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Willow hesitantly says, “I probably shouldn’t have mentioned it, but I believe you need to talk to the pack elders. This isn’t something to take lightly.”

“It’s fine. I know that he won’t ever change and, although I will be alone, at least I won’t have to feel my heart crack each time I look at him.”

Hazel scoots in closer to me and pulls me until my head is resting on her shoulder. Her arms circle around me as she pets my hair. “Maybe you should sleep on it for a few days before you make the decision?”

I let out a sigh. “It won’t change my mind, but I’ll do it because you asked.”

We all sit in silence as the weight of the decision washes over us. I know they think that I am making a rash decision, but I can’t live like this. It hurt enough when he was nothing more than a boyfriend, but now that he is my mate… I can’t do it.

“I’m going to head home. I don’t want anyone to see me like this or ask me why I am crying. Plus, nobody will notice that I am gone,” I say as I lift my head up and begin to stand up.

The girls follow suit as we all brush off our dresses and fix ourselves.

“You want us to come with you?” Hazel asks, ever the mother hen.

Shaking my head, I say, “No, you guys go have fun. I am just going to go home, shower, then head to bed.”

“You sure?” Willow asks with her brows drawn together in confusion.

“Yeah, I’m sure. Go party it up for me. Celebrate, drink, dance, and maybe find some boys to kiss.” I lean in and kiss both of them on the cheek. “I love you both.”

“We love you, too, Aspen,” Hazel says as she places her hand on my shoulder and gently squeezes.

Heading out of the bathroom, I follow the edge of the party until I reach the front door. Sneaking out when nobody is paying attention is far easier than I thought it would be, probably because most of them are heavily intoxicated already. The cool breeze winds itself through the tresses of my hair as I walk the path back home. Shivering, I pick up the pace to finish off the last of the steps to get there.

As I am walking up the three steps to my front porch, I see Gail sitting on our front porch swing. “Gail, what are you doing here this late at night?” I wonder if she will wrap me in her arms and tell me how it’s not as bad as I think it is. I could use her healing grandmother touch and soothing words right now. Her weathered hands rest gently in her lap as I make way up the three steps of our porch. I can almost feel the tension falling off of me as I move closer to her.

She pats the seat beside her as she smiles warmly at me. Not needing to be told twice, I sit down beside her. “I hear congratulations are in order.”

I whip my head around and can’t contain my shock. “How do you know? I only found out a few minutes ago.”

Her eyes shimmer with a secret amusement as she says, “I have my ways, dear. You seem troubled by the selection. Why is that?”

My eyes fall to my hands bunched together in my lap. “He isn’t the right choice for me. How could he be? He cheated on me and showed up at my birthday party with another girl. Is it possible the goddess got it wrong?”

Gail places her hand on mine. “No, dear, the goddess never gets it wrong. It might feel wrong right now, but that is because your journey has just begun. Some have it easy and their mating is a breeze. Some have challenges that they have to overcome so they can be the best mate they can be.”

She is giving me that knowing look. “Yeah, but how do we get past this? He really broke my heart, Gail.”

She gives me a reassuring smile. “Just give it time. He will see that if he really wants to find the love, happiness, and family he so desperately seeks, then he will have to change himself.” She makes this sound so easy. As if my heart isn’t involved or at risk of being permanently broken. Doesn’t she know that he already shattered it once? That when I gave it to him, he spat in my face with another girl!

Scoffing, I say, “I doubt he feels any of those things or wants any of those things.”

She lifts an eyebrow. “You think you know him that well, do you?”

My shoulders drop. “Gail, what do you know about breaking the mating bond?”

Her eyes narrow. “How did you hear about that?”

I mime zipping my lips and she chuckles.

“Willow needs to be careful with what she shares with you both.” My eyes bulge and she chuckles again. “You know that Ihave my ways. Honestly, at this point, it’s more surprising that you are shocked.”

She leans over and wraps her arm around me, pulling me into her warmth. “Aspen, I know that your heart is broken and you think that your only option is to sever the bond between you two. I know I am asking a lot when I say this, but give the goddess a chance to show you that you two are meant to be. I understand that you are hurting right now and that is fair. You should be upset with him. What he did isn’t forgivable, at least not until he makes the changes. I want you to do something for me, something that is important. I want you to decide what is important for you in your relationship and what you want from your partner. Just because the goddess gives us a mate, doesn’t mean we have to accept awful behavior. Can you do that for me?”

Shrugging my shoulders, I answer, “I guess. I don’t know why it’s so important to you, but I can do that for you.”

She pats my leg. “That’s my girl. Now, go in there and shower off the pain. I think you should watch The Notebook tonight.”