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This is…wrong. Antonio is supposed to be trying to win over the Royal Pack. Not fucking the palace staff.
But how the hell can I judge?
I swallow, biting the inside of my cheek, trying to figure out how I feel.
Relieved Antonio isn’t gunning after my pack?
Or pissed off that he would fuck someone else when he’s their first choice to become their bonded Omega?
Both. It’s definitely both. But it’s enough of the former that I’m willing to calmly hear him out.
“We need to talk,” he whispers harshly.
“Clearly,” I agree, keeping my own voice low as we rush to my room. “What was wrong with doing it in your chambers, though?”
Heat creeps to his cheeks and he blows out a breath, but he only answers the questions once we’re safely sealed in my chambers. “You don’t want to go in there right now. It’s a mess.”
“A—” I cut myself off. “Oh. Right. Because you spent the afternoon having sex in there?”
He snorts, but there’s a knowing look in his eyes as he turns the tables on me. “Yes, I have, but I’m not the only one keeping secrets around here, am I, Ms.I-Regularly-Sneak-Off-With-Members-of-the-RP?”
I blanch, every drop of blood draining from my face. “You know about that?”
“Of course, I fucking know about that. Who do you think has been covering for you at all the meals you’ve missed because you’ve been out with one of them on unsanctioned time?”
“I didn’t think anyone would notice I wasn’t there,” I murmur as shock makes my legs feel shaky. Stumbling back, I sit down on my bed and bury my face in my hands. “Who noticed?”
“Uh, everyone?” he says, sounding considerably gentler now as the mattress dips when he sits down beside me. “There are only eight of us left, Mads. It’s kind of obvious when someone isn’t there, especially since everyone is on such high alert about who may be spending more time with the pack than others. Where were you yesterday? Wolf didn’t show up for his date with Rachel and when you weren’t at lunch…”
“Shit. I didn’t know he was supposed to be on a date. We went to the dowager house. Do they know I was with him?”
I can’t bring myself to look at him, so I don’t know if he’s shaking his head, but eventually, he says, “No, they don’t know for sure. I told them you haven’t been feeling very well, and at least that part’s true.”
I sigh. “What are we going to do?”
Finally, I lift my head as Antonio gives me a pleading look. “Please don’t tell anyone about Francis, Maddie. I think…I mean, I know it’s crazy, but I think I’m in love with him. We’re still figuring things out, but we want to be together.”
“Iwon’t tell anyone,” I say, but then I shake my head when relief washes over his features. “Youneed to, though. At the very least, you need to tell the Royal Pack you have feelings for somebody else. If you don’t, they might choose you and you can’t let them do that if you don’t want them.”
“I can’t, Maddie,” he breathes like I’ve shocked the wind out of him and he can’t speak. “They’ll dismiss me, and—”
“Talk to them, Antonio,” I urge gently. “They’re good guys. They’ll understand. If you don’t tell them, I’m not sure I feel right about keeping this secret. Haven’t your dates with them been good?”
“They’ve been fine,” he sighs. “But they’re all clearly distracted. Clearly not interested in anyone but, well,you.”
My jaw clenches, and I fight the urge to drop my jaw, cry, smack him, and grin at the same time. I don’t know how that’s supposed to make me feel, but despite how I should feel, there’s no mistaking the preen I feel inside.
Outside the door, we hear some of the other Omegas heading back to their chambers after dinner to get ready for knocks. Antonio looks down at his feet before looking back up at me with discomfort pinching the lines of his face.
“We all have our secrets, Maddie,” he says before turning on his heel to leave. “I’ll do the right thing. Just…just give me some time.”
What I have with the RP is absolutely incredible, but it will be over soon. I hate that fact to the very center of my being, but it doesn’t make it any less true. Especially not after the fight I had with Kaz earlier. Wolf and Tai might be rooting for my Selection, but ultimately they’ll side with their packmate, and I don’t blame them. How could I? I could never be the thing that broke them apart. I would never be able to live with myself.
They’re pack, and a damn strong one at that. Me? I’m just a poor Omega with one hell of a story she’ll never be able to tell.
TWENTY-SIX
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