35. MACON

MACON

Savin safely tucked in his nest, the room the temperature of an igloo, I can finally take a breath to think through what just happened. The afternoon was a mess as Savin’s health continued to decline. The worst part is that his unpredictable pheromones began to fluctuate which is usually an indicator that he’s about to suffer through another heat flare.

I hope I’m wrong because fuck, we can’t handle any more complications right now.

“Ellie,” Savin whispers again, clutching his stomach as he rolls onto his back. Tears gather in my eyes as I see him in pain. I know he isn’t asking for Ellie but rather asking for me to check on her. After all, one of the things she asked was to stay out of the spotlight.

Ellie hasn’t answered any of my messages and I can’t help thinking that maybe today was too much for her. Savin told me to give her time, that she’s busy and pregnant, and her entire life has been upended. Still, I worry that maybe this put her over the edge. Savin trusts that she just needs to digest but he still wants to hear from her.

I have an inkling but I swear to the goddess if my mother is involved, I’m going to blow a gasket. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the scandalous pictures spread across the internet and how the photographer managed to twist them so spectacularly. One second earlier, I would have been in the same frame but now Savin has been labeled as a cheater and Ellie a homewrecker.

“I’ll make sure she’s alright, baby. Get some rest.” I whisper before kissing his clammy forehead. A shiver runs down my spine but I ignore it as I pull out my phone and send Ellie yet another message.

Hey, give me a call when you get a chance. A little worried about you.

If the multiple messages and calls make me seem desperate, I don’t care at this point. Something is wrong and it is taking all of my self-control not to drive to Euphoria or Ellie’s house. Needing a distraction, I opt for a shower. Hopefully, by then Ellie will have responded to at least let me know she’s okay.

Fifteen minutes later, I’m stepping out of the guest bedroom bathroom and I slip on a pair of sweatpants, resigned to finish some paperwork for my newest project. My phone buzzes and I hurriedly swipe it off the dresser, disappointed to see several missed messages from Jace and then a call from Phil’s manager. Jace can wait so I call Phil”s manager back.

“Yeah?”

“We have a problem.”

“Like a problem that can be fixed tomorrow when we’re supposed to meet?” My clipped tone isn’t on purpose but I’m not in the mood to deal with anyone at the moment.

The man chuckles. “I wish. It seems that Lily is pushing back against a few of the scenes. We’ve been trying to run through some lines and she’s not having it. Heads up that the executive producer is gonna throw together an impromptu meeting.”

“Seriously?”

“You wrote the script. You have the final say but I’m sure someone is going to try and persuade you otherwise.” The man hangs up and my phone rings again a second later. I don’t need these complications right now but I’m also not leaving Savin.

“Heyyy,” Felix, the executive producer, drawls. We go back years so he already knows that someone has ‘warned’ me about his call. No doubt Felix has been trying to reason with the actors for several hours before he’s reached out to me. “How soon can you meet?”

“We can’t just do a conference call?”

“Not with Lily on board.”

“My house. Thirty minutes. If anyone disrespects my house, meeting is over.” Savin can’t go anywhere and my nerves are already on edge, not to mention stepping outside with this stupid scandal running around isn’t the best. Knowing that everyone will be privy to the information, so long as they don’t bring it up or speculate, Felix can have his meeting here. “I’ll give you an hour to figure this shit out.”

I send Jace just one message, letting him know to calm the fuck down so we can sort out our problems. It’ll keep him quiet for a little bit but we are going to have to make yet another statement about our private lives.

Lily and Phil are seated on the couch across from me, Felix and I staring at them, wondering why they can’t just get along. I could have sworn that there was something between them at Ellie’s first event but it seems I was wrong. Their managers are sitting on either side of them and an Omega I don’t recognize pointing out different parts of the script to show where Lily has issues.

Apparently, the only issues Lily has are the absence of kissing scenes between herself and Phil or literally any other cast member. She signed on for the romance but obviously didn’t read the script. Phil and Lily are the main stars of the show but Phil’s love interest is Van, the second lead. The description that her manager should have pitched was a gay action romance. I’m not sure where the ball dropped but it wasn’t with me. There will be no kisses added in her scenes.

As Felix moves to argue with Lily’s manager, my attention is snagged by the Omega in my living room. An Omega that serves no other purpose than to hold the script. I assume that the Omega is Felix’s new assistant but Felix has never used one before so I’m not sure why he has one now, especially this bright-eyed, bushy-tailed version of a kid who can’t be older than 21 or 22. As the discussion shifts between Lily, Phil, and their managers, I drag Felix into the kitchen for a private conversation.

“Explain the Omega.”

“What? He’s cute. He wanted to see how things are done.”

“Try again. You hate assistants.”

Felix sighs, running a hand down his face. “No idea. Also not mine. Tagged along with Lily.”

That doesn’t make any sense but I stuff it in the back of my mind, letting Felix know that he needs to make sure his stars understand exactly how this is going to play out. I’m glad Van wasn’t invited because Lily is known for cat fights and Van never stops talking. I continue watching, the Omega stealing glances at me and stifling giggles. Even before Savin, I would find that behavior off-putting.

The softness of an Omega has its merits but I’ve always needed someone like Savin with his fierce and witty comments, his backbone, and his desire to do more than just submit. The kid sitting beside Lily at the moment looks like one harsh look in his direction and he would pledge his life to me. He throws his hand over his mouth as he blocks another giggle, his scent sweetening every time our eyes meet.

My nose turns up in disgust as I begin to realize that the kid isn’t here as Lily’s assistant at all. Especially when Lily decides to mumble an offhanded comment that ‘you two would look so good together’. Absolutely the fuck not.

A grunt tears my attention from the gathering, Savin leaning against the wall just at the edge of the hallway. I rush over to him, my Omega still pale but looking much better than he had a few hours ago. “Hey baby, how are you?”

“What is this?” he croaks softly, resting his forehead on my chest.

“Lily didn’t get the memo that the romance is gay.” I chuckle, knowing that this is going to be a bit of a struggle but it might also open an opportunity for a different actor to take her place. We haven’t started filming so it might work. I run my hands up and down his back before placing a kiss on the top of his forehead. “I didn’t think you’d be up anytime soon.”

“Needed to stand. What’s that kid doing here?”

In the few seconds that Savin has been present, he’s already picked up the presence of the other Omega. Which means that my suspicions might be correct. Goddess, I really don’t want to be right. “Lily’s assistant,” I say. It’s not a lie but not the entire truth either. “I have a feeling that he’s here for another reason, though.” The air in the room seems to shift, all eyes now on us as I hold Savin to my chest.

I can only imagine what everyone is thinking after the public shamed my Omega for having an affair. Savin leans back against the wall, pushing against my chest so that he can meet my gaze. “Alpha, I know that you don’t notice it, that you only have eyes for me but I swear to the fucking goddess if that Omega was sent by your mother, I will make sure she pays for it.” Savin hisses and then digs his fingers into my shirt, curling them tight so that the neckline nearly cuts off my air. “You can not protect us by staying silent anymore. I need them to know. I need everyone to know that I was claiming our Beta and not disrespecting my Alpha.”

Savin is right and the best people to start with are the ones in this room. I guide my Omega to one of the stools in the kitchen before clearing my throat to grab everyone’s attention. My head dips to Savin’s as I kiss him, thoroughly until he’s gasping for air. I need everyone to see that he is still my Omega, my mate, and my husband. “Everyone has seen the news,” I begin, my gaze falling on the Omega smiling up at me from the couch. “However, what you don’t know is that the beautiful Beta in the backseat of my car isn’t just Savin’s.”

Phil and Felix crack a smile as if they already suspected as much. The managers don’t so much as respond but Lily isn’t as discreet with her disapproval. Neither is the Omega by her side. The kid stands, wringing his hands together to portray a shy personality that doesn’t quite fit. The hungry fire in his eyes tells me that he’s here for a reason and it has nothing to do with the script.

“You don’t have to cover for him, Alpha,” the Omega states. “Everyone saw the pictures and she’s just a dancer. Savin hasn’t been a good husband nor an Omega for a while. You need-”

A growl erupts from my throat, the room falling silent as I stalk over to the Omega. My hands itch to wrap around his throat but they fall by my side as I loom over the kid. “Let’s get a few things straight before you dig your grave. One, I’m not your Alpha. I’m Savin’s. I’m Ellie’s but not yours. Definitely not yours. Two, who the fuck cares about her occupation? I used to wait tables. I’ve also danced a time or two to make a few extra bucks and you know what? Best job I ever had. Third and this is the most important,” I step a little closer, snarling in the poor kid’s face. He backs up, his legs catching on the couch and he falls onto the cushions. “If you are going to disrespect my home and my Omega, I need you to walk out my front door and close it behind you.”

The Omega whines beneath my forceful words, a soft hand on my arm trying to pull me back from my rage. I twist around to see Lily, her hands now raised. “You have no right to speak to my assistant like that! First the script and now you’re accusing-”

“Lily. Lily. Lily. If I thought he was merely your assistant, I might let this shit go. But you have a manager and a PA, neither of which are him. I also know how much you disapprove of Savin so working with my mother isn’t a far fetch for you. You brought this Omega into my home, for what? To cause more discourse. I don’t need this. Get out of my house.” I step back, giving them the space to do so. Phil and Felix don’t need another command, nodding as they pass me. I have no problems with them but Lily needs to learn.

She opens her mouth to fight me on my decision, the Omega trying to find the words to complete his mission. No doubt there was supposed to be some other scandal drummed up in my own home or wherever we had chosen to meet.

When Lily doesn’t move, I lean down, pressing one hand on the armrest and the other flat beside her legs on the other side. “If I were a lesser person, I would put my hands on a woman because she has done nothing but disrespect me. However, I am not my mother so if I don’t find you and your Omega outside in the next thirty seconds, I will call the police to arrest you for trespassing. You will find your scandal just fine and I will make sure that a nice little story gets written up where you are ridiculed for not staying in your lane.” I tilt my head, hoping that she finally understands my anger.

Lily huffs and shoves me out of the way, stomping toward the foyer with the Omega she brought undertow. “Your mother-”

I snort, shaking my head as I return to Savin’s side. Savin grins at the sorry sight, putting in his last words to end the conversation. “Tell Aayla whatever you want but when I get a hold of her, she will feel the full wrath of Macon’s Omega.” The door slams behind them before Savin turns to me with a determined expression.

“I know you’re not 100% but I need to check on Ellie. I can”t wait any longer without a response. With everything that’s happened, I can’t imagine what she must be going through at the moment. Savin-”

He slides off the stool, steadying himself against the counter. “I’m coming with you. You’re not the only one worried.”

“I’m worried about you, baby.”

“Good. You can figure that out after we see Ellie. Please, Alpha. I need to see her too.”

His pleas hit me hard and as dangerous as it is to cart Savin around in his current condition, I can’t tell him no. We both need this. I just hope Ellie will be okay with us showing up at her front door.