125 Mate Bond
**
CHAPTER 125
Zara’s POV ~
“Aira?” Andrew asked, waiting for me to say the words
out.
Sighing, I resigned herself to speak further. “She seemed shaken when she left with Tempest.”
Andrew sighed, running a hand through his hair. “The mate bond complicates things. For everyone.”
My brows furrowed. “Even you?”
Andrew met my gaze, his smile softening. “Not in the way you might think. But watching someone you care about struggle–whether it’s Zade or Aira–has its weight.”
I studied him for a moment, sensing there was more he wasn’t saying. Before I could press further, a familiar presence filled the space beside me.
“Zara.”
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I turned to find Snow standing there, his sharp gaze cutting briefly to Andrew before settling on me. His hand rested lightly on the small of my back in a possessive gesture.
“Snow,” Andrew greeted smoothly, his tone friendly but carrying an undercurrent I couldn’t quite place.
“Andrew,” Snow replied, his voice even.
After a brief but meaningful exchange of glances, Andrew straightened up and gave me a sweet smile.
“Enjoy the rest of your evening, Zara,” he said, tipping his glass toward me before disappearing into the
crowd.
I turned back to Snow, raising an eyebrow. “Do you two always have conversations that aren’t
conversations?”
Snow’s lips twitched into a faint smirk. “It’s a skill and as a werewolf standing before a more powerful werewolf, he should know better.”
I shook my head at him and sighed. “You’re so unbelievable.”
*****
08:44 —
****
125 Mato Bond
-Aira’s POV-
Returning to the main hall with Tempest at my side felt like stepping back into a storm. Every glance and
whisper seemed magnified, though I knew most of it was in my head.
Tempest was silent, her shoulders squared as she
walked beside me. I could feel her trying to keep her emotions in check, but the bond between us as sisters was too strong to ignore.
“Are you okay?” I asked quietly.
She paused, her lips pressing into a thin line before she gave a small nod. “I will be. But let’s not talk about it now. Not here.”
I nodded, respecting her wish.
As we reached the edge of the dance floor, the music shifted to a slower melody, and I caught a glimpse of Zade across the room. He was standing with Snow, their conversation appearing casual, but his eyes kept flickering toward me.
Autumn stirred within me, her longing undeniable. But I pushed it down, focusing on Tempest instead.
125 Mata Bond
“I need a drink,” Tempest announced, her voice a touch too bright.
“Good idea,” I replied, steering us toward the bar.
Tempest ordered a cocktail, her fingers drumming against the counter as she waited. I sipped my
champagne, the bubbles doing little to ease the knot in my chest.
“So,” she said after a moment, turning to me with a forced grin. “What’s the plan? Are we going to spend the rest of the night brooding, or are we going to make the most of this party?”
I couldn’t help but laugh softly. “I guess mingling
wouldn’t hurt.”
Her grin turned more genuine. “That’s the spirit.”
But as she spoke, I felt it again–that pull, that undeniable force. My gaze snapped to Zade, who was now moving through the crowd toward us.
Tempest noticed him too, her grin faltering.
“Aira,” she said softly, her voice laced with pain. “I think I’ll find someone else to talk to.”
“Tempest, wait-”
00:45
125 Mate Bond
But she was already gone, slipping into the crowd before I could stop her.
When Zade reached me, his eyes searched mine, a mixture of determination and apology.
“Can we talk?” he asked, his voice low.
I hesitated, glancing in the direction Tempest had gone before nodding. “Alright.”
As we stepped onto the balcony, the cool night air pushing my hair back and grounding me slightly. Zade leaned against the railing, his posture relaxed but his eyes were intense.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “For everything. For how this is affecting you and Tempest.”
I crossed my arms, unsure how to respond. “It’s not your fault,” I said finally. “But it’s… a lot.”
“I know,” he admitted. “And I don’t expect you to have all the answers. I just want you to know that I’ll respect whatever choice you make.”
His sincerity caught me off guard, and for a moment, I couldn’t speak.
But then he smiled–a small hesitant smile that
126 Male Bond
seemed to hold a world of understanding.
“I don’t want to cause you more pain, Aira. I just want to be honest.”
And as I looked at him, standing there with the moonlight catching in his eyes, I felt a spark of hope amidst the chaos. Maybe, just maybe, we could figure this out. Together.
“Okay, what is the matter?”
“I know this is sudden and you do not want a mate in your life at this point in time but…” He held his breath, silently steadying himself before continuing, “I know what happened to you in the past.”
My eyes flashed with hurt. I couldn’t hide the pain of what my previous mate did to me.
“I’m sorry and I know it wasn’t fair. You probably do not want this anymore than Tempest does…”
“What do you want?” I cut in, shocking him and myself at how abrupt I was. “What do you want?”
It was a tricky million–dollar question but I wasn’t sure what I wanted earlier. Starting from my first mate to my second and then Koda, everyone wanted
678
125 Mate Bond
something but what did I want?”
+612
“I think perhaps that question boils down to you. I can see that we are probably not ready to…” He swallowed, licking his pink, thin lips a bit that my gaze followed like a spell–bound servant.
And every other word he said from there barely registered in my mind until he called my name pulling me out of my trance–like state.
“Aira?”
“Huh… Yes?”
“There’s no rush, Aira. We can have that discussion later but for now, mate, nice to meet you.”
He extended his hand to me for a shake and I froze momentarily at his gentlemanliness and nice approach.
Holding my breath, I reached for his hand, shaking it calmly and not knowing why the spark, ease and calmness I felt radiating from him seemed to burst forth, wrapping around me.
“Nice to meet you, Zade.”
