CHAPTER b28 /b

    ANNA’S POV

    Mom looked at Ryon with this expression I had never seen on her before, and I instantly panicked because I knew whatever bwas /bing next wasn’t going to be good. My mouth moved before I could even think, my voice shaking but loud enough for everyone to hearb, /b“Ryan didn’t force it on me. It was mutual.” and then, before I could stop myself, I added quietly, “I love Ryan.”

    It was as if the air got sucked out of the room. Mom heard it. Dad heard it. In fact, everyone heard it. Their eyes widened in shock, and I could see Mom’s lips part slightly like she couldn’t believe what I had just said. Ryan, on the other hand, looked… pleased. He didn’t hesitate, walking over to me and pulling me into his arms as he said, I love you too, Anna.”

    Mom stared at the both of us like we had lost our minds. “This must be a fucking joke,” she spat. Then she turned fully to me, her eyes sharp, her voice dropping into that tone that made me feel about btwo /binches tall. “Honey.. you’re still too young. You don’t even understand what you mean by love. Ryan is your brother, your big brother. You’re confusing the love byou’ve /balways had for him as your brother with something romantic, when it’s breally /bjust brotherly love.”

    She didn’t give me a chance to reply before she continued, her voice shaking with anger. “I know exactly what I’m going to do. Bringing you over here was the biggest mistake I’ve ever mode. From now on, you’re going to live in the dorms. I’ll find a spot for you. I didn’t push for it before when they told me it was filled because I thought you. staying bwith /bRyan would be better than staying in the dorm. I thought you two could bond… but not like this. Definitely not this kind of bonding.”

    My chest tightened so much I could barely breathe while I tried to understand why she was being like this. She turned to Dad, her voice suddenly calm bbut /bcold. “I think we’rete for the dinner. Let’s go. Ryan needs to get himself upied with another lody. The engagement must be finalized today.”

    Her words stabbed right into me, as if she was cutting away any hope I had. I didn’t understand why she was bso /bagainst this, against me and Ryan. We weren’t blood rted. I knew she valued her friendship with myte mom, but I was so sure my mom wouldn’t have minded me being with Ryan. I was certain of it..

    Ryan’s jaw ticked, his anger showing in the way bhis /bshoulders squared as if he was trying not to explode. “I’m going to stop this betrothal,” he bsaid/b, his voice hard. “I don’t love Sophie, and I don’t n on having anything to do with her.”

    Tears burned my eyes, and I could feel them spilling down my bcheeks/b. “It’s Anna 1 love, Mom,” Ryan said firmly. “Please, don’t make this harder for us.”

    “I won’t ept bthis/bb,/b” Mom shot back binstantly/b.

    “Mom! There’s no changing this,” Ryan said, his voice rising. “Anna’s the one for me. The one the goddess fated to be mine.”

    That made my head snap up. I blinked at him, confused. “What does that mean?” I blurted out, my voice cracking. All eyes turned to me.

    “Dad, you promised you’d exin it all to me,” I said quickly, my voice trembling but firm. “So pleaseb, /bI’m listening. I want to understand what Ryan means by me being his fated mate.”

    There was a heavy sigh from everyone before Ryan stepped closer to me, his eyes locked on mine. “It means we’re meant to be together. It means we’re made for each other. Baby, that strange feeling you get whenever you’re

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    with me… that pull you feel when I’m close to you pull. That’s what it is.”

    that ache you had when I stayed away from you, that’s the

    I frowned, still not fully getting it. “I… don’t understandb./b”

    Dad finally spoke, his btone /bserious as he looked between us. “Anna, we aren’t pure humans.”

    “What?”

    “Yes,” Dad continuedb. /b“We’re werewolves. If you don’t know what that means… well, I’m sure you’ve heard of it from books. Most romance authors write about us.”

    I shook my head slightly. “I’m not a fan of romance novels, so I’ve never really…

    Dad sighed and exined it in a way I could understand. He told me that Ryan being my mate meant he was chosen for me by the goddess, that no one else could everpare, that we were bound in a way that went beyond human rtionships. The more he spoke, the more I started to understand, but before I could say anything, Mom cut in sharply.

    “Still… it won’t work.”

    Ryan’s head snapped toward her. “Why not?! You and Dad did the same!”

    Mom let out a slow breath, looking at him with something between pity and frustration. “Ryan… it’s different. Your dad and I were different. Your dad wasn’t adopted into the family. I didn’t see bhim /bas an older brother. I saw him as my stepmother’s son. He never lived with us, he stayed away, so it was different. But you and Anna… you both grew up together. She’s adopted into the family. Even though she’s not blood rted, she’s your sister. She’s adopted into this family as our own. bYou /bboth just… can’t happen. You can’tpare it to us. Do you understand, Ryan?”

    Ryan’s voice was tight as he gritted his bteeth/b. “Then it’s toote. Anna and I are already intimate.”

    “It’s not toote,” Mom shot back quickly. “We’ll close this chapter. It’s over. It was a mistake. You’re both young and clouded by emotions. It was my fault, and I’ll take the me. I caused this, so I’ll make it right. Anna won’t stay here any longer. She’ll move into the dorms at her school, and you, you’ll get engaged to Sophie, take over thepany and your bdad’s /bpack, and move on with your life. You’ll marry Sophieb, /bshe’s good for you. She’s royalty. Her dad’s the alpha King of Europe. You’re a perfect match. Forget Anna.b” /b

    “No!” Ryan’s voice boomed, but Mom’s words were final.

    Dad let out a long sigh, looking at Ryan. “I think your mom’s right.”