Shit.
“Ness. I got a big player to help you,” hesaid.
I didn’t think the President of the United States could get me out of thismess.
“Julian Matz,” Everest said, as though the name should’ve meant something to me. Itdidn’t.
“Who the hell is JulianMatz?”
Everest flinched from my shrill tone. “The Pine PackAlpha.”
My skin broke out in goose bumps. His plan was to involve the Alpha of the greatest enemy pack? Ice spilled into my stomach as an even more chilling thought settled. “Did you…tellhim?”
“I hadto.”
He had to.I was straddling the brink between fury and anger, and it was giving me a strong urge to gouge my cousin’s eyes out. “You told him! How dareyou!”
Everest blinked. “Ness, I did it foryou.”
Fuck.My life was fucked. Maybe I should attempt to fly off a roof like Becca. Or maybe I should turn into a wolf and travel to a distant mountain range and lose myself in thewilderness.
“Look, you’re going to meet with Julian tonight, and he’ll explain how he’s going to go about clearing you.” He gestured toward the shopping bag. “Wear the dress and meet me in the driveway at five. I’ll take you to him.” He checked his watch. “You have two hours to getready.”
He got up and started walking toward thedoor.
“Why do I have to wear adress?”
“It’s his nephew’s engagementparty.”
Stab me through the heart.Not only did I have to meet with an enemy Alpha, but I had to attend an engagement ceremony where surely the entire Pine Pack would beassembled.
I’d almost rather havedied.
Almost.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The dress Everesthad gotten me fit like a glove…an actual glove. The stretchy black leather hugged each one of my curves, leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination. Nor did it leave any room to strap a knife to my thigh, which I’dconsidered.
But then I’d reconsideredit.
Bringing a weapon to a werewolf engagement party was surely in poor taste. What would I do with a knife anyway? If the blade wasn’t welded from silver, it would do me little good. Everest’s revelation made me bang a clenched fist against my mirror. A fissure streaked the glass. I stared at the crack as though it were an omen. What did breaking mirrors mean?Right…seven years of badluck.
I wasdoomed.
I took one of the pins I’d sandwiched between my lips and stuck it into the bun that was supposed to look sleek but ended up resembling a ball of yarn a cat would’ve chased down astaircase.
When my updo was done, I grabbed my bag, cell phone, key, and then slid on my black heels. On my way out of the inn, I crossed paths with Jeb. I prayed he had no inkling of what I’ddone.
He crossed his arms as I passed by the bell desk. “Where are yougoing?”
“I’m having dinner withEverest.”
His forehead grooved. “Where’s he takingyou?”
“He said it was a surprise for having forgotten to take me to the firsttrial.”
Jeb’s pupils twitched withguilt.
