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It felt like I hadn’t seen him in years, instead of just days. He looked so good it hurt to gaze directly at him. The only sign he was hurting, too, was the guarded shadows in his eyes. I knew I’d put them there and it made my chest contract.
“Hey,” I whispered, brilliant as usual. “Where have you been?”
He shrugged. “Around. Orpheus has been keeping me busy with security issues.”
The prim werebitch turned again to shush us. I left out a frustrated breath. We both turned our eyes back to the stage, but tension zinged between our bodies like lightning. The need to touch him was a physical ache.
The wolf warriors stood proudly, their muscles straining and their ni**les as sharp as glass shards. If things had been different, I would have leaned into Adam’s side and teased him about getting him one of those loincloths. Instead, I clenched my fists tight and struggled not to grab him and drag him away to a secluded place where I could show him how damned sorry I was. How much I’d missed him.
“Have you seen Mac?” he leaned down to whisper. His hot breath on my ear made me close my eyes. Unable to speak, I shook my head.
Needing a distraction, I opened my eyes and stood on my tiptoes. I couldn’t spot her among the crowd, but I knew it was only a matter of time before Michael paraded her out for the big event.
“You came alone?” Again with the hot whisper.
I shrugged. “Giguhl had practice.”
“I heard PW left,” he said.
I jerked my head up to look at him. “Who told you?”
His face was solemn, like he was about to admit a secret. “Slade.”
Hearing that name on Adam’s lips made my blood go cold. Had Adam gone to confront Slade? Did they fight? I immediately rejected that idea. Why would Slade tell Adam about Pussy Willow and Georgia’s departure if Adam went there to beat him up? Besides, it wasn’t Adam’s style. I yearned to ask questions about their chat, but a ripple of excitement spread through the crowd.
Now that the preparatory rituals were done, Michael and another male climbed onstage. Judging from the silver at the other male’s temples and his regal bearing, this was the Alpha of the New Jersey pack. The crowd erupted into hoots and applause at the arrival of the Alphas. “We shall now draw the names of the females who shall be mated with these two warriors,” Michael called.
Michael motioned to a female, who I assumed was the mother of his champion, judging from her age and the proud look she shot her son. She handed Michael a leather sack. Michael drew a name and called, “Calliope McShane.”
Applause rose from the crowd. A young female with sable hair emerged from the crowd and climbed to the stage. The New Jersey Alpha hugged her before surrendering her to her grinning mate.
Adam leaned in. “That’s the Jersey Alpha’s daughter.”
The New Jersey Alpha stepped forward then. He repeated the same process of drawing a name from a bowl offered by his champion’s mother. “The mate for Logan Remus, New Jersey’s champion, is Mackenzie Romulus!”
The crowd went wild. I tensed and grabbed Adam’s hand without thinking. Only after our skin touched did I realize my error. I froze, waiting for him to reject it. Instead, he squeezed my cold fingers between his warm ones. We might have problems, but right then we were united in our concern for our friend.
Two large males “escorted” Mac onstage. She hadn’t changed much since I saw her after the Roller Derby bout. Same petite frame, same brunette hair, same fierce scowl. Michael stared her down with a stern look that clearly indicated any outburst on her part would result in severe repercussions.
My stomach cramped for her. It was bad enough her uncle had just decided she was going to marry a stranger against her will in the name of pack diplomacy. It was even worse that she was in love with Georgia and believed the vampire had rejected her. It was a good bet that Michael didn’t mention that Georgia tried to fight for her.
Of course, Mac being Mac, she didn’t pay heed to her uncle’s warning look. The pair commenced with a whispered argument in front of the entire audience of werewolves. I couldn’t help admiring her spirit. Most females would have been cowed by everything happening. But Mac faced her uncle like an Amazon, all clenched fists and chin held high.
“Is Sabina here?” Mac said suddenly, turning toward the crowd. My stomach dropped. Oh, shit, this wouldn’t be good. “Sabina!”
I looked up at Adam. “What should I do?”
Already, werewolves were turning this way and that, trying to locate the person Mac was searching for. With my red-and-black hair, I stuck out like a sore thumb among the brunettes and blondes in the crowd.
“Come on,” Adam urged. “I’ll go with you.”
If I wasn’t so unsure of what was coming, I might have considered his offer a sign of hope. But as it was, I was too busy trying to ignore the stares of hundred of werewolves, who in about five minutes were going to morph into slathering hell beasts.
Adam and I surged through the crowd at the same instant Mac stepped forward.
“I’m surprised you showed your face, mixed blood,” Michael called.
I shrugged. “You know me—I hate to miss a party.” I might have been nervous, but any sign of fear would make me a target in this group of predators.
Michael turned his angry gaze on Mac. She raised her chin. “I’ll do what you want, Uncle. But first I need to speak with Sabina.”
The weres holding her tensed for the Alpha’s order. Finally, Michael succumbed to the pleading in his niece’s eyes. “Make it fast. The moon is almost at its apex.”
Mac didn’t waste time. She pulled away from her captors and jumped off the stage. Grabbing me, she dragged me to the edge of the stage, where there was a tad more privacy. By the time we stopped, she was panting, out of fear or urgency, I didn’t know.
“When this is all over, I need you to do me another favor. I don’t know when I’ll ever be able to repay—”
I waved a hand to interrupt. “Don’t worry about it. Anything I can do to help.”
She nodded solemnly. Her eyes glistened with tears like a woman about to face execution. “I need you to find Georgia and give her this letter.” From the bodice of her gown, she removed a small envelope. “I know I can’t stop what’s happening. I know it’s my fault. But I can’t do my duty without knowing she’ll get this.”
My own eyes stung with the weight of the responsibility. I considered telling Mac then about how Georgia had fought for her. But in the end, I held my tongue. I worried that if I told Mac how Georgia’s heart had broken in the end, she’d have a harder time facing her own bleak but inevitable future.
