Before Conrad could process any thoughts, Amber has yanked her back into a cubicle.The door outside had opened and closed, and Amber is avoiding everyone at the restaurant."Don't tell my brother I smoke," Amber demands, clasping Conrad's hands between hers."Yeah, no problem. Don't tell your brother I smoke," Conrad grins, and Amber laughs.Her heart is still racing, but Amber showing her basic human kindness helps relax her a little."Oh, so you're not a regular Luna, you're a cool Luna," Amber laughs, and Conrad shrugs."Cool, yes, I suppose. I'm a Beta," Conrad whispers conspiratorially, excitement flowing through her veins. "That makes so much sense, holy shit," Amber exclaims, clapping a hand over her mouth.Conrad looks at her in confusion, and Amber flaps a dismissive hand."The tattoos. The pack. Your build. It all makes a lot more sense than you being an Alpha Female, I knew Alpha James didn't have a daughter," Amber beams, her face inches away from Conrad's."Am, you in h

"I mean... Why bother staying? I certainly wouldn't," Charlotte points out, and Conrad sits up on her bed, her hair falling around her face."No, you totally would, and we both know it. I'm giving him until tonight to make up his mind, I'm not an unreasonable person," Conrad responds, tucking her phone between her shoulder and ear and she continues to chat to her friend."Yeah, I suppose. Do you not feel betrayed?" Charlotte asks, and Conrad rolls her eyes, pulling her laptop closer to her."Why would I feel betrayed? He screwed her before he knew I existed, it's not like he cheated," Conrad sighs, and Charlotte grumbles."Did you tell him he has until tonight?" Charlotte murmurs and Conrad stays silent for a moment, staring at the wall blankly."Con?" Charlotte calls through the phone, wondering if she's lost connection.Conrad blinks, snapping out of her daze."No. He's downstairs; I think he just got back from his run. I'm going to tell him now, I don't want it to be hanging over m

"Conrad, slap a smile on your face. You're allowed to be sad, but you're taking the piss now," Charlotte announces, breezing into the room and flinging the curtains open."Get out of that bed," Charlotte demands, throwing the sheets off Conrad's cold body.A groan emits from Conrad's body as she rolls over and tries to snuggle under the remaining covers on the bed."No. Up," Charlotte sing-songs, and Conrad finally opens her eyes grumpily."I'm mourning. Leave me in my bed, please," she pleads, batting her eyelashes innocently."Firstly, your bed? Bitch, move your ass! This is my bed, and I'm reclaiming it. Secondly, you're not mourning; you're just lazy now. Thirdly, and finally, I have arranged for you to run a training session, so shake your tail feather and get up," Charlotte grins, wrapping her hands around Conrad's ankle and pulling.Conrad ends up on the wooden floor, a stream of curses leaving her mouth as she pulls herself up."Nope," Charlotte shouts, noticing her looking ba

The dress looks phenomenal.It emphasises the difference between her hips and waist, something that she'd usually avoid, but she's embracing for once.She slicks some more red lipstick on, fluffing her hair and straightening up."Ooh, you look cute. Date?" A woman she recognises from advertising asks with a grin."Yep. Do you think it's okay?" Conrad checks, doing a twirl in the mirror."If you have any jewellery, I think it would make a big difference," the woman suggests, glancing at her watch, "good luck!"Once the door closes, Conrad reaches into her bag, digging along the bottom.She manages to lay her fingers on a set of earrings, quickly putting them into her lobes after taking her boring studs out.Her tattoos peek out from the halterneck of the dress, her back mostly exposed.She inhales slowly, calming her nerves before she walks out of the bathroom.She didn't think it would feel this real; when she suggested it, she didn't actually think he would agree to go.She walks out

Her departure had caused some confusion.She had signed on to be there for most of the week, so her abrupt leave had caused some small issues with timetabling.Conrad was just assuming it would probably take the two days in the capital to handle all of the problems associated with ending a mating.It had been almost a month since she had last seen Atlas, and she wasn't looking forward to seeing him again.At the mere thought of having to be in the same room with him, a knot built in her stomach, making her feel ready to throw up.She pulls the car over to the side of the road, opening the window and inhaling deeply to try to calm herself down.The mere thought of seeing him shouldn't upset her this much, but she knows nobody would criticise her for it.The mate bond is different than others, and breaking one is agonising.She's prepared for that pain, and she knows she can handle it; it's the possibility that they're going to be within a few feet of each other for more than a few minu