Chapter 27 My Secret

(Arlo)

I loved her. I loved everything about her. From the moment I found her in the woods, bleeding and whimpering like a fawn, I loved her.

The mate bond was nothing compared to the love I felt for her. I needed her. I needed to hear her voice, to feel her touch. Every time I saw her, I felt happier than I’d ever been before. Every time I heard her voice, it was like nothing I’d ever heard. She changed my world with her presence.

But I couldn’t get too close to her. I hated that. I hated the lies, the control. I didn’t have a choice.

"Arlo," my mother’s voice slithered into my consciousness, her tone dripping with malevolence. "Bring her to me. It is time."

I stiffened, my hands involuntarily clenching into fists. "No," I muttered, more to myself than to her. "Not this time."

Her laughter echoed in my head, cold and cruel, sending shivers down my spine. "You do not have a choice, my son. You never did. Hilda is essential for the ritual. Bring her to me, or face the consequences."