Page 21 of Last Pack Standing
The other omega contestants tightened their grips on each other in anticipation. Several teams were hugging and cooing, already beaming at the thought of introducing their families to everyone. Cassie reached for my hand, and I let her take it. But my pulse was racing, drowning out her sweet voice when she whispered, “You okay?”
I nodded. But I was not okay. My entire persona that I’d crafted for myself would be shattered. My team, and the audience, would see where I’d come from, and all my time here would be wasted. Everyone would see that I didn’t belong here.
The host announced each contestant one by one, and then the doors opened and joy erupted. All of the omegas were reunited with their families, everyone looking happy and thrilled. Then, our team’s turn. The host announced Cassie’s family, and from behind the curtains, her sister appeared, running toward her. They embraced, and held each other for several minutes. I heard the alphas murmur in approval and adoration. Her parents walked out next, looking a bit more reserved. Cassie seemed to tense up at them, but they gave tight smiles and embraced her. I started to sweat. What would happen with my family?
“...and now,” the host announced, “Ash, let’s bring out your family!” But as I turned to look, waiting with equal dread and hope, no one came through the door.
I waited. The cheers died down into a confused murmur. My team, and some of the other contestants, looked over at me in confusion. Still… nothing.
The host’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second before he recovered, looking toward the production booth. A producer finally stepped toward me, eyes down, headset crackling. “Ash… it looks like there was a scheduling conflict,” she said. “But we’re sure they’re cheering you on from home.”
I stood frozen, burning with humiliation. I could feel the cameras on me, recording my reaction. I gave a hollow laugh and looked away, pretending like it didn’t matter.
But the truth was, their absence felt like a sucker punch. I’d half-prepared myself for disappointment, but the very public reality of being left hanging like that made the old wounds tear open. Now, my team would see the real me. An omega, unwanted by even his own family. Someone who wasn’t that special, who didn’t have much to offer.
I looked away, into the distance, trying to keep the tears from prickling in my eyes. I couldn’t bear to see my team looking at me. I didn’t want to see the disappointment, the let down, the looks on their faces when they realized they were paired with a loser. I’d rather pretend I didn’t care. That way it would hurt less when I was inevitably voted off. I was already preparing myself mentally for what I’d do when that happened when I felt her.
Cassie’s arms slid around me, holding me tight and covering me from the camera. She didn’t say anything at first. It was justher and her warmth, pressed against my side. Then I felt Leo’s hand gripping my shoulder, firm and grounding. Jace stepped into my other side, his presence giving me strength. And finally, Rys stood behind me, a silent protector. Somehow, they all knew what happened. Why I was left without a single member to support me. So they stepped in, circling around me and protecting me.
“You’re not alone,” Cassie whispered protectively, her cheek against mine.
“You have a family, right here.” Jace added, and with how he sounded, I almost believed him. The producers waved the cameras away, likely not wanting this filmed. It looked so bad that they didn’t even want to include it in the show - the unwanted omega.
I couldn’t hold it in anymore. My shoulders shook as I finally exhaled the pain I’d kept buried for years. Not just from today, but from the aching of years of feeling like I was always too much or never enough. After all of this, the people who really showed up and stood by my side were not my blood, but the strangers I’d been paired with, who somehow knew exactly what I needed in that moment.
My team didn’t say much, and I preferred that. They just stood by me, waiting until the contestants and families wandered off, leaving us on the now nearly empty set. Cassie’s family members gave us space, understanding that something was going on that my team needed to handle.
Cassie touched my arm gently, trying to break the silence. “Well… look at it this way,” she said with a smile, her eyes warm even as she tried to make light of it. “At least you won’t be embarrassed with old family stories broadcast to the nation. I’m pretty sure mine’s going to tell the host all about how I used to practice kissing on my pillow.”
I snorted despite myself, finally starting to feel better. I didn’t need my family here for this show. My team would do well no matter what. And with my thoughts now veering in a more confident direction, I started to realize something. Maybe I would never have my family’s approval, no matter what I did. But then again, maybe I didn’t need it. I was starting to realize I might actually have something so much better.
Chapter 18
Cassie
Despite the laughter and clink of silverware over dinner, I had a tightness in my stomach. The plates were overflowing, and the table set up to rival a magazine spread. There were cameras of course, positioned subtly in every corner of the room. It should have been perfect, but I knew better. My parents, despite their initial outward kindness, did not approve of my being on this show for one second. And I knew, at some point, they would make their feelings known.
So far, my team had been charming and lighthearted, shocking even me with how much effort they made to connect with my family. My parents were betas, like my sister. They had no idea how to teach me about pack life, and had always struggled a bit when my omega designation presented. So, they did the best they could, which was to follow their footsteps. So when I’d quitmy job, gone into a depression and then randomly decided to join a reality TV cast, they weren’t exactly happy, nor did they know how to handle it.
The producers wanted an authentic look at the cast’s lives, now that we’d all had time to get tangled up in one another - tangled in some ways that I definitely did not want on camera. I hoped we wouldn’t get too authentic, because my family had a flair for the dramatic when it came to my plans for the future.
My mother dabbed at the corners of her mouth with her napkin, her expression tight. She’d been quiet most of the meal, exchanging brief pleasantries with Jace and Rys, offering Ash a polite smile, even thanking Leo when he passed her the wine.
“So, Cassie,” she said finally, cutting a piece of chicken she hadn’t touched. Her voice had the tone of someone trying to sound casual, but I knew better. “You’re really going to continue with this show? I believe you’ve made your point already.”
I paused, food to halfway to my mouth. “I mean, yes. That’s been the plan since before I got here.”
She set down her utensils and folded her hands neatly in front of her plate. “I suppose what I mean is, what’s the endgame here? You’re a businesswoman. You had momentum. Now you're… what? Part of a reality pack?”
My dad gave a noncommittal grunt, the way he always did when he agreed but didn’t want to get in the middle. My sister stared down at her wine, silent.
I swallowed the tension rising in my throat. “It’s more than that.”
“Is it?” my mother asked, eyebrows raised. “Cassie, this isn’t you. This isn’t who we raised you to be. You’re throwing your career away for a flash of fame and a throwaway hobby of painting. It’s not real. And furthermore, it’s quite an embarrassment when our friends and neighbors know all about your romantic life, and the drama of your actions on this show. I really thought you knew better than this.”
I felt anger boiling up inside of me. How dare she speak about my team like that! “Mom, this is my life, and my choice. I’m having a good time, and these are good people who I care about. You cannot say those things to me or to them!” I said, setting my silverware down in a fury. The rest of my team sat there, momentarily shocked.
“Oh please, Cassie. You can’t tell me you care about these people, no offense.” she started, glancing around at my team. “None of this is real and you know it!”
