Page 230 of Bliss & Her Idols

His command echoes around the hall with its spectacular acoustics, followed by his rumbling growl that raises the hairs on the back of my neck.

His dominance settles across every Alpha in the room.

A dominance that he’s hidden or has been ignored by his siblings.

I bet that they’re regretting it now.

Philomena is staring at Torin in shock, as if she doesn’t recognize the man on the stage who is challenging her.

Devin’s breath catches.

He strides to collapse in the seat next to his twin. They clasp each other’s hands protectively like they haven’t been the monsters who’ve been haunting this estate for decades.

Una sits down abruptly next to Devin, dragging Rory with her.

Philomena holds out for longer.

She crosses her arms, turning to Stapleton. “What are you doing just standing there? Take your gun out and get those little shits off that stage. Shoot them if you have to.”

My heart stops.

I take a shaky step to the side to more fully block her view of Cricket.

She’d really shoot us…?

I’m trembling but I don’t move from the stage.

Nobody does.

Philomena is staring at us in shock like she can’t believe that her bluff has been called.

“If you’re going to shoot anyone,” Jin says, holding his arms out wide, “I’m here. Don’t point that gun at kids or my pack mates. They’re here to support me and have been from the start. So, if daring to raise our voices means that we deserve to die, then shoot me now.”

This is the moment of truth.

Jin said that he trusted Stapleton.

I don’t.

I trust Jin, however, and all of us are risking our lives in this fight. I need to let Jin make this choice.

Yet it doesn’t mean that I’m not fucking terrified.

Just for a moment, Stapleton’s expression softens. “If I shot you, then how could you continue to be a pain in my ass?”

Jin gives a shaky laugh, lowering his arms.

Philomena steps closer to Stapleton slapping him sharply across the face. “I told you to drag those shits off the stage.”

“And I’m telling you,” Stapleton ignores the pink that blossoms across his face and merely smooths over his hair, “that my job is to protect the Idols in my care and not to murder them.”

“Your job is to do what I tell you.”

He shrugs, looking away.

Philomena narrows her eyes. “You’ll regret that. I’ll make sure that every member of the Betas on your security team suffer for it.”

“You always do for my mistakes.” Stapleton’s eyes flash. “Don’t you have a performance to watch?”

---