Page 5 of Abel

Another voice interrupted from behind him, Mika, the psychic rested her hands on his shoulders.“It was never what you wanted, you were just too proud, to be honest about it.”

He nodded.“You’re right.Pride is the downfall of man.”

Mika pulled a chair over and took a seat next to Zap.“Abel, you can fix this.”

Zap nodded enthusiastically.“Nothing is set in stone.”

“I rejected her.And she broke our bond.”He growled.“Sounds pretty set in stone to me.”

Mika shook her head.“I see happiness in your future if you are brave enough to fight for it.”

Abel sat up and shook his head.“After the way I treated her, I don’t deserve it.”

Zap crossed her arms.“You are not sitting here having a pity party for yourself.Your mate is about to marry a murderer.You need to suck it up and find a way to save her.She’s your mate.Man up, Abel!”

He should be mad at the little pixie’s outburst, but truth be told, she was right.“I don’t even know how to stop it.”

Mika cleared her throat and smiled.“I think I can help with that.”

CHAPTER3

Esme roundedthe corner of her cozy human neighborhood and pulled out her keys.The ache in her heart was nearly unbearable, but she did her best to ignore it.Her wolf was hurting too, but even the she-wolf, who’d held out hope for so long, knew it was time to move on.She’d set Abel free.She had to, otherwise her bond to Remus wouldn’t hold, and if she weren’t married and mated, soon her father’s kingdom would fall to his enemies.

Duty over self.

She snickered to herself over her family’s ridiculous motto.When had her father ever put anything before himself?King Lycaon was known for many things, but being selfless was not one of them.As she pushed open her white wooden gate, Remus’s voice knotted her stomach, and not in a good way.

“How’d your Speed Dating thing go?Find a better mate than me?”

She rolled her eyes.“Well, I came home alone, didn’t I?”

“I guess that’s true,” the male wolf growled.“But my biggest question is, will you be a loyal wife once the time comes.”

Esme whipped around to face him and narrowed her eyes.“Are you questioning me on my word?”A warning snarl left her lips and she advanced on him.“On the day we stand before my father and exchange vows, my loyalty will lie with you.Until then, my loyalty is to myself.”

“Did you see Abel?”

Pushing the small gate closed between them, she turned toward her house and muttered.“Yes, you were right.He was there.”

“And?”He asked as she turned the key in her door.

“It’s done.As agreed.There is no barrier to our union now.”

He said something, but she’d already walked inside and shut the door.Tossing her purse on the entryway table, Esme headed to the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of wine and a corkscrew, and headed out onto her moonlit patio.Popping the bottle cork, she took a long drink and held the bottle up toward the moon.“Cheers, m’lady.Hope you’re enjoying the drama tonight.”

A few stars in the night sky flickered, which she took as a universal yes from the moon goddess that ruled half of her soul, and continued to sip her wine while soothing the pain wracking her body.

* * *

Abel’s scent engulfed her,in her dreams she could feel the warmth of his body pressed against her.Only here in her dreams could she indulge in such a fantasy.In the real world, he wouldn’t touch her, but for just a moment she wanted to revel in the thought of him.

“Did you even save a drink for me?”His raspy voice whispered against her ear.

She moaned and wiggled in her sleep.Her body suddenly had the sensation of floating.Why was she floating?Esme’s eyes shot open to find Abel carrying her inside her own house.

“What the hell!What are you doing?Put me down!”She yelled.

“Are you sure?”He grinned.“You look pretty happy.”

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