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“I think she’s underestimating the heightened instincts of an alpha needing to protect his omega,” Kyle mumbles in my ear. His hand flexes on my hip in an encouraging squeeze before he lets go.
“And we’re recording in three, two,” Mark announces, pointing his finger at the same time the red light clicks on.
Mrs. Violet continues as if the interruption never happened. “Now, can we have our lovely omega come up here to pick the winners? Heat fiends, I hope you’re ready to find out which alphas know her the best.”
I wasn’t nervous about this contest until right this very second. I’m only picking two winners, which means one of my alphas will be left behind. And that’s if they picked out the best snacks.
With the best smile I can muster, I make my way to the concession counter. There are all types of combinations, none of which are the same.
Bags of plain, buttered, and lightly buttered popcorn are paired with candy or soda. But my eyes narrow in on Oreo popcorn. The cookie covers the kernels with crumbles added in. It takes everything in me not to scoop it up and growl at anyone who looks like they might want to take it from me. Whoever thought of adding the two together is a genius.
Paired with the best popcorn on earth, presumptuous I know, but I have no doubt based on the smell, is a bag of Reese minis. This better be one of my guys who picked it out, because I think I just fell in love.
Knowing I have one picked out, I continue searching for the next winner. Next is a box of sugar free gummy bears paired with diet soda. First impression says that alpha thinks I’m fat, at the very best he thinks he’s in charge of his omegas diet. Hard pass.
As if I could drool anymore, I find bite size, salted pretzels with heavenly beer cheese, paired with Sprite, which sounds so refreshing right now. Most of the other drinks on the counter have caffeine, which I don’t want this late in the day. It’s the perfect combo.
Before I give my final answer, I check over the rest of the options and find a Flatbread pizza with pepperoni paired with Sprite again. Damn. I want all three options. Why do I have to choose?
“Have you picked the winners?” Mrs. Violet asks, bringing me back to the task at hand.
“I have.” I turn to face her. “I want the Oreo popcorn and the pretzel bites.”
“Very good choices!” She claps her hands together like she’s excited. “I probably would have chosen the same thing. Now, alphas, please come and collect your snacks so everyone can find out who sits with Verity.”
I watch with bated breath to find out who I’m sitting with, while still eyeballing the Flatbread. A pizza sounds really fucking good right now. Before I can think too hard about it, I snatch one of the strips it’s cut into and take a bite.
Yep, that hits the spot. Jedrik smirks as he picks up the Flatbread. “Don’t worry, Trouble. I’ll still share with you. Mind if I sit at your feet?” Him wanting to sit on the floor to remain close to me melts my heart.
Andrik steps to my other side with the pretzels, and Kyle holds the holy grail of Oreo popcorn. Of course, Kyle made the popcorn. I’m now willing to bet he helped make the twins’ items, too. From the corner of my eye, I catch the diet soda and sugar free candy still sitting on the counter. Ironic that the asshole who tried to command me is the one who picked those out.
“Same fucking alphas again,” someone says behind us.
Jedrik shoots a glare over my shoulder and guides me to the front row of seats. When we get settled, I lean over and whisper to Andrik, “Why are the alphas suddenly getting so butt hurt over not winning?”
“Half of us are already out of the running. Add in the murder of one of the most popular contestants… It raises the tension. Don’t worry about it, we’ve got you.” He drapes his arm over my shoulder and I cuddle in for the movie, right as the storm outside kicks up again.
Chapter 41
Kyle
After suppressing my alpha instincts to protect, guard, and nurture my omega for far too long, I’m at my breaking point. I can’t hold myself back any longer. Especially after our conversation was cut off before we finished.
Now I’m at my wit’s end. I need to see her, to finish our talk, and to ensure she’s safe with a fucking murderer on the loose. I’ve spent time with Ryland, watching him closely because I know he’s Verity’s best friend, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he isn’t capable of killing someone in cold blood. Which means the true killer is left among us, a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
My heavy footsteps echo in the hallway as I stalk toward the omega wing. I don’t give two fucks about the guards, or the possibility of being caught on camera. Ensuring she’s safe is the only thing I care about right now.
Rounding the corner of the hallway, my convictions are reinforced when I find the doors leading to the omega wing are no longer guarded. I’d be willing to bet the council—at Mrs. Violet’s encouragement—has written off the threat of a killer roaming the halls since they are convinced it was Ryland.
Fucking fools.
The doors open with ease, and I make my way down the hallway, listening for any sounds to lead me to her room, along with sniffing the air to try to pick up her scent. About halfway down, I hear a laugh from the other side of a door. The sound of her joy makes my heart speed up, and for the briefest of moments, I’m jealous that I’m not the one who caused it.
It passes by as quickly as it came, and I’m knocking on her door. When it swings open, the show doctor is standing there. It shouldn’t surprise me he makes house calls, or room calls in this case, but it does.
He doesn’t say anything, instead, he stares at me and crosses his arms. The longer the silence grows between us, the more it feels as if he’s staking a claim, which doesn’t make sense.
“Can I talk with Verity?” I finally ask, not wanting to waste any more time in a standoff with the doctor.
