DESPITE THAT STRANGE ending, the ceremony had gone well and after everyone in the pack had offered them blessings, they could go back to the party together. Aalyan was quieter than he was in private, but Ghian didn’t think much of it—who wouldn’t be? Surrounded by strangers and probably missing half the references in any conversation, Ghian was sure he’d have been even quieter himself.
It'd been a relief to have Telez mention they had stayed long enough. Aalyan had been nodding before Ghian had fully turned towards him to check how he felt about the idea.
And then they’d been wandering down the path towards his cave, Aalyan’s small hand held in his own, his own heart beating too fast for him to eavesdrop on his mate’s.
“I’m sorry,” were the first words his new mate said to him.
“What?”
