Fated

Chapter Three

I step out of the apartment and into the fresh morning air, trying to shake off the events of the past day. Hudson kisses my cheek and tells me he'll be around if I need anything. I nod, grateful for his support but knowing I need some time to process everything on my own. I head to the grocery store, determined to keep things as normal as possible until I can figure out what to do.

The store is quiet, the aisles nice and comforting. I grab a cart and start ticking items off my list: milk, eggs, bread, some fresh vegetables. I focus on the mundane tasks, trying not to let my mind wander to Lex and the confusing feelings he's stirred in me.

As I move down the aisles, I notice people staring. Some whisper behind their hands, and I catch snippets of conversations. "That's her," and "The new wolfshifter." I force myself to keep moving, trying not to panic. I love Hudson, and that's all that matters right now. Maybe being mates doesn't mean as much as Lex thinks it does. I make a mental note to talk to Mia about it later.

Turning the corner into the coffee aisle, I nearly bump into a mature-looking woman. Her dark hair is streaked with gray, and her eyes are sharp and assessing. She gives me a warm smile. "You must be Gaia James," she says, her voice rich and melodic. "I've been wanting to meet you."

"Yes, that's me," I reply, curious. "And you are?"

"Eleonor Miller," she says, holding out her hand. "Alexander's aunt and a member of the pack council."

I shake her hand, surprised but pleased. "It's nice to meet you, Eleonor."

She glances around, noticing the way people are staring. She gives them a dirty look, and they quickly look away. "Ignore them," she says with a wink. "People around here love their gossip."

I can't help but smile. "Thanks. It's been... a lot."

Eleonor nods sympathetically. "How about we grab a cup of coffee after you finish your shopping? I think we have a lot to talk about."

We check out and head to a nearby café. The aroma of fresh coffee is soothing, and we find a quiet corner to sit. Eleonor sips her latte and looks at me with a mixture of kindness and curiosity.

"So," she begins, "how are you holding up?"

I take a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "I'm confused," I admit. "I love Hudson, but when Lex... when he looked at me, touched me, it was like nothing I've ever felt. But I can't just throw away my relationship with Hudson. He's everything."

Eleonor nods, understanding. "A mating bond is like fate, like destiny," she explains. "But it isn't as if destiny is written in the stars. My own husband broke up with his fated mate to be with me. Of course, our circumstances were different. She wasn't the best person to him, but he broke the bond regardless... for me."

I look at her, intrigued. "You mean a mate bond can be broken?"

"It can," Eleonor says, her eyes darkening with memory. "It's extremely painful and hard, and neither of you would be the same afterwards. There's part of him that's gone. But it's something you'll have to consider if there is someone else you would rather be with."

I nod, my heart heavy. "What happens if I don't break it?"

"The bond will only push you closer," Eleonor says gently. "You'll start having withdrawals if you don't see him. Your body will be in pain from denying it what it wants. It's a physical and spiritual connection. But at the end of the day, you get to decide."

"Does it happen often?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. "Breaking the bond?"

Eleonor shakes her head. "Not often. It's only happened three times in our pack. Bigger packs see it more frequently, though. Alexander only had his parents to look up to. They were mates and deeply in love until the moment they died. For him, it's difficult to conceive that you won't be together."