34. Jalen

I was in the middle of sketching in the uncompleted building, my mind consumed with thoughts of Rissa. Her engagement was in just a few days and I still hadn't found a way to stop her from marrying Ivan. She was my mate, and she deserved to be with me, not that arrogant peacock. My anger boiled over and I threw my spray can against the wall, the yellow ink splashing across the concrete.

Just as I was about to dive back into my sketch, I heard footsteps approaching. I turned to see my sister, Jaela, making her way towards me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my tone brusque.

She didn't answer, instead she began to cry, her tears a strangled sound. I knew something was wrong. I turned on our mind link, our special connection and she me that our mother had almost killed herself.

I was stunned, the weight of her words hitting me like a freight train. I immediately dropped everything and rushed to Jaela's side. I couldn't believe that she would do something like that.

"Where is she?"