21. Belle

My cheeks burn bright pink when Rian hands me that bag of pure smut.

The guy on the first cover takes me by surprise, and I swallow, too nervous to meet his eyes.

Not even the books that Francis used to hand me were this explicit.

That book with the semi-naked male just screams sex, and I lower my face, trying to hide my pink cheeks behind my long sheet of hair.

Instead, I find the steamy bedroom eyes of the male model on the cover.

While he"s tempting, he could never compare to Rian or the pack.

I sure wish it was one of them on the cover...

All four of them.

I wonder what they all look like without shirts on too.

Would they have the same carved six-packs? The cut V above the sweatpants?

A cloud of caramel blooms around me, and Rian stiffens.

"So," he starts, swallowing loudly. "I hope you find them to your satisfaction."

I stroke the spine of the cover. "I"m sure I will."

Quiet. None of us speaks as the tension thickens between us, and how do I tell him that I wish it was him on the cover instead of the model?

Rian is nowhere as big, but I still prefer him.

I prefer the whole pack.

The guy on the cover has that, "I will fuck you, your sister, your brother, and even your mother," look about him that just doesn"t appeal to me.

He looks like trouble.

Not like Rian.

In Rian"s eyes, you are the only one in the world.

"So, have fun."

He heads for the door, and he can"t seem to stomach looking into my eyes now.

The air is sexually charged, and if only I had the courage to toss the book aside, stride across the room, and claim him with my lips.

Then I would throw him onto my bed and have my way with him, but unfortunately, I am too shy and don"t even know how to seduce a man.

I have never even had sex before.

Well, unless my finger counts.

Rian glances over his shoulder, and a warm smile takes over his face.

It"s as if someone has poured a bowl of warm honey over my head, and now that honey is spilling down my spine, settling in my core.

We"re still good.

"There are clothes in the other bag."

He"s gone before the shock can register on my face, and when the door shuts behind him, I move to the bag, peering inside.

I spy several red dresses and tops, and my favorite is a little red summer dress with white spots.

I squeal, rushing to the bathroom to try it on. When I twirl, the skirt flares, and it"s such a pretty dress.

No more white for me.

Such a boring, conservative color.

I keep the dress on as I flip through the pages of the book, and what an Alpha-hole…

The guy is as big of a prick as he looks on the cover.

It"s not the only book. There are some discreet book covers too, and I grab one of those, knowing it will be more to my taste.

For one, it"s something I have never read before.

This book is about an Omega, and so, I begin to read.

Hours pass by the time my stomach gurgles, and I glance at my bedside clock.

Five thirty already.

The book has been that good.

This was what I"d been missing my whole life—books where the characters had designations like mine, and it"s no surprise that Francis made sure I only read about Betas.

Also, I am learning about heats too.

The Omega"s body is changing in the book as she approaches her heat, and it all makes sense now.

Why my own scent is growing stronger lately.

I must be approaching my own heat too, and is that why Rian gave me this specific book? So I could learn more about myself, and the world?

As much as I am enjoying the book, I can"t help but worry, too.

Will my heat hurt?

Will the guys send me away before the time comes?

The Alphas go crazy for the Omega in the book, and I worry my bottom lip, folding the corner of the page as I tuck it beneath my pillow.

My head is spinning.

"Belle, dinner is ready."

It"s Rian, and I take several deep breaths then head downstairs.

To my surprise, Jeremy is at the table when I arrive, and our eyes lock for just a moment.

His eyes fall over my red polka dot dress and the sight of me seems to chase away the shadows on his face.

Even Rian pauses as he places down a bowl of peas. "Belle…"

I smile shyly, tucking my hair behind my ear.

Rian shakes his head. "I knew the dress would look good on you, but damn…"

I keep my head bent low as I take my own place at the table, stomach growling as I gaze at that roast chicken.

All that smut has made me ravenous.

"So, are you enjoying your new books?" Rian asks as he sits down next to Jeremy.

The Alpha starts piling peas onto Rian"s plate, and I note the gesture.

Alphas always fill their Omega"s plate in my book.

Leo did the same thing for me when I first got here, and my heart grows heavy as I feel his absence.

But Rian isn"t an Omega. He is Beta.

I"m aware that he is courting all three of them, and when I spy the bitemarks around his neck, it only confirms my suspicion.

They"re all bonded. Like the characters in my book.

Maybe one day, I can become a part of that bond too.

But I never will. Because I can"t stay.

Francis will never stop looking for me.

"Y-yes," I reply, going to grab the bowl of peas.

Rian does me the honors instead, picking up the bowl. "May I?"

I blink, meeting Jeremy"s eyes. As if trying to get his permission.

His eyes aren"t even on me anymore or Rian.

Instead, they land on my wrist, and I realize to my horror that I"d forgotten to cover my tattoo.

Now the number twenty-three jumps out on my fair skin, and I tuck my wrist away, hiding my face in shame.

Jeremy falls unnaturally still.

Rian looks at him concerned. "Jay?"

The Alpha shudders, and I shrink in my seat, wondering if it is something I have done. Then he shoots out of his seat, vanishing into the garage to drive away in his car.

Rian blinks after him. Then he shrugs, piling peas onto my plate. "Well, that was odd. But don"t mind him, Belle. He"s had a hard day at work."

I try to find comfort in his words, but Jeremy froze when he spied my tattoo.

My lip shakes.

Does he know my past?

About all the blood?

Impossible. I"m not even sure if all that is real.

They could have just been nightmares.

Jeremy"s plate remains untouched as Rian and I eat and chat about nothing in particular. But I have a horrible, niggling feeling the whole time, and I just hope Jeremy will be fine.

I owe him a lot.

He was there that morning to talk me out of running, and if it weren"t for him, then who knows where I would be right now.

Hopefully, he will come around.