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Instead of telling Zyion this, I nod my head. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s it.”

I finish up with the workers, helping them get the load out of for the day. Afterwards, we head to the cafeteria for dinner.

It’s close to nine at night when I finally make my way back to my new home with the vampires. The smell of cooked meat and vegetables greets me as I make my way up the porch. Using my new key, I walk into the house. Marley immediately jumps up from the counter she was sitting on.

“Michaela, he’s back,” she shouts to her sister. Her energy is nearly bouncing off the walls.

Michaela walks up the hall, that neutral expression on her face. She looks me over before placing her attention on her sister.

“What’s this about?” I ask.

Marley rushes over to me. “I cooked dinner for us tonight. Pot roast, roasted veggies, and rolls. It’s not as good as Michaela’s, but I did my best. Oh, and I made tea. I cut back on the sugar. I know you guys don’t like sugar.” She walks over to the stove and pulls a covered tray out.

“I figured since it’s our first actual night being a family, I’d do something nice.” She looks back at me so expectantly remorse washes over me.

I rub the back of my neck. I didn’t even think about the fact that I’m no longer an unmated male, so I should be eating at my home. The only thing that went through my mind was not breaking bread with the vamps.

“I uh…I ate at the cafeteria already.”

The way her face falls pulls at my heartstrings.

“Oh,” she says, looking down at the floor. “I thought mates didn’t eat at the cafe.”

She’s right, but what am I to say?

“This is new to him,” Michaela explains, stepping into the kitchen. “He’s not used to having a mate. It slipped his mind. But I’m dying to eat.”

My wolf whimpers in my head. He can feel the disappointment flowing through our link from our mate.

Michaela busies herself by making a plate of the delicious smelling food. Marley is a little slower to fix her plate. I didn’t even need to have a link with the little vamp to feel her disappointment. I head into the back bedroom, leaving the two upfront.

“He’s not going to keep the bond, is he?” I hear Marley whisper to her sister. Their conversation is low, but I’m a wolf.

“I doubt it. But it’s okay.”

“I’m sorry, Michaela.”

“There is nothing to be sorry about.”

“What about—”

“Marley,” her sister’s quick reprimand cuts her off. “Eat your food, baby.”

After that, the only sound I hear is the sound of forks scraping against plates. The more I am around that vampire, the more interesting she gets.

chapter Twenty-six

Wedding Bells

Michaela

Never in a million years would I think I’d be getting married again.

After things with Markis ended, I vowed that if I ever broke that fucking soul tie, I’d never mate with another man. Yet here I am, standing in front of my bathroom mirror in a thin white dress. The long sleeves flair out, covering my hands. The strapless dress shows off my shoulders and collar bone showcasing my vampire markings.

My make up is simple, just a little mascara and lip stain. I’ve braided my hair in a French braid down my back with a few curly tendrils on the side and framing my face.

“What the hell are you doing, girl?”I ask myself for the thousandth time. Is it really worth doing all this just to break your bond with Markis?