Chapter 6 An Unexpected Invitation
ADELINE POV
Saturday comes too fast.
“We can scent our mate now,” Rime says, “Fully.”
“I don’t want to talk about Reid. Today is about the results.”
“I’m capable of caring about two things,” Rime answers.
I scoff.
"Adeline. Living room. Now." Dad links me.
The living room is too bright. Dad stands by the window with a sheet of paper in his hand. My stepmother sits on the couch beside Sloanne.
“The results came out this evening,” Dad says.
My stepmother leans toward the paper. “Oh, Sloanne! Number two! Right after Reid!”
Dad’s whole face changes. He crosses the room and kisses Sloanne’s forehead. “Congratulations, sweetheart. I knew you could do it.”
Sloanne smiles. “I worked really hard.”
I barely hear her. My eyes are fixed on the paper. “Let me see.”
Dad hesitates then holds out the paper.
I scan the list.
REID CALLAHAN — QUALIFIED.
SLOANNE WESTCOTT — QUALIFIED.
KELLAN REYES — QUALIFIED.
I keep reading. Twenty-three names in total, but mine isn’t there.
“No.” I read every name more carefully this time, but still nothing.
Something’s wrong. I pulled the Crown Stick. I scored. This can’t be right.
Sloanne steps closer. "Oh, Addie." She reaches out and touches my arm. "I'm so sorry. I know how much this meant to you."
I flinch away from her touch.
“I’m only trying to help. You can still apply for administration.”
My throat tightens. “I’m not applying for administration.”
"The selection is about more than one sprint," Dad says. "It's about consistency. Miracles. Potential. You have none of those."
“Then why did I finish first?” I look at him. “Why did I beat people with miracles if I have no potential?”
Dad’s jaw hardens. “Enough. Go to your room. We'll discuss your future later—”
The doorbell rings.
Everyone freezes. My stepmother rises. "I'll get it."
A moment later, she returns with two men in silver-and-blue uniforms. The royal crest gleams at their collars.
Dad immediately straightens.
“Miss Adeline Monroe?” The older man holds out a sealed envelope. "I’m Councilor Hale, representing the Crown Office of Reignfrost. We’re here regarding today’s Crown Training results.”
My stepmother and Sloanne go very still.
“What about them?” Dad asks.
“There appears to be an irregularity.” He looks at the list in Dad’s hand. “His Majesty ordered yesterday’s assessment records reviewed after the Crown Stick was drawn. Miss Monroe received a qualifying rank, is believed to possess a rare miracle, and became the first person in generations to draw the Crown Stick.”
My breath catches.
A rare miracle?
“Told you we weren’t weak,” Rime says.
Dad looks stunned. “Then why isn’t she on the list?”
“That is precisely why we are here.” He hands me the sealed envelope. “The Crown Office has reinstated your qualification. You report to Crown Training Camp Monday at dawn.”
I take the envelope with shaking hands. “I’m going?”
His expression softens. “You earned your place.”
Sloanne shoots to her feet. “She doesn’t deserve that spot!”
Councilor Hale finally looks at her. “The scores disagree.”
Her mouth snaps shut. He turns back to me. “Monday. Don’t be late.”
“I won’t.” I smile with teary eyes.
I’m going to Crown Training Camp.
“We’ll show them.” Rime stretches inside me.
Yeah we will.
Packing doesn’t take long. I don’t own enough hockey gear for it to. I pack two practice shirts, the borrowed gloves and old skates before reaching for the Crown Stick beside my desk.
Not a single mark on it after everything Sloanne did.
“It chose us,” Rime says proudly.
I slide it carefully beside my bag when Mira’s voice bursts through our link.
“Addie, I’m so sorry. I just saw the list. I don’t understand how they could leave you out after yesterday—”
“I got in.”
“Your name isn’t—”
“The Crown Office came to my house. They said there was an irregularity. I ranked first.”
“YOU WHAT?!”
I can’t stop myself from smiling. “I’ll explain everything—”
Something taps against my window.
I pull the curtain aside. For a second, all I see is a dark jacket against the snow and one hand braced against the roof. Then he lifts his head.
My eyes widen.
...Reid?
He points at the latch.
Rime’s already losing her mind. “Open it. Mate!”
I should leave him out there, but I unlock the window. “If you fall off the roof, I’m not explaining this to my father.”
“Good to see you too.” He climbs inside, ducking slightly beneath the frame. Snow clings to his dark hair and the shoulders of his jacket, melting almost immediately in the warmth of my room.
Rime perks up. “He’s gorgeous.”
I almost roll my eyes. Is that seriously all you notice—
The second his boots hit my floor, everything changes.
His scent crashes into me. Pine and frost first, sharp and clean, then something warmer underneath, like woodsmoke curling through cold winter air. But it's more than that. It's everywhere, filling the room, filling my lungs, sinking into my bones.
Rime surges forward so suddenly that my pulse stumbles. "Mate! Ours!"
The bond pulls tight beneath my ribs, warm and strange and almost painfully right.
No.
No, damn it.
No wonder mate bonds ruin people.
Reid goes completely still. His eyes darken. “You can scent me.”
“Unfortunately.” My hands are shaking. "Do you usually climb through Sloanne’s window too?"
“No. Never done it before.” He gestures toward the window behind him. “You told me no one could know about the bond, so I figured the front door was out.” He brushes the snow from his hair, then gives me that easy smile. “Unless you’d rather I explain to your father why the future Alpha is visiting his daughter this late.” His eyes flick toward the bag on my bed. “Besides, I heard you made the list.”
I can’t help but smile. “Yes.”
His expression softens. “Congratulations, Adeline.” Reid smiles. “You earned it.”
My face gets even warmer. “Thanks. The bond should be complete now. We can try the rejection again.”
The softness disappears from Reid’s face. His jaw tightens. “No.”
I blink. “We agreed.”
“My wolf refuses.” His voice drops, low enough that it feels less like an answer and more like a confession. “Sverre’s been practically impossible to control since he realized I might reject you again.”
“Good mate,” Rime says approvingly.
“So what?” I ask. “You’re just going to let him decide?”
“No.” Reid leans against the wall, folding his arms. “If you want to reject me, I’m not going to stop you, but I’m not doing it for you.” His eyes hold mine. “I don’t want to.”
“He wants us,” Rime says happily.
My heart gives one stupid, hopeful thump.
I ignore her. “Fine. Then I’ll do it myself.”
“Adeline—”
I straighten. “I, Adeline Monroe, reject you, Reid Callahan, as my fated—”
The bond jerks tight. Pain tears through my chest so suddenly that the rest of the sentence disappears in a gasp.
Rime howls. “Stop! It hurts!”
I double over, one hand flying to my ribs like I can somehow grab whatever is twisting there.
Reid doesn’t move toward me this time, but every part of him looks tense, like he’s forcing himself to stay where he is because I already told him not to stop me.
I look up at him. “You felt this yesterday?”
His jaw tightens. “Yeah.”
He went through this because I asked him to.
Rime growls miserably. “Enough, Adeline.”
I straighten anyway. “I’ll try again. I, Adeline Monro—”
The pain hits harder and I almost drop to my knees.
“Enough.” Reid reaches for me, but I lift a hand before he can.
“Don’t.” My lungs burn. I force in a breath. “It almost worked.”
“No. It almost knocked you unconscious.”
He’s still much too close. Every breath is full of pine, frost, and woodsmoke.
I’ve spent years seeing Reid from a distance, always knowing he was handsome, but I’ve never noticed the gold scattered through his dark irises, the sharp line of his nose, or the way his mouth looks softer than the rest of him.
The memory of Sloanne’s hand around my throat flashes through my head.
You already know what happens to things you take from me.
I shake my head and look away, but the movement pulls my collar aside. Reid’s gaze drops to the dark bruises around my throat.
“Adeline.” His voice goes quiet. “Who did that to you?”
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Adeline?” Sloanne’s voice comes through the door.
My blood turns cold.
“I know you’re in there. Open up.”
