Page 41 of Mysterious Mate

An hour later, her bags were mostly packed, and she stood at the door, taking one last look around the room that had been her refuge. With a deep breath, she sat on the edge of the bed, gathering herself. She was determined not to look back, not to cry, not to let him see he had broken her heart. She would find her own way, with or without Cage. But the hurt lingered, a constant reminder of what she was leaving behind.

Willow couldn’t sit still. She paced around her room, finding things she had missed the first time through, tossing the remaining articles of clothing into her suitcase with an intensity that mirrored her frustration. Cage could act like he didn’t have a clue, but she knew better. He was probably storing it all up to act on later. She was still seething, replaying every argument, every unspoken word, in her mind. He’s such a stubborn, noble idiot. Stupid, sexy bear. Why can’t he just be honest with me?

She barely registered the sound of the door opening. When she looked up, Cage was standing there, leaning casually against the bedpost, his eyes locked onto her. His calm demeanor only fueled her anger further. She glared at him, her hands pausing mid-throw.

“Well?” she demanded, her voice dripping with sarcasm and defiance.

Instead of responding with words, Cage walked over and, with a swift motion, flipped the suitcase upside down, spilling its contents all over the floor. Willow gasped, a mix of shock and anger flaring inside her. She shoved at him, her hands connecting with his solid chest.

“What the fuck, Cage?” she yelled, her voice trembling with a mixture of rage and confusion.

For a moment, he just stared at her, his eyes boring into hers with an intensity that made her heart race. Then, without moving his lips, she heard his voice in her mind, clear and resonant. ‘Did you mean it?’

Willow’s eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. “Mean what?” she stammered, her mind struggling to process the fact that she was hearing him inside her head. It took a moment for the reality to sink in.

Cage remained silent, his gaze unwavering. She felt a strange sensation, a kind of mental tug, as if something were connecting them, something she hadn’t been aware of before.

“Something else you forgot to tell me?” she accused.

He grinned. ‘The bonding link. It is a kind of telepathic tether between fated mates.’

“Stop that,” she snarled. “I don’t care what it’s called, it’s creepy. And what the hell is a fated mate?”

“You are my fated mate as I am yours. It is a bond that the fates decreed from the beginning of time.”

Willow snorted. “There is no such thing.”

Cage walked over, pulled her into his arms. “And bear-shifters are a fairytale.”

“That’s different.”

“You keep telling yourself that, babe.”

She wanted to punch him, wanted to rail at him, but her initial shock gave way to a rush of emotions, a torrent of thoughts and feelings that had been building up inside her. Through the tether, she felt Cage’s own emotions as clearly as she felt her own: frustration, regret, but also a deep, unyielding and enduring love.

‘You’re an idiot,’ she thought fiercely, knowing he could hear her. ‘You push me away, act like you don’t care, and then pull stunts like this. What do you want from me? I may be a bear-shifter, but I’m not a mind-reader.’

‘I want you to be safe,’ his mental voice replied, tinged with desperation. ‘I’ve always wanted to protect you. But you don’t understand how dangerous this world is. How dangerous I am.’

‘Hot news flash asshole, I’m dangerous too. You do remember that my ex is dead because me and my she-bear killed the bastard.’ Willow felt tears prick at her eyes, but she blinked them away, refusing to let them fall. ‘You think I’m afraid of you?’ she shot back. ‘I’m afraid of losing you. Of not being enough to keep you from pushing me away. I love you, you stupid sonofabitch.’

Cage’s expression softened, and she felt a wave of regret and tenderness wash over her. ‘I thought keeping my distance would keep you safe. I was wrong. I see that now. I love you too. This connection between us, this bond... it means we’re more than just lovers. We’re bonded in a way that can’t be broken.’

Willow’s anger began to ebb, replaced by a deep sense of understanding. She had felt the pull between them, the inexplicable connection, but she hadn’t understood its significance until now. ‘Then stop treating me like I’m fragile. Stop pushing me away. I’m stronger than you think.’

Cage moved closer, his hand gently cupping her cheek. ‘I know you are. And I’m sorry. For everything. Don’t leave me, Willow.’

Willow placed her hand over his, feeling the warmth and strength of his touch. She could sense his sincerity, the depth of his feelings for her. ‘We’re in this together, Cage. Whether you like it or not. So, stop trying to protect me by pushing me away. We fight together, or not at all.’

Cage nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. ‘Agreed.’

For the first time in what felt like ages, Willow felt a sense of peace settle over her. They had a long road ahead, filled with dangers and uncertainties, but they would face it together. Their bond, the tether that connected them, was unbreakable. And with that realization came a renewed strength and determination.

As they stood amidst the chaos of her room, surrounded by scattered clothes and emotions laid bare, Willow knew they had turned a corner. They had found a way to communicate, to truly understand each other. And that, more than anything, gave her hope for the future.

‘You made this mess, you can clean it up.’ She indicated her things strewn all over the floor.

Cage chuckled. “I thought we were in this together...”

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