Her head moves jerkily, and I release her. She rubs at her throat as she glares at me.
“I don’t even know why I want you sometimes,” she mutters.
Turning away, I head back to Sienna.
“Because you can’t have me. Not when I’mhers.”
The healers are removing Sienna as I stride back down the hall, carefully transporting her on a trolley as Jax and Gray hover alongside.
“Careful,” Gray orders, and one of the healers gives him a dirty look.
“If she’d been taken care of like she should have been, we wouldn’t be moving her at all,” he mutters.
“Rath,” Elio’s voice is hard.
“Apologies, Healer.”
But his words hang in the air, all of us picking up on the undertone.
They’re right. If we’d looked after Sienna as we should have, taken on the role of her protectors, as her alphas, as her fucking Soul Bonded, then she wouldn’t be lying on a trolley being carried out of the home where she should have been treated like a princess, not an unwanted toy.
Elio approaches me, his face inscrutable. “A word, Mr. Cohen, if you please.”
When the door closes to my office, he rounds on me.
"I should remove Sienna Michaels from your care,” he says tight. “You’re clearly incapable of having an omega in your pack. I expected better from you, Tristan. Your father—”
“I know,” I say quietly. “He’s ashamed of me.”
I haven’t heard from him since the Bonding Ceremony. My father, my parents, both of whom would have been sniffing around regardless of the guidelines, have been silent. I know exactly what disapproval looks like, and it weighs heavy on my shoulders.
Elio sighs, his bushy white brows dropping low on his face.
“What’s going on, Tristan? This isn’t like you.”
I’ve always liked Elio. He’s solid, unwavering in his commitment to care for people, even when they don’t always welcome it. But he’s trusting, too. And he trusts his Councilors. There’s no way I could confide in him.
I shake my head. “We were unprepared for the intensity of the Trials. We gave her some space, not realizing she was unwell. It won’t happen again.”
“See that it doesn’t,” Elio warns. “I’ll let Ollena Hayward know. You can probably expect a visit.”
He moves to leave. “Are you coming to the hospital?”
For any other pack, it wouldn’t even be a question.
“Of course.” Grabbing my keys, I head outside, Elio following. The ambulance is still outside, two healers crouched over Sienna as they work.
I force my lips to move. “Will she be alright?”
Elio pauses. “I believe so. She came very close to severe blood poisoning, but with the right care, she’ll recover fully.”
It’s pointed.
“We’ll make sure she’s cared for.”
Jax and Gray linger by the doors, Gray glancing back towards the house.
“Where’s Logan?” I ask.
