Page 212 of Bliss & Her Idols

Cricket shoots me a quick look. “Okay, Bee?”

“I will be when the others are back. Zero is their family, and seeing him being treated cruelly wrecked even me. It hurt Jin the most though because Immortal was being punished because ofJin’schoices. Our Ice Beauty feels responsible.”

Cricket pauses, wringing the cloth between his hands. “It’s screwed up that when you’re bad, they punish your friends. Butmaybe we’ve all taken on too many burdens and duties that we shouldn’t have done.”

He stares down at the cloth in his hands like he’s only just seeing it for the first time.

I step closer to Cricket, stroking down his arm. “You mean like with your chores and raising your brothers.”

He looks up at me. “I mean like your parents.”

I suck in a sharp breath.

The moment that Cricket voices it, however, a weight lifts from my shoulders.

I feel lighter. Also, inexplicably like laughing.

At the same time, like crying.

Instead, I cover Cricket’s hands with mine.

He smiles, determinedly. Then he throws the cloth to the floor and turns into my arms.

We clasp onto each other: two people who have been lost but now have been found.

We nuzzle each other’s necks, purring.

“Beautiful,” a flirty but raspy English voice says from the doorway. “I should have known that my two besties would claim not one but two bloody gorgeous Omegas. I don’t know which of them has better thighs. I don’t blame you for encouraging them not to wear pants. You lucky bastards. Omega beauties, you don’t have any pretty brothers, huh?”

Cricket and I jump apart.

Torin and Jin are supporting Immortal into the room. He’s limping but at least is able to walk.

The bruises on Immortal’s face look worse in this light and up close. His sharp cheekbone is almost black and the blood is thick at his temple. His joggers and top are stained with a suspicious rusty color.

Immortal’s silky hair is tangled, while the light catches on the jewel stars that are woven throughout it.

He’s taller than Jin.

Despite his beaten up state, Immortal is stunning.

In real life, he has the same breathtaking charisma as Jin, except with an added bad boy edge.

Isn’t Immortal meant to be thegoodBeta? The sensible type who fits the stereotype of the Beta who every Traditional pack aspires to bond?

It seems like the identity that has been forced onto this star is bullshit as well.

Immortal is far more like the swaggering playboy than Jin ever was.

Cricket grabs onto my blouse, shyly. He doesn’t hide behind me, however, which shows how far he’s come.

“Actually, yeah,” I reply. “I do have a pretty brother.”

Piper is going to be so fucking excited.

Immortal manages a wink, which looks funny when one of his eyes is still swollen shut. “When can I meet him?”

Torin rolls his eyes. “How about we think about your cock, when the rest of you isn’t one big bruise?”

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