Page 17 of Challenged Mate
I scoffed. “No.”
Of course, I don’t.
The thought made my stomach churn, thanks to the fated bond that had wrapped itself around my very soul.
“But Asher said—”
“No offense, Kayla,” I interrupted, my heart aching at just the sound ofhisname. “But I don’t care what your brother said. If there was a way out of mating your alpha without condemning the Summit Pack to pay for my choice, I’d gladly take it.”
Kayla’s only response was to blink. My declaration truly shocked her.
Any why wouldn’t it?
She had no idea I shared a bond with her brother.
She had no idea why I wouldn’t want to mate the most powerful male in her pack.
And I couldn’t tell her.
Not without making things even more complicated than they already were.
“No female can win your position as the alpha’s future mate,” Chase told me gently. He knew exactly how much I didn’t want to go through with his pack’s prize. “If a female in our pack challenged you, it would just be a way to prove her own worth while shaming you in the process.”
“The only thing that will hold them back is their uncertainty about what you can do with your magic,” Kayla added quietly. “So, I agree with Chase… it’s best if you don’t broadcast your weakness to them.”
I failed to hide my disappointment. The pitying expressions lobbed my way made that clear.
I coughed, clearing my throat, then said, “Well… I should probably learn how to use my magic.”
“I can teach you,” Kayla quickly offered.
“That’s a great idea,” Chase seconded, eager to guide the conversation away from the depressing topic of my forced mating. “Kayla is the strongest sorceress in the pack. With her help, I’m sure you’ll have control of your powers in no time.”
“No doubt,” Kayla agreed, once again bouncing up and down. “We can start tomorrow if you’re interested. But no pressure if you’d rather take it easy for a few days as you adjust to living here.”
“No,” I blurted. “Tomorrow sounds great.” The last thing I needed was to be idle and allow sad and regretful thoughts to commandeer my mind.
Kayla beamed. “Perfect! It’s a date.”
I managed a small smile in return.
Nothing could make me forget everything I’d lost, but maybe I could learn how to wield whatever power was inside me.
Maybe I could find some good in being forced to live among the Wilds Pack.
Maybe, this new life wouldn’t be so bad.
Five
Four days passed,and I could not stop thinking about Asher. He said he would be gone for a few days, but I didn’t anticipate how much his absence would affect me.
Each morning, I woke up with the image of him fresh in my mind. My fingers tingled with the memories of trailing them over his body in my dreams, and my lips burned with the pressure from his imagined lips.
My longing was all-consuming.
I knew it was the effects of the bond—the Mother trying to force us together—but that did not make the feelings easier to manage.
Everyone said males felt the effect of mate bonds more keenly. If that were true, how was Asher handling our separation? Why hadn’t he returned to alleviate this ache for the both of us?
