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“Weird.”

“I know.”

Zahra adjusts in the rickety chair across the table from me. Today, we’re experiencing the extremely rare event where we both have a day off at the same time. And since Noah will be going directly to a friend’s house for a sleepover after school, I don’t have a whole lot going on today, so I invited Zahra over.

Also, I know it’s time to tell her the truth. She helped me through the worst period of my life; I’m sure she’ll have some good advice for me now.

My best friend crosses her arms and observes me quietly for a long moment.

“It doesn’t really sound like the behavior of an Alpha who has rejected his Mate.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s only because Noah exists that he’s even here in the first place. He doesn’t care about me.”

Whatever attraction he feels for me as a result of the Mating bond is on a purely physical level. His desire to get me naked is the result of a biological instinct, not because he loves me. It’s the only thing I can believe.

Because if Rowan really loved me, he’d find a way to overcome his fear of the prophecy.

Zahra quirks an eyebrow at me. “That’s not true.”

“It is.”

“I just don’t get it. The chemistry between the two of you is off the charts. It’s not just Mates. It’s the bond between an Alpha and his Luna. You’re literally meant to be, Lina.”

Her words cause me to flinch. There’s no physical pain associated with them, but the emotional ache in my chest throbs like a real injury.

Zahra is saying exactly what I wish could be true. Deep down, despite how long I’ve spent hating Rowan for rejecting me, the wolf within me has always yearned to have the bond repaired.

“It’s not that easy,” I tell her. “In fact, it’s extremely complicated.”

“Okay, fine. Why is it complicated? Explain it to me like I’m five.”

I don’t even bat an eye at Zahra’s attitude. I’m used to it.

“You know how the Greenbriars are extremely…traditional?”

“I guess so.”

“They cling to the old ways. That includes listening to the guidance of our wise woman, Kseniya,” I continue.

Zahra nods thoughtfully. “Right. Very old school. Mystical, magical nonsense.”

“Well, it’s not nonsense to the Greenbriar pack. And, honestly, I don’t think it’s nonsense in general. Kseniya has never been wrong before. Nor have her ancestors. She foresaw my parents’ deaths, after all.”

Instantly, the sarcastic humor slips out of Zahra’s expression. “Seriously?”

“I mean, she foresaw that they would meet their demise when they least expect it. That’s the problem. The prophecies are usually pretty vague. My parents were on guard all the time because of it, though. They thought that if they constantly expected to confront their own doom, then it would never happen.”

“Sounds exhausting.”

“And useless. They were ambushed by Samson Blackburn on a regular patrol just outside the border near the western mountains. They didn’t expect the Blackburns to be there because they didn’t expect anyone to be there. And that’s when it happened. Kseniya’s prophecy came true, and I was orphaned all in the span of one hour.”

Zahra leans forward across the table, placing her hand on top of mine for a moment. “I’m really sorry, Alina.”

I force myself to smile breezily. “It was a long time ago.”

“Lina…”

“Anyway,” I barrel on. “She’s always right.”