Page 109 of Scorned

I glanced at Heston, hoping to get some kind of hint to the situation.

“He found his fated mate,” he muttered, and my eyes bulged, my mouth falling open.

Even though my emotions were stuck on my sister and Luka, it was nice having some good news for a change, so I forced a smile. “It’s about time, bro. Congrats.”

“Congrats? Congrats?” Drag flung his body back into a standing position, his face angering as he flung his arms out. “I can’t even be with her. She’s barely an adult!”

I cocked a brow. “Who the hell are we talking about?”

“Aluna,” Kimber said, glaring, seemingly pissed. “She’s from Galen’s pack. And for the record, she’s twenty-four and super sweet. He’s lucky to even have her.”

“She’s twenty-four?” Drag put his hands on the side of his head. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

I tsked, furrowing my brows. “That sounds like an adult to me.”

Drag smacked his hairy chest. “I’m thirty-three! I can’t entertain a child when I have responsibilities to this pack.”

“She’s not a child!” Kimber yelled, clenching her fists. “And you won’t have to worry about that after what you did to her. The poor girl probably has a broken heart, thanks to you.”

“What did he do?” I asked, ready for some tea. Shit, I was ready for some popcorn so I could sit back and watch the show. It was nice being on the sidelines of the drama for a minute.

“He rejected her!” Kimber shouted, throwing her hands out, her boobs separating. “Who rejects their fated mate? My brother, that’s who. And you should have seen Aluna’s face, Winnie. She just stood there, all teary-eyed, and he didn’t say a damn thing.”

“I didn’t reject her. I just walked away so I can think about things.”

“We have traditions, Dragos. Ones you completely neglected to do. So, call it walking away or thinking about it all you damn want, but you rejected her, you asshole!”

Kimber stomped off and I glanced at Drag.

“Shut up, Winnie!”

I threw my hands out. “I didn’t even say anything.”

Drag stared at me because, although I didn’t state it, he knew exactly what I was thinking. He shook his head and trudged off toward his cabin.

For years now, I’d followed him to every witch festival or party he wanted to attend in hopes of finding a fated mate, or at least a luna to help him lead his pack, each of them ending with him being sad. And now that he had a fated mate, I couldn’t understand why he didn’t feel relieved, other than the obvious age gap. But nine years wasn’t a lot. Shit, I was twenty-five when I turned, but had been on this earth for fifty-two years, and was dating Lyric who was twenty-six.

I tilted my head, wondering if I was technically dating an older woman.

“How’s Luka and Vivi?” Heston asked, bringing my attention to him. “We heard the screaming.”

Not knowing what to say, I shrugged. “I don’t know, bro.”

“They’ll be fine, I’m sure,” Lyric said with a fake smile that didn’t back her words. “We just have to be patient and kind.”

“Keep your eyes above their waistline,” I teased and she smacked my arm.

“Winston, stop.” She blushed, tilting her head toward her feet, and I couldn’t help but stare at the side profile of her beautiful face.

The only thought occupying my mind was the overwhelming concern I had for her while we were infiltrating VRC. I could finally imagine the pain Sage went through when they took Luka.

I loved her so much, I would have totally lost my shit without her.

Oh fuck. My lips parted, my mind stalling as if it was running on Windows 98 and attempting to use dial-up.

I love her?

The beating of my heart against my chest was so intense, I thought I was going to die. I quickly closed my mouth when Peach strolled up, her face unreadable.

---