Chapter 21

• Zane's expression fell as our touch faded without leaving the mark we'd both hoped for. I wasn’t entirely sure how to recognize a mate; my mother always spoke of it as a surge of emotions, an undeniable connection that sparked the bond to life with a single touch.
• But with Zane, all I felt was the comfort of familiarity—a gentle reminder of what could have been.
• "I always thought..." Zane's voice trailed off, leaving unspoken words between us. This time, I didn’t have to pretend.