It was okay.

Ransom’s arm was in mine.

I saw the Lincoln pack first, beyond the dance floor with its milling crowds and dancers, to the circular dining tables around which packs loitered and socialised. All three of them were on a raised platform, their seats like thrones.

Gareth, Eric, and Flynn were just like I remembered them at the choosing. When they’d been different people in every way possible to the monsters I now knew them to be.

They must have caught sight of me at the same moment I saw them, because I saw Flynn lean forward in his seat, lowering his glass, eyes fixed on me. Eric said something, and Gareth cut off his conversation with an omega who was perched on the arm of his chair, head snapping in my direction.

I heard an echo of Gareth’s laugh. The cold tip of a marker pressed against my skin. Eric’s fist was painful in my hair with Flynn’s weight at my back. Teeth threatened, a cruel prank that toyed with my freedom…

I almost stumbled, but Ransom drew me closer, arm winding around my waist. We’d used scent dampening spray—not enough to stifle our scents entirely, but enough to mute them, which was event etiquette. But with every deep breath, my fear was offset by lily of the valley, a cool forest with damp earth, just like the trees outside that cabin.

He was here, with me. We’d just snuck onto the balcony so he could claim me.

My eyes scanned the room momentarily and I realised that where he’d claimed me was right above the Lincoln pack’s seats.

I felt the echo of a smile on my lips.

Right over their stupid thrones, he’d given me everything they’d tried to steal.

Everything they’d sworn I’d never have.

Now he led me swiftly away from the Lincoln pack, and I felt the brush of his breath at my ear as he leaned close. “There are much sweeter things to be looking at, Little Reaper.”

I glanced up at him, then followed his gaze across the ballroom. My heart tripped over itself as I saw the Kingsman pack were seated just like my mates. Roxy was waiting, and Dusk…

My smile grew at the sight of him. He was frozen, on his feet before his chair, lips parted as he stared at me. Just like Ransom, he was dressed up in a really smart outfit. With the shiny shoes, and a black button up that was cut all stupid perfect around his shoulders and figure and made him look almost as devastating as when he was wearing nothing at all.

“You’ve got him speechless,” Ransom murmured. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Dusk—oh.” He cut off with a chuckle as Dusk finally unfroze himself. He took the steps from the platform by twos, eyes wide as he began toward us. I stopped, drawing Ransom up, suddenly as unable to take my gaze from Dusk as he was from me. He was weaving through the crowd, almost knocking people over, still not sparing a glance anywhere else.

Then he was before me, midnight opium a roiling storm of passion, sharp edges of amber smoothed by traces of dark vanilla. He cupped my cheek, still something dazed in his expression.

“Fuck.” His growl was low. “Shatter…” He swallowed, gaze dropping to my neck again.

To his bite.

To the scars—ourscars.

All my fear was gone. With Ransom and Dusk, and Roxy, waiting.

“You are…” He was lost for words.

“Yours?” I whispered.

The sweetest smile curved his lips, and then he leaned down, kissing me with complete abandon for the people and ball around us.

Then he hooked his arm in mine on my other side, and he and Ransom both led me up to our seats.

What followed was a small fight, since I wanted to sit next to Roxy, which meant I couldn’t sit next to DuskandRansom. Naturally, Dusk won, pulling a pack-lead-command like I’d never heard him do before. Ransom wrinkled his nose, clearly debating whether it was worth fighting (not the end of the world, but it could contribute to pack imbalance) before slumping down on the end seat at Dusk’s side.

Roxy was giggling at the whole thing, a half-finished glass of wine in her hand, her eyes sparkling and her cheeks a bit pink. She seemed so happy it was making me smile.

“Did youseetheir faces?” she asked. “Eric looked like he was about to throw his drink. And I think they scared off all their interest.”

I dared another glance only to see that they were still staring, and Roxy was right, there were no longer any omegas nearby.

They’d seen the dark bond, and they knew I was gold pack. Which was more shocking to them, I wondered?