Chapter 7

Fated mates.

Such a naive wish.

I watched him on his knees, scrambling for broken rocks. Pathetic. So pathetic it was almost funny.

For ten years, I stood by his side and he never gave me a second glance. Now he was getting sentimental over a few broken rocks?

"What... What is this?"

Gianna's shrill voice cut through the silence.

She had clearly seen the words on the stone, and her beautiful face twisted into an ugly sneer. "Aiden! Did Rhea carve this? Is she trying to curse our Mating?"

Aiden didn't speak.

He just kept staring at that stone.

"Throw it away!" Gianna shrieked, lunging for the stone. Her nails raked across the back of his hand. "Get rid of it! How can you do this to me, for her—"

"Shut up."

Aiden looked up.

The cold fury in his eyes silenced Gianna instantly.

He slowly stood, gathering the stones one by one and placing them carefully inside his suit jacket pocket.

He handled them as if they were precious jewels, as if he wasn't the one who had just banished me.

"I'm tired."

He turned and walked away, leaving his future mate and all his guests standing there in stunned silence.

...

Late that night, candles flickered in the dining room of the pack house.

Gianna was smart, I'll give her that. No more scenes. Instead, she slipped into a whisper of silk that passed for a nightgown and served him a steak dinner.

With a subtle flick of her silk slipper, she "accidentally" kicked the offensive wishing stone into the shadows.

"Aiden, try this," she said sweetly, cutting a piece of steak and holding it to his lips. "Don't think about unpleasant things. Rhea was probably just confused when she said she wanted to leave the pack... We still have each other, don't we?"

Aiden opened his mouth mechanically, his eyes unfocused.

He was still thinking about the stones.

He was thinking about why I had so many wishes, but had never told him a single one.

He was wondering why he never knew the strong, unshakeable warrior he saw had such a soft, vulnerable side.

"Oh, and I made dessert."

Gianna presented a small silver platter like she was revealing a grand prize.

On it were several perfectly golden-brown cookies. A sweet, familiar scent filled the air.

Maple cookies.

Aiden's vacant stare snapped into focus the moment he saw them.

It was his favorite flavor.

The only sweet thing that could ever make the stoic Alpha smile.

"I know you like them," Gianna said, her smile gentle and wifely. She handed one to him. "I learned how to make them just for you. I want you to know I'm willing to do anything for you."

Aiden took the cookie.

The familiar shape, the familiar color, even the slightly browned edges were exactly as he remembered.

His hand trembled slightly.

He took a bite.

The crisp texture exploded on his tongue, and the rich maple flavor filled his mouth.

But... something was missing.

The texture was right. The sweetness was there. But the soul of it... the soul was gone. It was an echo, a ghost on his tongue.

"What's wrong?" Gianna watched his face, her own expression tense. "Is it not good?"

Aiden put the cookie down. His gaze drifted past her, out the window into the dark night.

There was nothing out there but an empty void.

Just like his heart at that moment.

"It's nothing," he said flatly, his voice hollow with a strange exhaustion. "I was just remembering something."

Something.

I floated above the table, watching the ghost of a bite mark on the cookie. A phantom ache echoed through my soul.

Of course it was wrong.

That wasn't the taste of a princess. It was the taste of my burnt fingers and secret smiles.

How could a pampered princess like Gianna ever replicate that?

She'd probably just bribed one of my omegas for the recipe and had the pack chefs make them.

But even with a recipe, some things can't be stolen.

Like love.

He stared at the plate, but he wasn't seeing cookies. He was seeing a memory.

"Maybe..." he murmured, so low I could barely hear.

"Maybe it's her I miss."