Page 6 of Secrets & Curses of Fate

I turned to look at Haden beside me, taking in his face like I’d never really seen it. He was taller, and his hair was shorter. His face had harsher features than his brother's did. His expression… concerned.

“Ardella, this is my twin brother, Holden, and his girlfriend, Sara.” Haden smiled, but when I just stared at him, his smile faded. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I was trying to find a response, but I couldn't. My gaze bounced between the two of them as my pulse pounded in my ears. Haden's eyebrows pinched together, growing more concerned by the second.

“I didn’t know you had a twin,” I barely whispered as my focus went to Holden.

Holden’s eyes met mine. I held my breath.

Please don’t let it be him.

A faint tug stirred in my chest—barely there, like a thread pulling at the edge of a seam. It wasn’t like what I felt with Haden. It wasn’t even close. Holden stood and offered a polite smile. His girlfriend, Sara, stepped forward and hugged me—warm, sweet, undeserved.

My world had just imploded, and everyone else was acting like nothing had changed.

“I didn’t know Haden was dating anyone. It’s so nice to meet you.” Gods, she was friendly. I should want to punch her or something for having my mate. Holden tugged me into an embrace, and I stiffened uncomfortably. My mating bond hummed at his touch, but I recoiled from it. I didn’t like this. Confusion slammed into me. This wasn’t normal.

“It’s nice to meet you, Ardella.” Holden smiled. There was no flicker of emotion or mating bond reaction from him. Relief spread through me as he didn't seem to feel anything toward me. But it was short-lived when I realized how wrong it was. Holden was my mate and should feel drawn to me. But it wasn't him I was fucking kissing minutes ago; it was his twin brother, who was not my mate.

I glanced at Haden to make sure I wasn’t mistaken. Maybe I had been following the wrong brother around. But my heartsank slowly because I knew without a doubt that Haden was not who I shared a mating bond with. When I glanced at Holden, I could see the soft golden bond between us. It was like a small string, glowing brightly. It stretched from his chest all the way to mine. My gaze assessed it to see if there was a crack or tear within it that was making it not work properly.

Nothing—there was absolutely nothing wrong with it.

My hands were trembling as a cold sweat broke across my skin. I couldn't breathe—or think. My thoughts shattered into millions of tiny shards of glass, impossible to piece back together where this made any logical sense. Haden knew something was wrong with me as his hand came forward and gripped mine. Terror coiled inside of me as I yanked my hand from his.

I needed to leave.

“It’s nice to meet you, Sara and Holden,” I said softly. The heavens had to have made a mistake. I turned to Haden. “I have to go. Thank you all for such a lovely night.” My voice cracked with my panic.

“What? But…” he started to say, but I practically ran from him. I could hear him following me, but I didn’t slow down.

“Ardella,” Haden called out. I was losing my fucking mind. “Ardella, please stop.” The desperation in his voice made me stop and turn to him. His face fell when he saw I was upset. The light that had been in his eyes earlier had dimmed. I felt bad that I was the cause, but my world felt shattered. My shoulders sagged with disappointment because he wasn't mine. He was the one I wanted.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar.” He frowned. “Something freaked you out in there, and now you’re running.”

I closed my eyes tightly because I couldn’t wrap my mind around what was happening. I did not have a mating bond withHaden, but I felt more connected to him than his damn brother. I opened my eyes, and Haden was begging me with his eyes to stay.

“I forgot I have to do something,” I said lamely, my words failing to do my emotions justice.

Haden slowly moved toward me. His eyes glanced around frantically, like he would find something to make me stay.

“Is it because I kissed you?” he asked. “I’m sorry, but don’t you feel it too? This connection we have.”

“No, it's not because you kissed me,” I said softly.

His eyes took in whatever emotion was on my face and looked disappointed. I’m sure he could see that I wanted out of there. I wanted to run away and hide from whatever this was.

“You’ll come back to see me?” He asked, hopeful.

His words made my chest squeeze. He wasn’t supposed to be mine. According to my mating bond, the heavens had made me for his brother. What if the bond just hadn’t snapped completely into place? I didn’t want to lead Haden on. His shoulders slumped in defeat when I didn't answer.

“I hope you will come back to see me,” he tried again. His sad voice tugged at my heart. There was a tension in the air that made it hard to concentrate on my bond issue. I wanted to make Haden feel better because I did not like the look he was giving me right now.

“Maybe.”

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