Page 233 of Bliss & Her Idols

“Do you think that we truly did all this for you?” Torin drawls, looking at his sister like she’s the most insignificant person he’s ever seen.Satisfying.“I don’t expect that you’ll feel sorry or change. I hoped that Una may but I was naïve to trust her. I can see that.”

“I raised you,” Una protests.

“Did you?” Torin cocks his head. “It felt a lot more like you neglected me.”

“And I’ve sung like a pretty bird in a cage too many times for you,” Jin adds, bravely. “This evening, it wasn’t for any of you. It was for my fans.”

“This is what they become like when they’re too famous.” Zoe rolls her eyes. “Delusional.”

Jin smirks. “The ones watching us all around the world right now.”

“W-w-what?” Una stutters, blanching.

Enjoying myself, I answer, “They’ve been watching from the moment that you walked in. What’s the punishment in your rulebook for Alphas who spill the secrets of the pack?”

Philomena growls, launching herself out of her seat.

Instantly, Stapleton pulls out his gun and points it at her. “Stay where you are.”

“What are you doing?” Zoe hisses.

“Reading the room,” Stapleton replies.

Philomena scoffs. “You’re not going to pull that trigger. You’re not fierce enough to point it at the Idols. If you continue acting like this…”

“What?”

“I’ll send you back to the Alaskan academy for more conditioning.”

Stapleton prowls closer to Philomena, grabbing her by the arm and pressing her down in her seat. Her eyes widen, when he pushes the gun against her temple.

“The thing about Alphas like you,” Stapleton snarls, “is all you understand, beneath your elite veneer of civility and thinking that you’re fucking better than everyone else, is threats and violence. The only Alpha in this pack who has offered my security team and me a reward is Torin. I’m loyal to him.”

“You traitorous snake.” Devin starts to rise out of his seat but stops, when Stapleton takes a step back and casually pointsthe gun at him instead. Then Stapleton leans against the stage. “How long?”

Torin grins, coldly. “Since I was fourteen and made a pact with the Idols. I made one with the security team as well that if they ever helped me to be in a position of power, then I’d break them out of their contracts.”

“A position of power…?” Devin laughs but it’s more with nerves. “What a joke.”

“Except, it looks like that day has come.” Stapleton appears as satisfied as I’m feeling to wipe the grin off Devin’s face.

“Rory, want to join us on the stage?” Immortal offers.

Philomena tries to stop Rory, as he stands up. “Why do you want him? Are you going to attack the weakest pack member because that’s low, even for you. Ignore them, Rory, and come here.”

It’s Philomena’s order, however, which Rory ignores. He rushes to the stage, climbing up onto it.

As planned, he drops dramatically to his knee in front of Torin.

I hear the gasps from the front row but I’m not looking away from the way that Rory is kneeling.

The surge of pride through the bond is overwhelming.

Torin is shaking but working hard to suppress it.

This is his moment, the one that we’ve worked toward.

For him, it’s been a lifetime coming.

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