Page 4 of Violet

She’s not wrong, but I shake my head. “You may not want to slide into your role you were born into as Omega, but our sisters do. And it’s how things are done on Sabine.”

“So you’re telling me that you actuallywantto get mated?” Iris asks.

“Iris…”

“You don’t have to do this.”

“I want to.” The words are a lie and the truth. Am I ready to mate? Probably not. Am I happy to do something to help my family? Absolutely.

“Nah.” She sits up. “Fuck the system.”

I sit up, too. “Iris, please.” As she gets to her feet, I grabher hand. “I-I need your help with this. I have no idea what I’m doing, and there’s the pre-Season picnic tomorrow.”

“Vi…”

“I want to do this the right way. I need to make Mom proud and make things easier for Heath. If I can figure this out, it’ll be a walk in the park when it’s your turns.”

“I’m not prancing around for Alphas to pant at me. There’s no way I’m doing that shit.”

“Iris. Help me, please?”

She sighs. “If I have to.”

I take that as a yes.

Because I’m going to need all the help I can get.

CHAPTER

TWO

Stephan

The city of Emporia, mecca of movie magic, spreads out before me from my home in the hills.

My agent talks as I sip my bourbon, and I cut her off. “I don’t want that role. I want some meat, something good. Fuck, I’ll even do theater.”

Clea bounces her foot as she sits cross-legged on the cream leather sofa opposite mine. Clea sighs into her seltzer. If we weren’t such good friends, I’d fire her ass. But the woman is not only loyal, she’s a shark.

“You know, Stephan, most actors look at theater as something to be revered.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

She pins me with a look. “I’m not here to talk about the role or what you want next. I’m here about your favorite co-star.”

“Felicity?”

“She wants the next set of fluffy roles?—”

“Felicity Fine can go?—”

“She wants to. And she wants to use these films. She’s ambitious, too.” Clea taps a finger against her glass.

“I’m aware.”

“You slept with her way back, and you both have huge fanbases. But you’re getting a reputation. You drink too much. You’ve been arrested for driving under the influence?—”

“One drink?—”

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