65. Anna

65

Anna

It took every ounce of energy not to scream. At her smug expression, I forced a slow smile and ignored the lump forming in my throat. "Congratulations," I managed.

Did this explain why there was darkness in my mating bond? Jax had found a way to dampen it magically so he could be with Kenzi?

This was what I wanted. This was what was best for the pack. Best for him. This was why I left.

But damn it, I thought it might take a little more time to happen.

Kenzi's eyes dropped to my necklace and she gasped. "Oh, how pretty! I'm going to have to tell Jax to get me one. I would look amazing in black diamonds."

She would.

Popping on the barstool, she waved Emerson away. "Give me a few minutes to catch up with my old friend, will you?"

Emerson hesitated. "A few minutes. Anna doesn't like to be distracted from work."

"No. She wouldn't. That bar was the only thing she cared about." Turning her head, she watched Emerson walk away, and then she snapped her head and sneered. "Don't you look like the prettiest of princesses with your expensive makeup and absurdly expensive jewelry. Jax would be disgusted if he could see you now. Actually, that's not a bad idea. Mind if I take a picture? It'll make him appreciate his choice of me even more."

Whipping out her phone, she took a picture and cackled.

Leaning over the counter, I narrowed my eyes. "What the hell are you even doing here, Kenzi? You wouldn't lift a finger to foster an alliance."

"No, but I wanted to see you. Our mating ceremony was beautiful. Do you want to see the pictures?" She thrust the phone in my face.

Kenzi and Jax under moonflower arch. "Lovely," I gritted out.

With a giggle, Kenzi turned it to Cindy. "Isn't my dress just to die for? Of course, it didn't stay on me for long. Oh, Anna, you're going to love this one."

She shoved the phone in my face again. Finn and Amelia dancing. Cute. "Oh, and this one?

It was such a magical night."

I glanced at the phone. "I really should get back to work."

"I could send these to you," Kenzi laughed. "Have you and Emerson had your ceremony yet?"

"Next full moon," Cindy jumped in. "It's going to be beautiful."

"So that's two weeks? Maybe you should wear red. I heard blood's a good look on you. At least, Bridget would agree."

My blood ran cold. So Jax had told everyone that I killed her. Maybe it was to cover her treachery. Either way, it didn't matter. I was never going back. He was more than welcome to use me as a scapegoat.

Emerson returned. "Kenzi, you'll have to save the rest of your gossip for dinner tonight.

We need to finish the tour."

"Sure. Sure." Kenzi winked. "See you later, Anna. We really do have so much to catch up on."

Sliding off the barstool, she winked and wiggled her fingers at me as she strutted out.

"Are you okay?" Cindy asked. "That was…strange. You two are either very good friends or not friends at all."

Did no one in the pack really know that Jax and I had been mated? Hell, rogues knew that Jax and I were mated. "We did not get along when I was with the Black Diamond pack," I answered honestly.

"You know what, I bet if you tell Emerson that, he'll ask for another ambassador from Black Diamond," Cindy said earnestly. "He only wants to make you happy."

"That would be petty, and I am not a petty person." I smiled brightly. "Kenzi wants to come here and boast how happy she is with her alpha mate? I can do the same."

The dress waiting for me didn't quite cut it for this dinner, so I opened the armoire and picked through all the clothes Emerson had bought for me. I was never one for playing dress-up, but Kenzi had nearly brought me to tears.

Nobody fucking made me cry except for me.

Slipping on a pair of black leggings and the lace black tank top, I regarded myself in the mirror. Not bad. The weight I'd put on here was giving me curves. One thing to be grateful for.

I found a pair of stilettos that I could bury in her temple if need be and overdid my makeup just a little. The necklace nestled in my cleavage.

I barely recognized myself.

"You can do this," I told my reflection. "Put on a fucking smile and don't let that bitch hurt you."

Great. I'd suffered the kind of abuse that would make any person or shifter break, but it was Kenzi's sickeningly happy smile that was going to push me over the edge.

Two minutes to seven, I opened the door and stepped out. Smiling brightly at my two guards, who were staring at me in shock, I gestured down the hall. "Shall we, boys?"

"You look…lovely, alpha mate," Brock muttered before turning bright red.

"I wasn't going for lovely, Brock, but I do intend to make an impression."

Ginger, the other guard, just grinned at me. "Yes, ma'am."

Instead of letting the other guards open the door for me, I walked in myself and slammed the door behind me. Kenzi and Emerson were laughing as they looked at her phone.

More photos?

"This looks cozy," I purred as I pulled out my own seat and sat down. "Perhaps I should take a picture to remember this moment by."

"Anna." Emerson's eyes widened. "That is not what I imagined you'd wear to dinner."

"Sorry for the surprise. I was feeling a little different today. What are the two of you looking at?" Cocking my head, I stared at Kenzi. "More lovely mating ceremony photos? I'm surprised you wore such a bright white. It kind of washes you out. Not to worry, though. You do have a lovely complexion."

Emerson cleared his throat, and Kenzi put her phone down. "Jax thought I looked lovely in it. Innocent."

"That's what every alpha needs. A mate who's innocent. Cute, even?" Snorting, I reached across the table and picked up the bottle of wine. Emerson's eyes widened even more as I poured myself a healthy glass. "Cheers to new relationships."

At least Kenzi wasn't grinning anymore. Instead, she picked up her wine and stared at me.

"How's your wolf doing, Anna? Feeling safe these days?"

"Perfectly. Blood Moon Pass is surprisingly welcoming. More than I can say about other packs I've visited. Not as much bigotry here. Just intelligence and hard workers."

"Maybe they don't have the right information."

"Anna. It's lovely to see you so animated tonight at dinner, but I fear we have something more pressing to discuss over dinner. Kenzi will only be with us for tonight, and I wanted your opinion. Let's enjoy some dinner. Steak and potatoes. A classic."

One night, huh? "I hope you made mine bloody." Emerson's eyes hardened, and I sighed and straightened. "Right. What did you need to discuss?"

Dinner digressed into a conversation of politics. Kenzi freely gave away too much information, and it was all I could do not to tell her to shut her fucking mouth. Emerson was hanging onto every word.

"Jax's third is dead? I had no idea." The picture of innocence, Emerson turned and looked at me. "Were you close to Bridget?"

"Not as close as you."

"Excuse me?"

Smiling, I picked up my knife to cut the last bite of my steak. "Not you, dear. I'm referring to Bridget and Kenzi. They were best friends. You must be heartbroken."

"You have no idea," Kenzi whispered. I felt the hatred in her voice, and her eyes bore into mine. "Why don't you and I go for a run together, Anna? Tonight. Sounds fun."

"Just as girls?" I mocked.

"Problem?"

Turning to Emerson, I cocked my head. "I don't know, dear. Will that be a problem?"

"Not at all. A midnight run sounds perfect."

After dinner, Emerson walked me to my door. "The necklace suits you."

Whipping my head around, I glared at him. "So you knew that Kenzi and Jax mated, and you thought you'd bring her here so I would know as well?"

"I thought it might help you let him go, dear. We could be happy here. You could be happy. If you need to take a few swipes at Kenzi tonight to make you feel better, I understand.

Then maybe you can move on. For the record, my dear, I would never let you go."

Romantic.

He leaned in, and I slapped my hand on his chest. He narrowed his eyes, and I pointed to my cheek, still bruised beneath the makeup. "Moving on is one thing. Trusting you is something entirely different. I'll see you at midnight, Emerson."