Mike threw his head back and laughed. “Then you were living in a dream world. Your first responsibility is to your pack. You know that. And as the only female in my bloodline, a good match is even more critical. I let you get away with putting it off for years, hoping you’d find a worthy male on your own. But my patience can be stretched only so far.” He crossed his arms and speared his niece with a stare. “Now, say good-bye to your friend. You won’t be seeing her again.”
Georgia’s head snapped up. The look she shot at Michael was full of hatred that would have made a lesser male cower. But Michael Romulus was the Alpha of one of the largest packs in America for a reason. “I’m waiting, Mackenzie.”
Everyone on that track held their breath. Mac’s eyes went from her lover to her Alpha. Michael had just drawn a line in the sand. If she didn’t bow to him now, she risked being shunned. But if she acquiesced, she’d lose Georgia for good.
Georgia watched her lover with an unreadable expression. “Just go.”
Mac’s mouth fell open. “Wha—”
“I’ve waited around for months for you to declare yourself to your uncle. If he hadn’t caught us tonight, he’d still have no idea I even existed.” Georgia’s voice shook with betrayal. The were flinched. “So I’m going to make things real easy for you, Mac.” She kissed Mac’s cheek. Michael growled a warning, which the vampire ignored. “Have a good life.”
With that, Georgia finally acknowledged the Alpha. “She’s yours.”
She skated off the track with her head held high. Pussy Willow ran after her, but the vampire shot her a look that made the faery’s steps falter. For all her dignity and determination, Georgia needed to go break apart in private.
Michael watched the vampire’s retreat with a solemn expression. However, Mac sobbed openly. I averted my eyes from her pain. Adam grabbed my hand and squeezed. Pussy Willow went to Giguhl and they stood, arm-in-arm, looking like they’d just watched their parents’ divorce. The rest of the crowd dispersed then, slinking away as if embarrassed to have gawked at Mac’s public shame.
Finally, Michael cleared his throat. “Let’s go.” He took Mac’s uninjured arm and led her away. I’d never seen her looking so cowed and beaten. As she passed us, she looked up at me. I flinched at the pain in her liquid brown eyes. I looked away quickly, not wanting her to see the judgment in my own gaze. My chest hurt for her, but my rational side wondered if it had all worked out for the best. If Mac and Georgia had really been in love, how could they let it slip away without more of a fight?
I glanced up at Adam’s handsome, dear face. My heart contracted in my chest at the thought of ever losing him. If anyone tried to take the mancy from me, there would be blood.
Giguhl stood nearby, looking like someone had ruined his birthday party. In the heavy silence following the drama, he raised his fists and yelled, “Oh, f**k it! Let’s get drunk!”
22
While Giguhl and the rest of the Marauders partied like rock stars at Vein, Adam and I went to find Georgia. Since she knew almost no one in the city, we followed our hunch and returned to Prytania Place.
“Georgia!” I called when we walked into the apartment.
“Back here,” came the muted reply.
Adam looked at me. “You want to take this one?”
“Why me?” I frowned at him.
He shrugged. “Just figured she might need some girl talk.”
“Adam, in your history of knowing me, have you ever witnessed me having girl talk?” I shot him a get-real look.
“You might have a point.” He waved toward the door. “We’ll tag-team it then.”
I nodded resolutely and marched down the hall. When I opened the door, Georgia’s back was to us. She was shoving wrinkled clothes into a suitcase’s yawning mouth.
“Georgia?” I whispered.
She looked over her shoulder, and I was surprised to see her eyes were bone dry. “Hey, guys.”
“Why are you packing?” Adam came up to stand next to me. “You can’t leave now.”
She snorted. “Why not? I never should have come here in the first place.”
“You don’t mean that,” I said. “I know you’re upset but—”
“I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I’m not upset.” Adam and I both shot her incredulous looks. She deflated a little. “Okay, I am upset.” She sighed and dropped onto the couch. “But not for the reasons you think. I’m mad at myself for not realizing Mac was stringing me along. I can handle her temper and the chip on her shoulder. But I won’t be lied to. Remember how I told you she said she made progress with her uncle?”
I nodded and took a seat across from her. Adam joined me, since it looked like this was going to take a while.
Georgia continued. “Well, last night before practice she told me that she’d told Michael all about us and he’d taken it really well. I was so happy and relieved that I didn’t question her when she claimed she still needed some time before she introduced us.” Georgia shook her head sadly. “I’m such an idiot.”
“No, you’re not,” Adam said. “Why would you assume the person you love would lie about something that important? She’s the one person you should be able to trust.”
I squirmed in my seat a bit. The parallels between this conversation and my own mistakes were hitting a little too close to home.
“But maybe Mac felt like she had to lie to protect your feelings,” I said. Two frowns greeted that statement. “I mean, she was wrong to, of course, but maybe she felt she had a good reason,” I added quickly.
“Sabina,” Georgia said. “Even if she hadn’t lied to me last night, she had the perfect opportunity to stand up to Michael tonight and she didn’t.”
“That’s true,” I said. But I was conflicted. Obviously, Mac f**ked up. Bad. But I didn’t think the situation should be as black and white as Georgia was making it. “Listen, Mac loves you. But it’s not easy to stand up to your family. Especially when that family is made up of beasts who howl at the moon and have zero tolerance for questioning the Alpha.”
“So what? I’m supposed to sit here and hope that the Alpha changes his mind? Michael’s not going to suddenly give Mac and me his blessing. Especially since he said the mating contract was already signed.”