Chapter 77 77. One hundred days
Tabitha’s POV
“If it’s doomed from the start, I’d rather be the one to end it,” my voice comes out weaker than I had intended.
Jace reaches out for my hand on the table, stroking my knuckles as he stares at me earnestly.
“There’s only so much the pack or even the elders can control, Tabitha. They can’t decide everything for us,” Jace says
“And your father?” I shoot back, pulling my fist away from his grasp. “You think he’ll be thrilled about this? He’s probably arranging your marriages as we speak!”
Reed presses his lips together, while Luca leans back in his chair, crossing his arms.
“You think too little of us if you believe we’ll let him decide everything,” Luca says quietly.
I shake my head. “You’re all acting like this isn’t a big deal, like it doesn’t matter. Well, it matters to me!” I push back my chair and stand, my voice breaking a little. “I get that for werewolves, this is normal. You find your mate and call it a day. But I’m not one of you! My mom might be a she-wolf, but I’m human, and this is insane to me.” And I refused to be tied down to men who don’t actually love me. Men who only see me as nothing but a new shiny toy to play with until they get tired enough to find a better one.
Evren finally sets down his glass. “Not every werewolf finds their mate. Some live their whole lives without one. And for those who do, it’s a sacred blessing from the moon goddess herself.”
I let out a shaky breath.
“But it’s still common to break the bond, isn’t it? I’ve heard about it. When a mate bond becomes inconvenient, you end it. And your father, an alpha who arranges marriages to strengthen alliances, won’t hesitate to break a bond as inconvenient as this. So it’s not really as sacred as you make it out to be.”
“It is for us—”
“Oh for fuck’s sake!” I stand up so abruptly that the chair tumbles down behind me. “I’m tired of this shit! I don’t want this. I don’t want anything to do with any of you! Can’t you just let me live my life and free me from this stupid fucking bond that chains me to you!”
All four of them gape at me, looking taken aback. As if they are shocked to see me finally snap.
“I feel like my feelings aren’t my own anymore! I don’t know where the mate bond ends and where my real emotions begin!” My chest tightens as I breathe unevenly. “Every time I start to think clearly, one of you shows up and it all falls apart again. You say you care, but all you’re doing is dragging me deeper into something I never asked for!” My voice cracks at the end, my throat raw from holding it all in for too long.
Luca stands up, his expression unreadable as he reaches for my arm. “Tabi—”
I jerk away before his fingers can touch me and slap his hand aside. Luca freezes. The others look just as stunned, their faces caught somewhere between guilt and disbelief.
“If you’re not going to help me find a way out of this,” I grit out, my words trembling, “then at least stop pretending this is something I should be grateful for. I don’t want to be tied to any of you. I want to be freed from you.”
Their faces blur for a moment as my eyes sting, and I hurriedly swipe at the tears spilling down my cheeks. I force out a shaky laugh that dies in my throat.
“Thanks for the lunch. I’m outta here.”
I turn and bolt for the door. My fingers barely graze the handle when a hand catches my wrist. I turn around and see that it’s Evren.
“Let go, Evren!” I spin around, anger flooding back to life. “I’m leaving. I’ll grab a cab or something, I can’t be in the same room as you—”
“One hundred days,” he says in his usual indifferent voice.
The words stop me cold. “What?”
Evren releases my wrist but his heavy gaze remains on me.
“Give us one hundred days. One hundred days to figure this out. To make it work… or not. After that, if you still want to break the bond… we’ll help you do it.”
What? They’re gonna help me break the mate bond?
“Evren!” Luca’s voice is sharp with disbelief.
“What the hell are you saying, dude?” Reed glares at his brother who doesn’t look even a bit bothered.
Evren doesn’t look at them. His focus stays on me.
“One hundred days?” I echo, stunned. “What is this? Are you trying to mess with me?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Evren’s tone is unnerving.
“B-But you said there’s no way to break the mate bond! And now you’re telling me you’ll help me do it.”
“If you agree to my proposition, then yes. We’ll help you,” he replies.
“Evren!” Reed grabs his shoulder and pulls him back. “You’re out of your damn mind!”
Evren pushes Reed’s hand off. “This is better than letting her spiral. Do you really want to watch her break herself trying to do something dangerous?”
Jace looks between us. “This is madness.”
“So is pretending this isn’t getting worse,” Evren replies.
The brothers exchange tensed glances, the silence stretching between them like a drawn wire ready to snap. Ugh, they’re doing it again!
“Hey.” I snap, wiping the last of my tears. “Don’t leave me out of this. Answer me, Evren. There is a way to break the mate bond?”
He turns back to me. “Yes. There is. But it’s unconventional.”
My heart pounds. I’m not sure if it’s excitement or dread.
“And you’ve known this the whole time? Why didn’t you tell me when I practically begged you to break it a month ago!”
“We didn’t tell you because we didn’t want to. We want to keep the bond. We want you as our mate, Tabitha.” His words are so straightforward I am taken aback.
My lips open to say something but no sound comes out. I can’t seem to find the right words to say.
They… want me to be their mate? I mean, torment me, sure. Or push me to a corner until I have no choice—but actually wanting to claim me as their mate genuinely and not from their twisted idea of fun? I’m not sure if I believe that.
And does it matter, anyway? This is going to end one way or another, so, sentiments don’t matter right now.
Evren steps closer to me.
“Now. Do you want to hear my proposition?” he asks.
I nod stiffly. “Fine. Tell me.”
“Give us one hundred days,” he says. “Within those days, we stop fighting. You stop trying to break the bond, and we stop pushing you. We treat each other decently. We let the bond run its course without forcing it. And when the hundred days are over, if you still want to be free… we’ll help you break it.”
The room falls silent again.
Evren’s eyes hold mine. “Do you accept the deal or not?”