This Mate Bond? I'm Done

When Joe picked up the call, he was in the middle of escorting Nora through the newly opened healing center. Reporters crowded around, all trying to get an interview with the two of them.

He hung up in a hurry and turned off his phone so I wouldn't keep calling.

"I'll talk to her once this is all over. Anna's sweet. She'll get it," he thought.

Then he wrapped an arm around Nora, pulling her close so she wouldn't get pushed around.

"Alpha Joe, is it true you and Chief Healer Nora are having your mate-bonding ceremony tomorrow? Will it be open to the public? A bunch of pack members are dying to be there."

Joe stiffened. The ceremony hadn't even been made public yet. How did the reporters find out?

Nora tugged on his sleeve, guilt written all over her face as she murmured, "I think Anna might've said something, Joe. She once bragged to me that she was going to have a mate-bonding ceremony with you and told me to stop dreaming.

"I didn't think she'd actually go to the media. Is she trying to put you on the spot and make me look bad?"

Nora ducked her head, eyes brimming with tears.

A sharp-eyed reporter spotted it instantly and went in for the kill. "Alpha, are you trying to keep the mate-bonding ceremony under wraps? Chief Healer Nora looks really upset."

Joe felt a spark of annoyance at me. He had said to keep the ceremony quiet. Why couldn't I just trust him? Didn't he deserve that much after everything we've been through over the past ten years?

Then, as if moved by a sudden need to get back at me, he told the reporters, "Not at all. Everyone's invited to the mate-bonding ceremony with Nora. Beta Oscar will send out invites to the ballroom later today."

After the interview ended, a wave of regret swept over Joe. He didn't know how to explain things to me, or whether I'd feel hurt after seeing the news segment.

He was about to call me when Nora grabbed his arm. "Joe, you shouldn't have said that to the press. Anna's pissed. She just texted me, calling me all sorts of names…"

She sniffled, her eyes red-rimmed and misty. "You should go talk to her to clear the air. Tomorrow, I'll step aside and give her her spot back. And I'll tell the reporters it was all on me. None of this had anything to do with you or Anna."

Nora wiped her tears, her voice laced with reluctance. "Joe, you've already done more than enough for me. Now that the healing center's up and running, I'll figure things out on my own.

"I'll be fine without your protection… and if I'm not, so what? At worst, I might get a little hate. It's not a big deal. Anna's the one who really matters. You should go to her!"

Joe started to step forward but stopped himself. "It's fine. Now that everything's out in the open, there's no switching mates for the ceremony tomorrow. I'll talk to Anna later. Once things cool down, we'll break the mate bond."

Nora's eyes flashed coldly, but she managed a smile. "Sure. Whatever you need, I'm on board."

…

The mate-bonding ceremony was held in the most luxurious ballroom in the entire pack. The place was already packed before things even got started.

Joe was restless, glancing at his phone repeatedly. He hadn't been able to get in touch with me since powering it back on yesterday, and a tight, uneasy feeling had been gnawing at him ever since.

While juggling last-minute details for the ceremony, he found time to shoot me a text.

"Anna, you shouldn't have tipped off the reporters. Now, Nora's stuck in a tough spot. We've got no choice but to go through with the ceremony for now. Stay at the villa for now. I'll come find you soon."

But even as the ceremony began, there was still no response from me.

Just as Joe took Nora's hand and stepped onto the stage, Oscar came charging in, pale and out of breath.

"Alpha Joe! A bunch of Rogues took over Anna's villa. She's gone!"