Chapter 3: Don’t regret this.

Aura’s POV

The next afternoon, I went straight to Violet’s house, two bottles of vodka in hand. Violet was my best friend, my chosen sister, and I needed her comfort right now more than anything.

She glanced at the two bottles of vodka.

“Oh no,” she said, motioning for me to sit down on the couch. “What happened?”

I sighed heavily while she poured the drinks.

“Sorren,” I said, my tone dry. “I called off the engagement. I’m not going to marry him.”

“What?” Violet asked, her eyes widening in shock. “Why? You two were so close. He’s always been so kind to you, so protective. He’s treated you like a little sister ever since your parents died.”

“He cheated on me,” I blurted out.

“No!” Violet exclaimed, pausing mid-pour and looking at me with stunned eyes.

“Yup,” I replied. “I saw him. Last night. Kissing some she-wolf.”

“What did you do?” Violet asked, promptly adding more vodka to our glasses.

“I confronted him,” I told her, accepting the overfilled glass of vodka.

“And?” Violet prompted.

“He tried to blame me. Can you believe it? He said we didn’t have a mate bond and that this was my fault because I refused to sleep with him.”

Violet set down the bottle.

“I’ll kill him,” she said, her tone serious. “I mean it, Aura. I will. I rip him to fucking shreds.”

I appreciated that she was furious on my behalf. As my bestie, I knew I could count on Violet to have my back.

“That’s his excuse,” I said, shrugging.

“That’s ridiculous,” Violet said. “No one has a mate bond. Not anymore. And it’s not like he couldn’t control his…urges. He could have waited.”

“I know,” I sighed, taking a huge swig of the vodka. It burned down my throat.

“Well, I guess I’m not surprised,” Violet said, also taking a sip. “Sorren’s always been a playboy. Everyone knows it. I thought he changed when he got together with you, but apparently, a cheetah doesn’t change their spots.”

“Yeah, and a cheat-ER doesn’t change his ways.”

“Well said,” Violet replied, lifting her glass to me. “To getting rid of cheaters cheetahs. You’re better off without him.”

We clinked glasses. I already felt ten times better, just being with Violet. From there, she listened patiently as I poured my heart out to her.

“I guess it’s one of the downsides of no longer relying on a mate bond to find your partner,” I told Violet. “Without a mate bond, our wolves can’t detect a betrayal through scent anymore. If we had been mates, I would have known he was cheating.”

“True,” Violet said, nodding. “But there’s nothing we can do about that. True mate bonds are so rare these days. Everyone just falls in love freely now.”

Violet and I had a long, cathartic conversation. I expressed how hurt I was and Violet sympathized. My emotions oscillated between hurt and anger, and once I’d let it all out and vented, I felt much, much better.

By the time Violet was pouring the last dregs of our vodka, we were actually giggling.

“Stay the night?” she asked. I happily agreed, since I was a little tipsy and I found solace in Violet. So I mindlinked Jackson to let him know I wouldn’t be home that night.

Violet and I talked late into the night, until we both started yawning. I curled up beside her in bed and tried to sleep.

However, a little later that night, I realized that something was wrong. I sat up, feeling dizzy and disoriented. Was it just too much vodka, or was it something else? I snuck out of bed and instinctively went outside for some fresh air. I rubbed my arms, feeling hot and bothered. I looked up at the moon and found myself craving Sorren.         

Shit. I was in heat, I realized. I’d always avoided being around Sorren when I was in heat because I didn’t want to have sex before marriage and I’d been worried I wouldn’t be able to control myself. I tried to keep a clear head, but the ache for Sorren was very strong. I found myself wandering towards my parent’s house, shoeless and wearing a nightie.

As I approached my parent’s house, I caught a strong scent – bitter orange and rose. I inhaled deeply. The scent was intoxicating. Just then, out of nowhere, my wolf, Summer, let out a loud howl in my mind.

“Mate,” she growled.

From there, it was like I couldn’t control my actions. I ran up the front steps to my parents’ house and burst through the door, craving more of that intoxication scent. I stumbled right into Atlas’ arms. We looked into each other’s eyes. The recognition was instant.

We were mates.

I was confused and overwhelmed. A palpable heat coursed through me, and I was still a bit drunk. Atlas looked down at me, his green eyes glowing with intensity. In a daze, I lifted my head to his, trying to kiss him. But he turned his head and let go of me.

“You need to calm down,” he said. “You’re drunk.”

I tried to kiss him again, but again, he pushed me away. He turned his back to me. I could see that he was breathing heavily.

My mind flashed back to Sorren’s betrayal. I’d been wronged by him and it hurt like hell. What did it matter though? I’d found my mate, my ACTUAL mate. His scent was driving me crazy! So, I placed my hand on his shoulder and turned him around.

“I want to use my wish,” I said, undoing the top button of his shirt.

He didn’t reply. He just gazed down at me.

“I want you to marry me.” My voice felt tinny, distant, even to myself. I continued to unbutton his shirt. Suddenly, he grabbed my wrists.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

I was too dazed to reply. I had one thought and one thought only on my mind at that point – I wanted my mate. So instead of answering, I lifted my face to his. I pushed off the straps of my nightie, letting it fall to the floor in a pool of silk, exposing my naked body.  

The last thing I remember, Atlas was scooping me up in his arms. He laid me down on the bed and crawled on top of me. His breath was hot in my ear as he whispered:

“Don’t regret this.”