Chapter 40

I didn’t reply, but my body tensed, waiting for the confrontation.

But Hunter ducked his head slightly and spoke again.

“I guess that’s not really the point right now,” he said. “Anyway, Kara, Maya just went to the bathroom, but I feel like it’s taking longer than it should. Can you please go check on her and make sure she’s okay?”

“I don’t think you should be sending her on errands to check if your girlfriend’s okay,” Adrian started, but I held up a hand to cut him off. There was no point in letting them get into it. It wouldn’t help anything at all.

“I don’t mind,” I said. “I was actually heading that way myself.”

It wasn’t a lie. The baby was still tiny, but it seemed big enough to start pressing on my bladder. I actually had been looking for an excuse to head that direction.

As I crossed the room, I noticed the woman in silver again. Interesting that she’d come back into the event. This time she was chatting with the Gamma captain and Laila, which seemed like an odd group to me. I wasn’t sure why, but there was something about her I couldn’t put my finger on.

I heard the soft cries before I made it to the door of the bathroom, and their volume increased as I opened it.

“Maya?” I asked immediately, when I closed the big marble door behind me. The room was softly lit with flickering candles that sparkled off the white marble and gold fixtures. It smelled of sandalwood. It seemed we were the only people in here.

Even though I was trapped in a small room with my husband’s crying mate, it was relaxing by comparison. At least it wasn’t a bleeding woman or a near standoff between two powerful Alphas.

I choked back a laugh at my sarcastic thoughts. I must be getting delirious. I reminded myself to eat something next time I saw a tray of appetizers pass by.

“I wish he hadn’t sent you here to check on me,” she said in a thick voice.

“He didn’t,” I said quickly. “I had to pee.”

I walked into the furthest stall from hers, did what I needed to do, then promptly washed my hands at the wide basin sink.

“Okay,” I said, “he did, but I did also have to pee. Anyway, do you want to come out and talk?”

“No, go away,” she said. There was something childlike in the tone of her voice. Petulant, but sweet. She did still seem so young.

“No way,” I said conversationally, sitting down on one of the plush armchairs in the seating area of the bathroom. “I’m not going back out there yet. I need a minute to chill.”

Slowly, the stall door creaked open. She washed her hands at the sink, wiped mascara from under her eyes, and came to sit next to me.

“I’m never going to live this down,” she said.

In a different mood, I would be furious with her for being so selfish. She’d hurt people, and I’d cleaned up her mess, and she was only worried about what other people thought of her. But then, I’d be upset about that, too, in her position.

“You will,” I replied. “People’s memories don’t last forever. Besides, it was an honest mistake.”

She sniffled and nodded.

“I just thought this was going to be such a special night, with Hunter having finally agreed that we could go public, and I guess I pictured people wanting to talk to me about it, and being happy for us. Not causing a huge disaster and making everyone hate me. More than they already did, I mean.”

“No one hates you,” I said slowly. I did sympathize, but I was reaching the limit of what I wanted to hear about her hopes and dreams for her relationship with my husband. “They’ll get over it. But you do need to get back out there. You know the best weapon against people gossiping about you?”

“No, what?”

“Showing them you don’t care. Let’s go.”

I stood and put out my hand. She grabbed it like it was a life vest, and stood and walked out of the bathroom with me.

As soon as we were outside, I felt faint again. My stomach was clenching with nausea, my head ached, and my shoes were pinching my feet. I had to get out of here.

I looked up and saw a familiar face. I couldn’t remember his name, but he was from one of the other packs, and was a notorious playboy. He had a reputation for being great in bed but treating women terribly. I knew several people who had fallen for his tricks.

He was one of the last people in the world I wanted to see right now.

I reached for Maya, ready to warn her about him and suggest that we take the long way back around the room to Hunter to avoid him.

But she was already gone, having abandoned me to get back over to Hunter. Great.

“Well, well, well,” he said, sidling up to me. His words were slow, just on the edge of slurring, and his eyes sparkled with mischievous lust. “Long time no see. Can I get you a drink?”

I wasn’t sure what about my appearance—bloodstained hideous dress or oversized blazer or exhaustion and nausea—that was doing it for him, but he was looking at me like he wanted to consume me.

“Nice to see you, but no, thanks, I was just leaving.”

He grabbed a passing waiter roughly around the upper arm as she passed by.

“Two shots of whiskey,” he said roughly. The young woman scurried off to get it. “Each,” he shouted at her back.

“Thanks, but I’m not drinking tonight,” I said as the waiter returned, looking around the room for help. He was blocking my path and I really needed to sit down.

“I saw you with a glass of champagne earlier, liar. Here.” He thrust one of the shot glasses into my hand. The smell of liquor made my head swim and bile rise up in my throat.

I tried to hand it back and shoulder past him, but he grabbed me by both shoulders.

“No, you don’t,” he slurred. “I’m not letting you leave until you drink those.”

I panicked, trapped. I usually would have been able to find the sarcastic or firm words to escape this situation, but I couldn’t even speak for fear I would vomit. And I was so tired.

Hunter, I mindlinked quickly. Can you help? That playboy is trying to get me to take shots and I just need to leave. He just grabbed me. Please, can you—

There was no answer. I was sure he was busy attending to Maya, but still, he should at least hear the message and would hopefully be able to wrap things up with her and come help.

I waited as the playboy pushed the shot glass to my lips again.

Hunter, please—

Nothing.

Suddenly, Adrian was there.

“She said she’s not interested,” Adrian said, squaring up to the other man.

“Hey, man, I’m just trying to get her to have a little fun—lighten up.”

“I need you to leave,” Adrian said, taking another step closer so he was staring down his nose at the playboy, only a few inches away.

I could see the moment he realized either how important was the person he was ignoring, or how intently the future Alpha King wanted to beat him up. In either case, though, he was gone almost immediately.

My knees gave out with relief and exhaustion.