Chapter 12

Aina

I came home feeling heavy and low after what happened. My parents were not around, only Josh was there, acting as though I didn’t even exist. After putting the groceries away, I headed for my room, but his voice stopped me.

“What about Suzy?” he asked. I didn’t feel like talking to anyone; my mood had already soured.

“Why don’t you call her?” I replied, continuing toward my room. Then his voice cut through again, sharper this time. “Just because you’re mated to Osborne doesn’t mean you’re better than everyone else.”

If only he could see what I felt inside, he’d laugh. I was a coward—always have been, always will be. Worthless. Someone like me didn’t deserve a man like Osborne. Tears stung my eyes. I couldn’t even stand up to those girls earlier. Maybe I should just fade back into the shadows where I belonged.

I hated myself. Why couldn’t I be beautiful like other women? Why did I have to be fat and ugly? I’d tried everything to change, but my body refused to cooperate. I’d really tried… so why was I made this way?

I collapsed on the bed, crying, and a thought began to take root—maybe I should reject Osborne altogether and stay alone. No one deserves to be tied to a loser like me.

Tears blurred my vision when, all of a sudden, a voice echoed in my mind—urgent, calling out. I jerked upright as if it had spoken my name.

“Aina.”

There it was again, clear as day, but coming from inside my head. Instinctively, I answered aloud, “What?” as if someone was right there with me.

“Are you crying?” The voice repeated.

I froze. That was definitely Osborne’s voice. Could this be… a mind-link?

Tentatively, I spoke back in my thoughts. How are you in my head?

His reply was calm but certain. I’m the future Alpha, of course I can speak to you this way. Are you crying?

I didn’t answer.

Who made you cry? he pressed.

No one, I said quickly, swallowing hard. My hands trembled. I don’t think I can do this.

Do what? he asked.

Be your mate.

Silence fell between us, heavy and unbroken.

Just like that, he was gone from my head. I tried to reach for him through the mind link again, but instead my wolf’s voice answered. He’s cut it off.

I sank back onto the bed, the weight in my chest crushing me, and cried all over again.

A few minutes later, exhaustion pulled me under—until a loud bang on my door jolted me awake. My heart raced. Who would knock like that?

The pounding came again, sharper this time. I sat up quickly. “Who is it?”

Was I in some kind of trouble?

Then a deep voice came from the other side. “Your mate.”

I froze. I couldn’t even catch his scent—why?

Have you forgotten? my wolf murmured. You said you can’t be his mate. That’s why. You rejected him.

My hand flew to my mouth. “But I didn’t!”

Your bond isn’t strong yet, Aina. He wasn’t given to you by the Moon Goddess—he chose you himself.

I got to my feet. “Come in.”

The door opened, and when I saw him, my breath caught. He looked like he was barely holding himself up.

“Take back your words,” he demanded, his voice raw.

I swallowed hard. “I can be your mate. I claim you, Osborne Cliff.”

And just like that, his scent flooded my nostrils again.

We stood there in silence for a while before I finally found the courage to speak. “I didn’t mean it, to sabotage anything,” I began, but his voice cut in sharply.

“Who made you cry?”

That’s what he was focused on? Not the fact that I’d nearly broken our bond?

“It’s no one,” I muttered, but he didn’t believe me.

“Was it your mother? Your father? Your brother… or his mate? Who?” His voice dropped low, dangerous, and I could feel the fury radiating from him, sinking into my bones.

“No, it’s not that. Why don’t you just calm down—”

“Who the hell made you cry?” he roared, and the force of it made my eyes widen. The words slipped out before I could stop them.

“Suzy’s friends.”

That was all it took. He stormed out of the room.

I chased after him, struggling to keep up with his long strides. When we reached the living room, Suzy and Josh were there. Before I could say a word, Osborne’s hand was already around her throat.

Josh moved instinctively to defend her, but the raw, commanding weight of Osborne’s Alpha aura froze him in place.

“What are their names?” Osborne’s voice was lethal.

Suzy clawed at his hand, gasping for air. “Osborne, please stop!” I cried, and at once he released her. She collapsed to the floor, coughing, while Josh rushed to her side.

Osborne turned to me, wiping at my cheeks. “Don’t cry.”

But his eyes slid back to Suzy, dark with threat. “If you don’t give me their names, I’ll cut off your head.”

Suzy’s voice cracked as she knelt on the floor. “I’m sorry! I was just… jealous, that’s all.”

I didn’t think I’d ever see her beg.

Osborne’s gaze returned to me. “What did they say to you?”

I stayed quiet, unable to repeat those cruel words.

“Stop biting your lip,” he murmured, brushing his thumb over it gently. I hadn’t even realized I was doing it.

His eyes softened, and in that moment, all I wanted was to feel safe in his arms. I wrapped my arms around him, holding tight. “I didn’t want to cry and make you worry. But… wait—how did you know I was crying?”

He stayed silent, and I searched his face for any hint of an answer, but he didn’t say a word. Then, after a pause, he sighed.

“I felt it,” he murmured.

I blinked, confused. He felt it? Felt me crying?

“No,” he shook his head slowly. “I felt your emotions… your pain.”

I frowned, irritation bubbling up. “Get the hell out of my head.”

He only chuckled in response.