“Yeah. Thanks.”
The doors swing open and in walks Reginald and Remington with his pack trailing behind him. He’s so handsome, it kills me.
I really hope he chooses me—if not today, then at some point. He’s everything I want in a man—kind, loving, and not afraid to be himself. Milo is an added bonus, I’ll admit.
Not that I’d turn down a ride with his alphas either, but I know Victoria doesn’t swing that way. Neither of them has been as easy to get to know, but I appreciate the effort she put into spending time with me in Wilde.
“Welcome back toHeated. Remington’s remaining thirteen suitors have gathered in the ballroom to find out their fates. Will he be sending anyone home? Inviting anyone to join his pack? Only time will tell. Let’s get this show on the road. As you can see, Remington’s new pack mates have joined him on stage as he requested. Remy, is there anything you’d like to add before we get started?”
Remy clears his throat and nods. “The reason I asked my mates to join me on stage is because these aren’t decisions I make on my own anymore. Anything I decide affects the three of them as well. As I choose suitors to become my mates, I’ll have them join me as well. I’m sure you can understand. Beginning tonight, you’ll be called up here in groups. It doesn’t mean you’ll receive the same roses, but it makes it so much easier to do it this way—or at least I think it will be.”
“Well said,” Reginald says as Milo plucks a few roses from the vase and hands them to Remy, who keeps them hidden behind his back. “First, will Rhys and Gracie join us on stage?”
I’m not surprised that they’re the first ones called up. They moved out of the cabin in Wilde before we even made it home. We didn’t find out what happened until the next day.
While I’m glad they found one another, I hate that they hurt Remington. He’s so fucking sweet, and they never really gave him a chance. It was really shitty of them.
“I’m sure neither of you are surprised to learn you’re going home this week.” Remington holds out the black roses to them. “I’m happy you’ve found one another, but you definitely hurt me. You were supposed to be here for me, but you acted like I wasn’t around most of the time. I’m sure that wasn’t on purpose, but it still hurt. If you choose to grow your pack, I hope you’ll remember this and be more careful about your actions with them.”
Gracie nods sadly. “I’m truly sorry for how this happened. You’re right that we screwed up. Thank you for the chance.”
“I’m sorry we hurt you,” Rhys says as he takes his rose before leading Gracie off the stage.
“Next, we’d like Quinn, Brooke, and Ian to join us on stage.”
Once they’re standing in front of Remington, he accepts three roses from Milo. I wish we could see what color they are, but they’re hidden from us, as well as the suitors on stage.
“I enjoyed spending time with the three of you this week, and I want to continue to do just that.” Remington offers them lavender roses. “This week, I’d like each of you to join me for a group date with my pack. Unlike this past week, all three will join us, but you’ll each have a date on a different day.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” Brooke bounces over to take the rose from him and leans up toward him. He smiles as he leans down so she can kiss his cheek. “I’m looking forward to it. Also, I love this color so much.”
Quinn and Ian look like they’re both holding back laughter at Brooke’s antics as they accept the roses, thanking Remington as they do.
Next, Lee, Riley, Carter, and Nolan are called up. Remington reveals the roses almost immediately—two peach and two black.
“As you can see, two of you will be going home tonight and two of you will join me for a one-on-one date this week. At this point, sending anyone home sucks, but there’s only so much room in my pack. I’ve gotten to know each of you fairly well by now, though maybe not as well as I could have. I don’t want to draw this out any longer.” He sighs as he hands Nolan a black rose. “We already talked, and I meant what I said. Getting to know you this week proved what good friends we would make. Once the show’s over, we’ll continue getting to know one another.”
Nolan nods. “Thank you, Remy. I’m glad to call you my friend.”
Remington takes a deep breath before moving to Lee. “I’m sure you guessed you were the other one going home. We had a great conversation at the zoo, and I was originally going to keep you on for at least one more week so I could get to know you better. Then I realized I couldn’t keep holding out for maybes. You’re a good man, Lee, and I know your pack is waiting for you out there. Just never stop looking.”
“Thank you,” Lee says with a smile. “I hope you’re right. About finding my pack, I mean. I know you’re right about sending me home. It’s a smart decision, and I’ve learned a lot about what I want and don’t want from my future pack by being on the show—by being around you. You’re a good man, and any of these suitors will be lucky to be chosen by you.”
Then he’s handing Riley and Carter the peach roses. “By process of elimination, you’re the two moving forward this week. I think having everyone meet my family this week helped me see who I could really see as part of my future pack. We’re not there yet. We still need some time to see if we’re a good fit, but I’m hoping our date this week will help us with that.”
Carter is grinning as Riley nods. “We can’t wait.”
The four of them exit the stage, and I realize it’s just me, Aubrey, and the twins left. Because of this, it doesn’t surprise me when all four of our names are called next.
I cling to Aubrey’s hand as we climb onto the stage, the twins following us. I can barely breathe as Remington takes the roses from Milo and keeps them hidden behind him.
“There were definitely some new developments in relationships this week,” he says with a grin, winking at me and Aubrey. “Hopefully, the two of you had just as much fun as Milo and I did. Alexei and Nikolai, there’s just something about the two of you that won’t let me send you home—even though nothing has really developed between us so far. Getting to know both of you better is at the top of my list this week.”
When he offers them both peach roses, it makes sense.
As soon as the twins take their roses, he turns his attention back to me and Aubrey. I can’t decide if I want to throw up or run away. I wish he would put us out of our misery.
I say us because Aubrey is gripping my hand just as hard as I’m holding his.