27. MACON

MACON

Savin is staring at the bathroom door, wringing his hands together, his brows furrowed. His scent is chipped and I’m still confused as to what happened. “She’s hurting,” he whispers. I understand that much, just as I know that Savin is hurting as well. Neither one is in physical pain which makes it harder for me to figure out what to do.

It doesn’t help that I excused myself mid-conversation with the lead star, everyone’s eyes on me as I headed to the back of the venue to see where Savin and Ellie had gone. “What happened? You both seemed okay for a few moments and then-”

“She had a fucking panic attack. Macon, Ellie is dealing with so much and it’s our fault.” His lips curl up in a snarl, his gaze still trained on the bathroom. I step up to his side and wrap my arms around him, waiting until he melts against my chest. He’s still tense but at least he’s receptive to my touch. “Did you know that Nathan figured out about that night a month ago? He’s been going to the club and spouting shit to her.”

I tighten my hold on Savin, swallowing the sudden anger that tries to boil over. “Excuse me? I’m going to skin that fucker alive.”

“You can’t,” Savin whines. “Not unless we reveal what she means to us and Ellie isn’t ready for that. She says someone has been taking pictures of her at her house and work but, like paparazzi style. Whatever protection you promised her, she needs it now.”

I’m having a hard time keeping my head about this. There are too many people that want the scoop about our personal lives and with the timing, I can’t prove that this isn’t more of my mother’s doing. I don’t tell Savin that, though. He doesn’t need any more stress in his life. It’s already going to be a difficult night as it is. “Did she say anything else?”

Savin opens his mouth and then closes it, shaking his head but I can tell that there’s something else. I can’t fathom why he’d want to keep it a secret but I don’t push it. We hold each other for several moments, not moving until Ellie peeks her head out of the bathroom, her face a few shades lighter. The makeup is gone, Ellie slipping out and then standing there awkwardly.

Her gaze darts down the hall leading back to the venue before meeting my eyes. “Alpha, I—I’d like to go home. You said that this would be a big step for a first event and you were right. I shouldn’t have come.” I want to argue with her but there’s an emotion lingering in her expression that I can’t decipher. Something similar to uncertainty and anxiety. Ellie straightens her shoulders as she mentally puts up the walls that were there when we first met. We’ve stepped backward in this relationship of ours and it’s barely started.

Swallowing the words I want to say, I release Savin. “Of course, Ellie. Let’s get you home. No, don’t apologize. This world is a lot for anyone.”

Ellie huffs out a sigh and shakes her head. “You can stay. I’d be more comfortable going home alone. The…” Her gaze darts between the two of us. “Savin told you. You dropping me off will only exacerbate whatever is going on.” She seems unsure of her own words and as much as I want to draw her into my chest for the comfort we both so desperately need, this couldn’t be a worse location. She steps closer, raising her chin as she displays that confident Beta that I know her to be. “Alpha, I know you want to protect me but I need to do this to protect my sanity. My sister is home so I’ll be okay. The chaos is just so much easier in the dark.”

My heart breaks at those words, knowing that we’re slowly pulling her into a world that’s so far out of her comfort zone. In our selfish need to have her, I didn’t stop to truly think about how jarring it could be to suffer through public ridicule. I’ve been in the limelight for so long that I’ve forgotten those terrible few years when I started in the business. Savin and I joke about it so often that it doesn’t phase us.

Ellie’s bottom lip quivers and she sucks it into her mouth to hide it from my gaze. I stuff my hands behind my back so I don’t reach out for her and nod. “Just text me when you get home.” I don’t leave that up for debate as we walk silently to the entrance, all eyes on us. There are a few camera shutters but I ignore them, keeping my eye on Ellie. The moment we step outside, her body relaxes as she shoots us a tired smile. “You going to be alright?”

She nods hurriedly. “I texted my sister that I was coming home and she insisted on picking me up.” A nervous chuckle falls from her lips and I catch onto her distress, more from her scent than anything else.

The way Ellie bounces lightly on her toes brings a smile to my lips as Savin moves in front of me. “Shield us for a minute, Alpha.”

A growl of appreciation tears from my throat as I do just that, watching my Omega tenderly grab Ellie by the throat and drag her into a kiss. She melts instantly, their sweetened scents mixing and filling my nose. Confusion washes over me as I watch, trying to understand the changes in the Beta that I’ve fallen for. Is it just a mate thing that her scent is so sweet? Or is it something else?

Savin stumbles back into my chest as Ellie dominates the embrace, her hands settling on his waist, fingers curling into his shirt. When they let out twin moans, I quickly separate them before this turns into something else entirely. Savin explained what had happened before the event and how he just couldn’t help himself. I don’t understand it because while I want to bend Ellie and Savin over every goddamn surface I find, it’s not the same urgent pull that Savin described.

Ellie stares up at me, a renewed flush on her face. “Sorry.” A honk in the distance tears her attention from us as I wrap a hand around Savin’s waist so he doesn’t renew his efforts. “That’s her. I… thank you.” She heads to the sleek black car and I catch sight of the Alpha in the front seat who offers me a nod of thanks.

I return the silent gesture before the car pulls off, leaving me alone with Savin. “What was that? It happened again?” I twist Savin around to look up at me, his eyes glazed over and a dreamy smile plastered on his face. His expression reminds me of moments during his heat which makes no sense at all.

“It feels like my heat is going to start and then touching her quenches it. It’s like an itch that she can scratch but if she’s not here, I don’t feel it.” His brows crease and I can tell that he has an idea why it’s happening. Why he’s not sharing that idea with me is beginning to worry me. I decide to push once we leave, focusing on Savin fully as I catalog his emotions and search for the way his jaw usually pulls tight as pain runs through him.

But there is no sign of discomfort or weariness.

“How are you doing, baby?” I ask softly, cupping his cheeks in my hands. He allows me to pull him closer, Savin placing his hands on my chest as I kiss him, tasting Ellie’s tart cider scent on his lips. The sweetness comes in afterward and I groan, wanting more than is appropriate in public. “Sav…”

“I’m fine. Worried about Ellie.”

“You’re not the only one. Come on. I have a few more people to sift through and you’ve got a few promotional pictures to take, I’m sure.” I laugh as Savin groans and shuffles into my chest. We re-enter the venue as Savin makes a beeline for the product table, sporting that famous smile he’s known for. It doesn’t reach his eyes, though. I turn my attention back to the lead costar apologizing for the interruption.

Phil Grayson is an up-and-coming actor, full of talent and a colorful personality that directors would kill for. It helps that he’s new to the business and is essentially a clean slate when it comes to scandals and training. He’s easy to mold and adapts fast. He’s well-spoken, a business major, and has the entire world at his feet. Tall, dark, and handsome is how the others usually describe the Alpha and while he’s easy on the eyes, his appearance does nothing for me beyond knowing that viewers will enjoy the eye candy.

He’s a similar version of where Savin would have been had my Omega’s health not taken a turn for the worst.

And yet, I don’t see Savin longing to step back into this part of our world.

“It’s fine. Is the girl okay? I saw her leave,” Phil says, genuine concern in his voice. He nods to the entrance.

“She will be, yes, thank you for asking.” I don’t want to dwell on Ellie’s departure, Phil catching onto my clipped tone as he weathers a small smile before choosing to end the conversation. Wading through the crew, Phil on my heels, I throw a few hellos to the people we pass until we make it to Savin, chuckling at that fake smile on his face.

My Omega holds two of the small golden boxes, striking a few different poses as pictures are taken of him. Phil seems amused at the Omega’s presence but his costar, Lily who pulls up on Phil’s other side isn’t as taken. Where Phil is a breath of fresh air, Lily is jaded by her public appearances and uses scandals to further her career. She wasn’t my first choice in this romantic action movie, however the others on the team had the final say. I do more with the script than the actual onset chaos.

Lily throws her hands on her hips as she stares at Savin. “Why is the Omega even here? This is supposed to be for cast and crew.” She’s donned more clothes than she usually does—thank the goddess—but the low cut of her blouse is enough to draw Phil’s attention. The Beta has Ellie’s confidence but where Ellie uses it to embolden her personality, Lily uses it as a weapon to get what she wants.

Unfortunately, she’s currently spouting words that are going to get her in trouble.

Phil jabs her in the side but it doesn’t register with her. “He can’t even act anymore and I know he’s pretty but what good is that in this business? Pretty sure they chose him because his mate is running the whole show. I feel bad for the director, you know? He should be with-”

I chuckle, their attention turning to me. Lily gasps and slaps her hands over her mouth but I know she’s not sorry. Deciding to play into her game, I add, “I guess you’re team Mom, then, yes? Oh, don’t look so surprised. That tabloid article villainized my husband and my mate. Made him out to be this little pariah who’s somehow gaslighted me into loving him. Do I have that right?”

She shakes her head, trying to backtrack. “That’s not what I meant! Just that the brand doesn’t need to be in the movie.”

I can’t tell if Lily is trying to include Savin in her newest scandal or if she’s just that stupid. “That’s a fair assessment. I can redo a few things and make sure that it’s not in there if that would make you feel better. I shouldn’t be mixing business with pleasure anyway. However, in order to keep on schedule, we need a new sponsor. Are you offering?” I widen my stance, raising an eyebrow to challenge her argument. Savin isn’t just here to keep him in the business. Does he have it easier finding projects with me around? Sure. But he works just as hard as I do, if not harder to sell those products.

Phil grabs Lily’s arm, pulling her slightly behind him. “Hey, she didn’t mean anything about it. I-”

“Phil, I’m honored that you would stand up for your co-star. Truly. However, she’s capable of defending herself and she very much meant those words. Everyone here has seen that article. It’s no secret how my mother feels about Savin.”

The Alpha frowns, his gaze flitting between Savin and me. “What do you mean feels?”

“I’m saying that my mother has always wanted a place in the limelight. She found that with me but she’s never approved of Savin. Not even before we were together but she doesn’t get to pick who I fall in love with and decide to have a forever with. She doesn’t get to dictate how the rest of my life goes. She’s not happy with the turn of events and she’s speaking up about it. However, it’s not her place to be angry or jilted. It’s Savin’s.” I’m in danger of saying something that might reveal Savin’s diagnosis and I need his explicit permission for that.

A small gathering has surrounded us, trying to inconspicuously listen into our conversation. Phil is still trying to decipher my words when Savin marches over to us, taking my hand in his and bringing it to his lips. “What my Alpha is delicately trying to say is that my declining health was not in his mother’s plans. She thinks I’m holding Macon back from his aspirations and dreams but that woman’s level of excellence is unattainable. I’ve done everything for that woman. I’ve tried to be the perfect Omega, the perfect actor, the perfect model but nothing is good enough for her. And I get that she only wants the best for her son. However,” his hands tighten around mine, his scent going stale, “I will not tolerate the continued disrespect of our relationship because she doesn’t approve of it. The hateful words, sending Omegas into our home as prospects for my husband? That’s why Macon disowned his mother.”

Everyone is staring in surprise, waiting for me to back up my Omega which I’m more than happy to do. “My mother has no boundaries and refuses to accept my relationship so I put distance between us. I told her to choose her agenda or my family and she obviously made her choice.” My voice reaches the onlookers, Lily practically cowering in shame as Phil just looks uncomfortable. “I think it’s time for us to go but I’m excited for the first shoot. See you all in a few days.”

Chatter starts up as we leave and I know that the speech Jace so desperately needed from us has now been completed. Savin shakes beside me and I see that it’s from adrenaline and not pain or fear. His expressive eyes are dancing as we walk out to the car, my Omega hopping into the front seat, a wild smile slowly spreading across his lips. “That felt really good, Macon.”

“I bet it did,” I purr, reaching across the console to kiss my Omega. His fierce words in there have me hard for him but I know that he won’t have the energy for that. By the time we get home, he’ll be out cold and he won’t be ready for anything more than a cuddle.

Not that I’m complaining. Some of my best memories are with Savin wrapped around me, his head stuffed in my neck as he engulfs my scent.

Heading home, I chuckle when little snores fill the car. Savin’s head has rolled to the side, leaning on the window, his mouth open. My phone dings and I see a message pop up.

I’m home.

Something feels off and just as I go to call her, another message filters in.

There’s something else I need to tell you but I just need some time. I’m coming back on Thursday. I’ll tell you then.

That sounds ominous and I hate it but there’s nothing I can do without disrespecting the space she asked for. I press the voice-to-text button to send her a message of her own.

Can’t wait to see you again. Sleep well, sweetheart.

Silence meets my words but I don’t expect a text. When we pull up the driveway, the phone dings one last time, and the words bring me hope that maybe we haven’t undone everything we’ve built.

Goodnight, Alpha.