LOGINThree dots appeared. Then: **Liam:** Sure? What kind of advice? Is everything okay with you and Hope? **Emily:** Not really. We had—had a fight. About Caden. The whole mate bond situation. I just—I need perspective from someone who knows her. Someone who can help me understand if—if she's really
The Next Generation Emily pov I slammed my bedroom door so hard the walls shook. Screamed. Actually screamed. Let all the rage and hurt and—and betrayal out in one long, furious sound that probably had my parents running to check if I was okay. I wasn't okay. I was—I was devastated. Destroye
I thought about it. About Emily's determination. Her strategic mind. Her—her refusal to accept that the mate bond was non-negotiable. "I'm worried she'll try to create doubt. Make you think—think I'm not committed. Or make me think you're—you're not worth the complications. She could—could spread
The Next Generation Caden pov Hope opened the door and I immediately pulled her into my arms. She smelled incredible. Like jasmine and something uniquely vampire. Uniquely Hope. The mate bond singing with rightness. With—with certainty that this was exactly where I belonged. I kissed her nec
"For acting on those feelings despite knowing it's wrong. Emily, I'm giving you chance to stop voluntarily. To accept that I'm mated to Hope and—and maintain friendship within appropriate boundaries. Or—or you can keep pursuing me and face exile. Your choice." "This is Hope's doing. She's—she's ma
"Emily's going to be hurt. Angry. She'll—she'll see this as me choosing Hope over our friendship." "You are choosing Hope over the friendship. Because Hope is your mate and Emily is—is friend who crossed boundaries. Those aren't equal relationships, Caden. The mate bond takes priority. Always."
"How much time?" "Grace gave me twenty-four hours. I have eighteen left." "She gave you a deadline?" Courtney's laugh was sharp. "That's very—controlling. Connor, is that really the kind of mate you want? Someone who issues ultimatums?" *She's protecting herself. She saw you with Courtney and
"Do you ever think about where we'd be if you hadn't made that phone call?" Emma's voice was quiet. "That night, six years ago, when you called Cas for help with Black River?" "Sometimes. Usually when I'm watching him explain horse parliamentary procedures to our daughter with complete seriousness
"That you were going to use her as a broodmare and then reject her," Vanessa finished, her voice hard. "Yes, I remember. We talked about it extensively. While we were fucking in this very office." The bluntness of it made me flinch. Hearing our plan stated so baldly, without any of the justificati
My Cheating Mate Jeremy pov I finished bandaging the worst of my wounds with the supplies Emma had left behind, my hands shaking slightly from blood loss and exhaustion. Every movement pulled at the gashes across my ribs, sending sharp spikes of pain through my body. My phone buzzed. Then agai







