PROLOGUE

“It’s just not that simple! How do you expect me to change everything I believe in?” I yelled at her.

“Don’t speak to me like that" She snarled. "I get why you feel the way you do, but why are you letting your pain and fears define who you are? What you believe in isn’t reality, Finn. Its not black and white." She took a deep, steadying breath. "Reality is standing right in front of you telling you that she loves you, and you’re too fucking stubborn to see it.” She shouted, her eyes sparkling with tears.

“You…what?” I froze. “What did you just say?”

She looked at me, breathing heavily, tears falling down her cheeks, but remained silent. I sank onto the grass behind me and put my face into the palms of my hands. No, no, no this wasn’t supposed to happen. I couldn’t do this. How could she love me? An exhausted sigh caught in my chest.

A pair of warm hands reached into mine and pulled them down. She was kneeling in between my knees, her perfect face level with mine. Her golden eyes sparkled with tears but there was still a strength behind them. 

“Finn” she whispered. “I do-I do love you. I think I have since the moment I met you.” She put my hand against her warm cheek and leaned into it. “If you'd just let me in…losing you one day would be painful. But rejecting this…living a life without you…that would be…” she shuddered.

“Agony…” I finished, looking at her tearstained face. She nodded, her gaze travelling momentarily to my lips.

“You aren’t your father…I’m not your mother. There’s always a risk for pain, and the greater the love the greater the risk. But you were made to be mine, and I yours. If there was ever anything I’m sure of, it’s that. I see it in you, that you want this too. I know you do...please just try."

“Everest, please…” I said softly, my resolve was on the thinnest ice. I wanted her, gods did I want her…every part of her. But how could I? Could I? Could I reject this now, even if I wanted too?

“Then reject me, Finn," she pleaded. "Get it over with. If you don't feel the same way then reject me, because I won't keep living like this. This back and forth game you're playing...It’s agony. Every second I spend waiting for you to break this bond is like a knife through my heart. Reject me or claim me. Do whatever you want, but decide now. I won’t live in this gray area any longer.” Her eyes flashed, a fresh wave of tears spilling down her flushed cheeks. I swallowed, trying to clear the lump in my throat. I gripped her chin, and my thumb massaged her lower lip. Her gaze was locked on my eyes. My other hand ran through her hair pulling her mouth to mine. I placed the softest kiss on her perfect lips, her vanilla and roses scent engulfing me. Electricity sparked between our skin contact and a heat erupted in my chest. I pulled away and looked at her, her eyes wide,  burning like molten sunshine, her perfect pout, her flushed cheeks, her waves of golden hair…

“I, Finn Zephyr, Alpha of Onyx Moon, re…rej…” Her eyes widened and a shudder ran up her spine. She closed her eyes, waiting for me to finish. I paused, looking at her anguished face ready to brave the pain of the shattered mate bond because I was too stubborn to see how much more it would mean to get to love her for the rest of my life.

A sudden shriek rang out around the trees and her eyes snapped open. We both jumped to our feet “What was that?” she asked, as a chill ran up my spine. 

“No idea…” I looked around for the source of the sound.

A few yards away, on a branch halfway up a tall tree, stood a hairless creature with pale white skin. It let out another bloodthirsty shriek and spread its leathery wings. Fresh blood dripped from its extended claws and its hungry eyes were glued to Everest.