Chapter 536
We entered the omega wing, and Leanne, the other omega, urged me to shower in her room. She pushed me into her washroom and instructed me to undress. “They’ll be furious if they smell champagne on you,” she said. I removed my mask, and her jaw dropped. “I knew it,” she whispered, tossing me a towel. “Hurry!” Her eyes lingered on my neck. “Your mate seems to be in a bit of a predicament, Alpha Amy.” I stripped and showered as quickly as possible. Leanne managed to roughly braid my curling hair. “That’ll have to do,” she said, looking at my face. “I want to ask how you’ve managed to go unnoticed for so long, but I already know. None of the ranked wolves in this pack look at our faces—not even when they use our bodies.” She glared over my shoulder, then her eyes snapped back to mine. “Except for you.”
I raised a hand to Leanne’s shoulder, and she tried not to flinch. “Once this is over, you’ll be free of this place. I promise you that.” She nodded. Then she grabbed my mask and tied it behind my head.
“We have to go before Shannon starts yelling,” I said. We rushed out another door, bypassing a group of women, and returned to the hall outside. The glass and debris had been cleared. Rowan was still glaring at Vince, who remained on the ground.
Brandon stepped forward. “My king, the omegas have cleaned up, and we’re ready to proceed.” Rowan growled.
He turned toward Brandon, but caught my eye and seemed to stumble slightly. Brandon and Vince exchanged glances, and Vince couldn’t hide his smirk. “Please, my king. I apologize again for overstepping,” Vince said, forcing a shaky tone. “I was eager for your presence at my son’s mating ceremony; I know this is far beneath your usual duties.”
Vince gestured for another drink.
Rowan shook his head as if to clear it. Another omega poured more silver into his champagne. I moved close enough to see it at the last moment and silently cast a spell to neutralize the silver before Rowan drank it. He waved his hand and returned to his seat.
“It’s fine,” Rowan slurred slightly. He turned to Verity. “I’ve found my true mate, so any previous status you held is null and void. Now leave me be. I came here to witness the mating ceremony because Brandon helped give me the best gift I’ve ever received, and I wanted to thank you personally.” Brandon looked at Vince, his face confused. Both shrugged. Verity stood.
“You can’t do this to me!” She stamped her foot.
Rowan glared at her. “I can. I have. And I would again in a heartbeat. The ONLY reason you were ever my fiancée was because the council forced it. We both know that. But even they can’t defy the goddess. Now leave.” He turned to Brandon with a careless smile and wave. “Begin your ceremony. I haven’t got all day.”
Brandon looked to his father, who nodded and stood, brushing his jacket. “Let’s begin.”
Leanne nodded and ran to inform Shannon. She returned within a minute, acknowledging someone else. Music began, and the girls started down the aisle. It was the oddly formal procession I’d seen countless times on television—typical of human weddings, unusual for a wolf ceremony.
The music changed, and Luna, Brittany, and Shannon reached the end of the aisle. Their masks hid their faces, but Brittany’s reluctance was evident, while Shannon looked triumphant.
“She’s still fucking dumb,” Nix laughed. “She looks like she’s won the lottery.”
And the only thing she won was a cheating mate who never wanted to mate her, only to use her and keep her in the background while he mated someone stronger.
Shannon passed me, and our eyes met. She stumbled, her mouth opening. I knew she was about to say my name, but Brittany pulled her along. “Eyes forward. Unless you want to stop this?” Brittney’s soft whisper was enough. Shannon refocused on her soon-to-be mate, completely forgetting I was there.
Brandon looked at Shannon as if he were heartbroken. His once-smiling face was etched with deep lines; there was no love in his eyes. I watched him turn to Derek and whisper loudly enough for everyone to hear, “This is a mistake.”