Page 14

The drive to Star’s town felt like a hazy nightmare. I barely remembered anything except the road signs and numbers. I turned on the GPS and let it guide me, stopping only once for coffee, hoping it would clear my head. It didn’t.

When I finally arrived, Star’s place turned out to be a tiny studio apartment in a modest condominium. I wasn’t ready for this conversation—not in my state of mind. I felt like I was failing at everything; with Damien, with my commitment to Fate's Choice clients, with my life in general…

When I knocked, the door opened, and a rather tall omega greeted me.

He looked different from his photo, where he’d been wearing makeup, but his beauty was still striking. His smooth, pearl-like skin and full pink lips stood out, and even without makeup, his dark, thick lashes framed his eyes. Objectively, he was very attractive—but he wasn’t Damien. His blond hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, and he wore a plain gray sweatshirt.

Star didn’t look like the stereotypical sex worker; his energy felt more ‘office clerk’ than someone involved in the entertainment industry. But I remembered from his personal info in the database that he'd quit the strip club a year ago and was now working as a phone consultant from home. His outfit made sense.

What struck me most was his expression—it was completely still, almost mask-like. His eyes seemed nearly black, boring sharply into my face. "Storm Nolan," I introduced myself, shaking his hand. His grip was faint, his hand dry and stiff, like wood. With that kind of attitude, could he even attract a client? Or had something changed him?

Without a word, he stepped back, letting me into the room, which served as both his bedroom and living room, with only a small kitchenette off to the side. "So, what brings you here, Mr. Nolan?" he asked sternly, his expression indifferent.

Star's eyes were somewhat disturbing—completely motionless, like a shark's. Up close, I could see they were a dark navy blue, not black as it could seem. They reminded me of a starry, polar night, and they sent a shiver down my spine.

People froze to death under such a sky, right? Many times!

"Yes, well…" I swallowed, feeling like I shouldn’t be here. I should be with Damien, holding him in my arms and helping him through his recovery.

It was awful, like I had post-heat recovery depression myself, even though it didn’t affect alphas. Some felt physically tired from the hormone flood, but mood swings weren’t typical.

"To be honest, I came here to have a conversation with you about additional options for finding you a perfect partner, but I—" I paused, clearing my throat once, then again. Fuck. This was bad. "I’m in a difficult situation, so forgive me if I come across as unprepared. I had to leave my partner in recovery, and I’m really struggling…" I blurted out with unnecessary honesty, looking away.

Yep. I was behaving like an idiot—totally unprofessional. He couldn’t care less about what was happening to me. But I just couldn’t stop thinking about Damien! I wanted to break free, run out of the apartment, and rush back to my little redheaded omega… My ball of cuteness!

Star stayed silent, his eyes as still as a statue’s. He didn’t even blink. Of course. I shouldn’t have expected any sympathy from him.

I shook myself out of that miserable state. "I apologize for this. It’s not your concern. Please forgive me. I’ll get to the matter I came here to discuss so you can make a decision."

"I hope it’s a good proposition because, for the past six months, I haven’t received a single pairing from you guys," he said, his tone consistently cold, completely ignoring my earlier emotional outburst and my embarrassing confession.

I blinked nervously because he was absolutely right. "I apologize for that too. I wasn’t employed at the company back then, but now I’m here, and I have a plan that includes you—"

"Go on then. I hope it’s a really good plan," he said crudely.

For a moment, I wondered how someone with such unapproachable mannerisms could work in any kind of service—whether as a consultant or an escort. Then again, maybe he played a completely different person in those roles, putting on a fake persona for clients. Was he living some kind of… double life?

Well, he wouldn’t tempt me, that was for sure. Despite his striking looks, he wasn’t my type. I preferred petite redheads—chubby ones with rose-shaped birthmarks!

"On Saturday, the fair begins—"

"No."

Hearing his sharp tone, I froze. "But you don’t even know what I’m going to say."

"I refuse to participate in any auction, fair, or expo—whatever you want to call it. I made it clear during my first meeting with your company. No shows. I’m not a horse or cattle to be sold."

He definitely viewed these events in a very old-fashioned way. I stared at him for a moment. Why did I even bother coming here? What a waste of time.

So, I glanced out the window at the neighboring building. Its gray wall loomed close, dull and uninteresting. Mindlessly, I stared at it… and my mind went blank.

Damien… I wanted to see him. I needed to see him.

The silence stretched on. Star didn’t move, his sharp eyes fixed on my face, waiting.

"Unfortunately, this is the only proposal we have at the moment," I barely pushed it out, lowering my gaze.

"Then get ready to pay a fine. Not only have I not received a single pairing, but now you’re trying to force me to participate in an open fair when I specifically stated I didn’t want that."

With clenched eyelids, I managed to blurt out, "There’s also a general company policy you accepted, separate from the contract you signed. It includes a clause stating that if we can’t find another pairing, the last resort is an open auction combined with a fair."

I pulled out my tablet and showed him the policy in question on the screen.

Star’s lips twitched slightly in a grimace of anger and irritation. His mask wasn’t indestructible, after all.

"So my signature means nothing?"

"The signature is on the main contract. You first filled out the form on our website, where you selected the option not to participate in an open auction or fair. But the form wasn’t legally binding—it was just a questionnaire to gather preferences. When you created your profile, you accepted our general terms of use, which include this clause." I pointed to the paragraph in question. "It applies in situations where a pairing doesn’t work out," I explained robotically, the words barely making it past my lips. I knew how unfair it sounded, forcing him into this no-choice situation.

"Even in the main signed contract, there’s a paragraph explaining that every client must have a valid profile on our site—even if it’s publicly hidden, as in your case. And to create that profile, accepting the general policy is mandatory."

Star sighed angrily. It was the only time I saw any stronger emotion on his face, though even then, it barely cracked his icy mask.

"It’s really audacious of you to pressure me into a no-deny situation! Is this some example of fine print trickery? Deceiving customers into signing unfair contracts?"

I sighed. "At this point, there’s not much I can about it. You need to participate in the fair to fulfill your obligations. However, if you still can’t find a pairing there, your obligations to our company will end, and you’ll be entitled to compensation. If you don’t show up, the company could appeal, and then you’d get nothing."

I could see he wasn’t convinced, but he glanced down at the tablet screen, then back at me.

"Alright. I’ll go to that damn fair! But I assure you, I’ll leave your company the worst reviews imaginable. If you had issues with accepting my preferences, you should’ve told me instead of luring me in with promises of great pairings!"

I felt foolish because, first of all, he was absolutely right. Second, I wasn’t the one who made those promises. Mr. Ragu had really gone overboard with his sales pitch.

"Please… accept my apologies," I stammered. "I’ve only been working on your case for three days. I was just put in charge of these matters. I’m sorry you were treated this way, but I had no say in how the contract was written."

"Yeah, I’m in customer service myself, so I get it. It’s not your fault. But unfortunately, the people who work in these types of services have to deal with all the complaints. It’s just part of the gig. Still, the company really fucked me over. I was promised plenty of pairings to choose from, but I haven’t seen a single one in almost six months. And now this? Humiliation is exactly what I wanted to avoid."

I felt for the guy. The company had truly let him down. But I promised myself to do everything in my power to find him his perfect mate.

"I’m sorry about that. Fate’s Choice ran those crazy promo ad campaigns back then. Not to make excuses, but you know how it is with young companies—they tend to be overly optimistic."

Star clenched his jaw and stood up, signaling the end of the meeting.

"We’re done here. You should be with your omega instead of running around meeting clients. Some people don’t have anyone waiting for them at home, you know," he said, his tone vaguely hostile, but his words hit me hard.

"Ain’t that the truth," I murmured, nodding as I gathered my things. "I’m sorry again for how this turned out."

As I headed for the door, Star followed.

Before leaving, I paused for a moment. What he said about ‘someone waiting at home’ lingered in my mind, exposing a glimpse of his deepest wish and vulnerability. Even if he presented himself as a literal frozen icicle, I was certain there was more to him.

So, I added, "Best of luck at the fair, Star. I’ve got a good feeling about it. My intuition is usually spot on—I think you’ll find someone special there. Trust me, it has worked before. Please, keep your hopes up."

His eyes, before appearing so aloof, seemed different up close as we stood in the narrow hallway. They weren’t hostile anymore, but rather… simply guarded.

My well-wishes were genuine, I wholeheartedly wanted him to find someone who could appreciate his beauty and look beyond his past.

Star glanced away and gave a slow nod. "Alright, I’ll be there."

"I’ll be there too, keeping an eye out for potential matches and sending them your way," I said, shifting to a more professional tone.

He snorted softly and swung the door open. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

Leaving his apartment, I felt even worse than when I’d arrived. Sure, I’d managed to sway him—or, more accurately, coerce him—but at what cost? Let’s face it: I’d cornered the guy without making any genuine effort to persuade him more amicably. My mind just wasn’t focused on the job.

But I hoped that my redeeming act would be to find him his match, and… I had a strong hunch about who his True Mate might be.

Sadly, there was a catch—I wasn’t sure this person would even agree to come. The reasons were complicated, and just thinking about it made my headache worse. The pressure to fulfill my obligations was piling up.

Plus, I still had two more meetings lined up, and I’d have to approach them in the same way, but… I felt mentally drained already. Glancing at my watch, I realized I had three hours to spare before my next appointment. Maybe I could visit Damien, even for a few minutes? Hope surged in my chest as I got into the car and hit the road.

Unfortunately, an hour and a half later, I found myself stuck in a massive traffic jam caused by an accident. Only one lane was open, and cars crawled at a snail's pace. I cursed under my breath as frustration bubbled over.

By the time I finally made it into the city, I realized I didn’t have enough time to visit Damien. I had to head to my next appointment with Darien Ferro instead.

Darien lived in an elegant villa on the upscale outskirts of the city. The house was pure luxury, which again made me wonder why he was looking for a new husband through, let’s face it, a mediocre matchmaking agency. With a fortune inherited from his late ex-mobster husband, he seemed set for life.

I pressed the intercom on the high wall surrounding the property, and he buzzed me in immediately.

The pathway leading to the house was lined with perfectly round white stones. Through the large glass doors, I entered a space that could only be described as a modernist dream.

And then I saw him.

Darien was nothing like Star, who was tall and fit. Darien was very short and almost frail, with long black hair tied back in a thick ponytail. His stunning face was as striking as Star’s but in a different way. His large, bright green eyes and sweetly contoured lips gave him an almost ethereal look. Despite his age, his beauty was intact, untouched by enhancements. The only thing that dulled his radiance was his pale complexion and the dark circles under his eyes, which hinted at sleepless nights.

"Good morning, I’m an employee of Fate’s Choice—"

"Yes, yes, please come in," he said, gesturing toward his spacious living room.

The place was breathtaking: leather-upholstered furniture, sleek metal and glass surfaces, and enormous modernist paintings on the walls. Through the glass windows, I caught a glimpse of a beautifully landscaped garden beyond the terrace.

I hesitated before sitting down, introduced myself, and launched into my explanation with my tablet in hand.

But mentally, I wasn’t fully present. My thoughts kept stubbornly drifting to Damien. I wanted—no, needed—to get back to him as soon as possible.

The whole time, Darien’s big green eyes stayed locked on me, drawing my attention back. Focus, Storm, focus! I scolded myself.

This omega was indeed stunningly attractive—so much so that I might have been interested if not for the fact that he wasn’t Damien. Darien didn’t have those amaranth-red curls, the sweet round cheeks, the soft love handles… nor did he smell like my perfect omega. I took a deep breath to calm the ache of longing threatening to overwhelm me.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I continued, "Sir, I’m sorry that none of the pairings have worked out so far. I know we promised you better matches, but this time we have a rather unusual offer. It will allow you to apply for compensation if nothing comes of it…"

His green eyes studied my face intently, but my diplomatic phrasing seemed to land well.

"I admit, I’m quite selective," he said, spreading his hands in an apologetic gesture. "But I have the luxury of being so. Nothing is pressing me to find a partner except the longing in my heart. I hope to meet someone I’ll truly love, as strange as it sounds, I’ve never had that in my life."

"Oh," I murmured, feigning interest even though I already knew his story. His late ex-mobster husband had purchased his contract when Darien was just eighteen—a sixty-year-old billionaire and this gorgeous young omega. What a travesty. It wasn’t hard to guess that romance had been absent from their arrangement.

"Water? Something to drink?" he asked in his melodious voice.

"Uhm, water, thank you," I muttered as he poured me a glass out of a crystal bottle.

"So," he continued, "what’s this unusual offer?"

Clearing my throat, I glanced at the table. "This Saturday, Fate’s Choice is holding an open fair. I know you didn’t want to participate in something like that, but—"

"I agree."

Wow. I froze. I wasn’t expecting that.

"Wait. You agree?"

"I do."

"But on the form you filled out, you specifically said you didn’t want the auction or the open fair."

Darien smirked. "No, actually, I never did. Or if it was marked, it might’ve been by mistake. I actually have my reasons for wanting to be there."

"It’s not really my business, but… can I ask what those reasons are?" I reached for a glass, feeling my throat dry as sawdust.

He hesitated, glancing to the side with a strange expression.

"Well, let’s just say I’m hoping to meet someone at this fair. I tentatively believe he could be my True Mate."

I almost spat the whole sip of water from my mouth. Wow. That got my attention, for sure.

"Your True Mate?! Please, tell me what’s going on. That sounds like some serious premonition."

Was there someone else out there who could figure out a person’s True Mate?

Darien shook his head, smiling almost shyly. "Let's just say that someone who might really have a special talent told me this. Even though people would not recommend believing him, I kind of do."

"Really? That’s intriguing. Is this person, like, in the matchmaking business or something?"

I didn't say it out loud: Any competition of mine?

He chuckled quietly. "Don't worry, he's not a threat to your business. For one reason mostly, he’s no longer with us."

With my eyes widening, I asked, "Oh, so… he was some kind of fortune-teller?"

Darien laughed—it sounded like silver bells.

"Definitely not. He was a husband of my husband’s nephew. Sadly, he had… an addiction. It was the reason for his demise. But when he was in his more lucid moments, he told me something that lets me believe I should agree to attend a fair."

It sounded like some hallucinations of a heroin addict, but who was I to doubt that? Maybe it was worth at least asking a question?

"Interesting. Was he perhaps… a purple alpha or a rose omega?"

"Indeed, he was, a rose omega. A very sweet person, but deeply troubled. One day, I expressed to him that my husband’s health was deteriorating, and he said, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll find your True Mate one day.’ When I laughed, he doubled down, saying, ‘Laugh all you want, but I have this… burst of intuition. It doesn’t always work—it’s fleeting—but I saw it for you. You need to sign up with a matchmaking agency and accept when they offer you a spot at a fair.’"

"That’s… oddly specific!" I said, raising my eyebrows.

"Right? And now here you are, offering me a spot at the fair. Almost like a fairy-tale coincidence, wouldn’t you say?"

"So, you were just waiting for me?"

"He told me to be patient, that the opportunity would come, and I should grab it when it did. So this feels like that chance. A big crowd, lots of candidates… Who knows? I’m willing to give it a shot, no matter how silly it might sound to you."

I nodded, feeling a wave of relief. "I get it. And honestly, it doesn’t sound silly at all. I have to say, I’ve got a good feeling about you too."

I narrowed my eyes, a strange thought crossing my mind. Was Fate seriously aligning True Mates for three of my cousins? Crazy. But I didn’t say anything.

"I’m really glad you’re on board. It takes such a huge weight off my shoulders. I was worried you’d be against it."

Darien smiled, his expression warm and genuine.

"I would be, under normal circumstances. But honestly, what do I have to lose? It’s worth a try."

His wide smile lit up his face, and despite being almost double my age, his beauty was still breathtaking. It was almost hard to look away—though, to be fair, it was easy when all I wanted to see was a certain redhead. No one else came close.

"I’ll be there too," I said, grinning. "I’ll keep an eye out for you and cross my fingers for a True Mate candidate!"

He laughed softly and nodded, seeming more at ease. Darien definitely had a different energy than Star. He was approachable, kind, and more easygoing. He had a solid chance of finding someone who would truly love him. And who knows? Maybe I could help.

Was one phone call all it would take?

As I stood up and said goodbye to Darien, my mind was full of swirling thoughts.

What Fate had planned for me was absolutely nuts. Was it seriously lining up True Mates for so many of my family members? It seemed almost like magic, something unbelievable.

Wait.

Could someone be behind this?

Some vague, foggy memory surfaced in my mind.

I was a kid back then, maybe seven years old. Three of my brothers—Winter, Rain, and Skye—were doing what they loved most: playing their favorite game, ‘hunt the alien’.

I was running through the dense grove behind our house, trying to escape Winter and the rest. He was the oldest and the quickest, already sixteen at the time. Suddenly, I stumbled into a small clearing in the bushes and found my brother Snow sitting there on the grass. I blinked because there was this faint rainbow glow around his hands—or maybe it was just an illusion? He looked at me. Snow barely ever spoke, if at all.

"Snow, help me hide! They’re hunting me again," I panted, struggling to catch my breath. I was way heavier than a normal kid my age because of my dense bones, so sprinting was definitely not my forte.

Snow stared at me with his strange pale violet eyes, still sitting on the grass.

"Please, these jerks will be here soon enough. They’ve got a plastic BB gun! But it fucking hurts!"

Snow didn’t answer. Slowly, he just pointed to the space behind him.

I frowned. Snow was thirteen at the time and had just barely started showing alpha traits, so he wasn’t much bigger than me. As a purple alpha, I looked more like I was ten, not seven.

"I can’t hide behind you, dumbass. I’m too big!"

He just kept staring. So, with a sigh, I crouched behind his back. I couldn’t help but giggle a bit—it was a terrible hiding spot, and there was no way they wouldn’t see me. But I hoped Snow’s presence might at least save me from getting hit by too many rubber bullets.

He stayed silent, and I noticed a small butterfly perched on his hand. It was fascinating, so I stared at it for a while.

Then I heard it—sounds of people trudging through the undergrowth, the crackle of twigs and rustling of leaves. Soon enough, my three brothers showed up: Winter, Rain, and little Skye, who was barely five.

"Snow! Did you see the cosmic beast anywhere? Big, purple one! Humanity is endangered; we need to eliminate the hostile presence!" Rain yelled, quoting a popular cartoon.

"Monster hunt!" Skye giggled, raising the plastic BB gun he held.

Snow stayed silent.

"He won’t answer you, idiots. Snow doesn’t talk to muggles like us," Winter snorted.

I couldn’t believe it—they were acting like they didn’t see me! Were they pretending? I was tempted to say something, but for some reason, I didn’t.

"He’s been compromised by an alien spy, his mind infiltrated , it’s a hostile infestation! " Rain was getting heated, randomly repeating phrases from the cartoon. Then he glanced at Winter. "Should we shoot him in the head too, colonel Frost?"

"C’mon," Skye grumbled, looking bored. His eyes were fixed on the butterfly. "Let’s check by the lake and then head home. I’m hungry!"

Winter rolled his eyes. "Really, Skye? Fucking little shit. No fun with you around," he hissed, and Skye angrily threw the BB gun to the ground, where it was quickly picked up by Rain.

The three of them stomped off toward the edge of the grove—Skye sniffling, Rain shooting into the air and screaming something along the lines of, "Alien commando semper fi!"

Shocked and in disbelief, I watched them disappear into the bushes. There was no way they didn’t see me! No fucking way! I was literally crouched behind Snow’s slender back, and Winter, being the tallest, should’ve spotted me instantly! I wasn’t exactly tiny. I stood up.

"How’s that possible? Is this… magic?"

Snow tilted his head and smirked slightly but didn’t answer.

"What else can you do?"

He just shrugged, stood up, and walked away; the butterfly still perched on his hand.

After that, I pestered him about it for years, begging him to explain what kind of trick he did, but he never answered.

Except this one time…

It was years later—I was nineteen or maybe twenty, still deep in my rebel phase. I’d been messing around with my brothers’ exes, and had just learned that being a purple alpha meant I’d have trouble finding my own True Mate. Apparently, we had lower chances than normal alphas. It made me pretty bitter and spiteful, and kind of not caring about other people's feelings.

That summer, I’d come home after fucking Skye’s ex, David, for three hours straight. It was around 11 pm when I snuck into the house, only to find Snow sitting on the terrace, playing his harmonica.

Noticing a few cans of soda near him, I plopped down on the rattan sofa.

"Revenge is sweet. Truly the delight of the gods," I said.

Snow didn’t respond—of course not. He only stared at me over his instrument.

"I just fucked David! Skye’s gonna lose his shit." I chuckled, leaning back on the sofa. "David’s such a sweetie. No wonder Skye dated him all through high school." And I burst into laughter.

Pale violet eyes stayed fixed on me, and for some reason, I felt a little embarrassed. There was something in his energy that made me feel like a twisted bastard.

"What? Don’t you dare to judge me. You’re not exactly a saint yourself! They were all assholes to me. Now I’m done with the revenge thing," I said, because it wasn’t just David. I’d fucked Finn—Winter’s ex—a year earlier. Hooked up with Larry, too. Though Rain was surprisingly chill about it. I guess he was over Larry by the time I got into his pants.

Snow kept staring.

"I know what you’re thinking—that I’m the asshole now. But who cares? They’re not together anymore. I just wanted to test them. I heard if someone’s a half match for your brother, they might be a high match for you. Genetics or whatever." I grinned mockingly. It wasn’t like I really believed that.

When he didn’t respond, just stared, I rested my head on the back of the sofa and muttered, "Don’t look at me like that, you’re not better than me. Still screwing Theo?"

Snow blinked. He probably thought it was a secret, but I was a purple alpha—I heard everything.

"It’s not healthy, you know? He’s married. With kids. Are you sure you want to be that guy?"

He lowered the harmonica, and I continued mercilessly, "Theo’s hot, I’ll give you that. But c’mon, a married guy? That’s more messy than what I did."

"It’s just sex," he said, his voice quiet.

I flinched—Snow actually spoke.

"Yeah, I get that. But sex has a way of turning into more. Feelings creep in. Be careful. Don’t you want better?" I tilted my head, but since he stayed quiet, I pressed, "Aren’t you a wizard or something? I remember that invisibility trick when we were kids. Can’t you just conjure your True Mate out of thin air?" And I wiggled my eyebrows.

Snow sported that strange, mysterious smile of his. "I could."

"So why don’t you?"

"I need to learn more. Train more."

Wow, he said it. Snow was actually having a conversation with me about… magic.

"Could you bring True Mates for the rest of us too? I’d love that. Being a purple is a shitshow."

He shrugged. "Perhaps one day. When I've mastered it, my True Mate will come to this house. And you'll all meet yours. One by one."

Then he stood up.

"Wait—are you kidding?"

But Snow didn’t answer—just walked away.

He never brought it up again, and neither did I, but for some reason, the whole thing about Snow’s magic came back to me now.

If it were just talk, if that weird thing with him hiding me hadn’t happened, I’d never have believed him.

But it did happen.

He actually did some kind of strange enchantment on them. Did he finally master whatever it was he’d been training himself to do?

Why, all of a sudden, were all of us meeting our True Mates, one after another? Rain, Skye, now most likely me. Who was next? Our cousins? The rest of our brothers?

Driving back from Darien’s place, I was in a surprisingly good mood. For once, I didn’t have to twist someone’s arm to agree to the fair. No manipulative contract tricks this time—just a genuine agreement. It felt like a win.

And another thing—I was starting to feel weirdly optimistic about the whole ‘finding True Mates’ thing. Was this actually going to work for real? Was it about to happen for all of us ?

Why the hell not? I couldn’t afford to be a doubter now. I’d always hated that in other people. I chose to stay optimistic.

So I stopped at a gas station and grabbed something to eat. While I was there, I pulled out my phone and typed a quick message:

"Did you actually master that thing with ‘attracting’ True Mates to the guys in our family? Because I might’ve lined up three TMs for three of our cousins. And I still think Skye’s TM is that beta guy who broke his heart. Oh, and I’m pretty sure I found mine too. Weird how it’s all happening at once. Should I thank you? And did you find yours too?"

A few minutes passed in silence before my phone beeped.

"Possibly. My True Mate will be here in a few days. I should probably thank you for this. Something you were involved in yesterday set off a chain of events that will save one of our brothers and bring my True Mate to me. So… I guess we’re even."

I blinked, staring at the screen.

"I won’t even ask for details. I just have to trust you," I replied.

"Don’t ask. Enjoy your redhead."

I blinked again, even more shocked.

What the fuck? Was this guy a real deal wizard?

So I wasn’t the only one in our family with unusual abilities after all…

Snow might not be a purple alpha, but he was also a child of True Mate parents. Who knows? Maybe he also had a little more alien DNA than the rest of the regular alphas.

Gulping down my coffee, I headed back to my car, feeling strangely elated and even more impatient to get back to my perfect redhead.

The thought of seeing Damien again filled me with this quiet sense of excitement. What made it even better—I had just one last visit to make, and then I’d be free to go back to him.

With that thought driving me, I headed toward the surrogate’s house.

***