“But it’s not real,” I said.
Sage stared at me like I’d said monkeys could fly. “What? Yes, it is.”
I shook my head, too bitter to play along with his naïve ideals this time. “It’s not. Shifters mate, and sometimes they use a fairy tale to justify their relationship. It doesn’t mean anything.”
This genuinely upset Sage. He puffed up and stood with a frown. “No, Xander, you’re wrong. Fated matesarereal. And that’s the truth. My brothers both found theirs.”
A wave of anger, resentment and sadness crashed into me. I spat, “Then why haven’t you found yours?”
“Why haven’tyou?” he shot back childishly.
“Because it’s not a real thing.”
I thought Sage would get upset at me and leave. That was what I was expecting. Instead, my defiance only seemed to pull him closer. He got right up in my face and said, “What if it is and you’re just too stubborn to see it?”
His proximity brought with it the lingering scent of his heat. It clung to his smooth skin, more fragrant than any flower. I swallowed thickly.
“Please,” I said, trying to sound sarcastic but it failed as my voice hitched embarrassingly. “I have more life experience than you. I’ve seen things you haven’t.”
Sage smirked. “And I’ve seen thingsyouhaven’t.”
I growled as that build-up of emotion surged.
“You’re naïve,” I spat.
“You’re jaded.”
We stared off. Sage wouldn’t back down. His eyes blazed up at me with innocent rebellion.
“You’re practically a child,” I hissed. “What do you know?”
It wasn’t even an argument anymore—it was an insult. One I didn’t even believe. But Sage wasn’t put off. His smirk turned into a grin, like he knew he was winning. He bounced up on his toes.
“Actually, I’m twenty-one, so you’re factually wrong as hell.”
He was close to me, unbearably close. With each motion, more of his scent wafted around me, undeniably delicious.
My heart began to race. I didn’t get anxious or nervous. I didn’t experience fear. But I felt all of those now. Sage was doing something to me, some fucking magic I didn’t understand. He was just an omega wolf. I shouldn’t have been soattractedto him—
Upon admitting that to myself, I stopped. This had gone too far. I needed to get away from here. From Sage.
“Ha!” Sage cried, crossing his arms triumphantly. “Nothing to say, Xander? That means I win!”
I noticed something in the corner of my vision. A black-haired young man—Remington—watching us from behind a tree. He didn’t trust me and was probably wary about leaving Sage alone with me, but I didn’t care. It was a boon to me right now.
“Remington,” I called out.
He seemed surprised I noticed him, but my cat eyes were sharp even in human form. “What?” he asked gruffly.
“Is there a water source around here? Somewhere I can wash my wounds?”
Remington looked like he wanted to make a sly remark but sighed and said, “Just past those trees. There’s a stream.”
“Thanks.”
I lumbered off in the direction he’d pointed, ignoring the pain in my side. If it meant getting away from Sage, I could deal with the physical hurt, but I couldn’t take the flurry of emotions anymore. They were impossibly confusion and utterly ridiculous.
“Huh?” Sage piped up as I walked away. “Hey, where’re you going?”
