so grown," Mom gushes, kissi

he ache of staring at someone who once completed me. There's a void in me, and I'

ckles. I pull away from Mom and wrap my arms

ate that I missed out on your gro

r is a witch, my father a werewolf. Everyone turns at sixteen. A few months later, they meet their mate. By 'mate,' I don't mean

er did. I waited. I hoped. I watched as my best friends shifted, hunted, trained in their wolf forms, whil

Dad," I say, forcing

, resisting the overwhel

xan

u

me. I finally glance at Alexandru, only to find him already staring at me.

nged, ro

retch on until I've greeted everyone, except him. I finally look aga

I force a smile

something rushes through

ys quietly, but loud eno

storms out of the room, eac

I say, already hea

at's a good idea

It's just Alex

e. Feeling oddly self-conscious, I glance down at my outf

take long t

Adele," he snaps

ng time no see," I re

d it sets me on fire. What is this?

here?" he a

versary," I shrug, stepping cl

was my best friend. Now?

u don't believe in us

d the inner workings of human minds. I came to believe th

eve in you," I mutt

kiss him. I shake my head, trying to banish the thought. He

t you?" I

. "Fuck y

e the deepest shade of blue I've ever seen. His hair is dark, probably like his so

me. I want us

game. God, I need to get away from him. I

s me, yanking me back into

o

ation is

l me that,

his voice vibrat

and kisses me. I melt into it, drinking him in like oxygen. My

i

ard

didn't

ds grip my waist, my

ng?" I ask breathles

mething?" he smi

te how that

le," he says, leaning in. I'm bac

I do

ca

't wa

th you. I want to hurt you like you hurt m

"Alexa

didn'

t hea

s tho

not a

thoughts. That's the bond. But I

ting. I need sleep.

lp you," he says,

ree

ionalize what you

g. My heart

il

asks, no longer smirking, just looking

dru," I say throu

dering. I've been here barely an

and sip

ents' 35th

gus

tes. Mates. The one true connection. Mates can heal each other. When my

ach other's mind

ane. And t

t bare, t

's what love i

heir emotions. Even their arousal.

s most brutal,

sense of family, of community. And I've

cake!" someo

ree

en

lena made us a tri

y at my parents. "

ry, Grandma!" a

ld. He has

y love," Mom

hat should've been my child.

hur

watching, so I turn to lea

he asks, frowning

taring at me, at my dress, my cleavage. It's blue, li

too much cleav

at to wear?" I laugh bitt

ove. He just

t replaceab

"Stop doing

. "Doing wh

need to find a way to

ing for you," Elena say

ie, smiling brig

e back, Alex

you been?"

and te

us. My mom wraps an arm aroun

el a

d call

morrow," I blur

frowns. "You

o be back in New York befo

eks, darling. You can't leave now," Dad says

alk. I just... I need t

oice echoes

ding there. His gaze is sharp,

ut a word, and now you think I'll just let you leave

arting to glow, that eerie neon tha

. "I don't need

e says, voice

ree

about, Adele?" Mom

xandru's voice is fir

the surface. "You do

!" Mom

be mates," I rush out. "Which isn't possible be

ls into stun

nally says, his

stepping closer. "And I'd rather