10. Alaric

10

Alaric

I knew beforehand that Jade would be gone by morning, but that didn't make it any less painful.

The bed still smelled like him, as did the folded-up shirt I kept on my pillow. Maybe it was my omega hormones awakening, but his scent blared brighter than a neon sign. I could practically see its lingering essence floating in the air like mist.

As I sat up with a groggy groan, the locket on my collar tinkled against my bare skin, reminding me more of his absence.

I snorted in amusement. I'd gone from hating Jade to missing him in a short amount of time. The green-haired bastard certainly had a way of worming himself into my heart.

But one night of passion—however mutually mind-blowing—didn't mean we were fated mates.

I'd come here to find my alpha. It couldn't possibly be Jade... could it?

I didn't know what to expect when I arrived on the beach for the second challenge, but it wasn't a TV set featuring a miniature library. The contraption looked bizarre and out of place on beautiful white sand against a sparkling ocean backdrop.

"What is that?" I muttered to Poppy, who'd accompanied me from the hotel.

He tilted his head. "It looks like a library. But why is it here on the beach?"

Yesterday's incident with Jade's brothers popped into my mind. No doubt they had something to do with this nonsense.

"We're about to find out," I said as Gaius strode onto the scene. His horrendous shirt du jour was an awful lime green that managed to outdo its neon predecessor. If that wasn't bad enough, he topped it off with reflective neon sunglasses perched on his nose.

He wasn't alone. Standing beside him was another man dressed in green—and that one made my heart skip a beat.

I perked up as I caught Jade's eye. He gave me a complex smile, polite and friendly while in public, but with a subtle dash of naughtiness.

Without thinking about it, I reached up to touch my collar. Then, realizing what I'd done, I shoved my hand stiffly back down to my side.

"Good morning, contestants!" Gaius announced, flashing a pure white grin at the group of omegas. "You've all seen the set of today's challenge by now. It's impossible to miss, isn't it?"

That earned a few suck-up chuckles from the crowd. I rolled my eyes, knowing their efforts were meaningless. But inside, I buzzed with smug pride. The other contestants didn't really think they could win, did they? The night I shared with Jade last night left no room for anyone else.

Yet paranoia gnawed at me. Did Jade feel the same way? I made eye contact with him again, eager for a response of any kind. I'd be gutted if he ignored me the way he did at the meet-and-greet.

This time, Jade didn't let me down. He returned my gaze with a reassuring smile that melted my worries away. Whatever was going on between us, it was warm and tangible.

I felt an unusual joy gather in my belly. I was used to disappointment. Having my hopes confirmed and uplifted was... different. It felt good.

Gaius's voice cut into my thoughts. "As you can see, we've set up a miniature library. Your second challenge is to scour the shelves for Jade's favorite book!"

Contestants murmured among themselves. I felt a stab of paranoid envy. Did they know Jade's favorite book? I had to admit, I had no clue. I cursed myself for not knowing such obvious information.

"Favorite book?" Poppy asked under his breath. "Oh, I don't know. He loves all books, doesn't he?"

"He does," I agreed, recalling the walls of books in his office. At the time, I'd been too busy being annoyed at him to examine his shelves. Dammit, why hadn't I just asked him earlier? Jade always focused on my wants and needs. I should've made an effort to learn more about him .

I scanned the other omegas' faces for any signs of hope or recognition, but thankfully found none. They were clueless. That meant I had a chance at victory.

The idea of Jade choosing another contestant as the winner crossed my mind. The hairs on the back of my neck spiked like knives.

That wasn't going to happen. I wouldn't let it.

"You'll all be allowed into the library at the same time," Gaius went on. "Once you've picked the book you think is Jade's favorite, come find us to verify your answer. But be careful—you only get one chance! If you guess incorrectly, you're out of luck."

My stomach flipped with unease. What if I chose wrong?

I bit my lip as I gazed upon the seemingly endless rows of books. There were so many options—what if a different omega chose the right book by sheer dumb luck?

"Alaric?" Poppy asked.

"Hm? What is it?"

He glanced worriedly at the balled fists at my sides. "Your claws are out. Are you okay?"

As he mentioned it, I felt the sharp sting of my own claws digging into my skin. I forced myself to relax.

"I'm fine," I said through half-shifted cat fangs.

Nobody would beat me. I'd win, no matter what.

"All right, contestants," Gaius said. He raised a hand, then sliced it down. "Go!"

Unlike everyone else, I resisted the urge to run. It was undignified. Besides, the books weren't going anywhere. Though a nagging voice in the back of my head reminded me that I had to win. That put an extra pep in my step.

I passed Jade on the way to the library set. An electric shock jolted through me as he caught my eye. My heart cartwheeled. It couldn't be my imagination—his expression said he wanted me to win, too.

The contestants' excited clamoring died down as the real work began. The smell of books permeated the temporary set, but with the salty air surrounding us, it wasn't quite the same as a real library. I wondered how Jade felt about the humidity possibly affecting the books. He was stingy and protective of his collection, so I doubted any of these books actually belonged to him. His brothers must've scrounged elsewhere for these.

Poppy floated over to me and whispered, "Oh, I don't know what to do... There's so many books."

"Just stand there and look cute," I whispered back.

He nodded anxiously. "Okay." Then he gasped. "You think I'm cute?"

"Of course you're cute. You're a living cotton ball shaped like a person."

Poppy smiled shyly, then returned to perusing the shelves alongside me.

I uttered a string of silent curses as my eyes scanned the book spines. How in the name of everything holy was I supposed to know Jade's favorite among all these possible options? What if the answer was a ridiculous trick question, like they were all his favorite? If that was the correct answer, I was going to scream.

As the seconds trudged by, my heart ticked faster. Every moment that went by was a moment someone else could win the challenge—and therefore, win a date with Jade.

My Jade.

The thought startled me. I shook my head. Jade wasn't mine.

Yet.

I ground my teeth. No, we had no connection beyond the collar, the night of intimacy, the warm way we felt while together...

"I found it!"

The contestant's triumphant cry shattered the silence in the library.

My heart sank like a rock into the pit of my stomach.

No!

The hairs on the back of my neck bristled like hackles and my claws sprang out. I was so upset, I was halfway to shifting.

But there was nothing I could do. I watched with ugly dread as some omega—a deer shifter I'd seen around—ran towards Gaius and Jade, the tome clutched in his fingers.

Poppy must've noticed my barely veiled fury because he pointed out, "It could be the wrong book."

"Let's hope," I muttered.

He regarded my face. "You actually really like Jade, don't you, Alaric?"

I opened my mouth to insist that no , I did not like that green-haired pervert freak.

Except I did.

I really, really did.

I clamped my mouth shut with a frustrated exhale, then ground out, "Yes."

"Aww!" Poppy clapped his hands together. His expression was tender and happy, like he'd just watched a stray kitten get adopted. "Thank you for telling me. Now I can try to help you win the challenges."

I sighed. There was no point convincing him otherwise. The stupidly compassionate furball would go to any lengths to help somebody in need.

"All right, wolf, I accept your help." I turned my disappointed glare on the deer shifter waving his book around. "But if that omega wins now, there won't be a point."

Poppy shook his head with determination. "Don't worry, Alaric. Love always wins."

I withheld a gag at his cheesy remark.

But then, something wonderful happened.

"Ooh, sorry, my friend!" Gaius said, patting the deer shifter on the back. "I'm afraid 1001 Libraries Around the World is the wrong answer. You're out!"

My heart soared. The omega picked the wrong book—that meant I could still win.

I caught a subtle hint of relief on Jade's face as the loser sulked off set. I had to admit, my jealous self vibrated with joy.

That's what he gets for coveting my Jade, I thought smugly.

Renewed with the power of schadenfreude, I returned diligently to my task. I had to think. Of course it wouldn't be an obvious answer like the 1001 Libraries book. It had to be something Jade truly cared about—a book only someone who understood him would recognize.

"It's this one!" a contestant across the aisle yelled.

I held my breath again only for him to be turned down and dismissed. As the failed attempts continued around me, I calmed down. These people didn't have a clue what they were doing. They didn't know Jade like I did.

As I scanned the shelves, a sudden familiar note tickled my nose. It smelled like Jade's office.

Then my eyes caught a specific book's spine.

Squeaky Clean: Pool Toy Enthusiasts & Their History.

As if by instinct, I stared at the book. It felt like a miracle dropped into my hands. Without a second thought, I grabbed it and walked with slow confidence to where Gaius and Jade stood.

I didn't know what possessed me, but I was dead certain this was the right choice. The tranquil feeling only deepened as I locked eyes with Jade and handed over the book.

Jade stared at the cover. "This is..."

Gaius joined him in looking at it, though his expression was puzzled. "Huh. That wouldn't be my first choice, but it's an interesting one. Well, Jade? Final answer?"

Jade's eyes glimmered like sunlit emeralds as he met my gaze. "If there was one person here who could win this challenge, it would you, Alaric."

My heart soared.

"He wins," Jade told Gaius with a playful shrug.

Gaius belly-laughed. "You're a mysterious one, aren't you? Attention, folks! We've got ourselves a winner for the second challenge!"

I'd done it.

Jade's mouth curved into a pleased yet smug smile. It was almost like he'd set this up on purpose. Did he want me to win?

"Is this even your favorite book?" I asked under my breath.

"One of them," Jade conceded, pushing up his glasses playfully.

I snorted. "You truly are a bastard man."

"It sounds like a compliment, coming from you."

I blushed. It wasn't not a compliment. As he turned the book over in his hand, I noticed a familiar smell coming from it. Jade's scent.

"Is this the only book from your actual library?" I asked.

His eyes sparkled. "Yes. How did you know?"

Gods, this was mortifying.

"It smells like you," I said, suddenly flustered. "Besides, you wouldn't allow your precious collection to soak up humidity outside. I figured you'd only spare one book for the challenge—the real one."

He beamed brighter. "You're a clever kitty, Alaric."

I despised the way that made me shudder. He knew how to tick all my boxes—and he ticked them hard.