Tell them
The room had gone quiet as the visiting Alpha made his way down to me. He searched my gaze and when he saw the obedient partner he wanted he smiled. I could feel the frustration and jealousy coming off of Ava in waves. Based on the way she had dressed I knew she had expected a reaction from him. She huffed when he continued to stare at me.
I hate him.
I do too, Korra.
Can you remind me why we’re being obedient?
Because they have Shane, Korra, and… I can’t… I couldn’t live with myself if something happens to him.
I couldn’t either, Adea.
So work with me, please. We can’t do anything wrong tonight.
“Greetings,” I murmured.
“You look beautiful, My Queen,” Ethan said.
He lowered his hand from my chin and I let my gaze trail down the length of his body. He wore a navy blue tailcoat trimmed with a black velvet collar and cuffs. The gold buttons twinkled and winked at me. The white shirt beneath had ruffles and was tight around the neck. Matching slacks with gold buttons were tight around his waist and fell above his ankles. Ethan’s hair parted on the left side of his temple and had been brushed back.
If he was waiting for a compliment he’d be waiting an eternity. When I didn’t say anything he offered me his arm and I looked at it before taking it. He led me to the seat by his side. Ava stomped past us and sat in the seat by the Gamma. I lowered into my seat and trained my eyes forward. When Ethan was seated by my side I felt his gaze fall on my face but I didn’t react. Father stood to his feet, heads turned and all eyes were on him.
Okay, I have a question.
Yes, Korra?
Why haven’t you left with him?
With who?
Mate. Why haven’t you left with him?
Leave with him where?
Anywhere. Does it matter where you go?
No…
Does it matter what you have? Does wealth matter? Wouldn’t we be okay if we had our mate?
It doesn’t matter. None of these things do.
So why are we still here, Adea?
I-I don’t know. I’ve asked myself the same question probably a million times today. The chances of being caught is what stopped me from doing anything. We’d be caught before we reached the border.
I don’t believe that. You’re of age and you have me now.
What are you trying to say, Korra?
Let’s leave tonight.
They’ll kill him!
If they let him go, we just need the opportunity to run.
“We are gathered here today to celebrate my daughter coming of age,” Eduard said. His words pulled me from my conversation with Korra. He looked around the hall expectantly. People started clapping while he gestured toward me. I couldn’t help but think about what Korra had said. I could feel her curiosity as she spoke.
Why hadn’t I thought about it?
“That’s not all we’re celebrating,” he said after the applause died down.
He turned to me and motioned me forward. Rising to my feet I felt as if I’d been thrown underwater as the crowd turned from him to me. I swallowed thickly as I understood what he was doing. He wanted me to tell everyone that I’d found my mate. Father wanted me to lie to the pack and let Ethan claim me right here. How believable would it be when he didn’t claim me and I didn’t have a reaction to his touch just now?
They’ll believe whatever you give them. If you claim him right now in front of everyone it’ll be true. Anything you do in the future will be seen as a betrayal. Don’t do it, Adea. Don’t claim him as ours.
These people are ours. This pack is only the one I was born into. Shane is all that matters.
“I want to start off by thanking all of you for making the journey here. You’ve all come from far and wide to celebrate me and… my future,” I said. “Every young girl looks forward to the day they become a woman and can find—”
I don’t want to continue. I don’t want to finish that sentence. I can’t say that word, not with him here. What it would imply would gut me. In my peripheral vision, someone steps close. Warmth on my lower back confirms what I feared and I didn’t have to look to know that it was Ethan. His hand now rested on my lower back and I swallowed down the bile on my tongue. I begged Korra to be quiet and ignored the way my body screamed at his touch. The guests looked back and forth between me and Ethan drawing their own conclusions. When I didn’t go on Ethan leaned in until I could feel his heat on my neck.
“Go on,” he murmured.
His warm breath tickled my ear and my body naturally moved away from him. His fingers wrapped around my hip and I swallowed down the yelp as his fingers dug painfully into my side.
“Now,” he repeated. “Tell them. Tell them you’re mine. Tell them our packs will align with our union. Go on, tell them.”
I can’t wait to kick him in the balls.
I can do this.
I’m just glad our mate isn’t here to see this, Adea.
I know.
“As my father said, we are here to celebrate my coming of age, but that’s not it. We are here to also celebrate my union with Alpha Ethan, Alpha of the Crimson pack,” I said. I keep my eyes on the wall by the door I first walked through. After I get the words out I take a breath and let my eyes wander. When my eyes lock on beautiful obsidian eyes all of the air feels as if it’s been knocked out of me.