'Could this be a mate bond?' The thought lodged itself in my mind like a splinter I couldn't dislodge, twisting deeper with every second. My gaze clung to him, unable to tear away. Is Lucas my mate? The question felt absurd and intoxicating all at once. My heart hammered in my chest, erratic and wild, as though it had a mind of its own.
His eyes found mine, and for a heartbeat, the rest of the world blurred. But what I saw in his gaze sent a chill skittering down my spine-a flicker of disdain, cold and cutting. Disgust? My stomach twisted painfully, and my breath hitched.
He turned away, his broad shoulders disappearing into the crowd, leaving me rooted in place, stunned and aching. The absence of his presence was a physical thing, sharp and hollow, yet I couldn't shake the chill his loo
