Disclaimer: Flashback contains disturbing scenes. Please skip if you are sensitive to dark content.
"Caleb? That silver-haired royal general?" Jo asked, blinking in disbelief as she dabbed at the tea stain on the blanket with a cloth.
The stain was stubborn — just like the news Lucy had dropped on her.
"Yes, him," Lucy answered quietly. "We just found out we’re mates last night… after an unfortunate incident. He accepted the bond and proposed."
She hesitated. "But I've decided... I'm going to reject it."
Jo froze, the cloth limp in her hand.
"Lucy," she said carefully, "you know how sacred mate bonds are to you — I mean, to us werewolves."
"I know," Lucy said, her voice small. "But given my past... the accusations, the whispers... I'm not worthy of someone like Caleb."
She was only
