AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She sat perfectly still, swallowed, but didn’t say a word.
“Kayden, that’s the mate bond. You’re my fated mate.”
She jerked back, her eyes widening as my words sank in. “What?” she breathed, as shocked as I was.
My chest felt too tight as the reality of it truly hit me. “Don’t tell me you don’t feel this. There’s no way you don’t.”
Every moment we’d spent together played back in my mind as the pieces all fell into place, everything making sense for the first time.
She didn’t speak for a long time as we stared into each other’s eyes. “You’re my one true mate,” I repeated, the certainty of it growing with each passing second.
Finally, she nodded, her words barely a whisper as she said, “Yes, I feel it too.” Then she sucked in a sharp breath, panic flashing on her face. “But Holden, Ican’tbe your mate.”
My stomach twisted, my wolf whimpering inside, and my heart pounded furiously as what she was saying sank in. Raw, unfiltered fear worked its way through me. It wasn’t that she was denying we were mates. Rather, she recognized what I’d failed to, being so caught up in the realization that I’d forgotten one of our most important laws.
An alpha was expressly forbidden to have a fated mate.
I stared at her, my panic rising fast, and I shook my head, taking a step back. Uncertainty flooded my mind, all the reasons we couldn’t be together clashing with the instinctive desire to claim her as my own.
“Holden, don’t,” she said in a rush, reaching for me, but I took another step back. Her breathing became ragged, her face contorting in pain as I retreated further, at war with myself over what I should do.
“It’s a lot to take in. I get it,” she whispered, still reaching out to me. “Believe me, I’m just as shocked as you are.”
I blinked in confusion. My wolf urged me to go back to her, to take her in my arms. To never let her go. But the weight of my duty was stronger. “No,” I said abruptly. “You’re right. We can’t be mates. I’m just… mistaken.” But my words were hollow. An obvious lie. Because there was no mistaking it now that I’d recognized the mate bond for what it truly was. I was more certain of this than anything in my life.
“Holden,” she said, her voice shaking now. “That’s not what I meant. It’s okay. Just… sit down, and we can figure this out.”
But it wasn’t okay. Kayden being my mate changed everything.
“I have to go.”
“What?” Her voice cracked, the pain of my rejection palpable, and it pierced my heart as sharply as an arrow. I didn’t want to hurt her—far from it. But I didn’t know how to process this. Didn’t know how to deal with it. All I wanted was her, but she was the one person I couldn’t have—not if I wanted to take my place as alpha.
I needed to think. I had to get out of here before I did something stupid.
“I have to go,” I said, spinning on my heel.
Just then, the door to the infirmary swung open, Faye walking in with fresh clothes. She froze, looking between us, clearly aware she’d interrupted something.
Kayden hopped down from the table. “Take me to my room, please, Faye.” Her voice was tight, strained, and she wouldn’t look at me.
“Kayden.” I reached my hand out to her, the instinct to comfort her strong even though I knew it was a mistake. A risk I couldn’t take.
She only shook her head, pulling on the shirt Faye brought. Knowing I’d hurt her made me want to backtrack on everything I’d said. I was being torn in two, pulled between my duty to the packs and the primal need to be with my mate. But Faye was watching us with wide eyes. I wouldn’t have this conversation in front of her.
So I stood there wordlessly, my heart feeling like it might implode on itself as my mate walked out of the room and away from me without a backward glance.
* * *
Go after her,my wolf seemed to say, the urge so strong I almost couldn’t think rationally.
I turned, catching a glance of myself in the mirrored wall. I looked wild. Unhinged.
Like my wolf might burst out at any moment.
I had to get out of here.
I left the infirmary and the building as quickly as possible, jogging along a trail down to the beach. The moon was covered by clouds tonight, suiting my mood perfectly. I let the rhythmic roar of the ocean crashing steady my thoughts as I tried to process everything that just happened.
