Page 144 of Rejected By the Alpha King

We need to finish the tour.”

“Sure. Sure.” Kenzi winked. “See you later, Anna. We really do have so much to catch up on.”

Sliding off the barstool, she winked and wiggled her fingers at me as she strutted out.

“Are you okay?” Cindy asked. “That was…strange. You two are either very good friends or not friends at all.”

Did no one in the pack really know that Jax and I had been mated? Hell, rogues knew that Jax and I were mated. “We did not get along when I was with the Black Diamond pack,” I answered honestly.

“You know what, I bet if you tell Emerson that, he’ll ask for another ambassador from Black Diamond,” Cindy said earnestly. “He only wants to make you happy.”

“That would be petty, and I am not a petty person.” I smiled brightly. “Kenzi wants to come here and boast how happy she is with her alpha mate? I can do the same.”

The dress waiting for me didn’t quite cut it for this dinner, so I opened the armoire and picked through all the clothes Emerson had bought for me. I was never one for playing dress-up, but Kenzi had nearly brought me to tears.

Nobody fucking made me cry except for me.

Slipping on a pair of black leggings and the lace black tank top, I regarded myself in the mirror. Not bad. The weight I’d put on here was giving me curves. One thing to be grateful for.

I found a pair of stilettos that I could bury in her temple if need be and overdid my makeup just a little. The necklace nestled in my cleavage.

I barely recognized myself.

“You can do this,” I told my reflection. “Put on a fucking smile and don’t let that bitch hurt you.”

Great. I’d suffered the kind of abuse that would make any person or shifter break, but it was Kenzi’s sickeningly happy smile that was going to push me over the edge.

Two minutes to seven, I opened the door and stepped out. Smiling brightly at my two guards, who were staring at me in shock, I gestured down the hall. “Shall we, boys?”

“You look…lovely, alpha mate,” Brock muttered before turning bright red.

“I wasn’t going for lovely, Brock, but I do intend to make an impression.”

Ginger, the other guard, just grinned at me. “Yes, ma’am.”

Instead of letting the other guards open the door for me, I walked in myself and slammed the door behind me. Kenzi and Emerson were laughing as they looked at her phone.

More photos?

“This looks cozy,” I purred as I pulled out my own seat and sat down. “Perhaps I should take a picture to remember this moment by.”

“Anna.” Emerson’s eyes widened. “That is not what I imagined you’d wear to dinner.”

“Sorry for the surprise. I was feeling a little different today. What are the two of you looking at?” Cocking my head, I stared at Kenzi. “More lovely mating ceremony photos? I’m surprised you wore such a bright white. It kind of washes you out. Not to worry, though. You do have a lovely complexion.”

Emerson cleared his throat, and Kenzi put her phone down. “Jax thought I looked lovely in it. Innocent.”

“That’s what every alpha needs. A mate who’s innocent. Cute, even?” Snorting, I reached across the table and picked up the bottle of wine. Emerson’s eyes widened even more as I poured myself a healthy glass. “Cheers to new relationships.”

At least Kenzi wasn’t grinning anymore. Instead, she picked up her wine and stared at me.

“How’s your wolf doing, Anna? Feeling safe these days?”

“Perfectly. Blood Moon Pass is surprisingly welcoming. More than I can say about other packs I’ve visited. Not as much bigotry here. Just intelligence and hard workers.”

“Maybe they don’t have the right information.”

“Anna. It’s lovely to see you so animated tonight at dinner, but I fear we have something more pressing to discuss over dinner. Kenzi will only be with us for tonight, and I wanted your opinion. Let’s enjoy some dinner. Steak and potatoes. A classic.”

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