RYDER

Mate.

My mate.

Mine.

I stared into Aria's face in disbelief. She was my mate. Everything makes so much sense now—the realization settles over me like the warmest blanket on the coldest winter night. It's like I've always known the truth and it was just buried so deep inside of me that I couldn't reach it.

But it's staring me in the eye now.

The look on her face mirrors mine. I'm sure of it. The world around us blurs and she's the only one I focus on. I forget Nadia. The game I ...