Chapter 70: SHADOW BORN EVENT

ASHER

The invitation appeared in my bag three days after the almost-tender moment in Reed’s room. Heavy black cardstock with silver embossed lettering.

You are cordially invited to the Shadow Born Annual Gathering. Please arrive at 7 PM sharp. Formal attire required.

At the bottom, in Reed’s handwriting: You’re coming with me. Non-negotiable.

I stared at the invitation in my dorm room, my stomach twisting into knots.

Shadow Born was Reed’s pack. One of the oldest, most powerful Alpha bloodlines in the country and their annual gathering was notoriously exclusive—only pack members and their chosen guests.

Reed had never invited anyone before. I’d heard Marcus complaining about it last year.

So why was Reed bringing me?

My phone buzzed.

Reed: Did you get the invitation?

Me: Yes

Reed: Be ready at 6:45. I’m picking you up.

Me: Reed, I don’t think this is a good idea—

Reed: I don’t care what you think. You’re coming and wear something nice.

Me: Why are you bringing me to this?

Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.

Reed: Because I want you there.

That was all he said. No explanation, no context, just because I want you there.

Like that was supposed to be enough.

At exactly 6:45 PM, there was a knock on my door. I opened it to find Reed standing there in a dark suit that probably cost more than my entire scholarship. His hair was styled, his eyes were gray and unreadable and he looked devastating.

“You’re wearing that?” Reed’s eyes dragged over my button-down shirt and dress pants.

“You said wear something nice—”

“Wait here.” Reed pulled out his phone. ⁶

a call. “Callum,⁶ I need you to bring that navy suit you bought last month. The one that didn’t fit. Yeah, now. Graham’s dorm.”

He hung up.

“Reed, I don’t need—”

“Yes, you do.” Reed’s eyes were hard. “You’re going to this event as my guest. Which means you need to look the part.”

Callum showed up ten minutes later with a garment bag. He looked between Reed and me with an expression I couldn’t read.

“Here,” Callum said, handing me the bag. “It should fit. We’re about the same size.”

“Thanks,” I said quietly and Callum left without another word. The suit fit perfectly. Dark navy with a subtle pattern. A crisp white shirt and a tie that Reed wordlessly stepped forward to knot for me, his fingers deft and sure against my throat.

“Better,” Reed said when he stepped back. His eyes lingered on me for a moment too long. “Much better.”

The Shadow Born estate was an hour outside campus and Reed drove in silence, his hands tight on the steering wheel, his jaw clenched.

“Are you going to tell me why you’re bringing me to this?” I asked finally.

“No.”

“Reed—”

“Just—” Reed’s hands tightened on the wheel. “Just stay close to me tonight. Don’t talk to anyone unless I’m with you and whatever you do, don’t contradict anything I say. Understand?”

“Why would I—”

“Do you understand?” Reed’s voice was sharp.

“Yes.”

Reed’s hand found mine in the dark and squeezed once then he let go.

“It’s going to be fine,” Reed said but he sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

The Shadow Born estate was massive.

A sprawling mansion lit up against the night sky, with luxury cars lining the circular driveway and people in formal wear streaming through the entrance and they were all Alphas. I could smell it and I could feel the dominance radiating from every person we passed.

Reed’s hand found my lower back as we walked up the steps in a possessive and claiming way.

“Stay close,” Reed murmured.

Inside, the gathering was exactly what I’d expected. Wealthy Alphas drinking expensive wine and discussing pack politics and business deals. The air was thick with dominance and testosterone and the kind of old money arrogance that made my skin crawl.

Reed kept his hand on my lower back the entire time. Guiding me through the crowd. Introducing me to people whose names I immediately forgot.

“This is Asher Graham,” Reed said over and over. “He’s with me.”

Not a friend, not a classmate, just he is with me like I was a possession he was showing off.

The Alphas looked at me with barely concealed disdain. Some looked confused. Others looked amused. Like they couldn’t understand why Reed Jackson would bring someone like me to an event like this.

Someone who wasn’t an Alpha. Someone who didn’t belong.

I kept my mouth shut and stayed close to Reed like he’d told me to.

“Reed!”

A voice boomed across the room and Reed went rigid beside me. His hand on my back tightened almost painfully.

I looked up and saw an older Alpha approaching. Tall, broad-shouldered, with the same gray eyes as Reed but harder, colder and more cruel.

The resemblance was unmistakable. This had to be Reed’s father.

“Father,” Reed said. His voice was carefully neutral.

“I didn’t expect to see you here.” Alpha Thorne’s eyes flicked to me. His nostrils flared slightly, scenting me. His expression shifted to something between confusion and contempt. “Who’s this?”

“Asher Graham. He’s—” Reed hesitated for half a second. “He’s my guest.”

“Your guest.” Alpha Thorne’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve never brought a guest before.”

“I know.”

“And you chose—” Alpha Thorne’s gaze dragged over me with open contempt. “A weak Beta?”

The word landed like a punch. He thought I was a Beta, not an Alpha, not an Omega, just a Beta. Beneath notice. Beneath respect.

Reed’s hand on my back was shaking. I could feel the rage through the bond, carefully controlled but barely.

“Asher is a top student at the Academy,” Reed said. His voice was tight. “One of the best in our year.”

“Academics.” Alpha Thorne waved dismissively. “That’s fine for scholars and weaklings but you’re going to be Alpha of this pack, Reed. You should be surrounding yourself with strength. With other dominant Alphas. Not—” His eyes cut to me again. “Betas who contribute nothing.”

I wanted to disappear. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole.

“Father—”

“We’ll discuss this later.” Alpha Thorne’s voice went hard and cold. “Come find me in my study before you leave. We need to talk. Alone.”

The emphasis on alone was clear. I wasn’t invited and then he was gone, leaving Reed standing there with his hand still pressed against my lower back and fury radiating through every line of his body.

“I’m sorry,” Reed said quietly. “He’s—”

“An asshole?” I offered.

Reed’s lips twitched. Almost a smile. “Yeah. That.”

The rest of the evening was torture. Reed kept me close, his hand never leaving my lower back, introducing me to pack members who looked at me like I was something stuck to the bottom of their shoe.

I heard the whispers and saw the looks. Why would Reed bring a Beta?He’s not even an Alpha. What is Reed thinking? Probably just keeping him as a pet or something. The last comment made my face burn.

At one point, a group of older Alphas were discussing pack hierarchy while Reed and I stood nearby with drinks we weren’t touching.

“Omegas are beneath us,” one of them said, gesturing with his wine glass. “Always have been. That’s the natural order. Alphas lead. Betas serve. Omegas submit. Anyone who forgets that is a fool.”

“Absolutely,” another agreed. “My son tried to argue that Omegas should have equal standing. I had to remind him that tradition exists for a reason. They’re weak, emotional and incapable of real leadership.”

“It’s biology,” a third chimed in. “You can’t argue with biology. Alphas are superior. That’s just a fact.”

I felt Reed go rigid beside me. His hand on my back pressed harder, almost bruising.

I glanced up at him. His expression was carefully blank but his eyes—his eyes were conflicted like he was fighting some internal battle.

His jaw was clenched so tight I could see the muscle jumping.

“Excuse us,” Reed said abruptly. He steered me away from the group, his hand tight on my back.

We ended up on a balcony overlooking the estate grounds. The night air was cold but I welcomed it after the suffocating atmosphere inside. Reed’s hand finally dropped from my back. He gripped the balcony railing instead, his knuckles white.

“Do you agree with them?” I asked quietly. “About Omegas?”

Reed didn’t answer. His jaw clenched tighter.

“Reed?”

“I was raised to believe that,” Reed said finally. His voice was rough. “My father drilled it into me from the time I could walk. Alphas are superior. Omegas are weak. That’s the way things are.”

My chest tightened.

“But?” I prompted.

“But nothing.” Reed’s hands tightened on the railing. “That’s what I was taught. That’s what I believed.”

Believed. Past tense.

“And now?” I whispered.

Reed turned to look at me. His eyes were stormy and conflicted.

“Now I don’t know what the fuck I believe anymore,” Reed said.

Before I could respond, the balcony door opened. A younger Alpha I didn’t recognize stuck his head out. “Reed? Your father wants to see you. He’s in his study.”

Reed’s whole body went tense. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

The Alpha left and Reed turned back to me. “I have to go. This might take a while.”

“Should I wait out here or—”

“Go back inside. Stay where people can see you. Don’t talk to anyone.” Reed’s hand came to my face briefly. A fleeting touch. “I’ll find you when I’m done.”

Then he was gone and I went back inside and found a corner where I could watch without being watched.

Twenty minutes passed. Thirty. Forty-five.

Reed still hadn’t come back.

I was starting to wonder if I should just call a car and leave when Reed finally reappeared.

His expression was thunderous, his hands were clenched into fists.m, his lips bleeding and through the bond, I felt rage so intense it made my chest tight.

“We’re leaving,” Reed said. His voice was hard and flat. “Now.”

Without waiting for my response, he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the exit.

“Reed, what happened—”

“Not here.” Reed’s grip on my hand tightened almost painfully. “We’ll talk in the car. Maybe.”

We made it outside. Down the steps and straight to Reed’s car.

Reed opened my door wordlessly. Waited until I was inside. Then slammed it shut with more force than necessary.

The drive back to campus was silent.

Reed’s hands were white-knuckled on the steering wheel. His jaw was clenched, blood was dried on his split lips and the rage pouring through the bond was so intense I could barely breathe.

Whatever his father had said to him, it had been bad, really bad.

“Reed—” I started.

“Don’t.” Reed’s voice was sharp. “Just don’t. I can’t—I can’t talk about it right now.”

So we drove in silence and I sat there wondering what Alpha Thorne had said that had Reed this furious. If it had anything to do with me and whether I’d survive whatever decision they had said.

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