Page 118 of Knot Their Reality

"Now that Sophia has made her entrance," Tessa says with a grin, "we wanted to let you know what's going to happen next."

Bree nods, glancing at Sophia. "The dress looks amazing on you. It was a good choice."

"Thanks for helping me find it." Sophia grins, lifting her eyebrows. "The suitors all seem to like it."

Bree laughs, glancing out over us. I'm not sure what she sees, but she nods. "I can see that. All of our guests have arrived, and they're patiently waiting for the fourteen of you. Chase will escort Sophia in, and they'll be announced as an omega pair. Then Brody, Brooks, and Foster will be announced as her chosen mates. The rest of you will be introduced individually after that, except Pack Lewitt. The three of you will be announced after Sophia's pack since you're Chase's pack.”

"Does anyone have any questions?" Tessa asks.

"Is it safe to announce that Sophia and Chase are an omega pair?" Liam's voice is gruff as usual, but I can hear the worry in it.

Bree gives him a soft smile as she nods. "The episode where it was discovered has already aired. I'm sure there will be some people who will want to speak with them about it. Who will want to study them, but the guests have already been warned. If they decide they want to ask anyway, even though we've asked them not to, they'll be escorted off the premises."

"We've also upped the security, as you well know," Tessa says with a pointed look. "Seeing as it's your company we're using."

He shrugs. "I want to make sure the omegas are safe."

"As do we," Tessa retorts, and I can see her becoming irritated by the insinuation.

Bree lays a hand on Tessa's arm, shaking her head. "And you're also in for a treat as I've wrangled all of my mates into attending as well. Though, I'm not sure how long Emmett will be here. He can't seem to stay away from our daughter for very long."

"Oh, that's great." Sophia claps her hands together. "I didn't get to meet them all when they were here last time."

I'll admit that I'm kind of excited to see them as well. They're all great guys and while we've kept in touch because of mine and Bree's friendship, I haven't been able to spend a lot of time with them. It'll be nice to have them around for the night.

"Let's head over to the ballroom so we can get you announced. I'm sure you're all looking forward to enjoying the gala." As soon as the words are out of her mouth, Tessa is moving toward the ballroom with Bree right behind her.

Sophia takes Chase's offered arm and the suitors part so the two of them can go ahead of us. As soon as we're crowded around the entrance to the ballroom, Tessa comes and arranges us in the order we're to be announced before she and Bree duck inside.

"Attention, guests," Reginald's voice sounds over the sound system, loud enough that we can hear him in the hallway. "It's the time you've all been waiting for. This season's omega and her remaining suitors have arrived. Put your hands together for the first omega pair in over seventy years—Sophia Durham and Chase Lewitt. Sophia is a lawyer at Edwards, Ryan, & Associates based out of Los Angeles. Chase is an omega lobbyist, working to make the world a better place for all omegas."

The pair of them step into the room to the sounds of thunderous applause.

"Next, we have Sophia's chosen mates, Brody Sullivan, Brooks Wessex, and Foster Madden. Brooks is alpha to both Sophia and Chase."

We follow the omegas into the room, moving to stand beside the stage with Tessa and Bree.

"Next is Pack Lewitt, Chase's chosen pack. Asher, Liam, and Carson Lewitt."

One by one, the others are called forth and enter until we all stand together.

"Dinner will be served now, and after, we invite you to join in our casino games that you'll find spread throughout the room. Dancing will also commence at that time with our omega pair kicking off the night. Then, at nine, we'll hold this week's ceremony." Reginald smiles, gesturing with his hand. "If you'll find your seats at this time, food will be served as soon as everyone is seated."

We end up sitting at a long table in front of the stage. The rest of the tables are circular, but I guess we wouldn't all fit at one of those. Dinner is delicious as always, but it's made better by the fact that I get to sit next to Sophia. Brooks is on her other side, followed by Chase and Pack Lewitt. Foster is on my other side, and the other suitors are spread out from there.

Tessa, Bree and her pack, and Reginald and his pack sit across from us. Our table is very full. Throughout dinner, we're able to ignore the other guests, though I can feel their eyes on us. I can tell it's making some of the others uncomfortable. They might want to get used to it. Once they leave the show, they're all going to be in the public eye—something I learned after the first season.

The rest of the gala passes slowly, and I'm reminded that I really hate these things. Each of the suitors gets a chance to dance with Sophia, and we all play the games set up around the room, but it's clear that most of us are uncomfortable being here. We're all practically bouncing off the walls when the rose ceremony is finally announced.

Obviously, this week's ceremony will go a bit differently since the ballroom is full of strangers. They're all to line up along the stage, facing the crowd. Then Sophia will hand out the roses to us one by one, based on the order they line themselves up. Me, Chase, Brooks, and Foster will stand behind Reginald, Tessa, and Bree while everything goes down.

It's only then I realize that Sophia hasn't discussed her plans for the ceremony tonight with us. I'm sure she doesn't want to choose anyone or send them home with such a large crowd watching on, but I highly doubt Tessa and Bree will allow that.

Something that is confirmed as we stand at the base of the stairs while Tessa and Sophia argue. "I'm not going to embarrass someone by sending them home in front of this crowd."

"Then you need to choose someone for your pack. You can't just hand out just yellow roses tonight, Sophia. We have investors in the crowd. Not to mention, the television execs, who are very happy with the numbers being pulled in from announcing that you and Chase are an omega pair. Everyone is talking about how badly we’ve been misinformed, not just within our country, but globally. Now, we have to keep up the momentum. You have to give them a show."

Sophia huffs. "I'm not ready to choose anyone else to be in my pack. None of us are there yet."

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