Page 64 of Scrum Heat

“Which is ridiculous given that she’s the reason we’ve doubled engagement in two weeks,” I say. “None of us had a following until she started filming thighs and telling us to smile.”

Evie hums, expression sharp. “That’s what worries me.”

“What, her talent?”

“No,” she says flatly. “The fact that someone is clearly trying to drag her down. And I have a bad feeling Denton Vale has something to do with it.”

Theo snorts. “What, they’ve pivoted to influencer sabotage now?”

Evie gives him a look. “You think it’s a coincidence that the bile started right after my meeting with them? It was only a few days later that she posted the Player Profile video that went viral. She’s making us look good, and Vale’s going tohatethat.”

“Why her, though?” I frown. “She’s got nothing to do with any of it. Come at us, sure—but why Frankie?”

“Because it’s easy,” Evie says. “She’s new. She’s a young, pretty omega who’ll put in the work to figure out trends and what will go viral, and she’s walking around with four alphas who’d burn down the world for her. They see a threat, and they’re testing how far they can push it.”

There’s a beat of silence.

Theo’s jaw tightens. “I’ll dig through the accounts. See if there’s a link. If I find something—”

“You bring it to me,” Evie says coolly. “We’re not getting into a public pissing match unless we have proof.”

“And Frankie?” I ask.

“Protect her,” Evie says. “Keep doing your jobs, keep filming, and let the numbers do the talking.”

Theo nods. “We will.”

“She’s tougher than she looks,” I say.

“I know,” Evie replies. “But that doesn’t mean she should have to fight this alone.”

There’s a beat of quiet between the three of us.

Then Theo—too casual to be casual—adds, “She’s settled in, though. More than I expected.”

I glance toward the pitch again. Frankie’s laughing at something Finn said, her hands flailing mid-story.

“She has,” I admit. “She’s got her routine. Her drawer in the fridge. Her mugs in the cupboard.”

“She’s in the routine, now,” Theo adds. “She’s part of the rhythm.”

“She’s not part of the pack,” I cut in automatically.

“Not yet,” Theo says without missing a beat.

Evie’s eyes snap to him. “Careful.”

He doesn’t flinch. “What? It’s not like any of us are pretending this is normal.”

“She’s your colleague.”

“And she’s living in our house,” he says. “Eating dinner with us. Sharing scent with us. Sleeping under the same roof.”

Evie narrows her eyes at him. “Is there any chance something’s already going on?”

I open my mouth, then close it again.

Theo snorts. “If there is, it’s professional. We make her tea and she edits our thirst traps. That’s it.”

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