6AVERY

After a few steps under the hypnotic lure tugging me forward, I falter to a stop, trying to make sense of what’s happening. The pause doesn’t last long as every fiber of my being begs for him to feel complete.

I pant, rushing through the grass towards the bonfire.

Someone’s in my way. I elbow them aside with a grunt. Another person yells something at me. I growl in their direction, stalking across the lawn, jumping over an empty bench. I search the crowd, baring my teeth at their open disdain.

My hearing stretches farther than I’m used to. I hear him. Deep tones making a dulcet melody. Then another voice—female, too inviting.

Another wild noise tears from my chest. No! He’s mine. No one else can claim him but me. I’ll attack anyone who tries.

There’s a crash across the fire pit, followed by a growled, “Get out of my way.”

My knees threaten to buckle at his voice. I shove past the group in my way, then freeze at the male several feet from me.

Caden stares back at me, equally shocked.

My heart rises in my throat as I watch his scorn towards me melt away. I gasp as his features soften and his gaze flares with reverence.

How can I have a mate? How can it be Caden after everything that’s come between us?

I hate him, yet…I don’t.

Not right now. I can’t hate him now. He’s my mate. He’s made for me. To love me. To protect me. He’s perfect, as he should be.

He’s so handsome. Strong. It’ll feel good to be wrapped in those huge arms at last. Tuck my nose in the crook of his neck to inhale more of his divine woodsy scent. Lick—yes, licking every carved muscle when I tear off his shirt and mark him all over.

Reason flits in and out of my head, fighting with another presence unfurling there.

Mate. Go now.

The inner force drives me forward, pacing behind my ribcage until I give in. I feel drunk out of my mind, releasing a delirious laugh.

The pull drawing me to Caden is so strong I stagger, eyes wide and locked on him. He’s my mate. My heart’s True match.

I mouth his name and a breath punches from his lungs. He holds an arm outstretched to me, striding for me at the same time I start running.

We don’t stop until we collide. His arms circle my body and I press my face into his firm chest, dragging in deep lungfuls. He grips the back of my coverall dress, tugging me closer to press against the rapid thud of his heart.

It’s still not enough to burn away the throbbing sensation in me that I mistook for hunger. Now I understand it was the mate bond forming to tie our souls together. The magic fills me, twining around my heart, reaching out to connect me to his. If I focus on the intangible threads of the bond, I recognize him at the other end.

I meet his fixed stare in wonder, lips parted. His blue eyes swallow me in their stormy depths ringed with gold.

Yes, mate. Handsome, perfect mate. Yes, yes, yes, yesyesyes⁠—

Everything in me chants a celebration in a curious voice that isn’t quite my own, matching the speed of my racing pulse as our bond lights me up from within. It drowns out my stunned surprise that I’ve found my fated match and the old, trampled wish I used to cling to, secretly hoping Caden Blackburn would be my mate.

Caden’s fingertips graze the edge of my cheek, sending a tremor through my body that leaves me shivering. He emits a low rumble tinged with pride in response. My heart drums faster, warmth spreading outward from the glow emanating around it until my entire being is enveloped in it.

His chest rises and falls with ragged breaths as he tilts my face up, gaze roving greedily over every inch like this is the first time he’s seen me, truly seen me, in years and he’s making up for lost time.

Every inhale tinged with his delicious scent is so intense, I’m swooning, intoxicated by the sensation of the newly formed mate bond threading us together.

I want to say so much—his name, a plea, mate—yet all of it sticks in my throat. With a thick swallow, I rest my hand on his chest, hoping the bond will convey the rushing swell of emotions overwhelming me. His large, rough hand covers my wrist. His touch is gentle at first, as if he’s worried I’ll break.

Just before our lips brush he goes rigid, grip tightening until I wince. His gaze hardens when he pulls back, the bond turning hot, too hot, jolting my heart with a vicious lightning strike.

For a moment, the pain in my heart reflects in his expression before he shakes his head. His features contort to the hatred I forgot when our bond connected us as True Mates.

“No,” Caden snarls through clenched teeth. “I reject you.”

It’s difficult to breathe as I’m lanced through at those words. Shocked murmurs break out around us.

He shoves me away when I cling to him in confusion. The whiplash from new bond-high to the first tear in the connection between us leaves me dizzy and unable to process what’s happening.

“W-what?” I choke out as I reach for him. “Caden⁠—”

He bats my hand aside. “Fate is wrong. I could never have a mate like you.”

Something inside me shatters.

Oh.

My heart, I realize amidst the soul-deep pain of his rejection.

Distantly, I’m aware of more intense murmuring from the crowd surrounding us. Fate-blessed bonds are a gift from the moon goddess. It’s taboo to refuse them, almost unheard of.

The fledgling mate bond frays, unable to complete fate’s design. The incandescent glow that filled me with warmth and love dims to nothing but the shredded remains of what could’ve been. I clutch at my chest, a wounded sound escaping me.

Caden does nothing to help me, leaving me to fend for myself. I’m sure I’m dying. Does he not feel the same? I can’t tell because his face is set in a stony mask.

My body aches with the throb of the mangled bond. My legs threaten to give out. Breathing is painful. Thinking hurts.

Through it all, one thing rings clear in my mind.

Fate chose the worst possible mate for me. My enemy.

Finding Caden Blackburn is my mate after everything I’ve been through has to be some cruel joke. The moon goddess must be laughing at me.

I shake my head, but the grating sound of snickering doesn’t clear. It surrounds me, raking across my frayed nerves. I swing my blurred gaze around the circle of packmates that look on with open hunger and derision for this spectacle. Their wolves are close to the surface, poised to jump on my weakness and tear me apart.

My lip curls and I bare my teeth at them. I might not have the ability to shift into a wolf, but I’m still as fierce and will fight to survive anything. Even rejection from my fated mate.

Lorne smirks at the display and sweeps his gaze over me. He prowls into the circle, attention sliding to Caden over my head.

“Look at the little witchling playing at being a wolf. She’s hardly worthy of a True Mate bond with you, is she, Alpha Blackburn?” he drawls the title with an open hint of mockery. “You’re right to refuse her, cousin. The pack wouldn’t follow you if you mated her. A Morgan in the Alpha lodge again?”

Lorne clicks his tongue in dismay. Caden’s shoulders tense. He swipes a hand over his mouth, avoiding looking at me.

I want to get away from here, but I also want to crawl on my hands and knees to him. I fucking hate myself for it, battling the urge until it’s suppressed.

Lorne blocks my view of Caden. My teeth ache as I sidestep him. He delights in my misery, toying with me by getting in my way repeatedly. I shove at him, too wound up to remember that I shouldn’t.

He grins, leaning into me while speaking to Caden. “It’s best not to leave a female like her unmated. Not to bear my pups, of course. To keep her under control. She might be Wolfless, but she’s still pretty. I’m sure the bitch still knows how to present to be mounted all the same. I’d bet she’ll look even prettier when I have her on all fours.”