"Then we need to break that control," I said.
"You can't break a mate bond, Sophie. It's permanent."
"There has to be a way."
Lily laughed bitterly. "There is. Rejection. But it requires both parties to agree, and Tom would never—"
"What if he didn't have a choice?"
Lily stared at me. "What do you mean?"
Before I could answer, Diana walked in carrying a stack of old books.
"I thought I'd find you here," Diana said, setting the books on the table between us. "And I brought research."
"Research on what?" Lily asked.
"Forced mate bond rejections," Diana said simply. "It's rare. Dangerous, but it's possible."
My heart started racing. "How?"
Diana opened the oldest book, its pages yellowed with age. "In cases of proven abuse, pack law allows for a one-sided re
