te, » Dad nods and Alessandra f

, » I say, raising an eyebrow at him

ur mates, » Mum mutters from her

off nonchalant

him just because you're twins, » Mum s

ut I want to meet my mate. I'll

but notice the slight tension in her s

staircase. I don't need to be part of this conversation anymore. It's alw

I hear a door slam shut. I pause, listeni

allway and knock softly on

asually as I sit on her bed,

g by her vanity. «

y? They'd just met. How coul

crossing my arms. She shrugs again, c

in in my ass, » she mutters, glancing

his isn't like her. She's usually the one d

about it? » I ask, h

ip as she considers. « How do

o my bag for a pack of original sa

sigh, dropping the bag of chips onto the bed, wiping my hands off to

help. Te

ingers twisting together nervously. A

dn't at the same time, » she says, her voice barely a whisper.

ng up so fast the chair scra

told me I wasn't what he was expecting, that I wasn't the one he thought he'd be with. But then he said he st

lways had such big dreams of meeting her mate, being rejected by

» I say firmly, my voice stea

usly. « No. You can't. You can't tell anyone. I

t Al

on't know what to do. If I don't go back with him, they'll know something's wrong.

's heart anymore. This is about the pack, and the expectations placed on them. I sit b

m. It's a harsh question, but I need to know. If this is about power, ab

aid that I will make the pack and him stronger. H

almost chokes me. « Don't go with

l of defeat. « I have to, Lai

, Dad might think something's up, and he might ask questions, but you can tell him the truth. You

r as if trying to push away the thought. « It's n

doesn't have to be like this, Ale. You don't have to sacrifice you

the luxury of walking away. You've always had your independence, your freedom. B

life has always been shaped by the expectations of others, especia

andra, » I say softly, my voice filled with convic

in, this time more reso

ll I can do is sit here, and hope she