The paperwork fills the air like a blizzard as I sweep it away from me, my breathing ragged and broken as I hit the wood of the table, over and over again, until it cracks beneath my hand. My hands fit underneath and I flip it with savage satisfaction, the wood creaking and a leg breaking off as it tips onto its side.
My knees collapse underneath me, my face in my hands. Sienna’s broken, pale face is seared into my brain, and it takes me a minute to realize that my cheeks are wet beneath my palms.
I can’t do this.
I can’t lose control like this. Not when there’s so much still on the line.
It takes longer than I’d like, but slowly, I scrub my face clean. My desk slides back into position, the paperwork cleared up and placed back where it was. As I’m setting the last lot back into place, my cell rings.
“Tristan Cohen.” My voice sounds raw, and I cough into my fist as a voice rings in my ear.
“Mr. Cohen. This is Councilor Hayward. I have been trying to reach Sienna Michaels for several days. And you, for that matter.”
My back straightens. “Sienna is resting. After her heat. We have all been… busy. Apologies, Councilor. ”
“I see.” Ollena sounds suspicious. “And all went well?”
I hesitate for a second, before I close my eyes and pray that Sienna will forgive me. In the grand scheme of things, this is minimal. “Perfectly well. I’ll ask her to call you.”
Or I’ll pass the message on.
“I’m glad to hear it, Mr. Cohen. In that case, I am setting your final Mating Ceremony for this Saturday. Does that sound achievable?”
The timer is suddenly very, very real. The countdown settles like a choker around my neck. “Yes,” I croak, my eyes sliding closed. “Thank you, Councilor.”
My Soul Bonded is refusing to look at me or touch me, and my pack can’t be around me without snarling. A Mating Ceremony in two days… I have no idea how we’ll get over that line. But we need these ridiculous fucking Trials to be over, to put this shit with Erikkson to bed so we can focus on Sienna.
I send a brief message to Jax.
Mating Ceremony Saturday. Please tell Sienna. I confirmed to Ollena Hayward that the third Trial was completely successful.
His reply takes a few minutes, the bubbles that indicate typing popping up before stopping and starting again.
I don’t expect him to barge into my office a few moments later. “Jax.”
Gray and Logan follow him in, their arms crossed as they spread out, all facing me down with equally firm expressions.
“We’re not calling Erikkson out at the ceremony,” Jax says firmly. “Sienna deserves at least one public event where she’s not humiliated on our account. We won’t do it, Tristan.”
“Agreed.”
Jax takes another breath but pauses. “So, a normal ceremony?”
I nod, my eyes on the door. “As much as we can, given the circumstances.”
“Circumstances we’re in because of you,” Jax snarls. “Good. I’ll see you then.”
He stamps out, leaving me with Gray and Logan. Both of them avoid my eyes.
I sigh. “Anything else that you need to say?”
Gray’s face tightens. “What are we going to do about Erikkson?”
My head starts to pound. “We’ll take it all with us. As soon as the ceremony is over, we do it then. Keep Sienna with us. And we tell them everything.”
Logan nods. “And now? What do we tell Sienna?”
The pounding increases. “Nothing. She’s already exhausted. I don’t want to add to her stress by telling her Erikkson is planning to sell her off.”
