I could see the exact moment he decided to go to lunch with Shannon. The exact moment he figured out he could have a little afternoon rendezvous with his lover, since I give him nothing. I saw the heat enter his eyes and knew I had him.
“Okay. Okay.” I wanted to clap. “I give in. Go have lunch with your friends. I’ll have lunch with Shannon here. Plus, we have things to discuss.”
“I know.” Shannon smiled as she slid next to him. “I mean, your mating ceremony is in a few short weeks.” I felt my stomach clench, but I smiled and nodded. “We have so much to still go over for the ceremony.”
I nodded. “I know. I am so excited.” I leaned in to kiss Brandon’s cheek. “Soon I’ll get to kiss your lips.” I whispered next to his ear, and I heard him groan. I sat back with a satisfied smile on my face. I didn’t want to touch him at all, but teasing him was honestly fun. “But you are right. We still have a lot to pin down.” I turned to Shannon. “Thank you for helping with it all.”
Shannon smiled, but I could see the hatred in her eyes. “Of course. You are my sister, and Brandon is my best friend. You have everything going on here, so I do what I can.” She gripped her arm through Brandon’s. “You ready to go?”
He looked at me for a second and then back at Shannon. I could see the exact moment his brain switched off. He wanted to know what the hell we were going to talk about. I knew that’s why he came running over here. But Shannon and the potential for sex turned all that worry off, and that was perfect for me.
“Yeah, I’m ready.” He turned to me and kissed my forehead. Ugh. “I’ll see you after work? We can go over to the bakery to select the cake.”
I nodded. “Sounds perfect.”
They left, and I turned to everyone waiting. I linked arms with Alannah again. “Now let’s go. We don’t want to miss the reservation.” I winked to Rick, and we left the pack house, climbed into my truck and took off. As soon as we turned off the main drive. I pulled over.
Alannah’s brow furrowed. But I turned to Ternen. I pointed to him. “You.” He looked around and then pointed at himself. “Yeah you. What the hell happened to you?”
Ternen looked away. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
I looked around, and I could see it in their eyes. They liked me, but didn’t trust me, not fully. I swung back around and pulled away from the curb. “I know you don’t trust me. And I don’t blame you. So I will ask for a vow of silence before I tell you my secrets.”
All three of them turned to look at me. “You have a secret?” Rick raised a brow as I nodded.
“I do.” I sighed. “But it involves too many others to tell everyone. I need your vow so that you will be forced to keep it. Even if you are commanded by an Alpha.”
Rick turned in the passenger seat to stare at me fully. “So if we take the vow, no matter what, someone won’t be able to force the truth.”
I nodded. “Exactly.” I looked back at him. “If it makes you more comfortable, I’ll take the vow as well.” I glanced at Rick. “I don’t mind and that way, anything we discuss at this lunch will be kept a secret.”
“You wouldn’t be able to tell Vince or Brandon?” Alannah leaned over the seat.
“Nope.” I smirked. “Even if I didn’t take the vow, they couldn’t command me to tell them anything. They are too weak.” I chuckled as the rest of them gasped. “I don’t seem it, because I can keep my aura under control, but I am very strong.”
Rick chuckled. “That doesn’t surprise me. Your mother and father were a pair to behold.”
We pulled into the mall’s parking lot, and I turned off the truck. “Are you ready?”
Chapter Thirty-Five
They all stared back at me with different looks on their faces.
Alannah leaned closer to Ternen. “Will the vow hurt?”
I shook my head. “No, it’s just a vow to the Goddess to keep whatever we say here secret, even under threat of command or death.” Alannah paled. I reached through the middle and held out my hand. “Don’t be scared. It doesn’t mean you will face death. It just means the Goddess recognizes your sincerity for secrecy and she makes it so that we can keep our secrets.” I smiled back at her.
Ternen nodded. “I’m ready, but I don’t know what to say.”
I pulled my hand away and I turned in my seat, so that my back was pressed against the door. “I, Amy Maclean, vow to keep your words from everyone except the Goddess. I swear that nothing you say that could be used against you to cause harmwill leave my mouth. Only the Goddess will know our secrets and I beg her to keep them for us.” I felt the acceptance of my words settle in my chest. I nodded to Ternen, and he repeated my words.
“Holy Goddess, I felt this warmth hit my chest. What was it?” He looked at me.
I grinned. “That was the Goddess accepting your vow and agreeing to keep our secrets.”
Ternen rubbed his chest, awe still on my face. “That was…amazing.” He turned to Alannah. “It felt like total acceptance.”
Alannah looked amazed as she took her own vow. She ended up rubbing her chest too, tears brimming in her eyes. “I’ve never talked to the Goddess before.”
