The Alpha Who Cursed His Mate novel Chapter 23

My heart sinks. I hadn't even thought about the mate bond. The warm tingle, the electricity that runs through your body when you touch each other, wasn't there. I had made eye contact with Nina and Claire, and my wolf never submerged and declared either of them as my mate. 'Claire will be hurt when you tell her she isn't your mate, but it will hurt her more if you stay with her and find your mate in the meantime,"

Again, she is right. I look down into her eyes for a moment. I try to memorise this moment. Her beautiful doe-like eyes always get my heart racing.

"Magnus, I'm sorry, we can be friends, but from a distance. I think it's better if we stay apart as much as possible for the sake of the future Luna, your mate, and to avoid us getting hurt. I'll be eighteen only a couple of months after you, and I'll have my wolf and be able to tell if Moss is not my mate, then I will have to end the relationship and pursue my fated mate, just like you have to do,"

She gives me an empathetic look before I can say anything, swims out of the lake away from me, and returns to the Packhouse. I stay in the lake, frozen in place, for what feels like an hour. As I leave the lake, I look at my pruned fingers and collect my clothing from the ground. I return to the Packhouse, now dry and dressed. Nina isn't anywhere to be seen.

"She is in her room, in case you are wondering?" Flint says.

"She said she wants to be left alone and will have dinner in her room tonight," Josie frowns.

May comes storming her way across the hall towards me. As she opens her mouth to yell at me, I quickly speak first.

"May, can I talk to you privately for a moment?"

Her feet stop, and she gives me a look of confusion, which turns into a glimpse of hope.

"Yes, I think we are overdue for a private moment," She smiles.

We go outside into the courtyard, away from prying eyes and ears.

"May, you should be the first to know that Nina nor Claire are my fated mate,"

"What? How'd you know that?"

"Remember, my wolf arrived early. I can sense my mate now,"

"Oh! But wait, that means I'm not your mate either, am I?"

"I'm sorry, May, I never meant to hurt you, and I never meant to hurt Nina, and now I have to break up with Claire tomorrow at school, who is also going to be hurt by it. Today in the lake, that was my fault, not Nina's, and it was unfair of you to attack her like that. Just as I owe you an apology, you also owe Nina one,"

She sighs and looks away, thinking about it.

"You're right. Jealousy got the better of me. Nina probably wishes I was dead. I've always been so nasty to her because I see how she looks at you all the time,"

"Nina loves you, May. She would never wish that upon you. She even tried to protect you against Claire that day you got into a fight,"

"You're right. I don't deserve Nina's forgiveness,"

"No, last night I went to her room, but she ignored me and wouldn't open the door,"

"Nina has gone through a lot. She needs some time, and then the opportunity to talk will arise,"

"I hope so," she frowns.

We arrive at the school. I walk to my locker and hear my pet name being called out.

"Boo-boo, I missed you," Claire smiles. She leans up to kiss me, but I take a step back.

"Claire, we need to talk,"

"What's the matter, Boo-boo?"

"There is something I need to tell you, and I'd prefer to tell you privately,"

"Whatever you have to say, you can say it here. I'm sure it's not that bad, whatever it is,"

"Claire… you know how I have my wolf now?"