She looks away.“They didn’t know what they were getting into.One beta was a tyrant who didn’t care about his mates, and the other was a young, inexperienced alpha.”
“Tell me what happened,” Roen growls.I recognize that tone.An alpha’s command.
“Both times, the human died when they tried to complete the bond,” Olivia whispers.
I go numb.Roen roars, jumping to his feet.“Why would you even entertain this?You want me to send Nova to her grave?”
Olivia flinches.“You picked her for a reason.I want to believe it wasn’t to destroy both of your lives.”
“I know why you want this to work, but it’s not your call.This conversation is over.”Roen takes a deep breath, then turns to me.Pain flashes across his face.“I’m grateful you want to help us, Nova.But it’s better if you find a job elsewhere.”
I swallow.“What happens if I go into heat after I leave?”
“Your heat will fade when you’re far enough away.It’s the same as rejecting your mate,” Oliva answers.Her voice is hollow.“I’m not going to lie, it hurts.It feels like you’re dying…but if that’s what you choose, you can get through it.”
A deep kind of pain pools in her eyes.
“You were rejected?”I ask quietly.
She shakes her head.“Not exactly.My mate was my best friend.He accepted me the day we found out.But despite my body’s response, I knew what I felt wasn’t the same.Even now, I’ve never been sexually attracted to anyone.No matter what I tried, I couldn’t accept the bond.”
My chest tightens.“How do I know if I can accept?”
Roen bristles.Olivia recovers the tiniest amount.“Well, you could always bite him back—but any meaningful contact will work.It’s not a decision to take lightly.The bond will be sealed after you both accept, and the need to mate will be too strong to resist.”
Hold on, he didn’t have to bite me?I turn to Roen, who confirms my suspicions with a characteristic frown.That means he really did lose control last night.No, if he hadn’t accepted the bond, I would have passed out and might be dead floating in the ocean right now.
What if he needs me to accept him as much as I needed him?
“One more thing,” Oliva says, interrupting my thoughts.“And Roen, don’t take my head off—but would you mind letting me take a blood sample, Nova?”
“I don’t mind at all.”I stand, all the new information churning in my head.“Thank you, Olivia.For everything.”
She gives a half-hearted smile that says all I need to know.If I accept Roen as my mate, I might turn him into my own murderer.
8
ROEN
“This should tideyou over for now.”I carry in the last bag of Nova’s groceries and set it on the counter.“As soon as the new parts arrive, it’ll only take a day or two to fix up your car.”
We share a silent look.A part of me—more than I’d like to admit—had hoped Olivia found some kind of magic solution.But the answer was there all along.I knew when I bit Nova the only choice left was to face her rejection.
As long as I know she’s safe, I’ll deal with the consequences.She’s smart and sexy and has her whole life ahead of her.A life she’ll share with someone else.I turn so she can’t see my snarl.
“Wait,” she calls as I head toward the door.She hesitates, splaying her palm on the counter.“I wanted to say this without, you know.”She gives a nervous laugh.“Without being in the middle of a crisis.”
I reach out, feeling her calm as my hand brushes hers.Dammit, we shouldn’t be touching.But I can’t see my mate struggle and not do anything about it.
She glances down and entwines our fingers.“Even if we didn’t have a bond, I’d want to be with someone like you.”
My guard slips as both our heartbeats threaten to split apart my chest.It’s hard to tell where her emotions end and mine begin.
“I wish I could be a better mate,” she whispers.
It takes every ounce of restraint not to gather her close and never, ever let go.“Nova.”I press our palms together and use my other hand to tip her chin up.Her soft brown eyes fill my entire universe.“You are the perfect mate.”
As soon as the words leave my mouth, her energy shifts.It’s not the first time I’ve felt this from her, either.I frown.“What’s bothering you?”
