Page 56 of Dubious Match
“What Brice meant to say, and did so very badly, is that you look as if you’re one stiff wind away from being blown away,” Malcom says. “None of us like to see you this tired, but it’s really fucking with him. He’s protective, and his instincts are telling him to kidnap you and take you home with us.”
My eyes swing back up to Brice who hasn’t stopped staring at me, and he stands as a tear escapes the confines of my lash line.
“I shouldn’t have yelled at you,” he says, coming around to hug me hard.
Shuddering, I sob, immediately hating myself for it.
“Fuck, I’m sorry,” he groans, buring his face in my throat. “I can see that you’re literally running on fumes, Hollis. Please, please tell us what’s wrong. God, I don’t want to pry but I can’t stand and watch this anymore.”
“I can’t sleep,” I wail, turning to lean against his body. “I try…every night, and I can’t. I keep waking up from nightmares. Emilia…”
“What, baby?” His chest begins to vibrate, and I gasp in a breath as he purrs for me.
“Her podcasts have started to vilify, saying that I’m an omega madam, and that I’m the person to call if you want easy pussy,” I say. “So now, I have alphas messaging my business pages and website asking if I need any alphas to pimp out.”
“What the fuck?” Felix hisses. “Hollis, I swear I should have never told you that. It’s so much worse now that she’s saying it.”
“It’s fine, she’s just running with a narrative that a lot of people think,” I hiccup. “Even my naps get ruined by that fucking bitch.”
“Is she calling you still?” Brice asks, his hand rubbing my back.
“Mmhmm. Brice, I’m going to fall asleep if you continue doing that,” I say, pulling away and trying to wipe my tears away.My makeup setting spray is really going to be put to the test. “I just have to keep moving. If I stop, I’m going to pass out.”
“That’s not a good thing,” Remy says, walking over to hug me from behind. “I’m really sorry we reacted so badly about being invited to your event, Hollis. I know we’ve all said some form of an apology, but you really are doing amazing things here.”
“I can’t even imagine what Emilia stands to gain by doing an event like this,” Malcolm grumbles.
“I do,” I mutter. “Vulnerable, sheltered omegas who are desperate to be taken care of. Emilia builds this idea that only the most powerful packs will be invited to her event, but what happens to those omegas who aren’t her idea of perfection? She now has all their information, from where they live to where they work.”
“She’s profiling omegas?” Felix asks. “That’s…fuck.”
“Minneapolis is not a safe place to live,” I say, sniffling. “I don’t really know that any place is, if I’m being brutally honest here. We all just do our best to bring awareness to the dangers that exist and limit some of them. I’m just having a rough week, and I’m terrified I may be making myself more susceptible to a migraine. I don’t have time to be out of commission.”
“I have a proposal,” Remy says, his lips against my ear. Goosebumps rise along my skin, pebbling even more where his breath brushes my neck.
“I think it’s a little early for that, don’t you?” I tease him.
“You’re such a brat,” he murmurs. “Let’s stay on track, Hollis. Brice already spanked you once today. I think you should come home with us for the weekend. We have really good security, baby. You’ll be able to sleep, one of us will always be around to snuggle, and Malcolm will feed you.”
The alpha in question chuckles under his breath. “Anything you want,” Malcolm says. “I have a feeling you’re not eating well, and we’ll all worry about you. Please, come home with us.”
“It won’t go any further than letting us take care of you, Hollis,” Brice adds. “It’s really fucking with me that you’re so tired. You’re beautiful, don’t get me wrong, but the only thing keeping you on your feet and focused is your passion and stubbornness.”
Taking a deep breath, I drop my head back on Remy’s chest. I know they’re right, and they’ve done nothing to show me that they want to take advantage of me. Besides, if I’d been headed anywhere other than the botanical gardens to map out this event, Lars would have come across the counter to force me to sleep.
I hate leaning on people, but I think I need to.
“Okay,” I say sleepily. “Someone is going to need to drive my car, though.”
“Done,” Brice says, sticking his hand out for my keys.
Yawning, I hand them to him, and we start walking to the parking lot. My limbs feel heavier and heavier until Remy scoops me into his arms as we pass the gate. Felix takes my giant bag, and I’m asleep by the time we begin crossing the parking lot.
Twelve
REMY
I haven’t let go of her since we’ve gotten home. The guys pushed together all of the pieces of our modular couch to create a giant bed, and she’s now cuddled against me while I play with her hair and undo her braid. I hate that she’s twitching in her sleep and making tiny noises of discomfort.
