LOGIN"Me neither. Caden, we're both—we're both learning. Both trying. That's—that's okay. As long as we're honest. As long as we—we talk instead of assuming. As long as we give each other chances to fix mistakes." "Honest communication. No assumptions. Multiple chances." He was still holding my hand. S
"You felt it?" My voice was small. Hopeful. Terrified. "Caden, you actually felt the mate bond? You—you recognized it?" "Yes. Not immediately. Not when we were talking at the gathering. But after—after I was alone and thinking about why you looked so upset—it hit. The certainty. The pull. The—the
The Next Generation Hope pov I lay on my bed facing the wall, knees pulled to my chest, trying not to cry anymore. The mate bond was—excruciating. Every instinct screaming that Caden was mine. That he should be here. That watching him with Emily was wrong on fundamental level. But he'd looke
I went upstairs. Found the second door on the right. Knocked quietly. "Come in." Hope's voice. Muffled. Like she'd been crying. Fuck. I'd made her cry. Had devastated my mate before even realizing she was my mate. I opened the door. Hope was sitting on her bed, eyes red, looking—looking vulner
"I didn't want to hurt her feelings. Didn't want to—to make things awkward since we're friends and train together and—" I stopped. "I was being a coward. Should have been honest months ago instead of letting her build expectations." "Yes. You should have." No judgment in Dad's voice. Just observat
The Next Generation Caden pov I watched Hope Reed-Castellan leave with her family, and something in my chest twisted. She'd looked—gutted. Devastated. Like something had broken when we were talking. And I—I didn't understand why. We'd just been having normal conversation. Me and Emily planning
"Emma, wait—" But she was gone, practically running from the observation room. My father put a hand on my shoulder. "Give her space. This was hard for her. Hearing Vanessa's threats, watching her die—Emma needs time." "What if Vanessa was telling the truth?" I asked. "About the rogues? About h
My Cheating Mate Jeremy pov Dawn broke gray and cold, the sky threatening rain. Fitting weather for an execution. I stood beside Emma in the observation area, separated from the execution grounds by a thick pane of reinforced glass. My father stood on Emma's other side, with Beta Marcus just b
"Thank you." "But Emma? I can't stop completely. Can't just sit back while there are still threats out there." "I'm not asking you to stop. Just to be smart about it. Sustainable." I pulled my hand back. "And to actually show up to therapy ready to engage instead of half-dead." "I can do that.
My Cheating Mate Jeremy pov The council chamber was packed—all fifteen council members seated around the ancient oak table, with my father presiding at the head. Pack law required council presence for capital punishment votes, and everyone knew what today's meeting would decide. Vanessa's exec







