I could hear Brandon’s tiny brain ticking away from here. I just shook my head. I wasn’t learning anything here, and I went to move on, but then I heard Rowan’s name.
“Did Rowan actually send a response to the invite?” Garith growled out.
Verity sighed. “He isn’t going to actually show up.” She moved across the room, her voice fading away as she moved. “Believe me, he has been locked up in his office, knee deep in reports of the rogues and their attacks. He’s trying to map out their plan.” She laughed.
“I don’t know why you think that’s so funny.” Morgan sounded aggravated. He probably didn’t like how Verity was talking about Shannon. “If he figures out that every attack happens to a pack that lives by the caves, then we are fucked.”
Verity laughed again. “Who would think that all those caves are connected?”
The caves…
Holy fucking shit.
I pulled out my phone out and sent a quick text to my father.
Amy:Dead caves are connected to others. Any pack that was attacked, there should be a cave close by. Be careful when you go in.
Three dots popped up, the soft sound that accompanied the dancing dots popped along as I waited for his response. Suddenly I heard someone in the office shush the room. “What was that?”
I silenced my phone and cursed myself for making such a stupid mistake. I stuffed my phone into my pocket as the door slammed open, and everyone rushed out. The five of them searched the hallway and back, but Brandon sniffed. “I don’t smell anyone out here.”
“Can someone hide their scent with magic?” Vince turned to Verity.
She shook her head. “I’ve tried, and I wasn’t able to change my scent at all. My sisters learned to change their scent, but neither was good at it. It is possible to alter a scent, but not remove it completely.”
Brandon just shook his head. “Maybe you heard something from farther away than you thought.”
Garith growled. Verity walked over and laid her hand on his arm. “Can you scent someone?”
He looked down at her and I watched the hatred behind his eyes flare. This man has hated both of his children. But the emotion was gone in a flash, and he considered her words. “No. No, I don’t smell anyone near here. Do you sense anyone close using magic?”
Verity closed her eyes and I could feel her magic prodding against the shield. But I used my own to project the image of the wall behind me to her. Hopefully, if it worked, she would only see the solid wall behind me, and not that I hid in the shadows. I held my breath as I waited for her to make her declaration. She forced more power into the probing, making sure they were alone before her eyes opened.
“There’s no one around.” I breathed slowly out and closed my eyes in relief.
Nix snorted.She couldn’t feel us. You would think that her power would recognize ours.
Thankfully.Megan bumped into Nix.It’s a good thing that she isn’t strong enough to find us.I agreed silently as my eyes tracked everyone there. But my eyes kept jumping back to Verity and Garith. I kept searching their faces and matching similar facial features to my father. To my own. I shivered when I realized that Verity and I shared the same nose. I had Garith’s lips.
Luna Brittney came around the corner. “The ceremony is in five minutes. You all have to get to you spots.”
Brandon turned to Vince. “I don’t want to do this.”
Vince opened his mouth but Garith stepped up to Brandon and clapped him on his shoulder. “You either do this…or I kill you for ruining the brotherhood’s plans and your parents have another pup to start over.”
I grabbed a tray of champagne flutes and stood at the end of the walkway, allowing guests to grab a drink before they found their seats. Brandon was reluctantly standing at the end of the path next to a priestess. Derek stood beside him, and I watched as he leaned over to whisper something in Brandon’s ear.
Another Omega walked over to take my now empty tray and to hand me a full one. “Are you okay here?” Her voice was soft, but I could hear the tremble in it.
I caught her eye, and I lifted a brow. She must have caught the tiny flick of my brow because her lips curved up for a second. “I’m fine here. Thank you.” I answered as I took the full tray in my hands.
I stood there for a few more minutes as the last wave of guests filtered in. Garith and Verity grabbed a flute from me, and barely even looked at me, which I was grateful for but not surprised. He says Omegas are the backbone, but they aren’t important enough to even look at. I smirked as they turned away.
“Have you heard anything from the King?” Garith whispered to Verity as they took seats in the back.
“No. But like I said, there is no fucking way he would show up to this.” She looked over at the crowd and lifted her lip. “It’sbeneath him.” She looked at Garith. “It’s beneath us. Why are we even here?”
“We need to keep Vince happy…for now.”
