Page 151 of Shifting Hearts 1
Looking up, I began to tell him something I never would have admitted out loud before. “She is different.”
He folds his hands together on the desk and waits patiently for me to continue. “I’ve been with a few of our kind, and the power exchange was always expected, but this time it feels different. I don’t know how to explain it other than I feel like achafed open nerve, sensitive to her every need. It feels like I’m driving myself crazy trying to figure her out and deal with all these new sensations raging inside me.”
I am close to the edge of losing it, being so vulnerable before him when I know it is expected of me to always be strong. An enforcer for the cartel isn’t weak and confused.
“Have I ever told you about my first love?”
I unclench my fist and lean back in my chair, faking nonchalance while shaking my head in denial.
“Her name was Maria, Maria Santiago. And she was my true mate in every way. When I was with her, I was stronger than ever before, and the power made me arrogant. She was sweet and kind and could never understand why I needed to be a part of this world. She wanted me to be loyal to her and run away together. She always said that together we can be an unbeatable force. She even convinced her brother to give me her hand in marriage.”
He gets a faraway look in his eyes, and I probe, “What happened?”
Sadness beams from his eyes when he looks back at me and says, “She took her own life. I was promised to marry your aunt, and the family expected me to keep my promise to strengthen our position in the cartel. When I told her, she warned me that I would never be the same again. Little did I know, she meant I would lose my power and someday I would be completely normal. Sure, the Basilisk gene is dormant, and I might’ve given it to one of my children, but I don’t know that for sure, and none of them have shown any signs.”
“But I’ve slept with others before, and I’ve always retained my power. After bonding with them, I had an infusion of power, but it always faded back to normal.”
“That was before you bonded with your true mate.”
This can’t be.
There is no such thing.
“Let me guess, she was a virgin. And you lost control over your transformation. Not to mention, you feel different somehow. Like you have a fire controlling your every action. You are completely infatuated with her, and seeing her unhappy or sad or anything less than deliriously happy puts your body on high alert, and you want to burn down the world for her? Am I getting close? What about a special power that just wasn’t heightened but undiscovered before she bonded with you?”
“How did you know?” I said in awe.
“That is what happened to me. If I can give you any advice, you must make her stay, no matter what she wants. That’s if you want to keep this power. And in case you haven’t figured it out yet, her being your true mate means that you will be able to learn to love each other deeper and truer than with any other person.”
“That’s not possible. She’s already in love with someone else. It’s the whole reason she agreed to sleep with me in the first place. I promised her the bond would make her powerful enough to save her boyfriend.”
The words tasted bitter on my lips.
“When did she mention this? Because she said nothing yesterday in the car.”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that my power is enhanced right now, and we are going to need it if we are going to go after the rats in our family and that useless piece of shit.”
He sighs, and I can see the disappointment in his frown.
I stand and smooth the wrinkles from my pants before I simply state, “So if anything, we need to force Alvarez’s hand and speed up the timeline for our plan. Before Maddy decides to leave with her boyfriend. It isn’t like I need her anyway. And if it means that I lose my powers completely, then so be it. Maybe then the cartel will release me, and I can have a real life.”
“I never realized you were so unhappy, Alejandro. You should have come to me earlier. I could have made another plan.”
“I’m not unhappy. I just wish there was something more in my life.
Uncle Angelo stands and walks to me. “If that is your wish, why would you even consider letting your true mate go? You are a handsome man and can be quite convincing when you want to be. Why not try and make her fall in love with you?”
“This is not up for discussion. Talk to the ones you still trust. I will come back tomorrow, and we can plan our next move. Now, if you will excuse me, we have a dinner to attend, and I need to escape this house without stabbing my cousin with a fucking fork.”
He chuckles as he puts a hand on my shoulder. “Better prepare yourself. You have no idea what a wild ride you’re in for. Finding your fated mate should not be taken lightly. But I have an idea you’re going to learn that the hard way.”
Then he walks past me and rejoins the living outside.
ELEVEN
Maddy
The night was pleasant enough and the dinner delicious. By the time Alejandro and his uncle joined us, I was well on my way to making a friend of Gabby. Benito was still arrogant, but I have been dealing with men like him in the club as well. The only thing that saved him was that I ignored and never told Alejandro of his constant salacious thoughts about me.
