Page 108 of Bliss & Her Idols

I’ve also had long conversations with Chase about doctors and treatments.

I hate that Cricket sounds like he’s accepted that our pack is only a brief escape from the inevitable, as much as Jin did on the morning of my heat.

I won’t let him die.

I won’t.

I’m possessive enough to steal this Omega from death.

I know how to deal with panic attacks because Piper had them, when he was younger.

He didn’t grow up unscathed, after the vicious bullying that he went through at school. Kids are cruel to both Rejects and outcasts.

At least I was nearly out of high school before I learned that.

“Then can you see the moonlight dancing a path along the sea?” I press.

Cricket pulls back to study me.

He’s now calm enough to smile. “You sound like a poet Omega. I can see the moon and the sea, but isn’t the way that the light is catching it basic physics?”

I flick Cricket’s nose. “Geek.”

I’m pleased that I surprise a quick chirp out of him. “Proud of it.”

All of a sudden, there’s a flutter of excited chatter from the other contestants.

The cameramen, who are ringed around the beach, swivel to point toward the far end of the beach.

“Look,” I point. “It’s Serenity Bright.”

Serenity Bright is an impressively successful Beta, the presenter of the show.

She’s tall with black hair that falls to her waist around a shimmering ocean blue dress with pearl necklace like she’s a mermaid who has just emerged from the ocean.

The torches flare brighter at some unseen signal.

The Omegas squeal and clap.

“Welcome to the new season of Pack Bonds.” Serenity holds up her hands. She’s so commanding that even the Alphas fall silent. “We have something more special for you this week than any series that has come before. You’ll be competing with each other to win a bond. But shall I show you who with…?”

I grin. “What an entrance.”

All of a sudden, the rocky strains of “Caged Dreams” burst out across the beach.

Then strobing lights sweep over the moonlit clifftop.

I shield my eyes and look up, along with everyone else.

“My Dragon,” Cricket whispers.

Jin is standing on the cliff like something out of a fantasy novel.

He’s wearing a shimmering, ice blue silk suit with a satin coat that’s billowing around him like a dragon’s wings.

His frost colored hair is untamed.

He looks otherworldly.

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