Page 17 of Awakened

Pressure builds behind my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. Not yet. I can’t. Not until I know for sure.

In a way, it doesn’t matter. I’m already tied to this Alpha. Our Bond exists, with or without the claiming bite. Nothing will change that.

And still… I can’t bring myself to look up.

Because I know—down to the depths of my soul—that if I’m forced to face another rejection tonight, I won’t survive it. I simply won’t. Physically. Emotionally. Mentally. It will break me into a thousand, million pieces.

“And all the king's horses and all the king's men…”

I almost can’t comprehend that mere hours ago my faith in Fate was unshakeable. I was so sure that no matter what, my Fated Mates would love me unconditionally and protect me with everything they had.

How could it possibly be any different? Fate chose us for one another. Fate wrote the story of our love in starlight when the universe was born.

All this time… I believed my Mother’s stories were real, that she’d never lie to me, especially about the important things. Not when our lives were so terrible. So hopeless.

She had to know I’d find out the truth, and when I did, it would shatter me. Scar me forever.

So… why?

Why did she lie?

If this were one of her stories, I’d already be in that Alpha’s arms. He’d protect me and love me, and I would have known that the moment I scented him.

But that didn’t happen. Because this isn’t one of her stories. And the truth is, my Fated Mates don’t have to love me. They don't even have to like me.

There’s no magical spell preventing them from hurting me. Nothing stopping them from hating me. Abusing me. Tormenting me. Rejecting me without even knowing that I’m the Mate they’ve been waiting for hundreds of years.

Fate doesn’t take away free will.

Which means Fated Mates—just like fathers—can break your heart just as easily as anyone else. Fate doesn’t care.

Blindly trusting this stranger is the stupidest thing I could do right now. Not when I’m barely hanging on as it is. Not when another rejection—another male placed on this Earth to hurt me—would kill me.

Dax and Vae have already nearly broken me.

This Alpha could finish the job.

Which makes him the most dangerous male in the room.

My head spins, and my stomach churns. Behind her brick fortress, my Omega cries.

Out of the corner of my eye, the wolven moves, taking a step toward me. The movement startles me, and I flinch. An involuntary whimper slips past my lips, loud and pitiful in the heavy silence of the room.

Daxen jumps at the opportunity to step in before my—the Alpha—can move any further. His order snaps through the room like a whip, demanding obedience.

“Stand up, Omega. Then come here.”

I don’t move. I can’t. My limbs feel like they weigh a thousand pounds, weighed down with exhaustion and fear. Adrenaline is still shooting through my veins, ensuring I don’t forget that I’m prey, and they’re predators.

A cornered animal. An easy kill.

Everything is fuzzy around the edges, and blinking does nothing to help. If anything, it makes it worse. The world is blurry and muted, like I’m walking through a dream.

I open my mouth, intending to—what? Tell Daxen no?—but before I can speak, a feral growl explodes from the wolven, rough and low and so obviously threatening I can feel the promise of violence in my bones.

“Watch your fucking mouth when you speak to her,” the wolven snarls. He takes a single long stride toward Daxen, rage carved in every line of his face. “Unless you want to find out how long it takes to regrow every single one of your teeth.”

I…