Chapter 78
Chapter 79
“ If you are looking for Thane, don’t bother. He doesn’t see anyone on this day. He holds up in his office working. Well, he will see me because he knows I understand the loss of his family since I was close to them as well. We share that grief together. Yeah, good for you, you damn hood rat. That’s what I want to say, but I can’t. So I open my eyes wide and give her a big thumbs up and lerk my head. My eyes saying ‘ good for you” sarcastically as I head to the elevator. The more comfortable I get here, the more comfortable I am getting in my own skin. I ponder how I will grow and what my personality will turn into as I find myself. My likes, dislikes will shape me. And right now, I dislike Della. Darcy. Denise. Whoever the hell she is.
I enter my rooms and shower. Collapsing into bed, I check my phone No messages from Thane. I thought about sending one to him, reassuring him somehow since I am sure he is going through hell today, but I don’t think that is what he would want. I do however have a message from Kian. Just seeing his name has guilt coursing through officially mated, but it feels Wirty. Wrong.
I didn’t cheat on him. I don’t feel a bond. I am not
Kian: Hello, my mate. I was hoping to swing by tonight, say around 8 Take you out to dinner, a real date. Me and you. Get to know each other better.
Me: I don’t know. I worked all morning and am not used to that, so am pretty tired.
Kian: Lots of people work all day Ayla. They don’t need to spend seven hours in bed recuperating. We need to move this mate bond thing forward. Do you have any idea what it is like having to suffer the pull of the bond. To have you ache in my chest all day. To have my wolf riding me to claim you. To go without seeing you? It is torture.
I never thought what he might be feeling on his end of the bond. I forget what I learned about the bond and how it can affect you if you are too far from each other, etc. We haven’t sealed the bond yet, but I didn’t realize he was suffering. I also feel a pang of disappointment through me as I realize he is suffering. He made that clear. That means he is my mate, and I have lost Thane for good. I clench my chest, my heart wanting to break in two, but I knew this could happen. We both knew this would happen. I send him a text an agree to seeing him. He deserves to get some relief and getting to know him better could only help.
8:10pm is here and there is finally a knock on the door. I hate it when people don’t value each other’s time appropriately and make others wait. If I want to be on time, I will be there early. I head to the door wearing a light blue, gauzy, hi–low dress I found in my closet. It isn’t too dressy and is modest with a halter top neckline. I pair it with wedge sandals and a distressed jean jacket, dressing it down to more my taste. My hair is in a long braid over my shoulder. The weather has turned to fall and could be chilly plus I don’t know where we are going, but hopefully it isn’t his bar.
I open the door to find him standing in a polo shirt, fitted tight against his muscles and dark, distressed jeans. His hair is mess, but he looks handsome. He is clean shaven and smells like cinnamon more so today than our previous times we have met. I open the door slightly and his perusal of my body turns to stone. His eyes become heated, his nostrils flaring. He pushes his way through my door and heads straight to my bedroom. Oh shit. I follow him as he stands outside of the adjoining door. Kian turns back around to me, a murderous glare on his features and at this point, and I feel afraid. I do not want to be trapped in this room with him.
“Did you spend time with the alpha again? Huh? I TOLD YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM HIM.” He yells and before I know it the room is rocking sideways quickly and I hit the floor. I bring my hand up to my face as I see him looming over me. He backhanded me. My lip is busted, and I can feel blood trickling down my chin. “I have one job Aylá. To keep YOU away from HIM. I will be damned if I let you ruin this payday for me, you stupid bitch. You will come with me willingly or I will take you. You decide, but your days here in this pack are over.” I can’t even process what is happening. The amount of shit to unpack that he just spewed from his mouth is mind blowing. I am confused and breathing hard. My eyes must be the size of saucers as this point, and I don’t know what to do.
He reaches his hand out to grab me and that’s when I feel it. My eyes glow as my mental barrier is shattered. Aramana makes her presence known. A low growl sounds off from my chest and before he can grab me a ball of blue shimmering light shoots from my hands and sends Kian flying across the room, making a crater in the dry wall with his body before he hits the floor. I told you I wanted you to reconnect before you forced me to. Go now, find Thane. Aramana pushes into my mental barrier, and I get up and flee,
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.