Page 49 of Bliss & Her Idols

I nod.

Zoe huffs. “Time for half an hour of questions. Then Immortal will be kicking off the Betas of Rock Concert. We don’t have long. Keep it brief. You first.”

I’m not surprised when she points at April.

I’m still struggling to work out how to make my lungs work properly. Jin has sucked all the air out of the room with his charisma.

Does he feel the spark between us too?

Jin’s cocky, frosty mask is firmly back in place, but he’s still sneaking glances at Cricket and me out of the corner of his eye.

I smirk, arching my eyebrow.

I don’t expect Jin to look caught out, crossing and then recrossing his ankles, before determinedly fixing his attention on April.

He does feel it too.

My heart soars.

Jin smiles at April, easy and practiced. Now that I’m actually with Jin, I can tell how much it’s painted on.

“Your popularity is at an all-time high. Even my mom is feral for you.” April doesn’t appear to notice or care how uncomfortable she is making Jin, and nor does his staff. “How much of your music career do you put down to your bad boy image? The type of Beta that most Alphas fantasize about taking in hand? Have you seen the TikTok edits that show you with various famous Alpha packs…well, being shown your place?”

The other Betas titter, as April quirks her brow, hoping for a reaction.

Next to me, Cricket bares his teeth.

I have to snatch Cricket’s hand to stop him from diving toward April in his anger.

So, it turns out that Cricket is apsychogeek, when it comes to being protective of his pack.

Perhaps, I should have explained whatundercovermeans better to him.

Jin notices the movement.

His concerned gaze darts to us for a moment. Then it becomes icy, as it sweeps back to April.

When he swipes his tongue along his plush lower lip, he has everyone in the room hanging on his next words.

The Beta journalists lean forward.

“Nope,” Jin replies cheekily, popping the ‘p’. “Next question. This time from a real journalist and not a hack.”

April hisses in outrage.

“Idol,” Zoe taps something into her phone, “remain polite to the press and accommodating at all times.”

“Of course.” Jin smiles at me and this time, it’s a genuine one. My heart flutters. Then he says with studied politeness, “Please do ask me a question. Hold on, I’m alwaysaccommodatingto the press. Your Omega is too small to see properly with all those tall Betas standing in the way. Why don’t you come over here? You can hop up and join me.”

He pats the table next to him with a mischievous quirk of his brow.

What the hell is going on?

This man is more of a rebel than I am.

I should have guessed that.

Stapleton drops his hand to the gun at his belt. “Sir, I don’t recommend—"