Chapter 16 Hazel’s POV “I am so sorry. I did not know that the mating bond was still there. I swear I don’t want to be his mate.” I apologized. This was the third time I was apologizing. The attempted kiss had left us both feeling awkward and not knowing what to do. My heart was still racing from the expectations I had about the kiss and the shock and pain that hit me when I leaned in for the kiss. Nobody, not even my mother had ever told me that mate bonds could tie you to one person even if you did not like the mate the universe had chosen for you. I did not want to be tied to Noah forever. He had rejected me and our kids when we needed him the most. I had rejected him as a form of revenge. Realizing that he still had a hold on me dampened my emotions. This was not how I imagined my

