Page 28 of Witch Undecided
“You say that now,” Bee said. “But it’s not easy knowing the man you love is lying with another female, even if it is just to procreate.”
“I’m not in love with Tor. I don’t intend to have that kind of relationship with him, Leif, or Rune.”
Her mouth tightened at the mention of Rune’s name. “You say that now, but—"
Urgh, enough already. “Yes. I’ve heard. But I’m a stubborn bitch, Bee. I’m not a slave to any mystical bonds. I’m my own woman.”
Bee’s smile widened. “I wasn’t referring to the mating bond, Cora.”
Okay, now I was confused. “You weren’t?”
“No. If you have no interest in meeting the potential breeders, I suggest we talk over a spot of tea.”
Oh, thank God. “Got any cake?”
Bee wasTor’s aunt on his mother’s side, and now that the mate bond between Sten and Charlotte was gone, it turned out Bee was his wolf mate. Yep, I’d been right as usual.
“He still has feelings for Charlotte.” Bee sipped her tea. “As I’m sure you surmised. I’m afraid there may not be room in his heart for me.”
“But you’re his mate.”
“Yes, I am. But love and the mate bond are two entirely separate entities. You can have both, but you can also have one without the other.”
“But the mate bond attracts you to someone and makes you develop feelings for them.”
“Yes, it attracts you sexually, but emotions like love don’t always come into it. I’ve known mated wolves who have hated each other every hour of the day aside from when they were rutting.”
Heather’s words came back to me. She’d tried to explain this to me too.
“Not every anchor has been in love with her mates,” Bee said.
“What?”
“History tells us of two such cases.”
Had Charlotte known this? She must have.
“The bond can’t compel you to love your mates,” Bee said. “That’s entirely up to you. If you weren’t attracted to them before, the mating bond will make you want them sexually, but that’s all it will do.”
But Ihadbeen attracted to them before. It was okay, I still had control over my emotions. All I needed to do was avoid deep, meaningful conversations and bonding-type activities for a whole fucking century.
Oh boy.
No. Do not despair. You got this. Friend zone could be a loving place. Aplatonicloving place.
Bee was studying me with a shrewd expression that instantly had my back up. I was starting to get sick of people trying to read me. I took a gulp of tea and slipped on my poker face.
“Bee!” A child ran into the kitchen. “The post van is here.”
She sighed and pushed back her chair. “We order supplies once a month and the van never comes past the gates. I’ll be right back.”
Long minutes ticked by, and I was done sitting about. I headed into the hallway. Maybe Bee needed help with these parcels?
“Not gonna happen.” Tor’s irate voice drifted out from a door beyond the stairs, drawing me into eavesdrop mode.
“We don’t have a choice,” Sten said. “They’ll want him. He’s the perfect bait.”
“He’snotbait.”
