Page 7 of Betrayed By the Alpha Wolf

The fabric of the dress was a deep emerald green color that looked gorgeous against Kenzie’s alabaster skin and copper curls, with intricate beading all over the top down to her waist. Those red ringlets had been piled up on the top of her head, andthe thin straps of the gown left her shoulders and chest exposed, her skin glowing in the light.

“MacKenzie, you look—”

“Yes, well, we don’t want to be late. Come on, Kit.”

As she spun around, the flowing skirt of Kenzie’s dress swirled, the long slit up her leg revealing a bit of her thigh. The back of the gown laced up, and more delicate skin was revealed through the crisscrossing laces, which tied in a bow right at the small of her back.

And then she was gone, leaving me standing in the hallway like a jackass.

“Stunning.”

After a beat, I turned around and started pushing past Kaiden into his room. He let out a low “umm,” closing the door behind him once I was inside.

“Did I miss something?”

I shook my head, reaching for the suit where it hung in a garment back over the back of a chair.

“No.”

***

When I arrived at the ceremony hall in the Williams compound, I was sure to avoid seeing MacKenzie any more than I had to. When anyone asked, I blamed it on that stupid human tradition Kit told me about, and after that, most people left me alone.

Now, I stood on a raised platform at the far end of the room. It was similar to Jet’s meeting chambers but much larger.The Williams compound was large in general, and I wondered absently what it might be like to live here and lead its pack.

The room was filled with wolves from every pack. Betas, Alphas, friends, and family all gathered around me on what was supposed to be a “day of bliss.”

Yeah, about that.

Kaiden and Brooks stood with me on the platform, acting as my witnesses to the rite. Across from me were Senna and Kit, who would be standing with Kenzie as hers. The council of Alphas had all come as well, and the only person who looked less comfortable to be here than me was Cade. He nodded at me as I met eyes with him, and I offered him a quick, wide-eyed nod back, silently agreeing with him that I wanted to get this over with already.

The boom of the door opening at the other end of the room signaled that I’d got my wish, and I waited for Kenzie to enter and join me on the platform.

You have to do this. It’s the only way, Grayson. And you will be a good Alpha. Jet and Kaiden believe in you.

But nausea claimed me as the nervous energy swelled. Kenzie still looked so damn gorgeous, and she maintained a soft smile until she stopped and waited for me to step down and welcome her up.

When I reached out my arm, she took it, but her body was rigid, and her jaw was locked tightly in place.

“I was going to say you look nice, by the way,” I whispered.

She didn’t look at me; she just followed the few steps back up to the platform.

“Funny, I was going to say that you look like a waiter.”

I swallowed that down like a knife, clamming up because it was clear Kenzie didn’t want to talk to me. Again, not that I blamed her. With everything I’d done and was now asking of her, I could never blame Kenzie for hating me.

I hated myself.

“Thank you for coming,” Aspen called out, and the room echoed his words. “Today, we join these two in the eternal bonds of matehood. This is the first step into the future together, and one that could see Grayson on his path to becoming Alpha.”

He looked down at me from his position one step higher. “Grayson, if you will, please present your arm.”

Nodding, I turned to face Kenzie, releasing her arm so that I could roll up my sleeve and give Aspen my right wrist.

“Thank you.” Aspen nodded.

As he turned to the small altar next to him, I stood with my arm outstretched, looking forward at Kenzie. She didn’t meet my eyes, keeping her attention focused on Aspen.

---