as I head down the corridor and out into the gardens, I feel the slick between my legs with every step I take.
It’s ridiculous. Honestly.
I’m either going to have to double my dose or talk to the palace medical team. I’m almost certain going into heat will mean my immediate disqualification from the mating trials.
