Then I tell her everything.
Our excitement over the invite to the Bonding Trials. Erikkson, coming to my office and presenting me with the evidence that could destroy my family from both sides. The first argument with Gray and Logan, when we found out they were lying.
Sienna drinks it all in, not giving anything away as she frowns down at the table. “So… you never wanted Alicia.”
“Never,” I swear fervently. “She’s a psychopath, Sienna. I didn’t realize how much, not until your heat happened.”
Sienna doesn’t say anything else, not until I pause. She looks up, finally, her eyes traveling across us all as we hold our breath.
“The Mating Ceremony,” she presses her finger into a wooden whirl on the table. “You didn’t come.”
My heart breaks at the soft, sad tone of her voice. Jax leans forward.
“We were coming, shortcake,” he promises. “We would never have left you there alone. Not in a million years. We were all in.”
Her eyes lift. “So what happened?”
“Alicia,” Jax hisses. “She gassed us.”
Sienna jerks. “She what?”
“She pulled in through the gates, and we thought you might have turned around.” My throat is dry as I watch her. “We were in the car, Sienna. A minute or two behind you at most. But she pulled in, and came up to my window. I told her to fuck off.”
She looks unimpressed. “And then?”
“She had some sort of gas canister. She threw them in and it knocked us out. We didn’t wake up for over an hour, and by the time we did, it was too late. We rushed to the Hub, but the ceremony was over, and you were gone.”
I swallow. “Alicia faked that letter. You’re our Soul Bonded fated mate, Sienna. You are the one we want.”
Jax nods. “You’re all we ever wanted, shortcake.”
“And I’m sorry.” My voice drops. “I’m so damn sorry for everything. If I could take back every stupid decision I’ve made in the last three weeks, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”
“We all had a role to play.” Gray sits forward, his eyes focused on Sienna. “That day – in your nest – I didn’t want to leave you, Si. It tore at my chest walking away from you, but I panicked.”
Sienna looks at Logan. “And you,” she says softly. “What pretty words do you have?”
Hesitating, he nods. “I don’t have any, except that I’m sorry. You deserve action, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
“See, you say that, but it’s still just words.” Sienna jumps as I reach for her hand, grabbing it before she can pull away.
This might be the only chance I ever get, and I’m not leaving her without saying my piece.
“You’re right,” I duck down so she can see my face. “But I swear on my life, Sienna.”
“I spent years waiting for a mate. And you… you are everything. Everything I ever wanted, and so much more than I ever realized. And I swear to you, I will spend the rest of our lives making sure that you never feel the same way that you did during those Trials. I’m not asking for more than you can give. I know we have a lot of shit to work through.”
She tries to pull away, but I hold onto her hand.
“I told you that you could hate me if you wanted to.” Her eyes jerk to mine. “I meant it. I’ll spend the rest of our lives working to change your mind. But you will live, Sienna. That’s the one thing I will not apologize for. I will do whatever it takes to make you well again. And you can hate me for it, but hate me when you’re healthy and whole. I’ll even leave, if that’s what you need, and if it works with the bond.”
She flinches.
“I do hate you,” she whispers, and it fucking guts me. “And I don’t need your fucking permission to do it, Tristan.”
She yanks her hand out of mine, my fingers closing around empty air as she pushes her chair back. Panic laces up my throat as she struggles to her feet.
“Sienna—,”
