Tempted (Book 5) The Brazil Werewolf Series

Chapter Four/Bonfire

After speaking to her, the similarities between Auror and her aunt faded. She was attentive as we spoke, listening to every word I said. Her sympathy for me showed through with each word that flowed through her lips.

Though Lilly and Aurora didn't resemble in appearance, their dispositions were similar and that made it easier to view them as sisters. Nadia was easy to laugh with and Mary Jane quieter than the rest. Still, it was Mirella that I kept coming back to and I understood why. The dream bothered me more than I wanted to admit but in a way, it bonded us. It had shown our similarities and as dark as they were, it was nice to have someone who understood me.

Mirella sat next to me as the other women chatted about the bonfire. A few times, Lila or Fiona suggested it was too dangerous to have one but Sophia would press her lips together and her face would redden. The women would then change the subject and continue to talk about the wedding. The mention of the ceremony caused my stomach to flip and it was becoming difficult to force smiles when they turned the conversation my way. I would stutter through the responses and hope that they would be enough.

"It's hard for you here, isn't it?" Mirella asked after the women turned their attention back to each other instead of focusing on me. I turned to her with wide eyes surprised to hear her voice. Her eyes roamed over my face before meeting my eyes.

"It is," I whispered unable to lie to her. "Especially with the Grey wolves on the prowl."

"It's not just them though," she said studying my face and frowned. "It's Luca too. He can be awful when he's angry and worse when he's not getting his way."

"Is he ever not angry?" I asked, wincing and then, shifted in my seat. "I mean...He always seems angry at me."

She shook her head and her eyes met mine as they darkened. "He's not angry at you," she whispered and then, pointed her chin toward her mother. "He's angry at our parents for enforcing the rules."

I nodded. "Arranged marriage is hard," I said, twisting my hands in front of me. "I think they mean well but they paired me up with the wrong person."

She scoffed but kept her eyes on me and tilted her head. "I don't think so," she said, giving me a hint of a smile. "I think you'll realize that soon and he will too. My mother is a talented match maker. She hasn't been wrong so far."

"Maybe," I said and then, stared toward the bonfire. "But at this moment it's hard to see."

"Well, I have hope for you," she said, but her voice was choked as she continued. "If you can find happiness, I can."

My heart ached with the darkness invading her eyes. "Why do you say that?" I asked raising my brow. She shifted beneath my gaze.

"Because you are a lot like me," she whispered, causing the dream to come to the forefront of my mind.

I wanted to ask her if someone hurt her like me but I couldn't bring myself to do it because then, I would have to remember and that would be too painful. Instead, I asked, "How do you feel about your betrothal? Do you think they'll get your match right?"

She shook her head before forcing her gaze to mine. "No...I don't."

"Why?" I asked, frowning. "You're so sure mine is right."

Her gaze darkened turning her eyes almost black as she met my stare. "Because though we are alike...I am different in one thing."

"What's that?" I asked as she rose.