Page 6 of Bonded Beyond Trickery

If only I had the hope of it being a fruitful endeavor. Honestly, and I only allow myself to admit this in the darkest of night and only to myself, I’ve lost hope.

I’m just not sure what to do with the reality of never finding my mate and leading my pack with no one at my side.

CHAPTER 3

TILLY

As I slide my hands down over the red silk wrapped around my body and look at myself in the mirror, I have to admit that I look great. If only the way I look could hide the nerves written all over my face. With a glance at the clock, I know I’ve taken almost too long to get ready.

I could blame it on how long it took to curl my hair and style it in a throw back glamor kind of way, but it would be a lie. I’ve been dragging my heels, and I know it.

I’m not sure if I hope Whitaker is there or if I’m praying to the Moon Goddess that he stays home. It would probably be easier to get it done with and being in public might work in my favor when he realizes that he should have known he was my mate five years ago.

If he’s not there, I’m not really sure what my plan is. Do I go to his pack and throw myself at his feet, hoping for forgiveness for my actions?

“Yes,”my wolf tells me seriously,“that’s exactly what you do. You’ve kept us from our mate for too long.”

“What if he can’t forgive us?”I whisper the question, my deepest fear, in the void that exists between my wolf and me.

“Us,”she snorts.“There is no us in this, my human. You made choices and took steps to ensure that our mate couldn’t scent us.”

“You agreed with it,”I fire back.

“I did,”she sighs, and I can feel just how much she doesn’t want to admit as much.“I just wanted you to be happy, my human. You had a dream, and I wasn’t going to stand in your way. We’ll be better able to help the pack we’re destined to lead now. We’re an asset. I just,”my wolf growls softly with a tinge of fear that strikes the center of my chest like a gong,“hope mate will see it that way.”

“We’ll make him see it that way,”I force a fierceness into my tone that I’m not sure I feel.

But my wolf deserves to be reassured. She’s right.

It was my dream and even though it does mean we’re better equipped to help rule as more than just the mother of the pack and with more than just strength. I have knowledge on my side now. My business degree will come in handy, I’m sure.

As long as my mate doesn’t put me in a certain box and lets me spread my wings and use my education.

“You don’t give our mate enough credit,”my wolf snarls.

After taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly and try to calm my racing heart.

The soft knock at my door has me almost jumping out of my skin. Fuck. I need to get myself together.

Thankfully, I’m able to stride across my room and open my door without tripping over my feet and not even wobbling in my heels.

Honestly, I’m not used to wearing them at all, but it’s really the only choice considering the fancy dress I’m wearing. Nothing less will do for a mating ball.

Elodie’s smiling face greeting me when I open the door has me desperately wanting to break out in tears, but I hold them back. Barely.

I don’t think I can ever put into words how happy I am for my best friend and my brother. They’re perfect for each other. I wasn’t sure that Crew deserved a heart so sweet, but he got his shit together, stopped fucking around, and recognized the worth of having his perfect mate at his side.

“If only we had done the same years ago,”my wolf chuffs which has me internally rolling my eyes.

“Woah,” Elodie breathes as she takes me in. “You look amazing.”

Her praise has me blushing slightly and focusing on something other than my anxiety and my pissed off wolf. My eyes widen as I take in my best friend in front of me.

Before I can stop myself, I blurt out, “Why are you dressed up?”

Crew slinks up to his mate and wraps a possessive arm around her shoulders with a smirk on his face. “Did you really think that I’d pass up a chance to show off my mate?”

Elodie snorts, but Crew only fixes her with a serious look. Yeah, my Alpha brother is not joking. Not even a little bit.

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