Chapter 22 #2
“This ends today.” She leans forward. “Piper will make a statement that apologizes for her ‘deception,’ and then, because dating a commoner omega is a step far too outside the realm of permissible, you will publicly end your relationship with my son.”
I’m not sure why, but my first response is to laugh. “No.”
This earns me both Elliot and Nolan clearing their throats.
No, I won’t stop. And I haven’t forgotten who I’m talking to either.
She blinks. “Excuse me?”
“No,” I repeat, louder. “I’m not going to go on live TV and apologize for being myself.
And I’m sure as hell not breaking up with Kellen because you want to manage your ratings.
This entire situation was your idea. And Raelynn’s.
So, no. It’s not our fault we discovered we’re perfect matches and bonded.
We’d not even have been in the same room together if you and Raelynn hadn’t decided a PR relationship was the solution to a little tabloid buzz. ”
The king stands. “In this, you don’t have a choice.”
My jaw locks hard as I stand to match him. My alphas follow, but I speak before Nolan has a chance to intervene. “Yes, I do. You can’t force me to get on live TV or speak what you want me to.”
The queen meets my gaze. “No, but we can put out our own stories with a press machine far greater than what you and Raelynn can produce.”
So that’s the goal. I suppose I was na?ve to think this might have ended any other way, and Raelynn must have been, too. PR relationships never work.
Especially when they’re tied to crowns.
My heart stutters, but I don’t let it show. “Then do it.”
“Piper,” Kellen warns softly.
I shrug at him. “I’m not their puppet.” Then I turn my glare back on the king and queen.
“If this is how you want the last few months to be remembered, publish whatever you want. You say you didn’t leak my designation, but I can’t think of a single other individual who might benefit from it like you are.
So if you want to break your own son’s heart, you go for it.
My reputation will survive. It’s seen worse. ”
Kellen’s eyes are two lit fires. Behind him, Nolan and Elliot look no less happy about the situation. But this is not the end. This concession on my part is simply a way to get out of this room without being held or forced to give more ground.
Our pack is safe. But I don’t want Kellen to lose his relationship with his parents over my responses.
Kellen must understand because the anger in him slows to a simmer. “If you think that I will seek out any other omega, or replace Elliot and Nolan with other alphas, you’re delusional.”
The queen’s lips form a thin line. “We’ll see.”
“We will.”
I give the king and queen a rather flippant curtsey. “Thank you for your time today. May I be dismissed?”
“Of course, you’re not a prisoner here,” the queen says without sarcasm. “I look forward to your televised statement.”
I give her a tight smile back and leave without saying anything else.
No more promises, no more verbal daggers.
There’s no point volleying threats back and forth.
If Kellen wants to ruin his relationship with his parents, that’s a decision he can make and share with the rest of our pack.
Until then, I’m making this decision for him.
Nolan follows close behind me. We leave a few beats ahead of Kellen and Elliot, long enough time for Nolan to ask, “What are we doing?”
“Leaving.”
Kellen and Elliot join us in the corridor, and together we walk toward the palace entrance. We’re outside at the car before anyone speaks. My alphas reach out for me and I fall into place between them all.
Elliot kisses the top of my head.
“Where are you going?” Kellen asks.
“Home.” I kiss him, and then Elliot while Nolan presses a reassuring hand to the small of my back. “Let’s let this current press nightmare die down, and give your parents some time to cool off. I have a festival performance to prepare for and this album to finish.”
Neither Kellen nor Elliot look happy about any amount of time spent apart.
Elliot squeezes my hand. “You don’t have to run from them. They can remove you from palace grounds, but not the city.”
I shake my head and meet Kellen’s blue, teary eyes.
“I’m not willing to sacrifice your relationship with your parents for this pack.
Take this time to talk to them, warm them up to the idea of this pack, and the very real love we have for each other.
Let those conversations happen not while in the midst of PR chaos. ”
Kellen smiles sadly. “You’re right.”
I smirk despite the tears in my own eyes. “Sometimes, every once in a while.”
“I’ll keep our girl safe,” Nolan says. “This isn’t goodbye.”
I nod in agreement. “You’re all in too far now to ever be rid of me, sorry to say.”
Elliot grins. “Good, there’s nowhere else we’d rather be than with you.”
Elliot’s hands cup my face. His thumbs brush over my cheekbones as he pulls me in.
His lips press against mine—firm, possessive—the taste of mint lingering as he breaks away.
My heart still hammers when Kellen steps forward and threads his fingers through my hair.
His kiss is gentler but no less claiming.
When we part, Nolan’s hand settles at the small of my back, warm and steady as he guides me into the waiting car, the door clicking shut behind us like a period at the end of a sentence.
I try to remind myself this isn’t forever. This isn’t even goodbye.
This is a tactical retreat to let things and people cool down.
My heart feels cleaved in two anyway. Those two halves feel shattered when Raelynn calls.
Nolan’s driving but his eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror. “Raelynn?”
I nod. “She’ll want to draw up endless plans.”
His lips form a slight frown. “You should pick up anyway.”
He’s not wrong.
I sigh and answer the call. “Hi, Raelynn.”
“Piper.” Her voice is weirdly calm considering the day’s events. “I assume you’ve seen the news?”
“Which headline? There’s like fifty.”
She clicks her tongue. “The one that outed you as an omega.”
“Yeah, the Palace did that one.”
A moment of stunned silence passes between us.
Finally, Raelynn says, “Doesn’t matter who did it in the end, the only thing that matters is perception.
Here’s what you’re going to do: You’re going to post a statement, say you were pressured, play the victim.
Then you’re going to keep your head down and let this blow over. ”
“No.”
A beat passes. “Excuse me?”
“No,” I say again. “I’m not going to apologize for who I am. I’m not going to apologize for loving Kellen, Elliot, and Nolan, or for wanting my own life—and that includes wanting the music genre I want. If you want to drop me because of this, do it.”
She snaps her fingers. “If I drop you, Piper, you contractually owe me for the next album. You will be in debt for years.”
I close my eyes. “Fine. Whatever you want, Raelynn.”
There’s another long silence, and for a second, I have the foolish hope to think she might actually say something human. Instead, she just says, “Have it your way.” Then the line goes dead.
I lower the phone and stare out at the rain-streaked city.
I have absolutely no idea what comes next.
Not for me, not for the band, not for Kellen or for any of us.
But as I glance over at Nolan, who’s pretending not to watch me while he texts Elliot at a red light, I feel the tiniest flicker of resolve.
“They’re not going to win. Either of them.”
Nolan doesn’t look up from the road. “No. They’re not. Already on it.”
His reassurance is the only confidence I need to know this will get better. It just may need to burn first.