Page 140 of Sienna Rossi: Beyond Shattered Trust

“Hi, I’m good, thanks. How are you? What are you doing here?” I ask, trying not to sound rude. I instantly sense a piercing gaze on me and know instantly it’s Jayce.

“What am I doing here?” Seth laughs. “I got a VIP invitation.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Sienna, look what I have! Go away, Seth,” Kaden pouts, displeased by the soon-to-be Beta.

“What do you have?” I ask Kaden, as a conversation from earlier enters my mind.

“I brought the dress that will get Jayce so worked up,” Heaven says with a confident smirk as she unzips the back, holding a slinky, sexy dress.

“Good, and I also brought something to the table that will get Jayce super worked up,” Allie says with a small smile.

“What have you done?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at their plan-making.

“You don’t worry about my VIP gift; you just focus on getting dressed up. We’re frankly fed up with him being a dickhead.”

“Exactly my point, so dress to kill,” Heaven says, holding out the dress.

So he was Allie’s surprise… Oh, Allie, I can already sense Jayce’s irritation. He just needs time. I know he loves me.

“I caught a ladybird,” Kaden says, opening his hand.

“That is so pretty,” I say, ruffling his curls, hoping Seth goes away. “Look at the colour, too – yellow.”

Kaden smiles before he runs off. “I’m going to go show Heaven.”

Jayce has ignored me for the last few days, ever since he walked out of the gym that day. I’ve seen him fleetingly a few times, but he’s done his best to avoid me.

And yet he keeps his walls down, just enough for him to mentally remain close. And I know why, just in case I have another nightmare about the dome. I haven’t so far, but that could be because I haven’t slept well, unable to sleep, my mind consumed by Jayce and the restlessness that has taken over.

Gods, am I trying to give him space, but it’s so hard. So when Heaven picked out my dress and told me this is the one for tonight, I went with it. It’s not like I had anything picked out anyway, and I was going to be myself, and I do dress well.

“I wanted you to know I’ll be taking the position of Beta soon.”

I look up at Seth, not expecting that. “Really?”

I sense that Jayce is no longer looking in my direction, but I keep my attention trained on Seth.

“Yeah, the Alpha thinks I’m ready.” He shoves his hands in his pockets and smiles at me, his eyes dropping to the mark on my neck. “I am happy for you, Sienna; congratulations.”

“Thanks,” I say, smiling at him. “And congrats on your upcoming rank; I’m sure you will be an incredible Beta.”

“Thanks, I won’t disappoint those who have faith in me.” He looks at his shoes before glancing back up at me and smiling. Not the smile of a boy trying to win me over, but the smile of a man mature enough to behave like one.

“Ahren’s right. I think you are ready.”

His eyes widen slightly before he chuckles. “Yeah? Thanks. I have a lot to measure up to, that’s for certain.”

“Well, we’ll all be rooting for you.”

“And I’ll be rooting for you, too,” he says before he steps back. “See you around.”

I nod as he backs away slowly before he turns and walks away.

I look around the garden, spotting Allie shooing the kids away from the dessert table, an expression of pure disgust on her face. Scaring them isn’t working as Phoenix physically pushes her while grabbing another cake pop.

Mama and Dad are dancing, and from the way Mama’s blushing, I’m glad I can’t hear what Dad is saying.