Page 102 of Unclaimed Bonds

And I feel like absolute shit. I watch Jessica from afar, dancing with Emily and Sixes and a slew of men who now want her attention.

That burning sensation starts up the back of my neck again. “That’s called jealousy, Young Alpha Prince.”

“Alpha Agnus, enjoying the ball?” I bow my head in respect.

Her eyes narrow, and she growls from deep in her chest. I try not to cringe, as guilt roils in the pit of my stomach. Did Jessica tell her about me? How poorly I treated her? She lifts her cane and whacks me in the abdomen, hard, causing me to pitch forward.

I clear my throat and slowly straighten. Sweat beads on my forehead. I am thankful she didn’t aim any lower.

“Get your shit together, young man. Stop behaving like them.” She points her cane to Wills and Elaine. Alpha Agnus steps closer. “Continue to act like them, and you will suffer for it.” As abruptly as she appeared, she walks away, leaving me to stare at her retreating back. She’s right, though.

Gazing around the ballroom, I think about how long I waited for this day. From the first moment I attended a guard ceremony, I couldn’t wait to be among those graduating. I became enamored by the men dressed in their formal wear, taking their oath, vowing to protect my family.

When Elias and Charlie graduated, I was so proud. And now, my opportunity to prove I am worthy to wear the crest of a guard, I let shit from the past influence my actions, my feelings, toward someone innocent. I don’t deserve to be here.

I take one last look at the dance floor. Emily and Sixes dance with the recruits. Jessica is probably mixed in there, but she’s so short that I can’t see her clearly.

“Hey, man. Can we talk?” Wills walks up to me from the side with a guilty expression. Normally, I would brush him off, but something tells me what he has to say isn’t good.

Chapter 47

Unfinished Business

LIAM

EIGHT YEARS AGO:

November 15, 2016: Night of the Ball

Alpha Kings Mansion: Ballroom

Ileave the dance floor in search of Luke. I need to talk to him before I leave. I need to ensure he has his shit straight and stops fighting with Jessica. I search everywhere for him, even outside of the ballroom, to no avail. I find the rest of the recruits and Ean lingering by the balcony entrance.

“You were planning to let them threaten you, hold your life over your head?” Emily shouts, her hands fisted at her sides. She stand just a few feet in front of Jessica. Jessica meets Emily’s angry glare with her own steely-eyed gaze.

I glance at Ean. “What the hell did I miss?”

He shrugs. “Not exactly sure, but I think the Greystones had a word with Jessica. Elaine Powers got involved. Emily broke her nose and the other one who had her hooks in you earlier.”

My spine stiffens, and my palms tingle. “Are you fucking kidding me?” The rage builds. If Marcus laid a hand on her…

Ean shakes his head and places a hand on my shoulder. “Calm down. This is why we didn’t look for you. Uncle Nathan and the leads are handling it. You need to focus on you right now.”

Focus on me? How the fuck am I supposed to do that when nothing is resolved?

Jessica steps forward, closing the distance between her and Emily. “Yes! If it means protecting all of you, then yes! If it means that I die so that you can live, then yes! You each mean something to someone, your family, to me. My life, my protection, is not worth losing any of you. I’m just a stray, some poor girl who should have died anyway. No one misses me from where I came from. No one cares that I’m not home. There’s no missing child reported. No one on the news is crying for me. I am not worth putting your lives at stake.”

I wince at her words. After our moment early this morning, how can she possibly still feel that way?

“You’re wrong!” Emily yells and tears streak down her face.

“I love all of you. If I have to sacrifice my own happiness or my life for all of you, then that’s what I will do,” Jessica admits.

“You’re an idiot!” Emily bites.

Shock and pain flash across Jessica’s face before she replies, “I never said I wasn’t one.”

I press my lips together to keep from laughing out loud. I didn’t expect that out of her mouth.