Page 58 of Bonded and Betrothed

“You know you’re supposed to stay in the car until we finish our check right?” Seline says, holstering her gun as she moves to my side. She’s fallen into her role as my beta so seamlessly, it’s hard to believe she’s been doing it for only a couple of days.

“You know I never come unarmed right?” I grin, pulling back my skirts to show a small gun strapped beneath my dress.

“Sneaky, sneaky,” she teases as we stride towards the party already in full swing. Standing tables are set out throughout the courtyard, and a bar sits on the far side. Our pack members crowd the long bar, the few bartenders struggling to keep up with their orders. I frown over at them, realizing I need to speak to them about a serving limit. With this venue, we’re out in the open and we need to be prepared if anything happens. I nod as we pass a group of betas guarding the entrance, and they stand a bit straighter as we pass.

The mood around the terrace seems to shift as we enter, and the pack members lower their boisterous tones, casting furtive glances my way. I fight the grimace that pulls down my lips, wishing I could be more at ease tonight. Thoughts swarm in my mind, pulling me in a million different directions. Worry buzzes at the back of my mind over the safety of my pack and my mates. I glance at the phone still clutched in my hand and scowl down at it when no notifications pop up again. Slipping it into my clutch, I focus back on the crowd and finding Monte.

Almost as soon as the thought crosses my mind I spot him chatting casually with a group a few feet away. I head in his direction and attempt to release the tension in my shoulders since this is supposed to be a happy occasion.

Monte’s face brightens as he spots me, moving to the side to greet me. Almost flustered, I work to keep the shock off my face at the exuberant smile he gives me. The last time we were in a room together it had been awkward and forced and I actually rushed out of there to head on the shopping trip from Hell just to get away from him.

“There’s my loving bride to be and our Alpha,” Monte says, reaching out to take my hand. I glance at the men surrounding him and they all incline their heads in respect—all except Axel. My eyes narrow in his direction, his gaze meeting mine with a look of defiance. I hold his stare, cocking a brow in question, giving him a moment to rethink his decision. To his credit he does, and he glances down in a weak incline, barely a dip to his head.

My lips quiver as I hold back a snarl. The disrespectful beta is lucky this is supposed to be a joyous event. Otherwise, I would have him flat out on the ground, begging for mercy. He’s a problem I’ve left for too long, despite it only being a few days. His attitude is a disease that needs to be eradicated before it spreads. I wanted to keep him close, watch his actions, but with Monte so close to figuring out who the leak is that might not be necessary for much longer.

“I look forward to speaking with you further tonight,” I greet them, swallowing the anger that boils up inside me and addressing the strangers surrounding me. “But I need to steal my—fiancé—for a second,” I choke out the word and swallow thickly at how wrong it feels to utter that word now that my mind is so conflicted.

Monte eases my arm into his, drawing me to his side as I lead him to where I spot Seline and Silas waiting for us in an alcove just far enough that we can’t be overheard by any curious ears. Monte’s lips part, that easy smile still on his lips, but I cut him off.

“Are you sure this party is a good idea? Are all the potential entrances covered?” I ask Monte, glancing around the open courtyard. I have to admit it is beautiful, the gauzy tents, lush grass, and bright gardens giving it an ethereal look. But everything about tonight feels wrong. The timing, the location, the looming threat, the event itself and who I’m supposed to be here with. All of it makes me feel sick.Where are my Alphas?

“Yes, don’t worry I have everything handled,” he soothes, his hand lightly grasping my arm. “And I do think it’s a good idea, it shows our strength, that we’re able to persevere and live life normally despite the threat.”

I grimace at his words, not believing that for a second. I should have at least looked over the plans myself, but he had assured me there was more cover. But as I glance around I notice the wide-open space, making us all easy targets if anything was to happen.

“You’re worrying too much, we have more guards than we could ever need, just relax,” Monte coaxes before he places a kiss on my cheek, his lips lingering far too long to be friendly.

I pin him with a warning look but he leans forward, his mouth a hairsbreadth from my ear causing his warm breath to caress my ear. I expect it to stir some sort of desire for him, but my stomach roils at the wrong sensation and I take a step back from him involuntarily.

Seline purses her lips and rubs her bicep anxiously, pulling his gaze to bounce between the two of us. She shuffles uncomfortably and Silas looks off towards the party, not betraying any emotion other than focused determination.

“We have a part to play, for the good of the pack,” he murmurs, an edge to his voice that I haven’t heard before as he steps in closer, wrapping an arm around my waist to pull me into his side. My skin crawls at the touch, and I fight the urge to pull away.

“A part I think you’re taking too far,” I grind out through gritted teeth, his proximity feeling wrong now. My skin crawls as his fingers trace the curve of my waist, goosebumps pebbling at the familiar touch but it feels wrong, too intimate a touch between us. I step out from his hold, moving to stand between Seline and Silas. They both close in automatically, acting as a buffer between me and the man I used to love, the man that used to be my best friend. I thought he had understood after our conversation yesterday, but he’s now acting as though it never happened.

“Sky, we’re engaged, people will be suspicious,” he scolds, his hand reaching out for me as though I’ll just give in, but I hold my ground. He glowers back at me, the scent of his anger wafting off him in waves as his head moves to encompass both Silas and Seline in his look of contempt.

I suddenly have the clarity of insight. Nothing will truly change until I cut this final cord and accept the bond I’ve been too hesitant to claim completely. The realization that Monte will still feel some sort of attachment to me as it is becoming clear right now. He’ll take my hesitance to tie my future to the Whitlock pack as some sort of weakness he can exploit, and a sign that I can be persuaded back to him.

I step forward, and Monte’s eyes brighten, mistaking it for a concession and agreement to let his hand rove over me like I belong to him. Seline clasps my arm as though she expects the same thing, and I don’t blame her. Most of our history was wrapped up in our childhood and teenage years, ones where she continually saw me choose Monte.

It isn’t fair to my pack, nor to my mates, to keep this hidden any longer. Hell, it isn’t fair to anyone—not to Monte when he clearly can’t handle the arrangement, not Silas and Seline for having to keep my secret. And not to me, I’ve finally realized that I deserve happiness too, I deserve to have a chance to get to know my mates and fall for them just as my parents had, just as I was beginning to with Zeke. I deserve to claim my slice of happiness in the fucked up world, even if it scares the hell out of me.

I shrug off Seline’s hand, knowing what I need to do. My chest warms in agreement, like some silent sign from the spirits above that this is the right decision. A look of triumph sparks in Monte’s amber eyes, and I give him a soft smile, a look of fondness, not for the territorial asshole he’s acting like right now, but for the man I used to know, and for all we shared together. Right now I can see the truth, when he first pushed for things to progress between us as more than friends I thought that I was too scarred, too broken from my past to ever truly be loved or accepted by him again. But after the healing Zeke has helped me begin to work through, I see that I’m not the only one that has changed. The years have also transformed Monte into someone I don’t recognize anymore, the sweet boy from my past is replaced by someone who craves power, who pushes boundaries because of his position. His years with my father did not mold him to his best potential because my father wasn’t his best self after my mother’s passing.

But all of that is about to change. I won’t cling to Monte and his guidance anymore. I take a deep breath, straightening my shoulders and letting that smile fall from my face. His brows furrow at the sudden shift before he glances at my hand. It’s the first time in days that I’ve worn the once intimidating engagement ring. I lift my left hand between us, my right hand joining it a second later as I slip the ring off my finger. Holding back the sigh of relief is a struggle as I pull off the oppressive weight and press it into his still outstretched hand. I meet his eyes, wiping away the past emotions I held for this man, that soft smile, that last tender nostalgic look I’ll give him.

“Thank you, Monte,” I say, keeping any emotion from my tone. I won’t let him think there’s any room left to persuade me, not this time.

“For what?” he asks, blinking at me in confusion, his hand still open between us, as though he isn’t sure what to do with it.

“For being there for me when I first got here. For giving me an option so I wasn’t forced to use myself as a bartering tool,” I say, my hand moving under his to help close his fingers over the ring. “And for now helping me to make that choice.”

I step away from him, now noticing how quiet the courtyard has gotten. I glance at the crowd of people, and Vivian stomps towards us, her face reddening in anger obviously catching enough to realize what has just happened between us. I don’t let her speak though as I step to the edge of the courtyard, ready to come clean to my pack and face the consequences, whatever they may be.

“I have an announcement,” I say, raising my voice over the few murmured conversations that still pass between the small groups.

Although they hadn’t been able to hear our exchange, it is quite obvious what just happened between us. The gathered pack members look up at me, not bothering to hide their stares now that I’ve addressed them. I dart a look at Vivian and she freezes in place at the force of my glare. I will not let her interrupt this, no matter how much it upsets the farce of an engagement party she planned.

---