I didn’t want my life to be chosen for me. It took me a long time to realize that it was where I wanted to be.
Tell me more about these dreams, Bonded. Maybe they won’t all be disappointments.
I flip the paper over, a spark of temper lighting inside me as I scribble.
I dreamed of a pack, family. Somewhere I would be loved.
Tell me again about disappointments?
The pause is longer again this time.
I’m making you a new promise, Bonded.
Frowning, I check the other side of the paper, but there’s nothing.
Aggravating alpha.
My fingers tap impatiently on the floor until a new piece slides under.
Bonded,
I promise that I will never let another day pass without building new memories to replace the ones I lost us.
I will give you your dreams back.
T
I hunch over the paper for a long time, before I slowly pull myself up and walk back to my bed. I don’t have any more words for him.
But I fall asleep with his promise in my hands.
31
SIENNA
I’m gritty-eyed and grumpy the next morning when I drag Jessalyn into Emmett’s tiny but immaculate kitchen. I haven’t been in here before, but Jess wanders around, pulling out cups and opening the cupboards like it’s home.
It’s when she’s leaning into the refrigerator looking for milk that I notice what she’s wearing.
I cough into my fist. “Jessalyn. Whose shirt is that?”
“Ow!” Jess grunts as her head bangs into a shelf. She spins to face me, crossing her arms against the oversize white shirt in a defensive position. “I don’t know.”
“Hmmm,” I say thoughtfully, enjoying the flash of panic on her face. “It looksawfullylike the shirt Emmett had on yesterday.”
She swallows. “Does it? Huh.”
“Jess.” I lean forward, giving her the stink-eye. “Spill. I want to know everything.”
I’ve been far too wrapped up in my own little tit-for-tat with the Cohens to grill her, but something is definitely going on.
She shifts on her feet. “Si… there’s not much to talk about.”
Now my senses are definitely tingling. With Jess, there’salwayssomething to talk about.
“You like him?” I ask gently. “Emmett?”
She swallows before she nods. “I… it’s stupid. Right? An omega and a beta?”
