Sorry. Again with the apologies. Five years of hearing those two words had worn them hollow.
Every time he said them, it was just another reminder that he'd actually betrayed the bond we shared.
I used to be naive enough to believe that if Raven Duskveil just disappeared from our territory, we could go back to how things were.
And what happened?
Raven merely stood there, and our fragile mate bond crumbled to dust.
Because of the two of them, my sire paid with his life.
Because of the two of them, I'd wasted ten years of mine.
It was like the other shoe had finally dropped. My heart had never felt this calm.
"Kael, let's reject the bond."
His head snapped up.
Then came the irritated pinch of his brow. He flicked on the den lights and tossed his jacket carelessly onto the fur-draped settee.
"Lyra, you know I swore a blood oath to your sire that I'd never break our mating bond."
"What happened just now—that was my fault. I shouldn't have gone to see Raven."
"But she went from being a respected pack member to selling wildflowers at the territory border. She's suffered enough."
"I just felt guilty, wanted to give her some compensation. I won't see her again!"