“I can’t wait to see it,” Gray says, then he backtracks, stumbling over his words. “I mean, not now, obviously. One day. At some point.”
Sienna cocks her head. “One day,” she agrees softly.
The sound of the doorbell rings through the house, and Sienna flinches.
“Hey,” I soothe, getting up. “It’s okay. It might be Jess. Or your family.”
But when Jax appears, his face flushed from running up the stairs, it’s not either of them.
“It’s Ollena Hayward, shortcake,” he says to Sienna. “She’s asked to see you.”
46
SIENNA
Ollena and I sit awkwardly in the living room, opposite each other on the wide leather couches that frame the giant television on the wall. It’s not a space I’ve spent a huge amount of time in, and I stare at the wide fireplace awkwardly as Gray carries in a tray.
“Coffee,” he says to me softly, and I nod in thanks. His eyes move to Ollena. “Do you want me to stay, Bonded?”
I do, but I can tell by the purse of Ollena’s mouth that she wants to talk alone. I shake my head, and Gray cups my cheek before he leaves. “Call if you need us.”
When the door closes, Ollena releases a soft sigh. “Sienna. You look much better than the last time I saw you.”
Maybe, but seeing Ollena is bringing back memories that I’d rather not dwell over, not when I’m trying to move on. Clearing my throat, I reach for the coffee, curling my hands around the warm cup for comfort. “How can I help you, Ollena?”
Ollena looks dismayed as she leans forward. “Sienna… I’m here for several reasons. First and foremost, to apologize. To you.”
My head jerks back. “To me?”
Ollena nods, and for the first time, I see the bags under her eyes, the way her fingers quiver as she takes a cup. “For many things. But firstly, I am sorry that I wasn’t able to overturn your Denied status. It… highlighted to me some of the injustices around our current system. Some things that need to change.”
I take a deep breath. “This doesn’t feel like it’s going to be an easy conversation.”
Ollena’s mouth quirks. “I suppose that depends on how you look at it. You may have heard that the Trials have been disbanded.”
“Isn’t that only temporary?”
Ollena shakes her head. “It’s clear that they cannot continue as they are,” she says softly. “I won’t stand by and watch another omega go through that. Not to mention that the omegas under my care would refuse to participate, as things currently stand.”
My eyes grow wide. “They’re refusing?”
Ollena nods. “Who can blame them? There has been much discussion over your Trial experiences, and what happened at your Bonding Ceremony. The omegas are scared, Sienna.”
I sit back against the couch, needing a moment to think. The idea of everyone knowing about the Trials makes me feel ill. I don’t want to be a topic of public gossip.
“What do you want from me?” I ask quietly. I’m not stupid. Ollena is kind, but she’s the Omega leader for a reason. Her priority is the omega population, not one girl who had a bad time.
She sits forward, her eyes assessing me with renewed interest. “The Omega Gala is scheduled for next weekend. Everyone from Navarre will be there, and I believe there may be an opportunity to help reassure the omegas… if you were willing to attend with your pack.”
I have to bite back the harsh rejection on my lips. “Unmated omegas don’t attend the ball. I don’t see how that would help.”
Only the unmated alphas do, which has always struck me as incredibly unfair.
Ollena smiles ruefully. “Nevertheless, word will get around. The gala is the highlight of the social calendar, as you know.”
Not really. I never paid much attention. Jess was always the one with the latest gossip.
“What do you really want, Ollena?” I ask. “What do you want to achieve from us attending?”
