TALIA
Odetta sent over a dress for me.
It was more toned down than anything she would wear, but she knew my style well. I smoothed down the deep red satin that clung to my curves and draped to accentuate them, then I adjusted the neckline, making sure it fell correctly. When I stepped away from the mirror, my bare leg peeked out from the side slit.
I looked amazing, but felt like I didn’t own my body.
I’d spent every waking second since being forcibly bonded wearing comfy clothing. Loose-fitting, soft fabrics, things I could hide in. Sweatpants and t-shirts.
Now I was on display.
My skin itched and I wanted to bury myself in my temporary nest and hide again. I never wanted to leave this little pocket of reality where I could rest and recover without a thought for the rest of the world.
But when I thought about not going tonight—about having my fathers send a team instead—my walls cracked and hints of Benjamin pierced through.
I cared more than anyone else about finding him and unveiling his motivations, because I was the one he was tormenting every moment of every day. There was no way I could trust a group of strangers to find what I might find.
I had to put my makeup on, do my hair, and attend the gala.
Life didn’t feel fair.
I took comfort in knowing that the more I discovered about Benjamin, the more likely we were to find him—and finding him was the only way I would ever have my alphas bonded to me. The only way I would have my peace.
I would pitch the plan my sisters had suggested to my pack later, once this chaos passed. There hadn’t been time before.
Stepping out of the bathroom and into the nest, the combined scents of my alphas washed over me. The wave of comfort, full of autumn leaves, sandalwood, and smoke, helped with the tension, but also made it ten times harder to leave.
Mercer waited on the bed, dressed all in black. He had items laid out on the bed beside him. A flashlight, multi-tool, lock picks, his gun with loose bullets, and a large knife in a sheathe.
Noticing me, he abandoned it all there and stalked across the room.
His hands grabbed my hips, hauling me against him as I yelped in surprise. Our lips pressed together in a hungry kiss that I melted into as soon as I realized what was going on.
Mercer’s touch made me feel human again. His brown sugar and sandalwood scent swirled in the air, arousal potent. When he broke the kiss, it was with a pained gasp, his eyes glassy and lustful.
“You look amazing in that,” he rasped. “I wish I was taking you in there on my arm tonight.”
I was lax against him, my mind still catching up with the reality that he’d stopped kissing me. All I wanted was for him to keep going. We could collapse in a tangle of limbs into the nest, and he would peel the dress off me before I ever got a chance to wear it out.
“I would be more comfortable if you were,” I admitted quietly. “But I’ll have to be happy with escaping the small talk and helping you sneak inside an hour after I arrive.”
He didn’t suggest that I could still back out. He knew by now that I wasn’t going to—I’d put on the damn dress. I was committed. One way or another, I’d make it through the evening in one piece.
And then tomorrow, I would take everyone’s advice and talk to Dr. Jalisco about everything that had happened. As time passed with little to no progress on finding my bondmate, I was increasingly aware of his presence in my head and how my resistance to him was wholly dependent on Conrad, Mercer, and West.
They didn’t deserve to have that pressure, to be the sole reason I could function.
I needed help.Professionalhelp.
“Should we go over the plan again?” Mercer stroked my hair back from my face.
“No need. I’ve got it.” That floor plan was memorized. I’d stared at it long enough. “I’ve got to head to Violet’s room. Her and Mira are helping me do my hair and makeup.”
He scanned my upper body, lifting an eyebrow. “Do you need to do that? You already look stunning.”
I snorted. “High society expects a nice updo and full face of foundation.”
“Fine, fine. If the socialites expect it, I guess I can release you for long enough to finish the primping.”
