Page 68 of Drama Queen

At the end of the long hallway was a set of massive, creamy-white double doors. I was stationed before them and instructed to wait for my cue. I had to imagine it had something to do with the giant fuckers being pulled open, so I just nodded.

This was it. I was about to become the Mea Luna Queen of the Cartlaga pack.

Three

CANE

The scent suppressantson my suit made everything around me utterly blank to my heightened scenes. It was both comforting and unnerving to smell nothing, not even myself and the two next to me that I’d grown used to tracking effortlessly by just scent alone.It’s just for today, I reminded myself, hoping that the little mantra would keep me from crawling out of my skin in an effort to get the fuck out of there.

“Would you quit it?” Reed growled. “We need to get out there.”

I turned away from checking my appearance in the full-length mirror the betas had brought it. The suit looked fine. I knew it did, but it was impossible for me to leave without eyeing the damn thing. Suits served a purpose, and I understood that well. I wore them for nearly every occasion, but this one…something about the weight of the day made the smooth black fabric feel unbearably itchy.

“And how exactly do you know what I’m thinking about? Are the suppressants faulty?”

Rolling his eyes, Reed stalked over toward me, reaching out and adjusting my tie and clip so that they both sat perfectly center behind my double-breasted vest.

“No, I just know you, Cane. And right about now, staring at your suit and nitpicking everything about it to stall sounds right up your fucking alley.”

My beta–the head of my security and longest friend–had a point. I hated that.

“I am not stalling. And remember who you’re speaking to, Reed.”

The thread of a growl rippled through my words, and Reed released a heavy sigh, bowing his head slightly.

“I rest my case.” He turned around, walking over to Kai who was perched on the edge of the large chaise lounger. “Where’s his jacket?”

Kai stood up with an effortless smirk, his sandy blonde locks styled back off his forehead today. As he reached the small chair in front of the vanity I had in the master suite for some fucking reason, he retrieved my suit jacket from the back of the chair.

“Here. And if I may say, Alpha,” Grinning, Kai held up the jacket for me to slip it on, “you look damn good. And you’rebothstalling.”

When I glared at him over my shoulder, Kai just winked at me, patting my ass as he went back over to the chaise and retrieved his own suit coat. I met Reed’s eyes behind Kai’s back, and my beta just shrugged, rolling his eyes in his quintessential way.

“Don’t fucking look at me. He’s your pet.”

I leveled him with a harsh stare, but Kai was quick to turn around with a flourish and kiss Reed right on the cheek, which he knew the guy hated.

“I’m both of your pet, and you love me. So take the stick out of your ass, and let’s go.”

Kai sauntered past me to the door, pulling the thing open like he was Vanna fucking White or something, and I couldn’t stop the short chuckle that escaped. With Reed following behind me and slipping on that final piece to our matching all-black suits, I took one last look in the mirror.

The gleaming silver chain at my collar was centered, the pocket chain stretching from my lapel to the far side of my jacket’s left pocket was pristine, and each layer of silk fabric looked impeccable. Kai and Reed looked just as good, and as much as I hated to admit it, there was nothing left to “stall” about.

So, I followed Kai down the hall to the large ballroom where we would be having the ceremony. As Reed pulled up the rear, the three of us took purposeful strides down the aisle to the top to await the presentation of my new Mea Luna Queen.

My heartbeat quickened, and the faint smell of something sweet and floral tried to cut through the suppressants. I did my best to ignore it, but that quiet voice I remembered from the last time I’d seen the sole heir of the Bruchelli family wormed its way up from the depths of my mind.

Mine.

I shook myself. There was absolutely no time for that. I was doing this to secure a breeding omega for my family because we still lacked an heir and I was forty-two now. An omega of thirty was still a very viable breeder, and one who was desperate was easier to control. That’s all this was.

Still, as I stood there with my existing mates flanking me, I couldn’t help but remember the last time I’d seen Jean and the way my body had reacted.

Please let the damn suppressants work. I don’t have time for a fucking heat right now. Later.

And then the doors at the far end of the room were pulled open. It was time.

“Any last words, Alpha?” Reed whispered into my ear from behind, and if we weren’t in such a public place–with the entire Cartalga family present no less–I would have turned and grabbed his throat.

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