And I’d do anything to keep her safe.
I press one last kiss into her neck, stealing one last precious moment before I shatter us into a million pieces. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.
And then I walk away, retracing Tristan’s footsteps as Gray passes me, his jaw set.
Alicia grins at me maniacally, the flurry of whispers turning into hushed exclamations of shock as I grab her face between mine, squeezing just a little too hard as I smash my mouth against hers in a mockery of a kiss. I push her back after a scant second, taking my spot next to Tristan and ignoring the stabbing in my chest.
Ignoring my Soul Bonded. Her emotions are leaking out across us all like a damned homing beacon. If I look at her, I’ll go to her. I won’t be able to stop myself.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I wait.
18
SIENNA
Idon’t know what I expected. But the devastation only grows inside me as the next alpha walks towards me, his copper hair glinting like rusted blood in the sunlight.
I expected more from Jax. And he just shattered my fragile hope like confetti. Took the last, tiny piece of my heart and crushed it beneath the shining black dress shoes he’s worn to this farce of a Bonding Ceremony.
I should have withdrawn. Soul Bonded or not.
I don’t smile as Grayson Cohen moves into position opposite me. And he doesn’t either. Rather, he nods at me, almost respectfully.
“Shall we get this over with?” he offers, his voice low.
The lump in my throat grows.Get it over with.Like I’m an imposition. Some unwanted chore on the list.
Like the most important day of our lives isn’t burning to the ground in front of us, helped along by a scarlet-haired beta bitch who’s grinning at me from her front row seat to my humiliation.
“Let’s.”
The word drops like a stone into the heavy atmosphere as I tip my head to the side, and Grayson steps into the now familiar position, the heat of his body warming mine. I didn’t realize how cold I felt, and I shake as he curls his hand around my neck.
Breathing in, I close my eyes at the warmth he’s giving off, his campfire and toasted marshmallow scent surprisingly soft for such a harsh looking alpha.
Three for three so far.
The awareness that he’s my Soul Bonded too, that moment of wonder, is swamped beneath the pain beating a vicious rhythm in my chest. It feels unbearable.
But I’ll be damned if I don’t see this through.
Instead of layering his scent, Grayson pulls me until our foreheads rest gently together. Squeezing my eyes shut, I wait for him to move.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispers. His voice shakes a little. “Truly, Sienna.”
The sob breaks out. Just one, but Grayson pulls back sharply.
“Come on,” I whisper, my eyes still shut. “Get it over with.”
“Sienna.”
My eyes fly open, meeting his electric blue gaze. He’s so sad.
“No,” I seethe. “You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to come here, to do this, and then do that.”
I tilt my neck, pushing it towards him. He doesn’t move.
“Do it!”
