Page 6 of Last Pack Standing
“He’s... interesting,” I said slowly. “Different from the others.”
"How so?" they asked quickly, leaning in.
I shrugged.“He’s an omega, just like me. That alone makes things a bit more complicated. But hey, maybe that’ll make us stronger. We’ll either kill each other or win the whole thing, right?”
“Is he getting on your nerves already?” The voice asked, and I balked. Wow, they really wanted some drama right away. But, that was the point of the show.
“I mean, he’s not exactly what I call competition. I don’t think he has what I can offer. Anyway, I’m excited to get back out there and into the game!” I said, knowing that little soundbite was all they would get out of me.
They laughed behind the glass, but I could tell they wanted more shade and rivalry. But that was too bad. I flashed another smile and adjusted my legs. “Honestly, the only thing more unpredictable than this team... is me.”
They liked that line, too. But deep down, I was already exhausted. All this acting was harder than I thought it’d be.
Chapter 6
Jace
Today marked the official start of the first competition, and also the first real chance I'd have to interact with my team.
“Alright, Alphas! It’s time to show your omegas just how trustworthy you are,” the producer said, way too cheerfully for someone handing out blindfolds. “We’re starting with a classic - the trust fall.”
A trust fall? Seriously? I tried to listen to the producer, but my eyes kept flicking over toher. Cassie.
She looked exactly the same, but somehow even more beautiful to me. Her dark curls were pulled up, her jaw set, and arms crossed. She was practically vibrating with tension and attitude. But her scent hit me like a memory I’d never stopped craving.She was all sharp citrus layered with warm sugar. It had haunted me for months.
It had gotten me through most months, if I was being honest. Cassie - the omega I never had the guts to ask out.
The omega whose career I had apparently accidentally nuked because I was too busy staring at her to connect to the correct file.
God. The moment they walked her onto the Reveal Terrace, I thought I was hallucinating. Cassie Woods.
I remembered the first time I saw her, striding into the boardroom with this impossible energy. She was confident, fiery, and smart as hell. I’d never seen an omega command a space like that. Every time she spoke, it was like I was spellbound. And every time I tried to speak, I short-circuited. I wanted so badly to talk to her, strike up a conversation, get to know this feisty omega who had captured all of my attention - and truthfully, my heart - since I stepped foot into that job. But I had to be the first alpha in history that had no idea how to approach the girl of my dreams.
Sure, I was handsome - I’d been called that plenty of times. I was successful. I was an alpha, for God’s sake. But no matter how in control I was in every other area of my life, this omega caused my entire mind to turn to jello when I was in her presence, with her absolute perfection and her amazing scent.
I remember that day when she’d run off and quit - I'd been working tech support for the presentation room, covering for someone else. When she’d handed me the presentation to load, I couldn’t even get her name out without stammering. My hands shook.
So yeah. I must have plugged in the wrong file. Then came the pictures,herpictures.
The execs laughed, I wanted to die, and she ran. I tried to explain to the room that it was a glitch, not to hold it against her. But by the time I went after her to make sure she was okay, I found out she’d quit on the spot. And I never saw her again, until now.
I’d joined the show because I’d given up on love. I had a hard time being interested in anyone after Cassie left, and figured I might as well get arranged with a pack and see if it worked. But now Cassie Woods was on my team. And she hated me.
But fate put us in the same place, at the same time yet again, and there had to be a reason. I needed to prove myself to her, and make things right.
“Jace,” Leo said, nudging me back to reality. “You good?” The guy was incredibly upbeat, and I needed that right now. I was glad to have him on my team.
I cleared my throat. “Yeah. Yep. All good.”
Cassie stood about ten feet away with Ash beside her. The other omega was a stunning male, one with a mysterious aura. He wasattractive, no doubt. But I couldn’t quite figure him out. And Cassie looked like she’d prefer to kick me than participate in this round.
The producer clapped his hands. “Omegas will fall backward off the platform. Alphas will catch them. No scenting, no nesting. Just good, old-fashioned trust.”
Cassie stepped onto the short platform, trying to glare over her shoulder even though she was blindfolded. “Whose genius idea was this?”
Ash smirked. “Probably the same person who thought putting two omegas into a pack with three alphas was a great idea.”
Rys chuckled, while Leo gave a few encouraging comments, trying to get the omegas to feel safe. And I just kept looking at Cassie. I didn’t realize I’d stepped forward until I was directly behind her, holding out my arms. “I’ve got you.”
