Page 51

"So, what happens now?" I asked, returning to my coffee. "Do I just...continue on as normal but with occasional sex marathons thrown in?"

Em looked uncomfortable. “Danny, you’re mated to a shifter. It’s not that simple.”

"What do you mean?"

"The mating bond...it's not just a mark or a relationship status. It's a biological connection." Em's eyes met mine with an intensity that made my stomach drop. "You and Bayer can't be physically separated for long periods now."

I set my coffee down. "Define 'can't.'"

"I mean, you literally can't. The bond creates physical dependency. Being apart causes pain—actual, physical pain and sickness that gets worse the longer you're separated and the farther apart you are, well, in the shifter, definitely. I honestly don’t know what it would do long-term to a human. It’s more intense after you newly mate."

"That's ridiculous," I scoffed, but it was for show. Emery's expression remained grave. "You're serious?"

"Dead serious. Do you remember when I freaked out and went to Gemma’s? Phoenix started getting sick and would have gotten worse if I’d stayed with her." He leaned forward. "Danny, you need to understand—you'll have to live here. With Bayer. In the pack territory."

The room seemed to tilt sideways. "Live here? But my job, my mom's house, my—"

"Your life is here now," Emery said gently. "With the pack. With Bayer."

I pushed off the stool so fast it toppled backward, clattering against the floor. "This is insane! I never signed up for this. I can't just abandon my entire life because of some...some biological glitch!"

"It's not a glitch, Danny. It's—"

"I don't care what it is!" My voice rose, panic bubbling in my chest. "I have responsibilities. I can't just move into the middle of nowhere because I accidentally bonded with a bear shifter during a hormone-induced sex marathon!" But I was lying. Lying to Em and lying to myself. I wanted nothing more than to live with Bayer who for some reason seemed to really like me despite me being a complete shit. I wanted to leave the crappy job I hated, but I couldn’t. There was no way Mom could manage financially if I just quit.

But that wasn’t just it. It was Bayer. I wanted him, and I wanted him to want me. For always. Not just when I was in heat. I wanted someone who would stick around with all my crazy and not just put up with me because they had no choice.

Tia started whimpering at my outburst, and Emery immediately went to soothe her, lifting her from the playpen and bouncing her gently. "I know it's a lot," he said over her sniffles. "But you're not alone in this. Bayer will help you figure it out."

"Bayer can’t decide for me," fear made me snap, pacing the kitchen. "None of you can. My mom can’t manage without my pay."

"No one's trying to decide anything for you," Emery assured me. "But the bond is real, Danny. You can't ignore it."

I ran my hands through my hair, tugging at the strands in frustration. "So, what about my mom? My job? Am I just supposed to commute two hours each way because I can't be away from Bayer overnight?"

"There are options," Emery said carefully. "Online work. And Bayer could move closer to town, at least part-time."

I laughed, because I hated my job. I’d loved it with Em—we worked fantastically together—but I detested Miss Anderson. If I could find another job I would, but Marianne wasn't working, and there was no way Mom could afford the house on her own. And shit…three days. “It’s Monday tomorrow?”

Emery nodded. "It is."

"Shit," I groaned, leaning against the counter. "I'm supposed to work tomorrow. Miss Anderson is going to have my head on a platter."

"I already called the school," Emery said, bouncing Tia, who had settled against his shoulder. "Told them you had a severe case of flu and wouldn't be in this week."

"This week?" My eyes widened. "Em, I can't miss a whole second week!" I groaned. “I’m going to get fired.”

"You need time," he insisted. "To recover physically, to adjust to the bond, to figure out what you're going to do next."

I sank back onto a stool, my anger giving way to bone-deep exhaustion. "This is so screwed up."

"I know it feels that way now," Emery said softly. "I felt the same way at first. Terrified, overwhelmed..."

"But you were already living here," I pointed out. "You'd already left your old life behind."

"Not by choice," he reminded me. "And I still had to figure out how to be mated to an alpha wolf while maintaining my identity." He shifted Tia to his other shoulder. "It's not easy, but it is possible."

I stared into my coffee, watching the dark liquid swirl as I tilted the mug. "I don't even know what being an omega means. Not really."