Page 33 of Polar Destiny
"His bear had taken over. That can happen when they meet their... mate. He didn't have enough control to stopyou."
"Please tell me you didn't say 'mate' just now," I mumble, feeling a little faint. It's toomuch.
Torben sighs. "I wasn't sure before. I didn't think it would happen the first time, otherwise I would have never let us get that far. Usually it takes a few times for mates to recognise each other. And even then, the bear gives some warning. But in our case it was different. Maybe it's because you're human. I don't know anyone who's been mated to a humanbefore."
"I do," Arnold says and everyone turns to him. He's grabbing his partner's hand and it looks like he's nervous. "I was mated to a human man once, a long time ago. I didn't realise we belonged together until our third... encounter. My bear warned me and I managed to keep the man from biting me. We mated, but in a controlled way. It's hard if you want them to stay human as you always need to be in perfect control. But I respected his wishes, even though it was hardsometimes."
A solitary tear is running down hischeek.
"What happened to him?" I ask gently and he gives me a sadsmile.
"He died in a traffic accident. Shortly afterwards, I met Bertie. I'm honoured to have found two mates in my lifetime. Some people never even findone."
I'm tempted to go over and give him a hug. He looks so sad, but then he turns to Bertrand and smiles. Their love is real and it warms my heart to see it. But they are both shifters. They don't have the problem I have withTorben.
"So what happens now?" I ask, hugging myself. My anger has lessened and a deep sadness has taken hold. I think I'm saying goodbye to my old life. I know it'sover.
"What did you learn from reading the book?" Bertrandasks.
I frown. Surely he's read ithimself?
"When Torben slept with me, he started the bonding process. The bond changes both partners and makes them more compatible with each other. In my case, it's the extra strength and better senses." I look at my fingers. "And the claws, I guess. Not sure what's changed for Torben. But the bond is hungry and needs energy to do its work. If it isn't completed, the femaledies."
"And so does the male," Ràn says quietly. I look at him in surprise. He's been quiet all this time. And the male... no wonder Torben is looking thatill.
"But it didn't say that in the book," I stammer, feeling like someone punched me in the gut. Torben is dying. I can't let that happen. "But I feel better now... shouldn't he be better aswell?"
"The bond is now getting all the energy from me," Torben mutters. His skin has taken on a sickly pallor and there's a slight tremor in his limbs. My heart goes out to him but my mind stops it. It's his ownfault.
He needs your help.Alis sounds sad. Now that I know she isn't a figment of my imagination, I notice how she has her own distinct voice. And she's definitely got a personality that's different from my own. I kind of want to get to know her better - and tell her to get out of my body afterwards. It's mine. My ovaries, my boobs, mybody.
"How can we stop it?" I ask before Alis can prod mefurther.
Torben looks at me in surprise. "The only way is to complete the bond. But I don't want to force you to do it. I got us into this mess, so I should be the one to deal with theconsequences."
I laugh hysterically. "I wouldn't call dying 'deal with the consequences'. The book didn't say anything about how to complete the bond. In fact, it said that if it wasn't completed during... sex," I swallow before I say that word, I'm still not quite used to that kind of language, "that I'd die. Endof."
"What kind of book did you give her?" Finn asks angrily and our hosts look a littleuncomfortable.
"It does say it in the next chapter," Bertrand mumbles. "What she read is written to scare teenagers into never having sex unless they're sure about it. Then in the chapter after, it tells them how to rectifyit."
I stare at him. "So nobody needs todie?"
Arnold snickers until he sees how serious I am. "Unless you try to kill yourself again or refuse to complete the bond, nobody is going todie."
"So how do we complete that stupidbond?"
You know that already,Alis whispers and she's right. I just don't want to believeit.
"You... ehm... have to sleep together," Bertrand explains, blushing slightly. "You passed out last time so the bond didn't get a chance to form. And I assume that this time, Torben will have to drink some of yourblood."
"Not going to do it," I say automatically. I have no idea what I was thinking when they I bit Torben, but at least I can blame it on his pheromones. I was in a frenzy and only half-conscious. There, I've got a goodexcuse.
Torben gets up on his feet, swaying slightly. Húnn moves to help him, but the alpha shakes his head. He's tooproud.
It kills me to see him likethat.
You lovehim.
