Tristan brightens again, that weird expression coming over his face. He leans down to his leather briefcase, fiddling with the buckle before he brandishes an envelope triumphantly in the air.
“We finally got in,” he announces.
I lean closer, the churning in my stomach changing to fucking swoops.
Holy shit.
Holy shit.
“Is that…,” I breathe. Tristan nods, looking around at us, his fractured eyes glittering.
“We finally got into the Bonding Trials,” he laughs. “We’re getting a mate!”
We stare at the gold envelope in his hand, the unmistakable seal of the Omega Hub glittering in the low light. “Yes!” I whoop, jumping up and grabbing the letter.
Tristan leans back in his chair, a smirk on his perfect face. “Feeling a little happier now, are we?”
“Fuck, yes.” Fuck the betas hanging around the club. Fuck every groupie with wide eyes and wider legs.
I’ve been waiting for a mate for six years.
An omega. A mate to cherish, to spoil, to love. Someone who’ll be ours. Someone to fill the fucking empty gap in my heart.
I spin, turning to Logan and Gray. They’re frozen in their seats, Logan’s face leeching of color. Gray looks over to him slowly, his mouth opening.
“Why do you look like someone’s died?” I demand. “We’ve been waiting for this!”
Gray nods hesitantly, his eyes still on Logan as I follow his gaze. “Lo?” I ask impatiently. “Come on, brother. This could be the muse you’ve been waiting for.”
My teasing note draws out a smile, even if it does look like he’s chewing a wasp. “I’m just shocked,” he murmurs. “An omega. After all this time…”
“I’m opening the envelope.” I slide my finger underneath and glance up just in time to catch Tristan’s look of disappointment before he smooths it away, the political mask dropping into place.
Eyeing it longingly, I hold it out to him as he looks at me, his eyes moving from the envelope to my face.
“Go on,” I insist, shaking the envelope at him. “Before I freaking explode.”
Tristan’s long fingers grip the golden card, barely hesitating as he slides his finger under the flap and lifts it, pulling out a matching gold letter with a curling, calligraphic script.
For the attention of Alpha Tristan Cohen,
Congratulations! I am delighted to inform you that the Cohen pack has been chosen to participate in the Bonding Trials.
You have been matched with Sienna Michaels.
Your omega must progress through the four stages of the Bonding Trials and win the formal approval of your alpha pack in order for the final mating ceremony to take place. Further information on these trials is enclosed with this letter.
Scent marking
Nesting
Heats
Mating ceremony
During the trials, your pack is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of your omega match. This will be assessed by the Head of the Omega Hub, and should the omega be deemed ‘at risk’ at any time, they will be given an opportunity to withdraw from the Trials.
Please note that alpha packs can decide to end the process at any time, and the omega will be able to repeat the process in future with a different pack. If a Trial is failed, the omega will be removed from the Bonding Trials effective immediately, and unable to participate in future Trials.
