Page 60 of Perfectly Yours
It’s like staring at an angel if that’s even possible. Sunshine radiates from her personality, the scent of sunflowers wafting from her. Everything about her reminds me of an Omega even if she clearly isn’t one. Camila clasps my hand tightly before releasing it. “Because you can’t fake the love in their eyes. The way they look at you, crowd around you? You’re glowing and so are they. This is what the public misses. This is what the tabloids keep hidden because they like conflict. You’re a beacon of hope for all those Betas out there who think it’s hopeless.”
“Camila…”
She shushes me with a quick flick of her head. “You found your forever, your mates! And maybe they aren’t the typical ones, but Ellie, so many Betas believe that they’re only destined for an average existence. You’re showing them that they don’t have to be. That mates are still on the table.”
“How the fuck do you know we’re mates?”
“Macon let it slip to Jace. Besides, it’s obvious. Now, sit in the middle of them. I’m going to record. Is that alright?”
Again, I frown. I don’t understand what she’s going on about and the bit of dominance that slides into her tone tells me that she’s not as innocent as she seems. I continue to observe her as I settle between Macon and Savin, both gravitating closer until they’re all but wedged under me. Jace is pacing beside the couch, angrily whispering into a phone. I thought he might try to berate us into giving a certain story but it seems that Camila has this part handled.
“Your aura is confusing,” I blurt out and then sigh. Goddess, that’s embarrassing.
Camila giggles and then tilts her head to the side, giving off that soft image again. A wide smile spreads across her lips as she sits on a chair that has been procured from Macon's office. “I guess I should give my story and then get to yours? Your mates know most of mine—we’ve hung out often enough. Ellie, not like that. I used to be a church girl.”
My eyes narrow at the way she’s so elegantly poised in her chair, the rigid position she’s holding, the flattering clothes that seem to hide her curves rather than show them off. “Church girl?”
“My father was a pastor. It was a whole thing. Keep your head down, be a good girl, let an Alpha choose you. Marrying anyone else was out of the question. It was harsh but the rules were… easy enough. Until we visited The Temple and all that changed. I even get to help out my cousin without the church breathing down my throat for being a heathen.” Her entire face lights up but I’m stuck on the fact that this woman walked into a club, one of the most notorious locations for debauchery at that, and then somehow found her forever and left the church.
Euphoria is one thing but The Temple? Goddess, Camila must have been out of her element.
“My beginning was a lot like yours. I met my mates and the rest just fell into place. I still fall back into old patterns but my Omega is usually the one to drag me out the quickest.” She blushes and then grins, obviously infatuated with the mates she’s accepted. Her happiness is contagious.
Macon throws an arm around my shoulder, pressing his lips to my hair. “What she failed to mention is that she stumbled into that club and into her Omega, one of the owners of the club.”
My eyes widen at the realization that she’s the Lincoln’s Beta, as in part of the pack that owns the biggest club in our city. How this sweet innocent flower found herself with them, I have no idea. But it also tells me not to judge a book by its cover. I’m curious as hell but this is not the time to delve into her personal life. Besides, if she’s Jace’s cousin, I’m sure I can always find out later.
“Enough about me. Ready for the interview?”
I nod, mind still reeling as Camila explodes into an explanation that this is just a formality but to act comfortably as if the camera isn’t there and she’s just a nosy friend fishing for details. It helps that she introduced herself first and for me—that she’s a Beta. She can relate to my plight and insecurities and when Macon squeezes my hand, I realize that her presence here is on purpose.
He’s always one step ahead of us. He isn’t just our Alpha. He truly is our protector and I love it.
“So, just act natural?” Savin asks when Camila finishes her spiel.
She bobs her head up and down before unearthing a small pad of paper from her pocket. “I’ll make sure to edit it so just be yourselves. Jace! If you keep fucking murmuring during this, the public is going to laugh at my skills.” Her tone is harsh, contrasting her playful smile as she waves him over. He grunts from behind the couch and hangs up the call before plopping down into one of the lounge seats.
“Just make this go away, Cam. Savin’s current contract is in jeopardy but oddly enough a few have lined up trying to get their hands on the most problematic Omega at the moment. Sorry, not sorry. This has been a headache and-”
We all glare at Jace to shut up because what has been a headache for him has kept Savin and I stuck in the house the past few days. Camila jumps right into the deep end, asking how we met and how we reunited. I look to Macon a few times for guidance but it’s clear that we have to give them the entire story, not just pieces. As it stands, if we don’t, the public will twist our words any which way they want to.
Which means that they need to know everything. All of the pieces. Every last bit, right down to the babies. Camila’s smile only brightens when she hears about the twins, squealing when I mention that they’re Savin’s.
“Oh, that’s a beautiful present,” she says in response to Savin’s health decline and everything else he’s been put through over the years.
Macon and Savin do most of the speaking and I chime in when I feel it’s necessary, taking the reins when it comes to discussing the babies and our future plans. I don’t have much to say but Macon slides an arm around my waist, keeping me grounded. Savin is curled into my side, the growing heat of his body starting to worry me. He’s still shaking his head every so often but not as much as before. The worst part is that the fading bite in my shoulder offers me an insight into his pain that I don’t usually have. No doubt Macon can feel it by the way his hand tightens on my waist every so often.
I want to stop the interview and carry Savin away but they’ve both told me numerous times that Savin doesn’t want the attention. He doesn’t want to be catered to or coddled, yet we still have to be there to reel him back in when it’s too much.
By the end of Camila’s questions, I’m ready for food and Savin desperately needs rest. Macon helps to usher them out the door but not before Camila hands me her card. “If you ever need a sympathetic ear or maybe an invitation to a better club. Hell, if you’re still dancing after the babies, I’ll save you a spot.” I feel like I’ve gained someone in my corner even if we’ve just met. “Now, take care of your mates. Looks like they need you a lot more than you need them.” Camila throws me a wink before exiting the living room.
I want to relish in the moment but hearing Savin groan at my side paired with a pang in my chest draws my attention back to him. His breaths are shallow as he leans back against the cushions, an arm thrown over his stomach, the other over his face. “My head is fucking pounding.”
“Then let’s get you back to the nest. Where it’s dark and cold. You’re burning up.”
“It’s just the start of my heat. It’s not always this bad.”
“I don’t care. Up, Savin.” I stand up and pull him to his feet, steadying the both of us before trying to head for the bedroom. His steps are feeble as he wobbles to the side, clinging to me as if I might let him go. “I’ve got you baby.” My voice is laced with fear as Savin’s steps slow, each one seemingly more difficult to take than the last. We barely make it to the kitchen when he slumps against me and then crumbles to the floor, bringing me with him. “Savin!”