Page 24 of Dark Bonds

I bite my lip, and the question I’ve been dreading finally spills out. “So, uh… Leo and Bishop. Are they…” I trail off, unable to finish.

Tori’s lips quirk into a knowing smirk. She fishes her phone from her pocket before sliding it across the counter. “See for yourself. Bishop’s been blowing up my phone since dawn.”

I tap the screen, my eyes widening at the flood of notifications. Thirty-two missed calls and over fifty texts. “Jesus,” I mutter, a mix of concern and irritation washing overme. “I guess being a shadow shifter doesn’t make you immune to clingy ex syndrome, huh?”

Tori snorts, rolling her eyes. “Tell me about it. Part of me wants to let him stew, you know?”

Actually, I don’t.

“I’m not going to lie, I’m ignoring him.” She shrugs, pocketing her phone again. “Let him suffer. Besides, he has his own issues to work through, and I don’t trust him.”

I raise my brows at that and sip my coffee. The rich aroma and bitter taste ground me, providing a small comfort amidst the chaos of my thoughts. I know Tori has her reasons for being cautious, and I can’t blame her. Trust is a fragile thing in our world, easily broken and hard to mend.

As we sit in companionable silence, I allow myself to relax—the warmth of the coffee, the quiet hum of the refrigerator, and the soft light filtering through the windows. It’s a rare moment of peace, and I cling to it, letting it bolster the fragile hope growing within me.

“The more I think about it, the more it pisses me off,” Tori says suddenly, her voice rising with frustration. “He has a lot to own up to. I mean, he knew his mama wanted me to pick him for my pack, so I went along with the whole arranged mating, and he still pursued you. Who’s to say he won’t do it again?”

I pause, my mind racing with this new revelation. “What?”

“Yeah. He basically cheated on me with you, and now we are besties because we are girls’ girls.” She blinks her big baby blue eyes at me. “But him? He knew. You did not.”

“I suspected,” I admit, wincing. It makes me look like a shitty friend, but in my defense, we weren’t friends yet. I can’t help but think about how complicated shadow shifter relationships seem to be. Is this what I’m signing up for?

She waves my words away. “I’m blaming him, and now as your designated bestie, I’m telling you that you need to make them work for your devotion.”

I’m damn near speechless for several reasons. “What the fuck is a girl’s girl?”

“Oh, that.” She leans on the counter, her expression softening. “A girl’s girl is someone who has respect for female etiquette,” she explains, drumming her fingers lightly on the countertop. “It means not being petty, and striving to be ethical and decent in your dealings with your female friends. Basically, it’s about lifting each other up instead of tearing each other down.”

I mull over her words, letting them sink in. It’s a concept that feels foreign to me, given the isolation and betrayal I’ve experienced, but sitting here with Tori’s sincere gaze on me, I feel a flicker of hope. Maybe this is something I can embrace, a way to rebuild the trust that’s been shattered.

“So you’re saying we support each other no matter what?” I ask, my voice tentative.

Tori nods firmly. “Exactly. We have each other’s backs. No jealousy or backstabbing, just pure, honest friendship.” She gives me a reassuring smile. “It’s about being there for each other through thick and thin, and right now, Frankie, you need that support.”

I take another sip of coffee, and warmth spreads through me from the drink and Tori’s words. “Okay, I think I get it. It sounds… nice.”

“It is nice,” Tori says with a nod. “It’s empowering. We’ve been through a lot, and we deserve to have each other’s support. No more secrets or lies.”

I find myself nodding along, the idea of a genuine, supportive friendship more appealing than I expected. “I like the sound of that.”

Tori grins. “Good, because you’re stuck with me now, and I’m going to make sure those guys earn every bit of your trust and devotion.”

A laugh escapes me, surprising both of us. It feels good, like a small weight lifting off my shoulders. “I think I can get behind that.”

“Damn right you can,” Tori says with a chuckle. She reaches out and squeezes my hand, her touch warm and reassuring. “We’ve got this, Frankie.”

I don’t feel as confident, but she’s on a roll.

“So what are you thinking?” I ask, sipping my coffee.

“Well, it is winter break.” Her eyes glimmer with mischief.

“It is.”

“And we have six weeks to do whatever the hell we want.” She draws circles on the countertop with her fingers.

“Spit it out.”

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