Page 122 of Bliss & Her Idols

Torin shoots him a dirty look.

So much for Alpha solidarity.

“And is your Alpha treating you right?” I check in. “Being agentleman?”

The way that Leah’s cheeks tint with pink, before she smiles softly at Sawyer, says it all.

She nods, while Sawyer drops his hand to the hollow of her back.

“I’m glad that we matched.” Leah bites her lip. “But don’t worry, neither of us chose to be here. Our packs entered us for the show. It’s like that for pretty much everyone here. I saw what happened in the opening ceremony, you know, how Jin looked at you guys. You want to be together because you love each other, right?”

Startled, I hush her.

I know that it’s too late for the microphones not to have picked it up.

Shit.

Leah shrugs. “Why hide it? Sawyer and I don’t want to match with someone whose heart is already won. This contest is cruel.”

Then it hits me.

This brave Omega, who doesn’t have a Rej bracelet around her wrist, is as much a rebel as I am.

She’s made the decision to say these things as her protest. She wants everybody at home to know what’s going on.

When I meet her gaze, I realize that we both understand each other.

I rest my hand on her shoulder for a moment. “We’re going to win our Beta.”

“Then good luck.” Sawyer is holding his hand out to Torin.

Torin’s eyes widen in surprise, before he takes Sawyer’s hand.

I never expected that a Traditional Governor would be on our side. Has witnessing this forced bond at the same time as finding his own Omega changed his outlook?

Will he become more liberal now?

Sometimes, change happens one person at a time.

I’ll take it.

“Thanks.” Torin shakes Sawyer’s hand firmly.

Unexpectedly, the drapes are yanked shut, plunging the room into darkness.

Omegas squeal in distress and yell out.

I take a step toward Cricket. He rests his hand on my waist.

I peer through the darkness, as my heart pounds.

Then Serenity’s voice winds through the shadows. “The first task in this year’s Pack Bonds will test your musical suitability to be matched with the best Idol singer.”

Suddenly, the stage is illuminated again.

I gasp.

Jin is now seated on the dragon throne.

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