Page 81 of Heat Hesitation

At my questioning look, he adds, "When he said you weren't ready before. It wasn't about accepting an escort; it was about truly accepting pack life and letting your alphas take care of you."

The sentiment lingers in the air, but I turn and keep walking. It kind of sounds like, to me, that's precisely what he meant. But we can talk about it later when we get home.

I stroll through the crowd, making my way over to the bathroom, but as I turn the corner into the hall and tug, the door won't open. Letting out a frustrated sigh, I continue down the hall searching for another.

The further I get from the party, the quieter the halls and the fewer people mingling. I should have just used the employee bathroom.

"Finally," I gripe when I step toward the next bathroom, but the scent of peaches precedes a smiling Bridgette, exiting the room, standing in my way.

I cross my arms and tilt my head. "Can I help you?" I ask in a bored tone.

Her smile widens, but new scents float around me.

"Alma?" A scratchy voice whispers in awe.

"What?" I rear back. My heart drops into my stomach, and it feels like I've been sucker punched. Jackson Olcene. I recognize him from pictures. I stalked him and his brothers when I was younger, convinced I would take revenge for my sister.

One brother is missing, but the other two, Lenny and Dave, are beside Bridgette, having snuck up from around the corner of the hall. Damn this monstrous building and all its nooks and crannies.

I've never seen the Olcenes in person. Ever since Fletcher told me they came to these events despite not being allowed to court an omega, Sully and I insisted she ban them from attending and stop accepting their fees.

I fidget uncomfortably in my revealing dress, so distracted by Jackson, who's staring at me wide-eyed, eyes raking over every inch of my skin, I'd forgotten I'd asked a question.

"You want to know how you can help me? You can disappear, fuck off back to South Loop where you came from. Where you belong," she spits.

My nervous gaze, darting between the pack, drag back to Bridgette. "Yeah, that's not going to happen. I'm here with my pack, my family. In fact, I'm just going to go find them—"

"I've spent years studying to be the perfect omega. I was finally old enough to get their attention, finally graduated. And then Theo Sullivan, who I've been dreaming about my whole life, asked me to dance. Me! And you ruined everything. You got that creepy fucking alpha to bite you, trapping the rest of them."

"Bridgette, I didn't trap—"

She continues her deranged rant, "Well, I found out about you and your trashy sister and I made a call. And now? Now I don't have to worry about you at all."

She takes a step back. I look over at Dave, who's still staring at me like he's seen a ghost. I guess he has. The rage shaking beneath my skin turns to ice as Bridgette takes a few more steps backward, and I realize she's leaving me alone with them.

Asher and Enzo, I know they can feel my fear through the bond, I just need to stall. Unfortunately, Jackson's nostrils flare and his eyes flit to the scarring bite mark on my neck. At the same moment, they jump into action.

They must sense it because the moment I leap away, Dave or maybe Lenny wrap their hands around my waist, swinging me back toward them. I try to scream, but a hand comes around my mouth.

There's a sharp sting in my neck, and just as the world fades away, Bridgette leans in and whispers, "You're nothing but a dirty, slutty, penniless omega with no family and no prospects. You can offer them nothing. Dressing up in last season's dress, trying to shove your way into High Hills society is a transparent, pathetic, desperate attempt to feel special. But don't worry, sweetie. Olcenes will make sure you feel real special."

The voice drifts away, and I feel a faint sensation of weightlessness as my body bounces over a shoulder before it all goes black.

Chapter 33

Sully

I'd rather be at home teaching my omega a lesson. I'd rather be at home listening to my brothers fuck her and teach her a lesson while I sit alone in my room and fuck my fist for the fifth week in a row.

Instead, I'm stuck listening to someone babble on about their portfolio. These events usually consist of someone trying to pitch Constantine Industries to invest in their company or to pimp out their daughters. All night, every approach has been financial or work-related before they inevitably transition to my omega. Is it true? You've officially bonded?

I don't smell bonded, so I understand their skepticism, but I don't fucking appreciate their tones. They all wonder if the Rag is right, if Enzo went rogue and bonded Ophelia against our will. I'm getting tired of this farce. It's time to go home and claim my omega.

At the thought of her, I look over, but she's not there. Mid-sentence, I walk away from some local alphas pitching me their dating app to invest in and join my brothers.

"Where is she?"

"Bathroom. Enzo's there too, they'll probably meet in the hallway."

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