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Not that he would…

He was still wearing the slim black band around his neck. To Ace’s irritation, earlier Knox had said that it didn’t look enough like a shock collar on its own to need removing.

Revenge for suggesting he wear the muzzle, so I supposed that was fair.

They were such a circus, and I found it endlessly entertaining. I know they acted like it was all serious, brawling all the time and shocking the pants off each other, but I think it was all bonding.

“Is there a plan for when we get in?” Knox asked at last, not looking at Ace.

“Thisisthe plan.”

“Walking into Bella’s territory with her scent-matched and bonded Alpha after murdering a good number of her pack?” Knox snapped.

Rogue had one leg propped up on his knee, a lot more chill than Knox was. But then, this would be his first party as a free man for… well, I wondered how long.

“We either run from them or we turn the tables back on her,” Ace said.

“Confidence could only get us so far.” Knox scowled. “She might just put a bullet in our skulls the moment we enter.”

“She might,” Ace agreed.

I tried not to let Knox’s anxiety get to me too much. There’d be more of them than us, though, and I’d heard Rogue mention to Ace that bodyguards wouldn’t be allowed inside the house…

I glanced down at the bracelet around my wrist, turning the coloured beads and watching them flicker in the low light, drawing comfort from them.

“We’ll have our weapons,” Rogue muttered.

“Why doesn’t Thistle have one?” Knox asked.

I cocked my head, considering that.

Could definitely use a gun, Bunny.

“Not the look I’m going for,” Ace said.

Oh.

Well, that made sense—or, at least, it did to me.

I caught Knox and Rogue exchanging a look that suggested it didn’t to them at all, but I was going to be announced as Ace’s tonight.

Knox had picked out my dress which meant it was definitely top notch. He’d noticed the bracelet Ace had given me so I knew he’d made it match. I’d chosen my favourite black boots, my makeup was done the way my god Alpha liked it, and my buns wereslightlyless lopsided than usual. Everything was going to be perfect, and after all the bites he’d given me—with the white-hot tension between us in the bond right now, I knew it was a special day.

So if Ace didn’t want a gun with my outfit, then I didn’t need no gun.

TWENTY-NINE

KNOX

Sometimes one of the Misfits drove the limo, but for events like this we used a security contractor. Tonight, we had a few members of Ace’s security team tailing us too, though none would be allowed into Bella’s house once we arrived.

By the time we stepped out onto Bella’s driveway, her party was already in full swing. Her mansion was more extravagant than the Manzo home, with a long front drive, the modern design with more space than anyone needed. Some of the tall windows were open to the Nevada evening, and I could hear voices floating out from her huge lounge.

The years separating me from being in chains had created more of a fog than I realised. I had lived under Rogue for long enough, however, that it all cleared as we stepped from the limo and I ran out of reasons to distance myself.

Rogue looked smug as he grasped the chain in a fist, winding it tight and examining it as if it were a prize. I fought my growl—and the urge to lunge at him. An old resentment boiled up, butthen I caught violet eyes peering at me from under Ace’s arm and somehow dug up what remained of my sanity.

Thistle was breathtaking tonight, with dark smudges beneath her eyes, Bunny in one fist, heavy black boots on her feet, and a thin-strapped dress with slits up both thighs so Ace’s vicious bites were as easy to see as possible.