Amelia
My heart was pounding against my ribs, fear and longing clashed in my chest. The mate bond pulled at me, demanding that I go to him, submit to his dominance, tell him the truth, and beg for his forgiveness, even though I had done nothing wrong. But the memory of his cruel words held me there, frozen in place.
“Don't think that I will accept you as my mate.”
John followed my gaze and stiffened when he noticed Xavier watching us. To his credit, he didn't pull away from me or try to distance himself from the situation. Instead, he moved a little closer, as if to protect me from Xavier's obvious displeasure.
“It wasn't your fault," I somehow managed to say in an emotional voice. "I stumbled, and you caught me.”
He studied my face with worried eyes, and I wondered what he saw there
