Rissa shakes her head. “I have another patient to see after my break. It’s a transfer from Cythia’s rotation. I don’t wanna be late.”
I beam brightly at her, my chest puffing out. “You’re looking at your new patient. I was gonna surprise you, that’s why I was at the clinic today.”
“Oh,” Rissa giggles. “Then I guess it shouldn’t be a problem.”
I nod as I lead Rissa toward the village square, delighted that things between us feel easy again. We might not have gotten around to discussing our mate bond, or how we knotted that night in Whittier, but at least it feels like we’re friends now.
That’s a good start to the rest of our lives.
Chapter 17 - Rissa
The Snehvolk Pack’s monthly bonfire party to celebrate the full moon isn’t something I usually attend.
I recognize my hesitance to be here in the way my fingers tremble as I reach for a disposable cup. Hiding my trepidation by plastering a smile on my face, I turn to my friend, who has her starstruck eyes fixed on her mate as he stands with the group of alphas and betas across the bonfire.
“How are things going with you and Dawson?” I ask Yvonne with a playful nudge on her arm. “Is baby number two on the way?”
Yvonne giggles when she’s able to tear her gaze away and sees me wiggling my brows. She shakes her head. “Dawson and I have decided not to have another child for now. Gio just turned six, and he’s a handful. But…” Yvonne slurps her drink through her straw. “You know how insatiable wolf men are.”
When Yvonne wiggles her brows this time, it’s me who becomes shy, turning my face away bashfully.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say nonchalantly, which earns me a prod to my shoulder.
“Oh, come on, Riss!” Yvonne chimes. “You’re living in the alpha’s house. You must be getting no sleep at all.”
“It isn’t like that,” I grimace. “Brooks and I are just friends. We’re only doing this for the sake of the council.”
“So you’re saying you two haven’t had sex yet?” Yvonne asks bluntly, and I gasp in horror.
“Yvonne!” I exclaim, and she chuckles.
“So, you did have sex,” she says as she nods thoughtfully. “But neither of you is ready to admit your feelings for each other. I get it.”
I sigh as I follow Yvonne’s gaze to the Alphas, watching Brooks sip on his drink and laugh at something Dawson said. I guess I’m still finding my footing with being a witch in the pack, and I haven’t really considered if I feel anything for Brooks now that the resentment has slowly subsided.
I mean, there’s still a part of me that hates him for what he did in the past, and it’s not like he’s acknowledged it or apologized for what he did. Now that the Elders have forced us to be together, what choice do we have?
Brooks did say that he wouldn’t go against what the Elders have instructed, so there’s no point in fighting the mate bond. We’ll just continue as we are, and at least we’re amicable about it now.
“I don’t have feelings for Brooks,” I tell Yvonne, who turns to roll her eyes at me.
“Who are you kidding, Rissa?” she scoffs. “The Moon Goddess gives us a fated mate because we’re bound to develop feelings for them, whether we like it or not.”
I open my mouth to dismiss the claim that Brooks and I are fated mates, but snap it shut when Yvonne is called away by her mate, Alpha Dawson.
Wallowing in my irritation, I try not to give her claim much thought.
Fated mates?
Is that why we knotted when we had sex?
Is that why it’s impossible to stay away from him even when I couldn’t stand him?
And is that the reason why I’d been able to unlock my magical powers?
I shiver as I turn back to the table to get a refill of punch, wondering why, if Brooks is my fated mate, I haven’t felt it yet.
Because most of the rituals for tonight’s gathering have already been completed—like paying tribute to the Moon Goddess with a prayer circle around the fire, along with the main alpha’s speech to thank the Snehvolk Pack members for attending—all that’s left is the ceremonial dance of the unmated wolves around the bonfire.
