Tristan frowns as he looks around. “What’s the matter?”
God, I wish they’d told him. Then I wouldn’t have to have this discussion.
I square my shoulders defensively. “It’s my heat. I don’t think I’m ready, Tristan.”
He picks up on my meaning immediately. Jax shifts in his seat, his mouth opening, but Tristan shuts him down with a look before he turns back to me.
“I understand,” he says softly. “We all do, Sienna. We need to earn your trust back.”
Jax nods silently.
I chew the inside of my mouth. “I don’t know if it’s possible, though.”
I’ve never heard of an omega putting off her heat or getting through it without being knotted. I do know it’s painful at first, and the pain goes away once the alphas get involved.
My stomach clenches at the idea of more pain. I don’t know why they paint omegas as the weakest of the three designations. Do people even realize how much shit we have to put up with?
Tristan hesitates before his hand covers mine. He squeezes softly before withdrawing. “We’ll need to keep it quiet, but I’ll see what I can find out.”
A tinkling sound comes from the kitchen behind us, and Jax jumps up. “I’ve got it.”
“The doorbell,” Gray clarifies for me. Jax comes back with an envelope in his hands and a frown on his face.
“It’s for you.” He hands it to Tristan, and we watch as he slides it open. His face darkens as his eyes scan the text.
“What is it?” Jax pushes. “Tris?”
Tristan growls, a low, furious sound that makes me flinch. He stops immediately, turning to me. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m fine,” I whisper. “What’s the matter?”
He hesitates, before his hand reaches up. He cups the back of my neck, his fingers massaging softly. “The Council wants to see us. It’s about… what happened before. With Alicia, and the healing. Ollena Hayward has put forward a motion to have you removed from the Trials.”
My muscles lock into place. Jax jumps up. “The fuck? What’s that all about?”
“Safeguarding,” Tristan mutters, looking back down to the letter. “She’s worried about Sienna’s health. She’s asking for a legal exemption.”
Ollena is worried… about me?
“What does this mean?” I look at Tristan, and he stares back at me helplessly. “Tristan?”
My breathing is starting to speed up, panic building in my muscles. They want to take me away from them. From my pack.
“They can’t do that,” I whisper. “They can’t take me away. They can’t force me.”
Tristan swallows. “If this was another pack and I was looking in… I’d agree with them, Sienna.”
He wants me to go?
My whine rings out, all of them turning to me as it sounds low and agonized in my chest.
“No, no.” Tristan stands, and in a second he has me lifted out of my seat, wrapping his arms around me as he presses my head gently into his chest. “Sienna. Baby, you’re not going anywhere.”
I’m shaking, my body vibrating. “They can’t take me away. It’s not up to them.”
They’re my Soul Bonded.
But the Council doesn't know that. And if I tried to tell them… they might not believe me. How could we prove it? After everything that’s happened? No-one in their right mind would believe us, not when my parents are the polar opposite of everything the Council has seen.
