02Butterscotch

“You want to know about the mate bond we share?” His words stopped me midway as I turned around to face him. I didn’t say a word as I felt my heart palpitate in anticipation. 

“Beta Perez, I…” Before I could speak, he continued. 

“I have decided to never let a woman into my life, Miss. James. I have learned long back that they only serve as a distraction. Why would I need a mate if I could have any women I want? Am I right, Miss. James?” He asked me as I felt my eyes burn, but I held back my tears. 

“A mate is your better half, Beta Perez.” I choked out the words when he let out a humorless laugh. 

“According to me, you need a mate to satisfy your needs and maybe an heir in the long run. I think I can buy that with some money, Miss. James.” 

“Don’t you feel the mate bond, Beta Perez?” I asked him, but he didn’t answer.

“I would have at least considered mating with you if you held a rank, Miss. James. But I don’t think I want a woman who is a nobody with a lonely mother and a runaway father.” I felt my chest rise and fall in anger while something broke within me. A tense silence engulfed us as we stared at one another. 

Join us in this journey where Aurora and Zander find love again as sparks ignite between them and desire crackles in the air, the tension builds, pushing them closer together. Will Zander’s feelings toward the mate bond transform as he grapples with the chemistry between them, or will fear of another heartbreak drive him to reject her? The future is uncertain, but one thing is clear: their destinies are intertwined in ways they never anticipated.

Beta Zander Perez

I looked down at the wet earth to see that I was barefoot. The sky was dark, and the only thing in front of me was Amanda's house. The front door was wide open, and the orange glow spilled out onto the porch.

I looked around when I realized that I was alone again. My heartbeat became uneven as I took unsteady steps toward the house. As I walked inside, I saw that the house was a mess. There was broken glass on the floor, and the wooden furniture was destroyed beyond recognition.

"Amanda?" I whispered as I felt my voice echo while I walked deeper inside. I first walked into the living room to see that it was empty when I turned around and continued walking towards the stairs.

I only took one step when I heard the piercing wail of a baby. My blood ran cold when I ran up the stairs in the direction of the cry. "Amanda!" my voice was a little louder right now as I looked inside the rooms, but I couldn't find her or the baby.

Chapter 56