Page 116 of UNAwere

Her deadpan expression is so similar to her brother’s, it catches me off guard.

‘Jude has been holding himself back this entire time, but now that you’ve marked him, he might have a reason to stop this bonding.’

‘I don’t think he will.’ I suck in a quick breath, steeling myself. As much as it hurts me to say it, I can’t imagine Jude going against his alpha and ruining this alliance for me. ‘That’s why I marked him, so he has something from me.’ I shake my head. ‘I-I wasn’t thinking straight.’

‘It’s okay. If the alpha kills my brother, I won’t blame you.’ When I look at her, horrified, she chuckles. ‘Jude’ll be fine. The big idiot can handle himself.’

‘Is it really that serious?’ I murmur.

She nods. ‘Not everyone gets a mate. They’re quite hard to find. For Jude to have found his is…’ She shakes her head, letting out a breath. ‘It’s amazing. I’m overjoyed for him. But this situation is tricky. And I’m sorry for you both that it couldn’t be easier.’

‘You’re married,’ I say, staring at her. ‘But not to your mate?’

A grin spreads across her face. ‘No. Keith may be a great husband and father, but he is not my mate.’

‘What would happen if you met your mate? And you were married?’

The smile falls from her lips, and she shrugs. ‘That’s something a lot of us have to consider. But it’s also something a lot of us never have to face.’ Her eyes meet mine again. ‘Except for you and Jude, apparently.’

My cheeks warm. ‘I didn’t realise… for the longest time. But now it makes so much sense, and now I know, he’s all I can think about, and—’ I realise I’m rambling. Not only to my mate’s sister, but just in general, and I’m quick to throw up a wall and twist my mouth into a self-deprecating smile. ‘Welp… Stuff happens, huh?’

‘You’re allowed to be upset about this, Sybbie,’ Hannah murmurs.

‘No, I’m not,’ I say. ‘Because if I let myself feel this completely, I’ll break off the bonding and leave with Jude. And I can’t. I can’t betray my people like that.’

My heart leaps when she steps forward and takes me in her strong arms. For a moment, I don’t move, stunned, but then I slowly lift mine and hug her back. She’s strong, and she smells familiar, comforting. I bury my head against her shoulder and let out a long breath, feeling my body relax.

Oh.

‘Are you a magic Were?’ I ask when she draws away.

Hannah laughs. ‘No. I’m a mother.’ She takes my hand. ‘Come on. I’m taking you shopping, and you can learn more about Primrose.’

Hannah doesn’t drive me to the mall.

Instead, she Turns out in the yard and then looks back at me, expectant. I step into my wolf self, satisfied when the Turn is easy, and run with her down the road. She carries a bag of our clothing between her teeth, and it swings haphazardly as she runs.

There are mountains ahead of us as the road winds through trees and past a long river. There’s snow on the peaks of the mountains, and I stare up at them in awe as I run. This place is beautiful, and despite my reason for being here, I can feel a small sense of hope that, even though I’ll be bonded to Warner soon, I’ll at least have these mountains to stare at every day.

Really? Hannah asks, surprised, when I tell her it’s my first time seeing mountains up close. You don’t have mountains in Luminaire territory?

No. It’s too flat. There’s a bit of a hill over near the old college, and it’ll wind you if you walk up it, but that’s about it.

Hannah snorts. Those peaks up there will do more than wind you.

Have you been up there?

That’s where Warner makes us have our initiation.

Initiation?

To become one of his trusted. There aren’t many of us. Such a surprise, huh?

How many? I ask.

Seven. Jude, myself, Lucas, Sully… Sully isn’t here at the moment, as he’s been watching the Karver border for Warner. And the rest aren’t worth mentioning because they’re all self-important arseholes.

We race alongside the road, and I watch as a car goes past, but it doesn’t slow at the sight of us.