He shook his head reluctantly. "I was going to ask you to talk to Kat for me and Gwen, to see if she'd be willing to let us use part of her brand and expand it. Gwen had the idea a few years back."
I dragged a hand over the top of my head, stopping when I hit the base of my high ponytail. "This isn't one bargain, it's multiple. I'd own your whole fucking soul. You're going to have to get Gwen to cover some of this. The debt is one thing, but the trees are something else entirely. I'll bargain with you for themoney and her for the trees, but I can't do it all. I'm definitely not talking to Kat, either. You'll have to do that yourself."
"Gwen is willing to do whatever she has to. We want to make this work, to make this place mean something to the werewolves in the city."
"Fine." I let out a harsh breath. "It's going to be a huge favor, even split in half. I could probably ask for your firstborn child."
Jonah's expression grew stricken. "Will you?"
"Of course not. I'm notthatunhinged."
Looking at him, I had to wonder if we had ever really been friends. Maybe before he became the Beta, but since then?
It was looking less likely by the moment.
If he was my fated mate, fuck that.
I wasn't mating with someone who would use me like this. Shitty magic be damned.
"I didn't think so." He held his hand out, but hesitated again. "You won't try to make me seal a mate bond like Callum did with Kat, right?"
"No. I'm in love with Niall."It was the only thing I felt completely certain of, at the moment. "I'll pay off your debt, but you'll owe me a favor in exchange."
Jonah held his hand out. "It's a deal."
I felt the power gather in the air before I took his hand, and felt the soul-sealing magic of a bargain roll through both of us.
Justa bargain.
Not a mate bond.
My knees grew weak with the mix of magic and pure,desperaterelief.
Jonah's forehead creased as he grabbed my hand to hold me upright. "Easy, Zap."
"Don't call me that."
He blinked. "Okay. Sorry."
When he released my arm, I took a step back.
Away from him.
Not my mate.
He wasn't my mate.
"I'm going to finish my run," I said.
"Do you mind if I tap out and go tell Gwen?"
Please do.
"That's fine. The mark is on our left legs. It's probably pretty gnarly." I hadn't looked down, but I could feel my body adjusting to the large strip of his soul that I now owned.
Notas his mate.
"Thanks," he said.
