Aiden raked a hand through his hair, the hopelessness of the situation frustrating the life out of him. "I don't understand," he said to Morane, the frustration in his tone fully on display. "There has to be another way! What do you mean, we have to stop being mates?"

"Look, I am not angry with you. You have done a lot for us, and we are genuinely grateful, but this…this was the last thing I expected to hear. I never even expected to ever hear such," he said as he leaned forward slightly and ...