Page 131 of The Alpha's Arrangement

Bar sighs and turns in my arms, his mouth seeking mine.

forty

Scarlet

Hazel arrives with the dress and bullies me into it. It’s a beautiful, flowing crimson gown made of satin with beaded lace over the top. Missy leans back on the chaise and tries to hide her smirk. The omega is quite possibly one of the few people on Earth I trust. We met when I helped her and her pack out, and I’d felt a pull towards her, to protect her, like she was a little sister.

Missy flicks her ginger hair over her shoulders, throws a grape up and catches it and then throws herself back on my chaise, crossing her legs at the ankle and studying me with a smirk.

“I’ve never seen you like this, Scarlet.” Missy shakes her head. “I’m astounded. Nerves, anxiety, flutters of panic? I’m agog.”

“Aren’t your alphas missing you yet?” I snap at her. “Hell, I’d even put up with Darion right now over this.”

She grins wider, flipping her ginger hair over her shoulder. “Not yet. Give it a minute.”

I shake my head and hope to all the gods that Lukas and Darion stay the hell out of my house because I can’t handle them right now. Seb, maybe, if he keeps his distance, but the other two I might consider beating to death.

Kandi rolls her eyes. “Your alphas have a tracker on you, plus a team of security and me, your very own personal bodyguard, against the oh, so evil Scarlet.” She looks at me. “You should be flattered.”

Kandi is the personal bodyguard Darion forced on Missy to protect her from me. Which is a bit of a joke because Missy and Kandi are best friends. And the deadly beta-omega team are plain trouble that sends shivers up my spine. I don’t even like to think about what they might get up to.

“I am. But I can’t wear this.” I chew on my bottom lip and spin so Missy and Kandi can check it out.

“I insist.” Hazel says evenly.

There’s something in her tone. I turn around and observe her.

“Hazel? Did you get me this?”

Hazel keeps her head down.

“It’s another of their gifts, isn’t it?”

“They have really good taste, except the nail. I don’t understand a bent nail.” Hazel says with a frown.

“I don’t want things.” I snap. “And I’m not an omega. This is wrong. They shouldn’t be doing this for me.”

“Would you believe they were sincere if they just showed up and professed how sorry they were?” Missy asks flatly.

I hesitate, opening and closing my mouth. If they had showed up when the first flowers arrived, would I have believed them? No. No way. I was angry, they kept me from Bar and hurt my feelings. They had a right to, but why pretend? Why put me through those weeks only to backtrack? No, I wouldn’t have believed them.

“Give them a chance to speak their piece, just hear them out. I would have never thought I’d be this ridiculously happy, but my alphas have changed my world. I’d give anything to see you so happy, Scar.” Missy says gently.

“It helps that they are richer than Midas and gift you with all the lovely pretties every time you fight.” Kandi says dryly. “Hold out as long as you can, I say.”

“You, shut up!” Missy growls.

“Well, when your alphas can just buy sections of world for you every time you get sad, the world looks pretty bright.” Kandi teases and laughs as Hazel hits her face with a pillow.

Missy turns on the seat with her brow arched. “Is Sven not doing enough to make you happy?”

Kandi smiles wickedly. “Oh, no! I don’t need any perks, pretties or any bribery, just some manscaping and some whipped cream, and I’m a happy girl.”

“Come on!” Missy shouts. “I don’t need to know that.”

“It’s been weeks.” I interrupt. “Weeks of flowers, of gifts, of notes, of serenades and memories. Why aren’t they here?” I whine.

At some point, the anger had turned to longing and fear. I just needed Bar, I told myself. But it was Taylor I picture holding me at night. It’s Jet I imagine wrapping his arms around me when I’m sad. It’s Acton who sees my blank expression and knows what I’m thinking. And it’s Gold who kneels before me, crying when I tell him my secret. But that throbbing need for my omega, it doesn’t go away.

---