Alpha of the Dead

Chapter 33

(Siobhan’s P.O.V)

With me being off the case at this point, I did the only rational thing a girl could do when her heart was broken; watch true crime documentaries, eat ice cream, and drink wine. Camilla bought us several pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream from the grocery store down the street from the hotel and we were sitting in my room when we heard a knock. At first, I thought it was the TV, but the knock sounded again, louder, and more urgent this time. Camilla got up from the bed and walked to the door, peeking through the peephole—safety first people! She turns to me, eyes wide with worry and a hint of fear.

“Who is it?” I ask with my mouth full of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.

“Umm, it’s your brother.” She murmurs.

“Si! I know you’re in there! Open the damn door!” He shouts, banging on the door again.

“Let him in.” I sigh.

Camilla opens the door and not only is Patrick there, but Brian is as well.

“What do you guys want?” I ask.

Patrick and Brian walk up to me, shifting my hair out of the way of my neck, that’s bare of any mark.

“So, it’s true then? That you marked Tiernan?” Patrick whispers.

“Yes,” I whisper, tears pricking my eyes.

“Without his consent?” Brian asks.

“Yes,” I whisper again, tears now falling down my cheeks.

“How could you Si?” Patrick asks, his voice strained.

“He was going to reject me, and something came over me and I couldn’t let that happen.” I sob.

Brian sits down on the couch with me, pulling me into a hug, stroking my back, and cooing in my ear that everything will be okay. Patrick sits on my opposite side, elbows on his knees, face in his hands.

“He’s a mess you know.” Patrick’s voice comes out muffled.

“What you said to him last night really messed him up and then going to his room like that and then marking him was just too much Si,” Brian says.

“What am I supposed to do? I tried to apologize after it happened, but he threw me out of his room, saying that I only marked him because I didn’t want anyone else to have him. It’s not true! I want him! I want him more than anything.” I sob, clinging to Brian like he was my lifeline.

“You need to shower and get dressed; you need to go to the packhouse,” Patrick says.

“What? Why? I can’t! I can’t face him right now! He hates me!” I cry out.

“This is non-negotiable sis. Preston, Artis, and Anders are coming to the pack along with the High Priestess Winona to discuss the upcoming war in Annwn.” Brian states firmly.

“Come on Si, we need to go,” Camilla says softly.

I knew that there was no arguing with the three of them, so I just nod my head and make my way back into my bedroom. Showering quickly and dressing in sweatpants and a t-shirt. I didn’t feel like dressing up, there was no point. Tossing on a pair of socks, I grab my Nikes out of the closet. After putting those on, I walk back out into the main living area, and everyone looks at me like I’m crazy.

“What?”

“Is that what you are going to be wearing?” Camilla asks, looking ever the professional agent in her tailored slacks and white cotton button-up.

“Yeah, and I’m not arguing the point and I’m not changing.” I bite out.

“Alright, let’s go,” Patrick says.

We get into our separate vehicles, Camilla and I following Patrick and Brian in their car. I was wringing my hands, nervous about seeing Tiernan after what I did last night, I knew he was still pissed. I could feel it through our bond, he was angry at me for taking his choice away from him, angry for my toying with his emotions, and angry at me for the things that I said the other night. I want time to pass by slowly, but as it does, time decides that it’s going to speed up to inhuman speeds and it feels like before I can blink, we are in front of the packhouse.

Brian and Patrick walk us through the front doors, and off to the left to the same conference room we had been in when Preston had come back from Eferhile. Walking in, the room is drenched in his scent, it’s so overwhelming that my knees buckle. Tears well in my eyes, and I make to turn around and go back to the car when Patrick grabs me by the arm and holds me in place. Patrick walks me to the chair nearest the door and sits me down, standing behind my chair like some sort of bodyguard. I just keep my head down, staring at my hands in my lap. I couldn’t look at him, seeing the look of hatred I know is plastered on his face. Tala’s howls are nearly deafening, being so close to our mate and feeling his hatred through our bond. As everyone arrives, my body heats from the stares that I know I’m getting. Everyone is used to seeing me so put together but right now, that’s not me. I can smell my parents, Drake and his father Nolan, and all of Tiernan’s family. My dad tries to hug me, but I flinch away from him, not wanting any comfort. I didn’t deserve to be comforted.

“Not now dad, I’ll explain later,” Patrick whispers to him.

“Okay, now that we are all here, everyone, this is High Priestess Winona of the Coven of Crystal Rose, and my beloved,” Anders says, giddy with excitement.

That’s when the tears fall faster and harder, it’s taking every ounce of self-control that I have not to break into sobs here at this table.

“Thank you for joining us, High Priestess. We do appreciate you giving us your time.” Tiernan says.

His voice was not like it normally is, his voice normally made me feel calm, like a warm cup of tea but now? There’s no emotion in his voice, monotone, hollow. What had I done?