Page 37 of Last Pack Standing
“And the votes are in!” The host started, walking around the stage like a panther circling their prey. “The viewers have the truth, and now, they’ve made their decisions.” He built up the tension, waiting while the cameras got a great angle of everyone’s reactions, especially me and my team. I would be mortified if I was the reason we were voted off.
“Coming in third place is….. Team blue!” The host announced, and team Blue reacted with a mix of relief and dissatisfaction. Team Green was announced as second place. I felt the bile rise up in my stomach, waiting for who would land first.
“And in first place, we have… wait a minute, we have something new!” The host proclaimed as he wore a practiced look of surprise on his face. “The viewers have a request. An overwhelming one - they want to keep Pack Silver in first place. But they want to vote off one person.” The host scanned everyone, his gaze finally landing on me, along withseveral cameras. “Cassie Woods, you have been voted off by the audience."
A gasp tore out of me as I looked over at my team, my eyes wild before a set of security looped their arms in mine and walked me out. I barely remembered my feet moving - maybe they hadn't. All I knew was that one moment I was on stage, watching everything I cared about being taken from me, and the next moment I was in a limo, my luggage loaded, as the vehicle drove away from the villa.
Chapter 35
Ash
The silence after the vote was suffocating. I’d barely been able to process what she’d said on the secret recording, then have to sit there and hear what I’d said - personal things that I had no idea had been recorded. Then, before I could even think, the vote results came in and they walked Cassie off the stage. Just like that. Security took her, and she’d stopped protesting, her arguments turned to numb silence. Cameras immediately swung toward us, waiting for a reaction, any drama for their reels.
But none of us gave them what they wanted. I could tell Leo was fuming, Jace was heartbroken, and Rys was stone faced, giving no indication of how he felt. I was more confused than anything. My hurt manifested as silence, and I felt the ache of something ripped out of place.
Finally, Leo broke the silence. “I want to talk to her.” He said, storming off the set. Jace and Rys quickly followed them, and I moved my feet, slowly going in their direction but unable to process what I was doing.
They reached the suite before I did. I heard a bellowing once I walked down the hall toward our rooms, and rushed to get there to see what happened. Jace had her pillow in his hands, his face contorted as he ran out of her room. “She’s gone!” He growled, and Leo was already tearing off the tux that the producers wanted us to wear for voting nights. Rys stood back, a concerned look on his face.
“Where the hell is she?” Leo asked, almost to himself as he stormed through our suite. “Her things are gone!”
“What do you mean?” I asked, looking in her room. It was empty, as if she’d never even stayed there.
“Yes, Cassie is gone. Once someone is voted off, they are immediately escorted off the premises.” A voice interrupted us, and I turned to see one of the producers, and several security staff, with him.
“What the hell? We deserve an explanation!” Leo bellowed, marching up to the producer, so close that he was only inches away from him. The security staff tensed up.
“This is how the show works. Participants don’t linger around after being voted off.” The producer explained, his voice firm ashe shrugged. Loe growled, but Rys gripped his shoulder, pulling him back slightly.
“Look, we want to talk to her. There has been a misunderstanding.” Rys said, his voice deep and calm, but with an undertone that meant he wanted what he was asking for.
The producer didn’t sway. “There’s no contact with former participants. You know the rules. You can track her down once you’re off the show.” The words were almost smug. “Anyway, be glad you are in first place! And your team is still intact. One more challenge, and you could win everything.” He smiled, a fake gesture, then turned and walked away, the security flanking him on either side.
My jaw was open at how callous he had been. I sat down on the couch, putting my head in my hands. It wasn’t long before I felt a weight on either side of me, and a warm hand on my shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, Ash.” Rys’s deep voice comforted me, pulling me away from the precipice in my mind that I nearly fell into.
“It’s okay, Ash. We’re right here.” Jace added, his comforting scent filling my nose. I looked up, dragging my hands down my face in frustration.
I took a breath. "I need to say something. I know we’re all hurting. But I need to be honest with you all."
They looked at me, quiet but listening.
"When I first came here, I didn’t think I’d connect with anyone. I thought this show was just trashy entertainment. For me, it was only a chance to get some exposure, make money, maybe even win and launch a career. A pack wasn’t something I wanted."
I swallowed, emotions tightening in my throat. "But then I met her, and all of you. And it got harder and harder to pretend that none of this meant anything."
Rys shifted, his expression soothing and non-judgemental. Leo watched me, eyes sad but steady.
"What Cassie and I had - it wasn’t fake. I know what it seemed like in that video, but I saw the way she looked at me when no one was around. I felt it! That kind of connection - you don’t make that up. She’s notthatgood of an actress."
Jace reached for me, placing his hand on my back. "We believe you, Ash. We know it was real."
I looked at him, surprised. “Even after what she said about you?” I found it hard to believe he could brush that off. But he nodded, his eyes turning dark with anger.
“The producers have been trying to manipulate us since we got here. They purposefully put two omegas on a team to make you fight, to get you to undermine each other until only one was left. They never expected you to team up and like each other.” He said, a wry smile forming.
“He’s right. They’ve been angling for this since the beginning. They tried to get us to pick sides, to pick an omega, as well.” Rys added, his dark, knowledgeable expression somehow giving me hope that everything would turn out okay. “Don’t worry omega. No one can force us to choose. It’s you and her, always.” I felt the strange warmth of acceptance flow through me again. Jace grabbed my hand.
