Page 23 of Knot Quite Ready

She purses her lips and strides to the kitchen, picking up the popcorn bowl on the way.

"Fine, but correct me if I'm wrong," she tosses over her shoulder as I follow behind her. "You mated during your heat. What does that mean for your bond? He could find you no matter where you go, right?"

I curse, forgetting that gem. I feel Agatha's smugness reverberate through my head. Storm, is right on both counts, we mated during my heat, and I claimed him even if it was during the sex-filled haze. There is no distance I can go where Casimir wouldn't be able to use the bond to find us. Motherfuck.

"Unless..." she stands in front of the microwave, salivating at the popcorn popping. "is there a way to block the bond temporarily until you can take the time you need to figure shit out?"

I feel Agatha rear back at the suggestion. I consider her words. It would take a powerful magical charm, but what was the benefit of having witches as part of your tribe if you couldn't get a magic charm to block a bond from your fated mate so you could run away and cry like a little bitch?

"The witches. We can ask Lynsday for help. Hopefully, before Casimir wakes up from the heat coma. It should keep him knocked out for a couple more hours," I look down at the time and shoot Lyndsay a quick 911 message.

"Hmm, that would work. I can't imagine Agatha will like that much; even my mare is cursing me out for even suggesting it. Apparently, it will cause you quite a bit of discomfort being cut off from your bond," her face scrunches as she listens to her mare, "and it's also unnatural. She thinks I'm encouraging you when I should...beat some sense into you and then just rally the shifters and...wow, that was very creative...well, let's just say she wants us to go kill your grandfather, get revenge, so then you can stop worrying."

I blink. Well, safe to say that Storm and her mare are one and the same.

"Can't say she's too off base. I'm totally down to plan a murder and pack takeover instead of sending you off with your bushy tail tucked between your legs," Storm grabs the popcorn and starts shoving it into her mouth.

I ignore her sage advice as my phone beeps.

Lynsday- On it, see you in twenty.

“Lyndsay will be here in twenty. I understand everything you are saying, but I need time to sort shit out. Mental stability before murder and all that."

She gives me the side eye but, luckily, doesn’t comment on my crisis of conscience, and that’s one of the reasons I love her. Yelling, advice, murder planning, and understanding. Pack.

We sit in silence for a while, stuffing all the buttery goodness into our mouths. Until I realized that in my drama, I never asked her about Calian or what the fuck I missed while I was otherwise occupied.

“I meant to ask you what happened with your fuckfest? I’m sorry, I am so wrapped up in my shit that I didn't ask you what happened with Calian.”

She gives me a dirty chuckle, and I ignore the pieces of popcorn that fly out of her mouth.

“Cliff notes version until I can give the story the justice it deserves. A wild ride through a forest, a concussion, an annoying ass second-in-command that will probably be our new bestie, mind-blowing sex, and a mare who wants me as relaxed as possible before, apparently, the most excruciating pain ever," she rolls her eyes.

"As for Calian, is he fucking dreamy? Fuck, yes. Do I picture him as a horse while I’m riding on his back through a prairie full of flowers and majestic dragons? Also yes. But don’t tell him that.” She leans in and punches my shoulder, “But I’m not the one going through all the emotions. So, we’re going to handle your shit so we can have a proper girls' day with diagrams and shit.”

I laugh, my heart feeling full. Storm is sugar, extra spice, sinister plans, and porn diagrams. Everything a best friend should be. Every day I’m glad I met her.

I breathe a sigh of relief, "I just need a vacation, completely off-grid, then I can come back and figure shit out."

Storm leans against the counter for a beat, and then a devilish smirk takes over her face. “I think you need to have somewhere with cocktails, unlimited food, and time to be yourself.”

“Go on; I’m listening.”

“How about,” she pauses for dramatic effect and gives me jazz hands. “You need to go on a cruise. Sun sea, sand, and lack of sexy alphas.” She tips me a wink, and I let the idea claw its way into my brain.

I’ve got sudden images of laying on a lounger for days, only getting up for food and having drinks handed to me whenever I wanted. Then it’s replaced by soft fluffy sand with aquamarine water softly lapping against it, only broken by the soft tropical music.

"Sounds fucking perfect," I smile, resisting the urge to rub a palm over the ache in my heart because, in all those images, Casimir is right alongside me.

ChapterTwelve

Casimir

“Where the fuck is she?” I growl at the useless waste of space in front of me. “It has been two fucking weeks, and I’ve not heard a single thing about where she could be. If I don’t get an answer soon, your head will be on a platter.”

I slam my fist down on my desk, snapping it in half. I can barely breathe through the rage coursing through my body and fight the urge to gasp for breath. Instead, I let my claws slide out and squeeze my hand, the bite of pain making it easier for me to gulp down air like a man starved for oxygen.

But that is precisely what I was. A wolf deprived of its mate, freshly bonded or not, suddenly and without reason was like pouring acid on an open wound. I feel my heart breaking within my chest, a piece of it chipping away every second I don't feel our bond. It is a dull echo in my chest, and no amount of rubbing can ease the pain I'm feeling.

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