Page 330

Another gust of wind surrounds me with my Mate’s Omega Perfume, and the golden thread in my chest reaches out, stretching and straining to get to our Mate.

Because inside my chest… in the space right next to my Pack Bonds… is another Bond. A new Bond. It unspools, a glimmering thread of perfect gold, and slinks forward. It moves with a single-minded focus. Reaching out⁠—

“She’s right here,” Soren adds, voice low and dangerous. “Right where she’s been for weeks.”

I shake my head, denying the truth even as it boils to life inside of me. Each lungful of my Omega’s Scent taunts me. It’s the one thing I’ve wanted more than anything else.

“Caelan…” Vae groans, but I shake my head, denying it all.

Denying reality. Denying the truth.

Deny. Deny. Deny.

Until another footstep reaches me, and the thread in my chest shoots forward, curving to the right as if it fucking knows.

And why wouldn’t it?

My feet move without my permission. I turn, hands shaking, eyes darting everywhere but refusing to land anywhere for more than a breath. I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to face this.

Caelan takes a step closer, sliding his hands into the pockets of his shorts and pinning me with those cold, hard onyx eyes. “All you had to do was open your eyes,” he murmurs.

Unable to look at him any longer, I turn my head.

And meet the bright blue eyes of my Fated Mate.

My breath catches in my throat. For a long moment I forget how to breathe. I forget how to think. I forget who I am, what my name is, how old I am, everything.

Everything but her.

I was going to tell her she was safe.

I was going to tell her she was mine, that I would protect her. That I’d been waiting for her for hundreds and hundreds of years.

And despite the pain I’ve been carrying from Elsbeth, I always knew that there would be one Omega I could trust with my heart and my life.

All of that is meaningless now.

Worthless.

Idril’s eyes lock on mine. She doesn’t look away. Doesn’t cry. Doesn’t say a word. Her face is nearly blank except for the barest tightening around the corners of her eyes.

She blinks, then, without looking away, lifts her arm to the side, reaching.

Branwen’s there immediately, clasping Idril’s hand in hers and lacing their fingers tightly together. My gaze falls to her other hand, hanging loosely at her side. It’s shaking.

That small show of vulnerability is enough to crack me open. Pain rips through my chest, making me grunt at the force of it.

Behind me, I can hear Vae pushing to his feet. He stumbles forward, weaving side to side with each step like a drunk who forgot how to walk. When he reaches my side, he grips my arm for balance, leaning his weight against me as his legs shake and struggle to hold him up.

“Idril.” He reaches out for her, hand shaking just as much as the rest of him. When she makes no move to respond, he lets his arm fall to thud against his side.

He never once takes his eyes off of her.

This is breaking him.

Gods… what have we done? We’ve ruined everything. Everything.

I feel my center of balance disappear as I sway, tipping to the side. I throw out an arm, reaching for something–anything–to anchor me. My hand passes through empty air. My tingling legs go numb, then finally give out.