The set of her mouth into a bitchy sneer says it all.
Hendrix stares through her, while he leans down to kiss the top of my head. “Come on, sweetheart, I’m sure we’ll find our way.”
I hold her stare, letting Hendrix guide us away.
Then she moves. Fast, like she has dogs snapping at her heels, trying to block the entrance.
“Family only in High Dependency.”
She focuses on me, not even looking at my pack. Hendrixcompletely ignores her posturing, simply side stepping around her impression of a starfish, leaving her open mouthed and red faced.
“Honestly?” Ryder laughs at the drama.
“It’s going to be a circus, Rye.”
I reach out to hit the button for the lift, but he beats me to it, pressing the button and catching my hand in one smooth move. The warmth of his touch settles my unease. Today was never going to be easy, but with my pack, it will be a whole lot better.
Dominic pulls me close, holding me to his chest as the lift takes us up to High Dependency, the doors open and we walk out.
Straight into an ambush.
Chapter
Forty-Nine
SIMONA
Hendrix drops all pretences of being anything but a very strong Alpha. His presence is as large, and impossible to ignore, as our arrival. He leads me out of the elevator with a steady hand and a blistering confidence that nips over my skin.
Dominic follows close behind also falling into his cut-throat, take no prisoner persona. His scent spreads out in warning, confirming his easiness to dominate. With a gentle touch on my back, he moves to my other side, and Ryder stands at my back.
I feel protected, and safe. Equally importantly I feel the centre of their universe as we come face to face with Wren and the Alphas of the founding families.
Once upon a time simply being in the same room as the founding family would have sent me to my knees with my metaphorical tail between my legs for fear alone. Now, I know what the power of a real Alpha feels like. Dominance and power are not a measure of strength, it’s based on how you wield it.
“Simona is here to see Lawson.” Dominic takes a step forward, driving the interaction with intention. The deep timbre of his voice is dosed by the power and impatience of his Alpha.
“How dare you, Simona.” Wren’s hands wring, and her scent is as tart as the way she looks at me. “Lawson is barely alive and you…” Her arms wave out in frustration.
Holding her stare is easy. “Brought my pack with me. For support, and protection. Is that an issue?”
“Of course it is an issue. How did you think I would react when I have to witness your infidelity firsthand? Walking aroundhere, acting like the whore you are. I can’t even,” she shrieks, losing a grip of her emotions.
She squeezes her hands into fists, locking her gaze at something on the floor while she takes a few breaths. It takes only a few seconds until she’s managed to tuck away her emotions, back behind her listless mask. Her eyes move nervously towards the Alphas standing beside her, seeking their support before she looks at me. She’s back to being compliant Wren, the puppet.
I hold my chin up high, drilling my entire focus on her, talking loud enough so everyone can hear. “Wren, you along with the others are fully aware I recently packed, so my bonded Alphas being with me shouldn’t be an issue. Or haven’t you had a chance yet to read the court’s judgement on my emancipation application?” I don’t wait for a response from her, or anyone else in the room. “I’d like to see Lawson now, please.”
“You have an Alpha, Simona. All this gallivanting around with other Alphas is disrespectful to the union you and Brody share. You are causing your parents a lot of unnecessary stress. Your poor mother should be focusing on Lawson, and she’s out here having to see this. It’s a disgrace. Shameful,” Brody’s mother, Fiona, adds. Her small, barbed speech isoverly scripted, but she pulls it off like the well-versed actress she is.
“I completely agree with you, Fiona, it is disgraceful I’m being blocked from seeing Lawson. With regard to the undue stress, I’ll have to pull you up there because I have no issue with my pack being with me.Youhad the chance to tell me how you felt at the recent hearing. Don’t whine after the fact, that’s behaviour not fitting for a woman of your standing. I’d like to see Lawson now, please.”
Brody's mother fumes silently, until the look on her face transforms into a triumphant, bitchy smirk. She tips her head to the side as she gloats. “We’ve already lodged an appeal.”
“I’m glad you understand the way our judicial system works because you’re well within your rights, Fiona. But, like you yourself said, I don’t think now is the time. Particularly when Lawson is in High Dependency.”
“Stop!” Brody’s father barks, using the force of his designation. And his obtuse display of force nearly sent Fiona and Wren to their knees.
Hendrix stares at the current head of the family before swinging his beautiful attention at me. His eyes are full of dangerous longing. Using barely any volume, and just a drop of his influence, he barks, “Mine.”
