Page 68 of Secrets and S'mores
“You could have let us go. Those were your men.”
“Unfortunately, it’s not that simple,” Sienna says.
“What do you mean?” I keep my tone civil, despite the venom I feel.
For a moment, Sienna purses her lips. I don’t expect an answer, but she surprises me.
“Orion has been waiting for any excuse to challenge me. If I did anything outside of the pack’s expectations, it was an opportunity for him.”
“You were his Alpha,” I say.
Sienna sniffs, picking at her manicure.
“After I left, what happened?”
“Ember hid in her room after Orion asked her to be his mate.”
“So why did he challenge you?” Jasper asks, gentler than I can manage.
She sits back, her lips in a thin line. We both stare at her, waiting it out. After a moment, she huffs. “I told him he couldn’t force her to be his mate.”
“And he challenged you.” Jasper fills in. “And now she’s locked in a basement.”
“We need to get her out of there,” I say.
“Okay, let’s talk strategy,” Jasper says, smiling when his mother sits forward attentively. Somehow, we won her over. If we are lucky, she’ll have the missing pieces we need to put together a rescue mission.
16 Provide, Protect
Ember
The next day slips by and I spend it staring at the ceiling. Only the hope of violence against Orion drives me to eat a frozen meal and drink water from the sink.
When the door at the top of the stairs swings open, I expect Orion to come in and ask if I’m ready to become his mate. If I don’t agree, the magic of the mate bond won’t work and he can leave me to rot or perhaps try a little light torture.
I’ve resigned myself to my fate.
Aster stands there, clothing drapes across her arms. I watch her coldly as she makes her way down.
“What do you want?” I ask.
“I’m the only one coming to help you, so perhaps you could be polite.” Her words are clipped, and there’s an undercurrent of exhaustion.
“What’s going on up there?”
“Orion has banished your mother, but he’s not going to let you go.”
“Is she okay?”
“She’s alive.”
Aster drapes a simple white dress over the banister and smoothes it with her weathered hands.
“The sooner you agree to be his mate, the easier this will be for you.”
“I can’t do that. He’s a monster.”
“You’re the only one who has a chance to curb him. We need you.” Her gray eyes stay on the ground. I’ve never felt much emotion through our pack bonds, but I can feel her regret.
