Page 167 of Ashley & the A-Listers

“We’re not even public, Cam,” River whispered. “You can’t have a whole pack in secret.”

Cameron whined, a purely omega sound that made River want to bend the world to his desires. Not as a biological response, but because River loved him and wanted to fix everything.

“I hate it,” Cam said. “Other omegas in the media have partners. Why can’t I?”

“I think that’s a question for Christian.”

“What if I fired him?” Cam asked, pulling back. He had that furrow to his brow, the angry, bratty one. “He’s an asshole. I can find new management, someone who wants to help me transition my image.”

“What about the movies?”

“What about them? They wouldn’t cancel themnow,” Cam argued.

“Green-lit projects get shelved all the time,” River pointed out. At Cam’s frustrated silence, River sighed softly. “Can I ask you a question?” River asked. Because he had to know.

He’d been begging Cameron to go public with them for years. Now, suddenly, when Ashley joined the discussion, Cameron was ready to take the leap.

Was he being unreasonable?

Was it so unreasonable to want to feel like he mattered?

Sometimes… sometimes River felt like he was in a love story. One better than anything he could ever write.

The only downside was keeping it a secret.Beinga kept secret.

He could be grateful he might finally get what he’s always wanted. Even if it wasn’t for the reason he preferred.

“You can ask me anything,” Cam said, gaze flicking between River’s eyes.

River swallowed the bitter taste of anger. “I’ve been asking for so long for us to go public, to no avail. And now, after one heat with Ashley you’re ready to drop the facade immediately?” Cam frowned, and River’s face felt hot. “Are you doing it, consideringfinallygoing public, for me… or Ashley?”

“We’ve talked about going public before, just the two of us,” Cam pointed out.

River nodded. He wasn’t denying that. “I know, I know. Wetalkedabout it, sure. You just sound… like you might actually do it this time.” River admitted, stomach turning. “And the only thing different now is the idea of a pack. With Ashley.”

He couldn’t do it for me. Because I’m not enough. Just a beta.

His cheeks were red, he could feel it. Was he going tocry?Get a hold of yourself.

“River,” Cameron said, reaching up to frame his face with his hands. “I love you.”

River sucked in a breath. Nodded.

“I’m going to do it. For us. Me and you. Fuck the franchise.”

His throat hurt.

“I’m going to prove to you that you’re mine. I’ll shout it from the rooftops, and no one is going to stop me from doing so.”

“Cam, this is your career. I don’t want to guilt you into?—“

“You’re not guilting me into anything.Iwant this. I want to be able to take you out to dinner. To hold your hand.”

River gulped, disastrous hope blooming in his chest, vines curling through his ribs.

“I want to put my arm around you in public,” Cam admitted. “I want to kiss you and not have to worry about who will see.”

“I do, too,” River said, and tugged him forward into a hug.

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