My phone buzzes. I pull it out, expecting a text from one of them checking on me.
It's Ben.
Ben:Hey evening star. I know you said you needed time, but I couldn't stop thinking about you. How are you doing?
Ben. The Beta from the summer intensive. The one who made me laugh. The one who kissed me on the roof and said I was an evening star.
The one I was supposed to be with instead of here, bonded to three Alphas who kidnapped me.
We've been texting sporadically since I apologized for disappearing. Nothing heavy. Check-ins. Him being his usual sweet self while I tried to figure out how to tell him I'm permanently bonded to three men who held me captive.
I should have told him already. Should have ended this before it became complicated.
Me:I'm okay. Things are... complicated.
Ben:I know this might be bad timing, but I need to tell you something. About that night on the roof. About what I said.
My heart rate kicks up. Dread and guilt twisting in my stomach.
Me:Ben...
Ben:I'm transferring. To Northwood. I applied last month but just got accepted. I'll be there next Monday.
The phone nearly slips from my hands.
No. No no no.
Me:You're transferring here? To Northwood?
Ben:Yeah. I know it's forward, but I couldn't stop thinking about you. About that summer. About what could have been if you hadn't had to leave. I meant what I said on the roof, Vespera. Every word. I want to see where this could go.
Where this could go.Like I'm still the girl he kissed under summer stars. Like I didn't disappear and spend six weeks being held captive by three Alphas. Like I'm not marked and mated and permanently bonded.
He doesn't know. He thinks I had a family emergency, that I'm getting treatment for rejection sickness. I never told him the truth. Never could bring myself to say "I was kidnapped and held at a lake house and claimed during my heat by three men who tortured me for months."
How do you text that to someone who calls you "evening star"?
Me:Ben, there's something you need to know. Things have changed a lot since Columbus. I can't explain over text, but when you get here... we should talk. In person.
Ben:Changed how?
My fingers freeze. How do I explain this? How do I tell him that the girl he kissed is gone, replaced by someone claimed and bonded and owned by biology?
Ben:Whatever it is, we can talk about it when I get there. Face to face. Please?
I should say no. Should tell him not to come. Should explain everything right now via text so he can back out before he makes a huge mistake.
But some selfish, desperate part of me wants to see him. Wants to remember what it felt like to be wanted forme, not forbiology. To be kissed by someone who chose me, not someone compelled by bonds.
Me:Okay. We'll talk when you get here.
Ben:Thank you. I'll text you when I'm in town. Can't wait to see you, evening star.
I stare at the message, then close out of the thread. Shove my phone back in my pocket. Splash cold water on my face because I need to pull myself together before I go back to the car.
Ben is coming to Northwood. Next Monday. One week away. And I'm going to have to tell him that I'm bonded to three Alphas who will see him as a threat.
This is going to be a disaster.
