Page 5 of Alpha Bride

I know the wolves make these types of alliances. Hell, even witches love an alliance, but it’s usually not one made by marriage. I’m not a shifter. I’m a witch, and my coven is supposed to protect me, not give me away like trash.

And tohimof all people. Of all men.

If Marian’s announcement had shocked me to my core, Tristen’s outburst had floored me, sucked the oxygen from my lungs and crushed my ability to think rationally. My emotions teeter between pure rage and a swelling of devastation. That Marian would discard me so casually, and that Tristen would seize the opportunity to what? Humiliate me? Punish me? Degrade me?

I finally find some shade under the pop-up tent and release the breath of frustration I’ve been holding for too long. I hear a rustling behind me and turn, relieved to see it’s Ava and Sarah.

“Are you okay?” Ava says, pulling me into a hug I didn’t even know I needed. “That was…unexpected.”

Sarah and I scoff simultaneously. “They really didn’t tell you before?” she asks, incredulous.

I shake my head. “No,” I reply, stepping back and running a hand through my hair, “but that probably shouldn’t surprise me.”

“At least Tristen stepped up,” Ava says, and Sarah nods, clearly attempting to help. “I know he’s a bit grumpy, but he—”

“He hates witches,” I state plainly. The women look at each other and wince. It’s not their fault; they don’t know about my brief history with Tristen, but they do know he hates witches.

“Well,” Sarah hedges, “perhaps he’s had a change of heart, if he wants to help the alliance.”

Before I can reply, I sense Marian’s powerful aura approaching.

“We all must do what’s best for the coven,” Marian says, her bright white hair shining in the sunlight. Although ethereally beautiful, she fixes me with a hard stare. “You should be honored.”

I want to tell her where to shove her ‘honor,’ but I don’t. I’ve always wanted my coven’s approval; I’ve never gone against them, always trying to make myself useful. Can I really say no now?

I look out beyond Marian. The crowd is pretending not to stare, but on the stage, Tristen is engaged in some kind oftense debate with his brothers, and their attention is obviously torn between watching to see if I will reappear and the drama occurring on stage.

As I watch the scene before me, Tristen glances my way, almost as though he senses my gaze. Our eyes meet, and the scowl on his face doesn’t bode well. Something else flickers in his eyes.

Pure determination.

I turn back to Marian. “I need some time,” I whisper.

“Time is something you don’t have,” she replies. “The ceremony will commence now. Malik’s forces grow stronger, and our weak link with the shifters will be our downfall. An alliance with Tristen, who harbors the biggest resentments, will help your coven the most. I knew he’d step forward.”

At that, my eyes flick to hers, holding her steely emerald gaze longer than I ever have before. “How did you know?”

She briefly looks to Ava and Sarah before shrugging. “I knew. He has the most work to do, after all.”

I never told a soul about my encounter with Tristen in the forest, so she couldn’t possibly know about our history. Could she? Not that it matters; her concern about how little the shifters prioritize our safety in comparison to their fellow wolves is sincere, and it’s causing rightful resentment within our covens. If our kind stops working together, Malik will only be stronger for it.

I look to Ava and Sarah, both of whom look nervous around Marian. Most people are. But Ava lifts her head to give me a reassuring smile.

“You’re our friend, Emily,” she says. “We’ll be here for you, whatever you decide.”

Her words touch me more than she’ll probably ever know. I’ve only known Ava and Sarah for a few short months since Malik attacked, kidnapping Ava’s beautiful daughter Harper. I’ve had the chance to get to know them, working on the runes, and it’s only by making friends outside the coven that I’ve come to really understand how lonely I’d been.

I glance back over at the stage but can no longer see Tristen. Perhaps he’s changed his mind, anyway. The thought both excites and terrifies me at the same time. Taking a breath, I try to calm my nervous system, which I’ve worked on since I was young, reminding myself that I can do hard things.

“Okay,” I say quietly. “But I won’t let him treat me badly. I won’t be some submissive fake luna who is scared of all the shifters.”

Marian smirks, a low cackle escaping as she replies, “Child, you are still a witch at heart. I think it’s you who needs to remember that.”

I smile weakly at Ava, who is still holding my arm.

“We would never let him treat you badly, anyway,” she soothes. “Besides, I honestly don’t think he’s like that.”

Sighing, I nod. She means well, but I definitely don't have the emotional bandwidth to explain myself more right now. The only way through this is going to be to push those feelings down again, pretend that Tristen means nothing, and put the coven first.

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