Page 67 of Forsaken

A roar sounds from the other side of the room, and I gasp, looking past Sean to find Nathan shifting in the middle of the ball. His tux shreds as his claws curl. Jonah immediately springs into action as a chorus of excited exhales ring around the room. He barrels into Nathan, still in his human form. The table collapses under the weight of both men.

Kinsey stands, bringing me to my feet. “Now,” she says. “Leave.”

Sean whips around and shoots his hand out, grabbing me by the wrist. “Checkmate, Mia.” He grins. His sadistic ass finds this funny.

The couples at the table with us gather around, congratulating us and giving Nathan’s outburst true contempt for ruining our moment.

Jonah and a few of Alpha Richard’s security team drag Nathan from the room. He’s fully human now, his skin glistening in sweat and as naked as the day he was born.

My heart cracks down the center, but I place a smile on my face as my world zeroes into a pinpoint. They’ll put two and two together. Unless Nathan and Jonah can come up with some believable excuse, Nathan at least, is done for.

Alpha Richard makes his way over to us. The couples we’re with part, giving him ample space. “I’m so happy for the two of you. I love to see our fated pairs come together, the way it should be. No doubt the tragic events of the past couple of days have shown you two that you need your mate more than anyone else.”

Sean entwines our fingers. “Yes, sir. When I found out she was in the cabin when it caught on fire, it sparked something in me. I knew I couldn’t live without her.”

His answering smile is genuine.

I peer at Sean. He makes me sick, but I have to play the part. My chances of escape are now gone with all the attention. “I always knew that,” I purr in the sweetest voice I can muster.

Alpha Richard laughs, the sound reverberating around the room. “Often, females know everything before men do.”

My whole table laughs, but I have a suspicion it’s just to cover up the mess that’s being picked up on the other side of the room. Kinsey is frozen in her spot, staring at the door Jonah left through. Several servants are arranging brand-new plates just as they were, and before long, it’ll be like nothing even happened.

Alpha Richard takes our joined hands and raises them in the air. “To true love, my shifter brethren.”

The whole room erupts in an applause that surpasses all the noise of the cleaning and the covering up. My hopes dash in that moment. I’m destined to stay with Sean, here, just waiting to see what he’ll have concocted to take me out.

While the applause is still going, Alpha Richard leans over between the two of us. “I’ll have a room prepared for you at the mansion. My treat. I’m so glad to hear of your good news.”

I shake his hand, smiling. It’s an honor to be invited to his personal house. He no doubt wants to make a show of another shifter being with their mated pair. It’s like a billboard for doing the right thing. If you accept your mate, or even if you accept them after they’re reformed, good things happen. You get a round of applause at balls. You get a room at the alpha’s mansion. You get so much attention.

Alpha Richard returns to his table, and as if on cue, everything is back in place. The instruments are playing once again. The table is made up. The couples who were sharing Nathan and Gayle’s table are all seated around it again, talking animatedly amongst themselves. The only thing that’s wrong is that Nathan isn’t there. Neither is Gayle.

Jonah, too, for that matter.

Kinsey leans over. “Plan B.”

“What the fuck is plan B?”

She frowns. “I’m figuring that out now.”

I growl under my breath. I need to figure this shit out. It’s my future.

I can’t do anything attached to Sean, though. Couple after couple keep coming up to our table to congratulate us. I fan my face. Screw the deep breaths, I’m going to milk this anxiety episode for all it’s worth. I hold on to the back of my chair.

“Are you alright?” Kinsey asks.

“Not feeling well,” I tell her, loud enough for Sean to hear. “I think I need some air.”

“I’ll take you,” he says and grabs my hand, excusing us from our line of admirers. He acts the doting mate as we walk back out through the huge entry doors and across the marble floors to the garden.

When we step outside, Sean snickers. “Bet you didn’t see that coming.”

I tear my hand from his. “I certainly didn’t.”

“There,” he says. “Now Gayle knows what it feels like. Plus, I get the added bonus of keeping you quiet. I’ll do anything to get what I want, Mia. Anything.”

I charge at him, catching him off guard, and soon, I’m straddling his chest with my face in his. The hem of my skirt is pooled by his neck. “Shift,” I growl, placing my fingers on his throat and squeezing.

---