Bound by Fate, Forgotten by Love

One rescue mission changed everything.

We found him-our mate. The moment I saw Klyne, something ancient and aching inside me finally settled. I was overjoyed. For so long, I had endured the cold distance of my first mate, Josiah. He was never cruel in ways the world could see-but he was distant, detached... untouchable. Loving him felt like reaching for winter sunlight.

Then Klyne arrived.

And Josiah changed.

The man who had been carved from ice suddenly burned bright. He laughed. He touched. He looked at Klyne the way I had begged to be seen. I told myself it was fate. That this was what we were missing. I bloomed in that fragile happiness, believing his newfound warmth would finally reach me too.

But I was a fool.

It took only one mission-one choice, one moment-for the truth to cut deeper than any blade. In the end, the rescue didn't just bring us our mate.

It revealed exactly how little I meant.