“You didn’t fail,” he says firmly, “You survived. You got away from him, and you came home. That took incredible strength, incredible
courage.”
I want to believe him. I want so desperately to see myself through his eyes, through the eyes of someone who loves me unconditionally.
But Daxon’s voice is still so loud in my head, still telling me I’m worthless, unlovable, damaged beyond repair.
I pull back to look at him, needing him to understand the magnitude of what I’m about to tell him.
“I….. rejected him. I formally rejected the mate bond.”
Tristan’s eyes widen in shock. He knows what this means, knows how rare it is for someone to reject their mate bond, knows the kind of
pain it causes.
“I stood in what should have been our mating ceremony, bleeding and broken, and I spoke the words that would sever our connection forever. I rejected him as my mate.”
Fresh tears spill down my cheeks as I voice the shame I’ve carried ever since.
“I turned my back on the most sacred bond our kind knows. I rejected the goddess’s gift because I couldn’t bear to be connected to someone who hurt me. And now… now I’m broken in a way that can never be fixed. I’ll never have another mate. I’ll never have that kind
of love again.”
Tristan cups my face in his hands, forcing me to look at him.
“You did the right thing,” he says firmly. “The mate bond is supposed to be about love and protection, not abuse and control. What he did to you, what he made you endure, that wasn’t what the goddess intended. You saved yourself, Ath. You found the strength to break free.”
I want to believe him, but the guilt is still so heavy.
“But I’m cursed now,” I whisper. “Mateless wolves… we’re not whole. We’re broken things that can’t form proper bonds with anyone.”
“That’s not true.” Tristan’s voice is fierce. “You’re not broken, you’re wounded. And wounds can heal. Just because you don’t have a mate doesn’t mean you can’t have love, can’t have happiness.”
I nod against his chest, trying to absorb his words, trying to believe them.
“I’m scared,” I admit. “I’m scared that Orion will look at me differently when he knows I rejected my mate. I’m scared that you both will realize I’m not the person you thought I was.”
“Hey. Tristan’s voice is gentle but firm. ‘Look at me.”
18:27 Fri, Jan 2
Chapter 23
1 force myself to meet his eyes.
“You are exactly who we’ve always known you to be. You’re our Athena. You survived something that would have destroyed most people, and you had the courage to save yourself when no one else could. Nothing that bastard did to you changes how much we love you, how
proud we are of your strength
46
“Orion needs to know,” he continues, his voice gentle but insistent. “Not because he has a right to judge you, but because he has a right to support you. He loves you, Ath. We both do. And love means sharing the burden, not carrying it alone.”
I nod against his chest, finally understanding what he’s been trying to tell me. This isn’t about confession or judgment or shame. This is about family, about the people who love me enough to help carry the weight of my pain until I’m strong enough to carry it myself.
*I’ll tell him when he gets back,” I promise, and for the first time, I actually mean it. “But I need time to figure out how. I need time to
find the words.”
“We’ll figure it out together,” Tristan promises, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “All three of us. That’s what family does.”
As I lie there in his arms, I realize something has shifted inside me. The shame is still there, but it’s not as loud as it was before. For the first time since I rejected the mate bond, I can imagine a future where I might actually heal.
Maybe I don’t need a mate to be whole. Maybe the love of my family will be enough to help me find my way back to myself.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
