“Come to the retreat,” he said suddenly, glancing at me like I was an afterthought. “You should be there.”
I blinked. Me? He never let me anywhere near his pack stuff. But sure, why not? Let’s add public humiliation to the list of today’s accomplishments.
“Okay,” I said, wiping the blood off my face with the sleeve of his coat. What else was I supposed to do?
The retreat was at some ridiculous mansion deep in the woods. The kind of place that screamed wealth and power. I barely noticed. Inside, the room buzzed with energy—Alphas, Betas, pack elites—all mingling and sizing each other up. And there I was, standing next to Tristan like a prop.
Selene was the first to greet us, of course. She draped herself all over him, flashing me a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Ember! So glad you could make it.”
I gave her a tight smile, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
Tristan’s hand rested on my lower back, a silent command to stay close. Like he cared. I stuck to his side, pretending I wasn’t dying inside. People stared, whispered. I felt like a sideshow attraction.