Page 83 of Midnight Moon

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Decision made, I asked, “You promise we will speak in the morning?”

“Yes.”

Knowing my father, that was the best I was going to get. “Fine,” I nodded. “Goodnight, then.”

“Goodnight.” He walked out and entered the bathroom, closing the door behind him. I assumed he would change, then go speak with Beta Nathan. I wished he would invite me to join in their conversation, but I knew a hopeless cause when I saw one.

I stood there for another moment before finally going to my room.

Sleep was the farthest thing from my mind, but I forced myself to get into bed anyway. I lied there, staring at the ceiling, replaying the evening over and over again in my mind.

The white-hot pain from the sorcerers’ spell…

The welcoming embrace of death…

Asher’s electric blue eyes gazing at me with carnal possession…

My heart raced and my stomach clenched. I squeezed my eyes closed.

Asher couldn’t be my mate. Whatever happened between us must be the result of the magic he used to save me. We’d been around one another for days. We’d interacted too many times for the mate bond to just now initiate. If it were real, it would’ve snapped into place days ago.

You’re in denial.

I grabbed my pillow and pressed it against my face to muffle my groan.

I didn’t want a mate, not even one as impressive as Asher.

The Wilds shifter was, undeniably, the hottest guy I’d ever seen.

He was also strong and intelligent… and surprisingly kind.

He really was a catch.

Ugh, stop it!

I threw my pillow off the bed and went back to staring at the ceiling.

I’d seen what happened to females who mated. Their entire world revolved around their partner, and they lost all sense of independence—and those males weren’t even their fated mates!

A mate bond was the last thing I wanted.

I had a pack to lead, and I didn’t need the tethers of a fated mate holding me back. Even if the bond between me and Asher turned out to be real, I decided I wouldn’t pursue it.

Asher was a member of a different pack. After the Alpha Games ended, we would go our separate ways. With time, the mate bond would disappear, and we would both be free.

My wolf whined in protest.

Stop it,I commanded.

I needed all my will power to reject the bond while Asher and I remained in close proximity, and a sulking wolf wouldn’t help.

My wolf stopped whining, but her sadness continued to press against the back of my mind.

I sighed and flipped over, burrowing my face into the mattress.

Sleep eluded me for hours.

Fatigue set in and lowered my defenses.