Page 77 of Tangled Fates

Annoyed with my wolf, I almost threatened to leave, but I didn’t know if I would be able to wretch myself away from her now. So, I stayed quiet, wishing for his silence and his cooperation. I knew asking for the last part was a stretch, but it didn't hurt to send a prayer to whoever was listening for a chance to keep my wolf from shifting and mating with her.

Soren, Gray and our mate worked well into the night. I expected them to give up, but they worked on, spell after spell until they had three possibilities. When I heard them walking down the stairs, I stood up only to feel my body stiffen from staying in the same position for too long. I kept myself out of sight off to the side of the tower. It gave me a good view of the door and where they would try out their spells.

My stomach grumbled, angry that I missed lunch and dinner. I was glued to the spot under the window and going inside to eat put me too close to her. The door opened as a new rush of her scent enveloped me. My longing increased along with my wolf’s need for her, making me shake from trying to keep myself from rushing to her to complete the bond.

“Don’t worry, Sunshine,” Gray said calmly, but I heard the slight edge to his voice. “It's going to work.”

Soren looked over his shoulder right at me. I wanted to be mad at him, but he was only doing what a mate was supposed to do. He called me out on my shit, and I pushed back, even though I knew calling her anything but perfect was an insult.

I nodded, hoping he knew I was sorry, but his expression made me even more worried. He didn’t think anything was going to work. Pursing my lips, I ran my hand through my long hair that was in desperate need of being cut.

As much as I didn’t want to bring her with us, I couldn’t be the asshole to my best friends. They never imagined finding their mate and I couldn’t… I wouldn’t be the person who kept them away from their mate.

My mind instantly went through all our contacts and who could help us. The most powerful witches were either Belladonnas, Lindsey or Addie. Usually, I kept my dealings secret, but for this, I would need to tell someone the entire truth or keep it as close to the truth without spilling her identity.

Serena would have been able to give me clarity. Shit. My sadness overwhelmed me, my knees buckled as I fell to the hard ground. My body shook, my grief had grabbed ahold of me and it wasn't letting go this time.

I didn’t know I was crying until small hands cupped my face. My vision was blurred so I couldn’t see her beautiful face, but the smell told me it was my mate.

“She will always be a part of you. I will never replace her, nor do I want to,” she said softly. “She made you the man you are today, and her memory should never be forgotten. I wished to have met her as well.”

My mate kissed my cheek ever so softly. She lingered longer than she should have, breathing deeply like she couldn’t get enough of my scent. I clenched my hands to keep myself from bringing her closer.

“I’m sorry you lost her,” she whispered, removing her hands from me.

The loss of her hands almost drove me to lunge at her, throw her over my shoulder to show her who she really belonged to. Her footsteps tapped away from me until they were faint, leaving me alone again. My body sagged from the tension I had been holding onto as tears continued to fall.

“It’s ok to mourn her.”

I growled when I looked up to see Gray sitting on a rock.

“Sorry, I thought you knew I was here.”

My eyes closed, trying to pull myself together.

“I… I…” The words lodged in my throat.

“I know,” he said, walking up to me, brushing up against my arm before giving me space. It was an act of comfort I desperately needed. “I can’t imagine what you are going through. I know you loved her like a mate and thought that she was your endgame.”

I waited for the “buts” that I knew was going to come, but it didn’t.

“I know seeing Oria or being near her is hard for you, and I’m sorry you found your mate like this,” he said, sitting in front of me. “Are you ok?”

No, I was not ok, I was in agony. My own personal hell but telling him that felt wrong because I was talking about his mate too.

“Sorry, that was a dumb question,” he mumbled. “I know you’re struggling, I can feel it and see it, but just because she is my mate, doesn’t mean you can’t talk to me.”

I clenched my jaw, desperate to say something. The silence was unbearable, we had never had anything come between us, we talked about everything.

She was changing everything.

Gray sighed. “I know you’re hurting, but I’ll always be your friend.”

We stared at each other before he stood up and walked away.

“I hope she makes you happy and I know it doesn’t seem like it now, but I’m happy you found her,” I whispered, knowing he could hear me.

“You could be happy too,” he said with a sad smile, walking away.

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