"That"s not what I meant!" Luke sat up too, his tone growing sharp and defensive. "You *are* my destined mate! The claiming was inevitable! Last night felt completely natural, right. What"s the problem? Are you saying you regret it?!" "It"s not about regret! It"s about your disrespect!" I cried out, tears welling up uncontrollably. "You"re always like this! Your self-righteous protection, your self-righteous arrangements! Have you ever truly asked me what *I* want?! Do you have any idea what I…" My mother"s venomous curses flashed in my mind, her attempts to use magic and control to mold me into her tool. And while Luke"s motives were different, his action carried the same air of unquestionable "decision"—it struck right at the deepest scar in my heart, the one concerning my autonomy, my n
