Ollena Hayward stands at the top of the stone steps, her green eyes watching as I smooth down the lace. “Welcome to the Bonding Trials, Sienna Michaels. Please, say your goodbyes and follow me.”
This is it. Swallowing hard, I turn to Mama and Jess. They both stare back at me, eyes wide.
“Okay,” Jess mutters. She gives me a careful hug, mindful of my gown. “You look like a freaking goddess, Sienna Michaels. Own that shit. They won’t know what’s hit ‘em.”
My mother lifts up her hand, carefully cupping my cheek. “I love you, sweetheart. We’ll see you soon.”
Her voice breaks, and my father draws her away, his arms wrapping around her as he whispers soothing words into her ear. They’ll be at the ceremony, but I won’t actually see my family or Jess now until the conclusion of the Trials.
The only exception is my father, who gets to escort me to the courtyard for my first trial. He holds out his arm, his eyes twinkling. “Shall we?”
I blow out a breath. “We shall,” I say, carefully placing my hand in the crook of his arm. We follow slowly after Ollena, the lace of my gown trailing behind me up the steps. I pause, turning to give one final wave to Mama and Jess before I turn to face the day ahead.
Ollena leads us into a small but ornate room, gesturing for us to take a seat in the dark leather armchairs. I sit, but my father stands at my shoulder, his hand squeezing my shoulder in reassurance as Ollena settles herself opposite us.
“How are you feeling?” she asks, clasping her hands on her crossed knees. She’s resplendent in vibrant green robes that match her eyes, her official Councilor garb to reflect her role in today’s events.
“Fine.” I bite my lip. “Excited?”
“It’s normal to be a little nervous,” she reassures me. “Today is a highly public event, but afterwards you’ll have the chance to unwind and get to know your alphas properly, in the privacy of the home you’ll share together should the Trial progress well.”
When I nod, she drops her eyes to the slim folder in her lap. “There are four alphas in your pack. Tristan, Jax, Grayson and Logan Cohen. Although we discourage the meeting of mates ahead of the Trials, this pack is relatively high-profile, so you may well have met before.”
When she raises a questioning eyebrow, I shake my head, guilt eating away at my tiny lie. It’s not acompletelie. I’ve only met one. “I…ah… haven’t met them before.”
“Good,” she says crisply. “Things tend to go more smoothly when that’s the case. As you should know from your training, the first Trial is scent matching. The purpose of this is to make sure you and your potential mates are compatible. Scents are incredibly important in a relationship, and the first Trial is often the one most commonly failed.”
“And if I fail, that’s it? I can’t try again?” It all suddenly feels very daunting.
Ollena nods. “That’s correct.”
“And if Sienna decides she doesn’t want this pack?” my dad asks suddenly. “Where does she get a choice?”
Ollena cocks her head. “The Trials are… admittedly weighted towards the alpha’s preferences. Once they begin, the Trials must be seen through by law. There is only one chance to withdraw. As the Head of the Omega Hub, I remain ultimately responsible for your wellbeing during these Trials. Should I see anything that concerns me, I am able to offer one single opportunity to withdraw. If that is refused, there is nothing more I can do until the Trials are concluded. If you withdraw outside of these permitted limits, then the same applies, and you will not be permitted to take part again. Packs, however, are able to withdraw at any point without penalty.”
Meaning the Cohen pack is likely my first and only shot at having a family of my own.
With Jax as my Soul Bonded, I don’t think my next question will be an issue, but I ask it anyway. “And if I am… Denied?”
A shadow crosses Ollena’s face, her thin lips tightening. “It’s an archaic practice, but I am yet to be successful in removing it from the laws around the Bonding Trials. A pack has the power to decide if an omega is completely unsuitable for mating. Not just them, but any alpha pack. They can choose to Deny their omega, and the omega in question will be banished from Navarre, over the wall.”
My dad stiffens. “But that doesn’t happen, right?”
Ollena nods. “We have never had a Denied omega. Nevertheless, the law is there, and so I choose to highlight it as part of the Trials process, so that omegas can enter the Trials fully informed.”
She leans forward. “Do you have any further questions, Sienna?”
I have hundreds of questions, but I don’t think the woman across from me will have the time or patience to deal with my insecurities, so I shake my head.
“Excellent. In that case, I have some paperwork for you to sign.”
It’s all very clinical, as she produces the forms. I scan the papers briefly, my dad gently confiscating them so he can have a read through too before he hands them back to me with a nod.
Ollena holds up her hand. “By signing this document, you agree to enter the Bonding Trials. From this moment on, you will be bound to the law regarding the Bonding Trials, and you will be unable to withdraw, aside from and unless the particular circumstances I have mentioned arise. Do you agree, Sienna Michaels?”
My mouth feels dry as she hands me an ornate fountain pen. “I do.”
And then I sign my name.
