“You’re really not the right match for the Cohen pack, you know,” she whispers. Her words are almost soft in their poison, aiming straight for my insecurities.
“They need someone who fits. And you, Sienna Michaels… don’t.”
“Enough of this.” Pale-faced, my mother reaches forward and grabs the Erikkson girl by the arm as she squawks in outrage. Jessalyn cheers as Mama drags her to the door, pulling it open and throwing her through it. Slamming it behind her, she turns back to us with a huff, her eyes on me.
Dismissing Madame Dumas with an impatient wave, Mama walks up to me and cups my cheek. “You,” she pushes out, her words shaky but determined, “are worth a hundred of that little jumped-up bitch.”
Jess gasps. “Helena, you swore!”
My mother sniffs. “There’s a time and a place, Jessalyn. One day, you’ll learn. This was definitely the time and place.” She turns back to me, her eyes soft. “Do you understand me, sweetheart? They are privileged to have you.”
My throat tightens, my chest fighting to push out a full breath. “You have to say that,” I say, trying to stop my voice from wobbling. “You’re my mother.”
She kisses my forehead. “And I am privileged to be your mother, just as much as they are to have you as a mate, Sienna.”
6
SIENNA
Jess bounces eagerly up and down in her seat next to me as I try my best to hide in the corner of the backseat.
“I’m so excited!” she yelps, her curls flying everywhere. In the front seat, my dad laughs.
“You be careful tonight, girls,” he says, an edge of sternness in his voice as he catches Jessalyn’s eye in the rear-view mirror before he moves over to me. “And make sure you stay well away from the stage, sweetheart.”
Nodding, I gnaw at my fingernails. When Jess told me she’d gotten my parents’ approval to go and see Haven’s End at the Waterhole, I hadn’t honestly believed her.
I’ve never been a big fan of crowds or noise, and truthfully, just the idea of standing right in the middle of a shouting, screaming horde makes me feel ill.
But this is my chance to see one of my alphas in the flesh for the first time, even if we have to be sneaky about it. It’s not permitted to meet your mates ahead of the ceremony.
Jax Cohen is the lead guitarist for Haven’s End. And whilst I might not have had the courage to go and see them live before, I know every single one of their songs, thanks to my own unusual skill.
My fingers tap out the beat toTouchbefore Jess grabs me, squeezing my hand in hers.
“This is going to be epic,” she promises, a familiar feral gleam in her eye that settles as she looks at me properly. “Hey,” she nudges, her tone quietening. “Just the two of us, right?”
I nod hesitantly. As enthusiastic and full oflifeas Jessalyn is, I’d trust her to the end of the earth and back. She’s been my best friend for as long as I can remember – nobody else has even come close to joining our friendship group.
“Here we go,” my dad calls, pulling the car up to the end of a very long line of leggy, pretty girls.
Great. More reasons to feel inadequate. Jax Cohen certainly can’t be hurting for female company.
The crowd, mostly beta girls from the edges of town by the looks, give us dirty looks as Jess and I exit the car and she pulls me to the front of the line.
“Hey, Jimmy.” She nods to one of the bouncers and he grins, his teeth flashing in the echoes of the strobe lighting cutting through the open doorway.
“Well, if it isn’t little Jessalyn. Who’s your pretty friend?”
Giving him a hesitant smile, I see him frown as he looks at Jess. “Watch out in there. It’s looking rowdy.”
Fantastic.
Jess barely stops to nod her head as she pulls me through the doorway, Jimmy lifting a red rope and winking as I slide past him. “Have a good evening, ladies.”
I tug on Jess’s hand to stop her, sucking in a deep breath as a wave of heat slams into my face. “Maybe this isn’t such a great idea,” I start. “I probably won’t even be able to see him.”
Jess spins, her hands settling on my arms as she rubs them up and down briskly, giving the stink-eye to a girl who huffs as she pushes past us.
