“That said,” she continues, her voice growing stronger and a small smile playing at the corner of mouth. “I also made it very clear to my fiancés that if they said or did anything to hurt you during this wedding, I would kick their asses.”
I can’t stop the burst of amusement that escapes me at the mental image of my petite, five-foot-two sister physically threatening three alphas who could probably bench press her combined weight. But then I catch sight of Egret, Saren, and Brendin’s faces—all three looking like they’re remembering that conversation and taking the threat very seriously—and I realize they must still believe she’ll do it.
My brief amusement quickly transforms into deep, crushing embarrassment as the full scope of my humiliation becomes clear.
I’ve spent this entire week orchestrating elaborate lies, hiring a fake pack, and putting myself through emotional torture to protect my sister from a truth that was never hidden in the first place. Meanwhile, she’s been protecting me from the same truth.
And I’ve just blown up spectacularly in front of everyone, exposing my own deception while accusing them of schemes they weren’t even orchestrating.
My mind is spinning. “So, all this time, you knew. And they knew that you knew. And I was the only one pretending nothing had ever happened.”
Josie nods miserably. “I was hoping you’d eventually tellme yourself. Or that they’d find a way to apologize properly. I never wanted any of it to come out like this.”
I look around the ballroom at all the faces staring at us—my family, the wedding guests, my fake pack who probably think I’m completely insane. The weight of my stupidity presses down on me like a physical force.
I’ve humiliated myself for absolutely nothing.
I open my mouth, but no sound comes out. How do I explain any of this without revealing everything else?
Egret suddenly steps forward, his expression shifting from careful neutrality to something softer.
“I really need to clarify something about this venue deal,” he says.
I stare at him, too overwhelmed to offer anything more than a confused sound.
“I know it was overstepping, but we put out feelers about that property after you mentioned it at your parents’ house. There was already another buyer about to outbid you by at least ten percent,” he explains, exchanging glances with Saren and Brendin who both look abashed. “I knew you wouldn’t take the help if we offered it, so we bought the property ourselves. We figured there would be some way to let you have it eventually.” He lets out a rueful laugh. “Or more likely, sell it to you for your original bid amount, knowing you. I know accepting gifts has never been your thing.”
His words hit hard enough to nearly knock me over. “You... what?”
“I fucked up five years ago, Trinity. We all did.” His voice drops, becoming more personal despite our very public audience. “You deserved better than how we treated you. This was supposed to be... I don’t know… a way to make amends. To help you get what you wanted.”
I stand frozen, trying to process this information. Around us, the silence stretches like a rubber band about to snap.
“So you’re telling me,” I say slowly, “that you bought my dream venue…just to give it to me?”
Egret exhales with a sigh. “Correct.”
Shock and humiliation crash over me in waves. Not only did I completely misjudge the situation, but I did it spectacularly, in front of everyone, while my own lies were simultaneously being exposed.
“Trinity.” Lucas’s voice is gentle as he appears at my side. “Hey, it’s okay.”
I jerk away from his touch, the movement instinctive. “Don’t. Just…don’t.”
His face falls, hurt flickering across his features before he masks it.
“I need some air,” I mumble, pushing past the crowd toward the terrace doors.
Multiple voices call after me, but I don’t stop.
“Trinity, wait.”
It’s my mother who catches up with me first. The no-nonsense sternness in her voice, combined with compassion, is enough to slow me down. I spent too much of my childhood automatically listening to that voice to easily ignore it now.
“Let me take you back to our family suite, honey,” Mom soothes, gently taking my arm and turning us in the opposite direction. “No one will bother you there, so you can take some time to calm down.”
I let her lead me away, wondering how I’m going to face any of the people I care about ever again.
THIRTY-FOUR
