Elena POV
The drive to the charity event was completely silent. I sat in the back of the small car with Emma, staring out the side window at the trees passing by. Just like Alaric had promised, their large armored car stayed far ahead of us, and another guard car followed a long way behind. They kept their distance, but I could still feel the heavy pull of the bond in the back of my mind, reminding me exactly where they were on the road.
When we arrived at the pack estate where the event was being held, the garden was already full of people. There were long tables covered in white tablecloths, and a large open pavilion sat in the center of the lawn.
"Are you ready for this?" Emma asked, touching my arm gently as the driver opened the door.
"I'm ready," I said, taking a deep breath. "Le
