"We've got it." Callum didn't look up from the sheet of paper.
Gwen stood quickly, too. "Jonah, don't?—"
He strode out of the room without a backward glance.
Even if he did still have feelings for her, this was a horrible idea on her part.No one liked to be used. I knew that personally.
"Shit," Gwen whispered, sinking back to the couch.
"You broke his heart. How did you think he was going to react to that?" My words were gentle, but I wasn't going to act like she hadn't just screwed up majorly.
Tears filled Gwen's eyes. "I know. I didn't know how to apologize, and I'm just trying to survive. That's what I've been trying to do for years. Simon would've tried to kill you both if I reached out in any way."
"I would've rather been his target than lost my family."
A moment of heavy, painful silence stretched between us.
"There's no date on here," Callum said, lifting his eyes off the contract. His thumb brushed my knuckle again, silently comforting me like before. "Your best bet is to loudly announce that the ceremony will take place a year from now, before he goes to the media about it. Tell them he's being patient with you. Make sure everyone knows the bond is an arrangement, not a love match, so you can get out without ruining either of your reputations, as well."
"You think that will really work?" Gwen asked Callum, wrapping her arms around her middle.
"Darke is very particular about how he's perceived. He'll be pissed, but he should go along with it. You'll have that year tofind another mate, but you'll need to be quiet about looking. We'll try to come up with another way out, but the contract is thorough."
"I'll have to win Jonah back," Gwen murmured. "I still love him."
"I'd recommend a backup plan, unless you're willing to bet your immortality on him." Callum stood, pulling me to my feet with him. The tug was gentle, giving me plenty of space to resist the motion, but I got up too.
"Kat..." Gwen bit her lip. "I want to do a family dinner at mom and dad's house tonight. They should know about all of this. If you come, it'll be like it used to. Just the four of us."
"Callum's my mate. My family. If I was even going to consider agreeing to a family dinner, he would have to be invited too."
"I'll talk to them. Is it okay if I text you?"
"I guess."
Her eyes flickered, her wolf peeking out.
I shook my head. "Sable is asleep. We'll let you guys know if we figure something else out."
With that, Callum and I left.
twenty-four
CALLUM
I considered calling Merrily,but decided the conversation would be better to have in person.
Liv met us in front of Mer's cozy mansion, and all three of us went in together. Kat's fingers were threaded through mine, and though she had offered to wait in the car, Liv and I both turned her down.
She was a part of our circle, too.
Whether she liked it or not.
Liv rang the doorbell so Merrily would know we were there, then typed the code into the keypad and opened it.
"Let me do the talking," Liv said.
"It would be better coming from me, since I know all of the details," I countered.
