“I should be there,” I said. “This affects both of us.”
He shook his head. “I can handle this. Dax already knows he’s in for it. It would be better if you stayed here and tried to convince the rest of them that it’s going to be okay.”
“All right.” It was already happening. Ren was in charge now.
I watched him leave the bar.
How am I supposed to convince anyone that things will be okay? Nothing feels okay.
I was so angry my muscles began to ache from tension. I hated being treated like an inferior. I’d always led my pack and suddenly it was as if all those years of being their alpha meant nothing. I was only Ren’s mate. I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to find Shay standing beside me.
“That was pretty intense.”
I nodded. “It’s a problem. Dax and Fey aren’t handling Nev and Mason’s relationship very well.”
“I noticed that.” He glanced at the door. “What do you think Ren’s going to do?”
“I’m not sure,” I said. “But I trust him.” Like I have any other choice.
“You must,” he said, the corners of his mouth crinkling. “Well?”
“Well, what?”
“May I have this dance?”
I blinked at him. “Excuse me?”
“Ren had his turn on the dance floor,” Shay said. “Now it’s mine.”
“I don’t remember agreeing to that arrangement.” I stepped back. “Besides, I have to talk with the others. Get things back to normal.”
“That’s what I thought,” he said. “I’m going to help you.”
I frowned at him, puzzled, as he put one hand at my waist and grabbed my other hand. He pulled me close while stretching our arms out, straight as an arrow.
“What the hell is this?” I asked.
“The tango,” he replied, guiding me across the floor with melodramatic, sweeping steps.
“How is this helping?” I glanced at my packmates. They were all watching us, looking befuddled.
“Music doesn’t soothe the savage beast, Cal,” Shay said, dipping me so low my hair brushed the floor. “Laughter does.”
I looked toward our tables again, startled at what I saw. Shay’s plan was working. Ansel and Mason were already chuckling. Bryn giggled madly and even Cosette couldn’t stop smiling.
Shay sighed and spun me away from him before jolting me back as if I’d been a coiled spring. “It would be much better if I had a rose between my teeth.
Wouldn’t I be dashing?”
I started to giggle. “That would be ridiculous.”
“Ridiculously dashing.” He grinned. Even the bikers around the bar were laughing now, morphing their hardened faces from Sid Vicious to Santa Claus.
I leaned into the warmth of Shay’s body. When he held me close, I could actually believe everything would be okay. I wondered if he knew how happy he could make me, despite my constant fears about the future. Regret suddenly constricted my chest, cutting off my laughs. Seeing me lip-locked with Ren earlier must have hurt Shay so much. He deserved better, more than I could ever offer him.
“So you’re not angry with me?” I asked as he made me pirouette like a ballerina.
“About what?” he asked. “You aren’t the bigoted one. Fey and Dax can go to hell as far as I’m concerned.”
He didn’t see the kiss.
Cool relief spilled through me, followed by a nip of guilt.
Why don’t I want him to know? Hiding the truth isn’t fair.
Nothing could change what lay ahead for Ren and me. Shay needed to understand that more than anyone. But looking at his smile, the warmth in his eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything more about the kiss.
“I think you’d better share this brilliant plan of yours with Nev,” I said. “I wouldn’t want him to think we’re mocking him.”
“Nev’s got a great sense of humor,” Shay replied, dipping me again. “I think he’ll get it.”
“If you’re sure.” I glanced at the stage. Shay seemed to be right. Though Nev looked a bit thrown, he was also grinning from ear to ear.
“You know, if I kissed you at the end of this number, it would be a real showstopper,” Shay said, keeping me tipped upside down.
I couldn’t stop my smile at his devilish grin. “If you kiss me now, Ren will kill you.”
“All’s fair in love and war,” he said. “And at least I’d die happy.”
“You’re terrible.” I dug my nails into his shoulder. “Pick me up again!”
“I just don’t want to disappoint our audience,” he said.
“They’ll have to live with disappointment, then.” I was getting woozy from all the blood rushing into my head. “I’ve been very clear about what will happen if you kiss me again. I think you’d miss your hand.”
He lifted me upright only to dip me low again on the other side. “Do you solve all your problems with threats of violence?”
“No.”
“Liar.” My head was spinning when he set me on my feet, but my body felt light as air.
I broke down into a fit of giggles as Shay began to polka. Neville shook his head, but he was laughing too. The music stopped; Nev said something to the rest of the band I couldn’t hear, but in the next moment they broke out a punk-rock cover of “Roll Out the Barrel.”
Shay turned us in circles, faster and faster. “I told you it would work!”
I collapsed against him, dizzy but ecstatic, resting my cheek on his shoulder. Then I caught sight of Ren. He stood just inside the door, eyes fixed on us.