Anja

“Please, don’t be cross, Anja.” Briar looks at me with tears in her eyes.

I’m not cross or angry; her confession stumped me.

“You were gone, and I was so lost without you. James and I spoke about you all the time. James would talk with me whenever I was sad about missing you, and I would talk to him when he felt sad. He often felt down because his soul ached, as it would because you’re imprinted.

“There was such a pull between us, and James said he knew I was his mate. I was scared to admit that I thought so too, but it was hard when I knew it from the age of sixteen.

“I had never said anything because I didn’t think it was possible. I thought that I was doomed to be mated with a man who didn’t feel the mating pull.

“One evening, James said we needed to talk. I was worried that he’d realised my feelings and that he was going to tell me that I had to leave.”

“I’m guessing that he didn’t?”

Briar shakes her head.

“James sat me down and said that he needed to tell me how he felt. I listen