Logan rubs at his chest absently. “Anyone else feel a…,”
I frown. “A what?”
He shakes his head. “Like a tugging, I guess. Towards her.”
A sudden burst of envy colors my words. “Panting after her already? Why am I not surprised?”
His head shoots up, anger in his voice. “Go fuck yourself, Gray.”
“Enough.” Tristan slams his hand down on the table. “We’re in more than enough shit already without fighting amongst ourselves. We made our decision, and we have to see it through. Gray’s right. We have to make it obvious she’s not wanted here.”
“But she is wanted,” Jax growls. “I want her. Are you seriously telling me you don’t?”
Tristan stares at him. “It doesn’t matter, Jax,” he says gently. “We have to do this. We have to do this for her.”
Jax erupts from his seat as he starts to pace. “No.”
He whirls, pointing a finger at Tristan. “We need to find a way out of this, quickly, so we can claim her, Tristan. We did what we had to do today because we had no time. We’ve bought ourselves four weeks to fix this fucked-up mess, to give the Erikksons what they deserve and to claim Sienna.”
He faces us with his fists clenched, his breathing erratic. “She’s our Soul Bonded,” he growls. “How can you sit there and pretend that anything about this is okay?”
“It’s not okay,” Logan mutters. My hands clench around the table at the defeat in his tone. “I’m sorry we made this happen, Jax.”
“This isn’t our fault,” I insist, my throat thick. “If the Council weren’t so backward in their ideas, this wouldn’t even be an issue.”
Tristan sighs. “You’re right. Although I’m still pissed you didn’t trust us with this. And there’s my father to consider too.”
“So where do we start?” Jax demands. “I don’t think I can take much more of this, Tris. What we did today was enough to permanently damage any bond between us. We need to start fixing it ASA-fucking-P.”
“And she’s not stupid.” My words are low, but everyone turns to me. “She knows something isn’t right. The dots just don’t add up.”
“So we tell her,” Logan suggests, but Tristan shakes his head. “I don’t want her involved. The less she knows, the less the Erikksons will involve her.”
“That’s bullshit,” Logan shoots back. “Alicia hates her. It’s personal.”
Jax makes for the door. “I’m going to check on them.”
The door swings open before he reaches it. Alicia sashays back into the room, her hands on her hips. “We need to talk.”
“Where’s Sienna?” Jax growls, and Alicia points upwards. “In her room, of course,” she purrs. “Where else would she be?”
“And you put her in the spare bedroom?” Tristan asks.
Alicia humphs. “She’s perfectly comfortable. But she’s suspicious. You’re not paying me nearly enough attention, Tristan.”
Jax scoffs. “We paid you more than enough attention at the Trial.”
Alicia’s foot stomps down again, her heels digging into our wooden floors and making me grit my teeth. “It’s. Not. Enough!”
Her voice rises, and Tristan snarls back at her. “We’re not your whipping boys, Alicia. You wanted us, you have us. We’re doing exactly what you wanted. What more do you fucking want?”
She leans forward, nails sinking into the table. “I want you to look at me the way you look ather.”
Jax huffs in sarcastic laughter. “Hell will freeze over before that happens.”
“Stop it,” Tristan snaps. Taking a deep breath, he tries to smile at Alicia. “I apologize if our deal isn’t living up to your expectations, Alicia. But we’re doing everything we agreed to. We’re publically choosing you as our partner. We’re rejecting Sienna as our Bonded omega.”
“Even though—”
