Bound by Blind Fate (Sample)

1. Sophia

He was everything I'd ever dreamed he would be. Blonde, blue eyes, high cheekbones, straight nose, plump lips and already mated. With two kids on top. Talk about karma. As I'm handing him his phone back, our fingers brush. The little contact sending shocks of electricity up my hand and straight to my heart. My wolf whines halfheartedly, knowing what is coming next but surprisingly, not scared. Maybe because we expected this. The moon goddess is punishing me for that one mistake, although I refuse to see it as a mistake. It was a decision made by two people who... I shake my head to clear those thoughts. What good would it do to live in the past? He probably has two kids, too, or more.

"Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be" I reply nervously. This isn't something people do every day "You go first"

"Before that, I want to tell you how sorry I am"

"You've already apologized. Please just say the words and get it over with" so that I can find a hole to crawl in and cry my eyes out for the next fifty years. I am going to be alone. The only chance I had to forget him just went out the window when I found out my mate isn't mine. I'd hoped he would save me from this madness. Erase his touch and kisses from my body and replace them with his. But what do you know? Even he is taken. The one person who was meant to be mine isn't mine. What am I going to do?

"I, Fred Upton, reject you, Sophia Rush"

"I, Sophia Rush, accept your rejection, Fred Upton"

I see the tears shining in his eyes, feel his regret at letting me go, and feel even worse. He truly is sorry for not waiting for me but what can we do? I can't ask him to leave his family. Maybe I would have fought for him if the children weren't in the picture but I can't bring myself to tear apart a family. I know first-hand how painful it is to be left behind. Because I've gone through that twice already. But damnit! How can fate be so cruel?

He was supposed to be mine.

"I hope you have a happy life. Don't worry about me. In a way, I think I was ready for this. Somehow I knew it wouldn't work out between us"

"How would you know if you never even tried?" He snaps at me and I twist my head back in shock.

"Don't use that tone with me when you are the one who has a family" I throw back. I only gave my heart to someone else. I didn't start a family with him. But I would have done it if he'd asked. Goddess knows I would have mated with him right there and then. If only... Too many ifs.

He bows his head in shame "I'm sorry. I just..." He pauses and takes a deep breath then looks up at me "Can I have one kiss?"

"Wouldn't that be cheating?"

"No. Anais would understand. She told me it was okay to uh... Um be with you for one night" he says rubbing his neck. The tips of his ears red. I'm offended that she thinks she can rent me, my own mate, for one night. If I was a bitch, I'd take that offer and while we're in the middle of sex, mark him. He'd mark me back because the mate pull wouldn't allow him to walk away. Even now, we're both finding it hard to walk away. But I'm not a bitch. That's my mother's expertise.

"In plain terms, she's okay with you having sex with me as long as you go back to her. Is that right?"

"Don't misunderstand her. She just wanted to give me a chance to know what it's like to be with your real mate because she'll never know. Hers died shortly after they met"

"Well, either way, I don't think it's right for us to kiss. Since you chose her, just stick with her to the very end"

His face falls making me wonder if he really thought I would jump into bed with him "You're right. I hope you won't hate me. It's too much to ask but I hope you won't hate me for not waiting and I wish you would find someone who would love you because you deserve it. Because you're beautiful and kind and..."