Fated Doesn’t Mean Chosen

I said nothing, and the silence stretched until Mom abruptly changed the subject.

"By the way, Damon's bonding ceremony is tonight."

"This time, Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne are taking it very seriously. They said Damon has had his heart set on this girl for a long time."

"He wants you there, too. He's hoping you can use your calming gift to help soothe the girl's nerves."

"He's afraid she'll be too nervous. We're so close with the Hawthornes, so you..."

She trailed off, looking uneasy.

I forced a smile.

"Don't worry, Mom. I get it. I'll do my part."

Mom looked at me with pity in her eyes.

She had seen the sketches of Damon on my drawing board and the carefully treasured gifts he’d given me.

How could she not understand?

We walked home in silence.

As I opened the door, I said suddenly, "Once Dad steps down from his pack duties next month, let's move to Silvermoon City."

Mom froze.

I linked my arm through hers and said with feigned playfulness, "Haven't you been talking about wanting to settle down there for years?"

"Besides, I don't have any grand ambitions. I just want to be a painter and stay by your side. That's more than enough for me."

Sitting in the grand hall of the Hawthorne estate with my parents again felt worlds away from how it used to.

Every other time I'd come here, I had been happy and relaxed.

The last time, I'd used a painting discussion as an excuse to sneak into his room and had ended up in his bed.

But this time…

"Elena, you have no idea how much effort that boy put into wooing Gritte," Damon's mother, Victoria Hawthorne, chattered on.

"He could have just pursued her on his own, but he insisted on inviting her with the intention of bonding."

"Alistair even invited many of the Pack elders to make today's ceremony more formal."

I looked around at the meticulously decorated outdoor manor, filled with moonlight flowers.

The tables in the banquet hall were laden with fresh fruit, honey, and light tea.

Damon was standing in front of a mirror, checking his reflection over and over, making sure he looked perfect.

I found it absurdly comical.

Just last night, we were tangled in his sheets, his lips lingering passionately on the small mole on my waist.

Even the shirt he was wearing now was one I had helped him pick out that morning.

"It's such a shame," Victoria said, holding my mother's hand.

"We always used to hope you two would bond, so our families could become even closer!"

She glanced at me, her tone gentle.

"I've always been fond of Avalon. She's gifted, kind, and cheerful…"

I lowered my head, not daring to make a sound.

I was terrified that if I let my guard down for a second, the tears would fall.

Damon's brows furrowed in obvious annoyance.

"Mom! Those are your ideas, not mine."

"If you and Mrs. Reed are such great friends, why don't you bond with her yourself?"

"What does that have to do with me?"

Then, he turned to me, his tone hard and cold, as if Victoria's words were my fault.

He asked, "Avalon Reed, where's the moonstone bracelet I gave you? Give it back."

I didn't answer.

He strode over and yanked up my sleeve.

"Our so-called mate token."

"I just don't want Gritte to see it and get the wrong idea."

The moment he finished speaking, both Alistair Hawthorne and my dad froze.

Even my mom, who was arranging the ceremonial wreath for Damon, stilled her hands.

Instantly, the atmosphere became incredibly awkward.

Mom looked at me, then slammed the wreath and scissors down on the table.

She shot to her feet, but Victoria grabbed her arm first.

Then, Victoria stepped between Damon and me and gave him a hard shove.

"Damon! What are you doing?"

"Even if you're going to be with Gritte, you can't treat Avalon like this."

"Have you forgotten?"

"When you were seventeen, you knelt and cried, begging Avalon to wear that bracelet."

"Because only she could calm your frenzy after your first shift!"