My chest tightens as I realize how little sense it all makes. If Elijah wasn’t my mate, then what was he? And why did I feel so tied to him? Was it all just pure manipulation—misuse of his abilities, like Luca told me? If so, what would Elijah gain from it?
I shake the thoughts away, focusing back on the couple. There’s something I need to know.
“Sorry,” I say, leaning toward them slightly. “I know this is random, but… how do you know when you meet your mate?”
The woman’s face lights up, her smile widening. “Oh, you’ll know,” she replies. “It’s unlike anything you’ve ever felt. The pull is undeniable. Intense. Like a fire that spreads across dry grass on a windy day. It’s unstoppable.”
The man nods in agreement. “And the more you make contact with your mate, the stronger the bond becom
