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Kaleb looks at me with the precision of someone who knows and sees too much. “The mate bond sews two souls together. Assuming you could have broken it, it would have had devastating consequences for you both. It’s literally been known to drive a shifter insane if they have to live beyond their severed bond.”
“But a normal mate bond can’t be severed,” I argue, trying to make sense of what he’s telling me. “It’s for life. The only reason it was different for me was because of what I am.”
“Death, Callie,” Nolan states with worried eyes. “Death severs a bond.”
I feel like I’ve been splashed with ice water as I watch Felix and Donovan help Connor to his feet. “If I die, you’ll go insane?”
Shame weighs down Connor’s features as he grimaces in pain. “You’ll outlive me.”
“That’s your plan?” I screech, my hands fisted at my sides. “You didn’t tell me because you planned to die before me?”
“Maybe we shouldn’t have this conversation here,” Felix suggests, his eyes wide as his gaze sweeps the very busy street.
“I’ll get the food to go,” Nolan volunteers, walking back into the restaurant while reaching in his pocket for his wallet.
“So what’s supposed to happen to me when you die, huh?” I question as we make our way to our cars parked in a small nearby lot. “Will I go insane?”
“You’ll have the others to ground you,” Connor answers, holding his hand to his stomach as he attempts to walk under his own power.
“I’m going to live for a thousand years,” I hiss, so mad I’m surprised the town is still standing. “Assuming I’m not murdered because of what I am, I’m going to outlive all of you.”
“You aren’t a shifter,” Connor states, but there’s a hint of unease in his voice. “It shouldn’t affect you the same way.”
“You don’t know that,” Kaleb argues, his barely contained emotions infusing his words. “A bond like this has never happened before. For all you know, it may be worse for her.”
“Is anyone going to tell me what the hell is going on?” Donovan complains, crossing his arms over his chest. “Our pacifist just sucker punched the birthday boy, and I’d kind of like to know why.”
Kaleb’s brown eyes blaze as he stares Connor down. “Tell them. Tell them how Callie became your mate. Tell them how you tricked her.”
“You what?” Donovan shouts, his blue-green eyes narrowing to hard slits.
Deep shame seeps through the bond, and no matter how angry I am at Connor for keeping yet another thing from me, I can’t let this continue. “Stop it, please.” I once again place my body between Connor and the others. “You’re angry on my behalf, but you’re borrowing anger that’s already been spent. I’ve dealt with this already. I’m not happy with how it happened, but I’ve made my choice to keep the bond. I want to be his mate.” My voice is wet when I add, “I love him like I love all of you.”
Kaleb closes his eyes and grits his teeth. “I… I have to go. I can’t be rational right now.”
Donovan gives Connor a hard look before turning away. “I’ll come with you.”
The sting of tears blurs my vision as I watch them go. This was supposed to be a happy tradition, and I ruined it. Why did I say anything at all?
Nolan comes around the corner, his arms laden with too many bags of food, and observes our sad little trio. “Do I want to know what happened?”
“I’m sorry,” I blubber, covering my face with my hands. “This is all my fault.”
Felix shakes his head as he places his hands on his hips. “No, pretty girl, I don’t think this one is on you.” He looks at Connor with disappointed eyes. “Just because it’s resolved between you two doesn’t mean we aren’t going to be mad about it for a little while. He fucked up in a big way, and then you kept it a secret.”
“But it’s between us,” I argue through sniffles.
Nolan kisses the top of my head. “We’re all connected, love. Always have been. What happens to you matters to us, especially if it’s one of us who hurt you.”
“I know how it happened was wrong,” Connor interjects with a rasp to his low voice, “but I can’t regret that it happened.”
“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me,” Nolan comments with a wry pull of his lips, and then he sighs. “Well, we have all this food, and dinner is tradition. How about we go back to my place and watch movies? Just, uh, steer clear of my relatives.”
“Dude, they are weird,” Felix states with a shudder. “They keep looking at me like I’m a walking juice box.”
“Don’t worry,” Nolan reassures him, his smile growing to a grin. “I’ve already told them you’re my juice box as soon as I can drink human blood again.”
“Somehow, that’s not as comforting as you think it is,” Felix grumbles, leading the way back to Connor’s Tahoe.
