Letting my wolf out felt so good, I was tempted to just keep on running.
Wolves didn’t care about oaths or sisterhood. They had the ground under their paws and the air in their lungs, and nothing else mattered but the hunt.
But once her belly was full and her urge to hunt satisfied, she lazed under a tree and thought about Valens, wondering how his wolf would look.
I’d shifted back, unable to take her quiet introspection. She was calm and happy, whereas I was devastated. It was a dichotomy I couldn’t quite process yet.
Though I knew I was out of time. I had to tell Lyna. Had to.
But the words just wouldn’t come. So, I put my exercise uniform back on, laced up my tennis shoes, threw my sword over my shoulder, and ran until I was drenched in sweat and my sides heaved with the effort.
Too exhausted to think, I stumbled back into town midday, completely remiss in my duties. After a shower, I’d check in.
I was walking between a pizza joint and a cobbler when I heard indignant female voices around the corner. I froze, listening for any sounds of danger.
“What a bitch. Are you serious? Your brother is a catch. It’s bad enough that an outsider is taking our strongest male. It’s damn insulting that she’s acting like she’s too good for him.”
“I know. And it’s pissing me off that he won’t just call her on her shit. I’m sorry, but you are not too good for us. Your pack is soooo special? Hah! Troublemakers, every single one of them. And this bitch isn’t even marked. She’s got a sword and somehow thinks that makes her important. Big whoop. You crush my brother, I’m going to crushyou.”
The rage in the second woman’s voice was clear. But so was the sinking feeling that they were talking aboutme.
Valens had a sister, but I hadn’t met her yet.
I stepped around the corner, keeping my demeanor carefully calm as I spotted the four women clustered together.
Every head turned my way, and the sneer on the pretty brunette’s face told me she was the sister. I could see the resemblance. His burly muscles had been trimmed down into a petite, feminine form, sure, but she was fierce in a way that matched his energy. And they had similar noses.
“Isn’t that her?” someone stage-whispered, and I flinched.
“Yeah, that’s the bitch who thinks she’s too good for my brother,” Valens’s sister said loudly, not at all trying to whisper or hide her opinion.
Anger bubbled up in my chest, and I knew it was a bad decision, but I spun their way and closed the distance anyway.
“If you have something to say to me, go right ahead. But I’m telling you, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“So you haven’t rejected my brother outright? Youdon’tthink your little lonely hearts ladies’ club is more important than the Goddess’s own calling?” his sister demanded.
The woman to her left spoke up. “We would all kill to find our mates, and you’re throwing a good man aside for no damn reason. If you don’t want him, I’ll take him.”
“If you lay one single finger on my mate, I’ll cut it off with a smile.” My hand flew to my sword’s hilt before I consciously thought about it, the blade swinging free with a deadlyhissof metal leaving the sheath.
“Elodie!” Galyna’s harsh bark froze me in place, her thunderous expression making me forget all about these mean girls.
“Lyna. How—how much did you hear?”
“Enough. We need to talk. Now.”
I sheathed my sword and walked away from the judgy women. I’d sealed my own fate, and it was time to own up to it.
The cottage door shut behind us quietly, but it might as well have boomed like thunder. The resulting silence was so loud, it hurt.
“The second is your fated mate?” She spun on me, not even letting me put my sword down before she launched the inquisition.
“I— Yes.” There was no point denying it.
“Do you have mate marks? Is that why you’ve been avoiding me?” Her gaze raked over me, lingering on any bits of exposed skin that my exercise uniform left visible.
“What? No! I’m not pursuing a bond, I just needed to… come to grips with it. Figure out what to say.” I dropped my sword across the nearest chair, resisting the urge to pace. When I got antsy, I needed to move.
