“So what then?” Logan asks quietly.
I look around, my heart heavy. “We have to do it in public. Make such a scene that they can’t just make it go away.”
It’s Gray who gets it first, his face darkening. “No. Fucking hell, Tristan. We can’t do that to her again!”
Jax and Logan catch on, their faces turning slack. “Are you for real?” Jax demands. “Have we not fucked everything up enough? The final ceremony is our do-over. Our promise that we’re serious about putting her first, Tristan.”
I wince. “I know. I know, Jax, but I’ve thought and thought about it. This is the only way we can force them to pay attention. And I don’t trust Erikkson not to take Alicia and run. I want them both arrested for what they’ve done. This isn’t just about Sienna. It’s about every other omega who bonds with the packs on that list. They’reallat risk.”
They don’t understand. It’s clear from the disbelief in Logan’s eyes, the way Jax looks away from me and Gray’s fists are clenched on the arms of the chair.
“For the record,” Jax shoots. “I think this is a shit idea. But if you’re so fucking insistent that you know best, then we need to tell Sienna everything. Right the fuck now.”
“Absolutely not.”
He jumps to his feet. I can see the tension in his jaw as he works it, his violet eyes darker than I’ve ever seen them. “Don’t do this, Tristan. It won’t end well.”
His voice is low, pleading. For a second, I doubt myself.
But this is my job. I have to make the tough decisions. Even if my pack doesn't agree with them.
“We tell her nothing,” I say slowly. “We keep her out of it as much as possible. It will help, in case things don’t go the way we want.”
“She could end up Denied, Tristan,” Logan pleads, but I shake my head.
“There’s no chance of that. Whatever happens, we’re not Denying her even if everything else falls apart. That’s the only way she gets sent across the wall, and those words won’t cross our lips.”
“If we do this,” Gray interrupts. His face is pale against the copper of his hair as he runs his hand through it, sticking it up in tufts. “Everything comes out. Your father, me and Logan… there’s no way we can pull that off without Erikkson coming back at us.”
“I know.” I look down, pushing down the ache in my throat. “I’m trusting that my father is the man that I think he is, and he’ll have an explanation.”
It’s what I wanted to do from the start.
“And us?” Logan whispers. Gray reaches out and threads their hands together, the first sign of affection I’ve seen from them in front of us. Jax follows the movement, realization sinking in as his gaze shifts to mine. He nods, slowly.
I speak directly to them. “It’s a risk. But this way, we call them out. There isno lawagainst the two of you being together. It’s not illegal. People are assholes, but times have changed. Someone has to be the first to speak out. And I want you both to be free to live the future you want to live. Not hiding in the shadows. We’ll stand with you. But we have to stand.”
“So we speak out,” Logan murmurs. He looks at Gray uncertainly. “Gray?”
An undercurrent passes between them that I don’t recognise. Another kick to my chest.
How did I not see this?
Gray nods. “It’s time.”
We’re all on the same page. But Jax still looks tortured. “I don’t want to leave her out of this,” he mutters. “We promised her a fresh start, Tristan.”
“This is our fresh start. We just have to fight for it.”
And maybe I’m relying a little too heavily on us being Soul Bonded. We can work through anything, including this.
I’m certain of it.
44
SIENNA
I’m rummaging around in the refrigerator when a low voice sounds behind me. “Sienna?”
