Chapter 9: Pressure

Chapter 9

Reyna

She hadn’t thought it possible to be so confused.

Reyna had gone out onto that terrace with the intention of… what? What had she planned to do? Finlay was right. She was engaged to another man. They were at her engagement party, for crying out loud.

Her family and pack were depending on her to keep this arrangement intact. She’d have done well to take a page from Finlay’s book and avoid him altogether. Yet, she’d gone to him. She wanted to go to him even now.

Even after he’d made it quite clear that he wasn’t interested in this going anywhere. He had no intention of claiming her. No intention of ever seeing her again.

Finlay had said the words and she’d seen the stern set of his jaw, the tightness around his eyes, for herself.

Yet some part of her didn’t believe it.

Maybe it was her own ridiculous, romantic whimsy. Maybe it was the bond, pushing her to ignore these complications and move forward, anyway. She couldn’t be sure. Part of her didn’t care.

He’d said things meant to deter her. ‘I don’t have room in my life.’ Moving past the initial sting, Reyna wanted to know what that meant. Why didn’t he have room? Why didn’t he think they’d work?

Reyna had gotten a little too eager, she thought. Asking about his home and his family was more personal than he might have been prepared for. And it only left more questions: How had his family died? Why did his pack move here? Why had they kept the borders closed for so long?

Why was he opening them now?

“We’re supposed to be a happy couple,” Zack murmured, leading her in another dance. “Perhaps arrange your face to fit the part.”

Reyna smiled, all teeth. “Of course.”

Their earlier exchange came to mind and she had the sudden urge to punch him. This was all his fault. Without him, she’d have been free to explore the bond with her mate.

And, no, he wasn’t holding a gun to her head or anything, but playing on her sense of responsibility, on her father’s desperation to keep his generational business, was nearly as bad.

“My men tell me you were with Bitterroot’s Alpha. Any particular reason?”

“Just getting to know my neighbors. Bitterroot have always kept to themselves.”

“So?”

“So I’m interested to know more about them.”

Zack pulled a face. “What’s to know? Bunch of wild animals, if you ask me. One city in the whole territory. Pitifully underdeveloped.”

Reyna tilted her head back to better see him. “Is everything about money and showboating to you?”

“Not everything.” Zack lifted a shoulder.

“But close. Besides, it’s not just that they seem to like roughing it all the time. We never did get the full story about their arrival here. The rumors of the time claimed they’d been driven out. Begs the question: why?”

“Does it matter?”

“Depends. Maybe they’re killers.”

He was far too pleased as he said, “Maybe the other hill people rose up and decided they weren’t gonna take it anymore. Batted them with sticks and threw them in the ocean.”

Reyna rolled her eyes. “You’re disgusting.”

“And yet you can’t refute the claim because you don’t know. My version could very well be the true version. And there you were, on the terrace with him, alone. How dangerous.”

She had no ground to be angry on Finlay’s behalf. Zack was right on one count: she didn’t know what happened. Not to his family, or his pack. She didn’t know why they’d come or the circumstances surrounding their arrival.

And still, Zack’s attitude about them, about Finlay, irritated her. He was her would-be mate. The man chosen by fate as her perfect match. It rankled to hear anyone, let alone Zack, speak ill of him or those he called his.

Thankfully, the song ended and they were able to separate once more.

It seemed the party was winding down. Food had long since been served, she could spot at least twelve drunk guests within arms reach, and what else was there to do, anyway?

They came, they saw, they took advantage of free stuff, and were prepared to be on their way.

Reyna could relate.

She did a subtle turn, eyes darting between faces, searching for… well. Finlay had remained on the terrace as far as she knew. But perhaps he’d come inside. Perhaps he was nearby.

She’d left him with the idea that they were in agreement, yet she sought him still.

“Reyna, you really do look so beautiful.” Her mother squeezed her arm. “Are you having a nice time?”

Adalita Rodriguez-Navarro was herself, very beautiful.

Thick, curly black hair and light, soft brown skin, with eyes as dark as the night sky. She was short, like Reyna, but thicker around the middle. Her dress was an attractively deep purple and modest in its cut.

“It’s been… lovely, mother. Thank you.”

“Is he everything you’d hoped he’d be?”

Reyna nearly choked. “What?”

“Zack, silly girl! Your father seems to have some reservations about him, but I think he’s been just wonderful. So kind and generous. What do you think?”

“I think he is… fond of himself.”

“Ha! What man isn’t? Suppose that means he’s healthy enough.”

“Mama,” she chastised. Reyna had the sudden urge to know: what would her mother say if she thought her daughter was unhappy with her fiance?

Subtly, she ventured, “Honestly, we’ve butted heads a few times. It’s not small stuff. I’m not sure we’re compatible.”

Adalita harumphed. “Don’t be ridiculous. The man is so wealthy! Look at this beautiful party. Look at this beautiful dress, these diamonds! He’s spoiling you already. Give it time, hija. Don’t be so stubborn.”

Question answered.

She wasn’t surprised and she wasn’t angry. A lot was riding on this wedding. Her mother’s entire world.

“I’ll try, mama.”

Reyna’s father took her mother to the floor for one last dance and her sister, niece, and brother-in-law followed. For a brief moment, she was alone. Zack was ahead, speaking with someone she didn’t recognize.

His Beta, Blaine, was hovering nearby. Reyna didn’t like him. These past weeks of preparations and being forced to deal with Zack so often, she’d been exposed to the charms of Blaine and Deer Lodge’s Gamma, Royce.

They were both insufferable.

Royce was big, burly, and boarish. He liked to say things that made her uncomfortable; liked to poke and jab at her subtly with little barbs, testing her patience, or maybe just trying to embarrass her, she wasn’t sure.

He was rude, and snide, and did his job of intimidating and being scary very well.

Blaine was different. He was frightening, all right. Blaine was taller than Royce, leaner, but no less physically powerful. But he didn’t use words to perturb her. He didn’t have to. Blaine was a silent, eerie presence.

He was familiar with violence and unafraid of it. No one had ever said so, but Reyna could sense it. Those onyx eyes watched everything, everyone, all the time, and were impossibly perceptive.

He always appeared relaxed but there was an air of alacrity about him that made everyone aware of him.

A big, silent, creepy monster.

Those eyes watched her now and Reyna turned away, searching the room. She wanted to get away; away from Zack, Blaine, and all these strangers that were only here to rub elbows with a man they thought could do something for them.

She even wanted to get away from her family. It was too much pressure. Doing something for them, for their pack, and yet feeling cast off and unappreciated at every turn.

Helplessly, she looked to the terrace doors. Maybe he was still out there. Maybe they could just… be together for a while. His presence calmed her, even if they were only talking about mundane things.

The weather. Business. How the fish were biting.

It had to be better than this.

She’d only taken a step when a hand closed over her elbow. “Mr. Cartier wants you to stay close.”

Blaine.

Reyna narrowed her eyes at him. “Has he assigned you to babysit me?”

“Will that be necessary?”

“I’d like to step out and get some air.”

She tried to pull her arm away but he held tight.

“When Mr. Cartier’s conversation ends, he will escort you.”

What a joke her life had become. A month ago she’d been free; working a job she loved with plans and dreams and the agency to do as she wished.

Now, she was a pawn. A body in a pretty dress being led around and told when to talk, when to eat, when to stay or go.

Reyna snatched away and Blaine let her go. Zack was lingering at the edge of the dance floor so that’s where she stayed, resigned. She folded her arms and watched the couples on the floor swaying and twirling. Smiling and laughing.

Every dance she’d had tonight had been like pulling teeth. For her, anyway.

While she was immobile, Reyna tried again to find Finlay in the thinning crowd. The terrace doors were still open. She spied Samantha near them, talking animatedly with Crystal Meza of Big Sky.

Reyna shifted and maneuvered but, even on four-inch heels, she couldn’t see over the heads blocking her view of the bar.

Maybe he’d gone back to it? That’s where his friend had been when Zack led her back to the dance floor. Maybe Finlay was there now, drinking another beer and mingling.

He probably left, she lamented.

And then she swung rather pitifully between ‘good riddance’ and making a dash to the parking garage to try and catch him.

She just needed to say goodbye. They’d left things on a sour note. It would make her feel better if they were, at the very least, cordial.

She was giving herself whiplash.

And then, as if conjured by her silent desire, he was there.

“Ms. Navarro,” Finlay greeted, hands in his pockets.

“Mr. Shaw. Hello again.”

Blaine stepped up and around her so that he half-blocked her from Finlay’s view. “Mr. Cartier is busy. He’ll be with you momentarily.”

Finlay was a hair or so taller than Blaine, and much broader. He seemed to notice the odd disquiet of Blaine’s character because he eyed him warily before turning his attention back to her.

“I apologize for interrupting –”

“- You didn’t,” she blurted. “I mean, I’m not busy.”

Blaine glanced at her.

Finlay raised a brow. “Right. Anyway, I’m not here to speak to Mr. Cartier. I’d like to ask Ms. Navarro to dance.”

Reyna blinked, startled. He extended a hand, palm up, waiting for her answer.

She should say no. But she wanted to say yes.

Zack was standing right there. Her family was on the dance floor. This was a bad idea.

“It’s just a dance,” Finlay murmured, almost too quietly to hear.

And it was. Just one dance. Just to say goodbye.

“Okay.”

Reyna reached out and slid her palm over his, ignoring Blaine’s weak protest.

“One dance.”

Finlay led her away from Blaine and Zack and into the thin crowd of couples. The band shifted into a ridiculously slow number because… of course, they would. They couldn’t have picked a jaunty tune with quick steps.

He put a hand on her waist and gripped her hand firmly, and their dance began.