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Selena looked away. “She knows.”

“And that’s why you’re leaving in the dead of night.” I pointed out.

“I left a letter.”

“What about me?” I tried to hide it, but there was a light crack in my voice.

She looked at me seriously then. “I left you a letter too. It’s on your bed.”

She’d thought of everything, and I was out of arguments. I could only stand and stare at her. I sniffed loudly, letting her see the tears streaming down my face.

She dropped her bag then and crushed me into a hug. I embraced her back, still unable to speak as she held me tightly. Still unable to speak as she released me and gave a parting wave. She didn’t say goodbye. And neither did I.

Some deep part of me understood. Sisters don’t say goodbye.

ORION

Sleep was light and restless. I had slept too much already, so I tossed through the remaining hours of darkness, taking extra care not to exacerbate the healing gashes on my chest. Eventually, the gray light of dawn streamed through my window. Dad knocked on my door frame and let himself in my room.

“How are you feeling?”

Sitting up on my own was easier now, so I turned around to face him, feet touching the floor. “Better than yesterday.”

Dad nodded and crossed the room to sit next to me. “And how is everything else? Besides your injuries?”

I arched an eyebrow at him. “Everything else?”

“Things with Diana seem much improved,” he noted, angling his head meaningfully.

I looked down at my hands. “Is this your way of gloating? To rub it in my face that you were right about the ceremony?”

His heavy hand settled on my shoulder. “I ask out of sincere interest, because I care about your happiness and well-being. An ill-fated mate is not a burden one lightly bears.”

I frowned at his superstitious concerns. “First you disapprove of Selena. Don’t start talking about curses now.”

He chuckled, “If anyone is cursed it’s the pack, settling in a place so near Half Moon Bay as we are, tempting the mettle of a witch.”

I knew he was serious. But, “A witch?” I asked.

He shrugged off my concerns. “It’s a long story. My point is that true, fated mates have always been considered rare miracles, but some have found trouble even when bonded at a coupling ceremony. Whether it’s a witch’s curse or just bad luck, who can say. But you are my son, you are the future of this pack.”

I didn’t understand. Only the worst betrayal could break a fated bond.

“Diana is your mate, and your future. When you become alpha, that means I will be gone and unable to advise you. Jesse is a hot-head, yes, but you are sensible enough to know not to rely on his wisdom for everything. That means building your own circle of people you trust. Diana should be the center of your circle, just as your mother was for me.”

I nodded at his words. “Dianaismy mate. And we work well together, if yesterday proved anything.”

Dad chucked again, “She saved your ass.”

I cracked a half-smile, but the thought was more serious to me than amusing. “She did. She’s more than proven herself to me. I just hope I can prove myself to her.”

The hand on my shoulder squeezed slightly before pulling me into a tight embrace. “You will, my son.”

He headed off then, leaving me alone in the house with nothing but my thoughts. I couldn’t go back to bed, so I listlessly roamed my way to the kitchen.

A light knock on the front door interrupted me. When I went to answer the door, I found Diana standing there, breathless, early morning mist clinging to her hair, her eyes a bit wild. I tensed, expecting bad news. But there was a timid smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, and her scent of cool peppermint was bright, not alarmed.

“You’re awake,” she greeted. A faint blush rose to her cheeks. I wondered if she ran here. “How are you feeling?”