Daniel winks at me before turning to them. “You’re a lucky pack.”
As he melts into the crowd, I’m saved from whatever Tristan is about to say by the first course being served. There’s no sign of Jess and Emmett as I glance around the room, seeking out familiar faces as I sip my soup.
My mother and father are seated a few tables away, and I raise my hand in a wave to them. The Council are seated together on the other side of the room, and I spot Tristan’s mother next to David. Her eyes are focused on Tristan, but they wander across to me. I offer her a small smile, and she returns it.
Gray leans in as I finish, his words low and unhurried. “I hope that was worth it, because part of me wants to take you over my knee for that little show, sweetheart.”
My hands clench on my napkin. “I’m not sure.” Tapping my chin, I slide my eyes to him. “Do you feel suitably punished, Gray?”
He lifts his hand, playing with a strand of my hair. “It was a reminder,” he says quietly. “Of what we could have lost through our own stupidity. Not having you in my life is unthinkable, Sienna.”
I let his words soak into me, taking a needed sip of my drink as my parents come by to greet me. My father fixes the Cohens with a scowl. “How are you, sweetheart? They treating you well?”
“They are, dad,” I murmur, allowing him to fold me into his arms. “I promise.”
So much so that just theteeniestamount of guilt fills me when I say yes to another alpha asking me to dance. He’s polite, but nowhere near as much fun as Daniel. Jax fixes me with a mournful look as I return to the table.
“Shortcake,” he groans. “You’re killing me.”
“Really?” I raise my eyebrow, and he sighs. “And I deserve every second of it, plus more.”
“Exactly.”
Tristan gets up abruptly. “Excuse me.”
The suddenness of his exit, the way he doesn’t even look at me, makes my chest twist. Can he seriously not handle a few dances, after everything that happened?
Disappointed, I shake my head at the next alpha who walks up to me. “No, thank you.”
Logan slips into Tristan’s vacated seat, reaching out and wrapping his hand around mine where it holds the stem of my glass, topping it up with champagne. “How are you feeling?”
Frustrated.
I’m about to unload on them when there’s a squeal of microphone static.
“Good evening, everyone. If I could have your attention for a moment?”
My heart stops dead in my chest. I recognize that voice.
I spin in my seat so quickly that I nearly topple into Gray. His arms shoot out, steadying me as I take in Tristan. He’s stood at a microphone, the orchestra paused with their instruments held up as they watch him.
Silence spreads across the room as my heart starts to beat faster, the champagne turning to dust in my mouth. Heads swivel to me, and I try to temper my panicked expression.
Logan leans in, his hand cupping my neck. “Breathe, sweetheart. This isn’t a bad thing.”
I can feel them all moving closer to me, Jax getting up from his seat and coming to stand behind me, and I try to take comfort in that as I watch my Bonded survey the room, his face the mask he prefers to wear in public.
He has everyone’s attention.
“There have been a lot of rumors,” he starts, “about our pack, and our relationship with our omega, Sienna Michaels.”
The flurry of whispers silences as he holds up a hand.
“The details of our relationship belong to us, and us alone. However, given the level of interest in our pack, I wish to set something straight.”
His chin tips up. “Sienna Michaels is our Soul Bonded. Our fated mate. And theonlyomega we want.”
I can’t breathe as I watch him, his figure swimming as tears blur my vision. Gasps and murmurs ring out.
