8

A ndrei and I finally finished up a meeting with one of the coaches for the youth league to iron out how and when the team can help, and we're headed to one of the party rooms to do this interview for some college kid's assignment. I usually don't mind this stuff, but I'm just really not in the mood. Frankly, I've been in a bad mood ever since my father dropped the king's bomb on me at dinner the other evening.

Just as we're about to walk through the door, I stop and take a step back. My wolf is whining and pacing relentlessly. I can't tell if something is wrong or if it's anticipatory. He feels like he very much wants what's on the other side of that door. Andrei's wolf seems to be having his own feelings because, as I look over, he looks like he's seen a ghost. His skin is white, and he's sweating. What the fuck is going on?

I open the door, but I don't make it two steps past the door frame when the world stops and the room starts spinning. My knees hit the concrete floors, and I can't breathe. There's a scream building in the back of my throat.

This can't be happening.

This isn't possible.

I'm struggling to catch my breath.

Am I dreaming?

Did I pass out and fall into a nightmare?

Benny looks between a gorgeous young woman at the front of the room and me with concern etched into his features, noticing we're both in some state of distress.

Mate. My wolf cries beneath my skin.

That's not possible. We already had a mate, and we lost her. I wasn't thinking, and my walls were still down. Benny's eyes take on the size of hockey pucks while he lowers himself into his seat, feeling the grief radiating from my body.

"What is this?!" I roar, causing the poor girl to flinch. This in turn causes my wolf to snarl viciously, as he has decided to have some form of attachment to this small human. I'm not able to calm down as the room remains silent and no one responds to me. All you can hear is heavy breathing from myself, maybe her, and a few of my men.

"I said, what is this?! Is this some kind of fucking joke?!" I continue to roar as I level the twins with a glare, noticing another flinch from the girl.

Slate rises from his seat, also looking concerned, when he nears me, where I'm still kneeling on the floor. I still can't breathe. I'm trying to gulp down oxygen, but my brain isn't listening, and my lungs feel like they're full of concrete. My wolf is raging now. The small woman in the center of the room is trembling, but she still doesn't look away from me.

Alpha, what's going on? Slate asks.

If it's what I think it is— Benny begins, but I cut him off.

My wolf thinks she's my mate. I feel it—the mate bond. I finish, shaking my head. This can't be happening.

All eyes in the room snap to my face. They all know my history. They all know about Imogen. About everything. They all know that she was all the good things in this world and in me. They know that I couldn't protect her. They know she was murdered. They know we never found out why she was killed. They know we never found her murderers. They all know I failed her. They all know I failed my only child. They all know this isn't possible. You only get one mate. Right?

Then why does this human also smell of spun sugar, honeysuckles, and sunshine, just like Imogen? It's all too much, and my eyes fill with tears. There are only two women who were able to bring tears to my eyes: my mother and my mate.

I'm able to pull myself up onto my shaky feet. "I don't know what kind of game is being played, but whoever is responsible for this will regret it," I growl. With that I slam the door on my way out of the room without looking back.

I'm halfway through the building when my mind registers the pained look on her face when I stormed out of there. I don't even know her name. Who could have done something like this? I haven't pissed off any witches in a long time, a n d I'm not sure even they have magic powerful enough to replicate a mate bond. My heart is aching both from the look on her face, and my wolf's declaration.

Brutus, I need an elder now! Not over mind link. Here. Now.