The Mate He Rejected
He turned his hand over, tangling his fingers with mine in front of everyone.
The contrast was glaring. Across the table, Caomh sat bleeding, his pack fractured, his Beta sweating with hidden guilt, and his chosen mate shrinking in her chair.
On our side, we operated as a single, flawless unit. We didn't need a fated bond to act like true mates. We had forged our own bond out of fire, trust, and sheer survival.
Elder Foster, sitting at the head of the table, cleared his throat loudly. "The roasted pheasant is exceptionally good this evening. Let us focus on the meal, shall we?"