“Me too.” I murmur. The rest of the pack glances towards me uncertainly as Ollena gestures us forward, brow furrowed. Flinching, I try and pull my hand back when Tristan grabs it, and he turns to me.
“It’s nearly over,” he says through gritted teeth.
“It would have been over already if you’d done the decent thing, asshole,” I snap back. His head whips towards me in surprise, a hint of color flaring on his cheeks. I bite back the meek apology on my lips, because he sure as hell doesn’t deserve any forgiveness from me.
He takes a few steps forward, his huge hand still swallowing mine until I’m forced to follow, the others falling into line behind us.
Where there would normally be cheers and confetti, there is only silence. My mother actually whimpers as we walk past, hushed whispers of consolation coming from my father.
We make our way further down until we’re level with Alicia.
“What a wonderful ceremony,” she trills loudly. “Just lovely.”
Tristan’s hand tightens around mine and he carries on walking, until we reach the double doors, the promise of privacy and maybe some fucking answers tantalisingly close.
I’m trying really hard not to soak in the feel of his hand gripping mine, the protective promise and strength behind it. The doors ahead waver as my eyes fill up and I blink rapidly as they swing open, Tristan pulling me through until we all stand silently in the hallway.
I yank my hand away and move to the side, my arms wrapping around me as I shiver. The warmth of the day is leached away by the cool stone around us, and I hug myself to the wall as others storm through the doors after us, closing out the gossiping whispers.
A wide-shouldered alpha, dark-haired with lines of gray, approaches Tristan in a storm. His hand reaches out to grab Tristan’s throat and I flinch back against the wall.
“Explain. Now.” The words are sharpened steel. Tristan meets the gaze of who I’m guessing may be his father unflinchingly, despite the paleness of his face. “I can’t. It’s done.”
“You damn well can.” Straightening, I press my back against the cool stone as my father follows Tristan’s dad through the doors. My throat grows thick as he raises a shaking finger to Tristan’s face, the Cohen alphas moving to flank their pack leader.
“You,” my father forces out, “don’t deserve to be an alpha. And you sure as hell don’t deserve my daughter.”
“I agree.” Tristan flinches as his own father chimes in.
Knees shaking, I slowly slide down the wall, grateful for the white muslin that gives me some semblance of privacy to pull myself together.
“Tristan,” his dad starts, just a little softer. “This isn’t you. What happened?”
I watch, hands clasped around my knees as Tristan stiffens. “Nothing. I simply realized that our outdated traditions also include the Bonding Trials. We shouldn’t have to go through such a complicated process to find a partner, and nor should the omega.”
Frowning, I stare down at my hands.That… doesn’t make sense.
His father steps back, disbelief etched on his face. “So this is some sort of rebellion? Do you understand what today will cost you, Tristan? Your pack? Your omega?”
He nods. The others cross their arms and don’t move, a clear sign that they’re standing with Tristan.
My father spins around. “Where’s Sienna?”
I squeeze my eyes shut, desperately hoping for a resolution to this mess that doesn’t seem likely to come.
A hand touches my knee and I jump, blinking my eyes open. Jax stares down at me, his violet gaze empty. “Here,” he says bluntly. The emptiness in his facehurts.
Is this what it feels like to be Soul Bonded? My whole body aches, twisting and burning. Just the promise of Jax, standing so close to me, feels like a cool glass of water on a scorching day. Sweet relief, just within my reach.
Or, you know,not.
He steps back, not helping me up as I scramble to my feet, awkward in the dress I was so excited to wear this morning.
Dad pushes him aside roughly, his hands landing on the sides of my face. “Sweetheart.”
I force a smile, the edges of my lips tripping up slightly even as my chin wobbles. “I’m alright.”
He studies me intently, then nods. “You’re coming home with us. Your mama and Jess are outside.”
