"Leveret," I said warily.
He combed through my hair, picking sand out of it. "Hm?"
"You don't have a fated mate. Correct?"
He went quiet. His hands stopped moving, and a few strands of my hair fell out of his grasp. At first, I worried I'd upset him but there was hope laced into his solemn expression.
"I think," Leveret said, each word slow and deliberate, "I do have one."
Jealousy spiked through me like a knife. Then came pain and anger like I'd never known. My stomach churned, sour and thick.
Why hadn't he mentioned that before? Why did he hide it from me?
Whowasthis omega?
Sharpness edged my voice. I was too upset to hold it back. "You should have told me."
I wanted to snatch my hair out of his gentle hands, but selfishly, it felt too good—even if Leveret had just unknowingly torn my heart out.
Gods, why did I react like that? I'd promised never to fall in love with another mortal, yet it had happened again, and I couldn't stop it.
I was so stupid.
Leveret blinked at me. His mood didn't change post-confession. He smoothed his hand over my hair like he was petting a soft animal.
"Animus," he murmured. "I thinkyou'remy fated mate."
The world turned upside down.
The sand, sky and water all disappeared. My focus was a single point, the alpha in front of me. The alpha with sweet and honest eyes who always looked at me as if I was the only thing in the universe.
But...
Fated mates?
A self-deprecating laugh burst out of me. "No, Leveret, that's... it's not possible."
"Why?"
My mouth opened but no sound came out. I couldn't think of an answer. There wasn't one. The idea was justabsurd.
As if I wasn't frazzled enough, Leveret caressed my cheek with unparalleled fondness. I let out a soft whimper before I could stop it, then felt the hot rush of shame that followed. I shut my eyes. He was far too good at knowing exactly what I wanted, far too good at making me feel happy. Leveret couldn't be a real, living being. He was a vision, a fantasy I'd created after wallowing for too long in my own pity.
Except when I opened my eyes, he was still there—and the firm, steadfast gaze in his eyes promised silently that he wouldalwaysbe there.
I exhaled shakily.
"I can't be your fated mate," I mumbled, staring at the sand without seeing it. "I can't beanyone'sfated mate."
"Why?" Leveret asked again.
Frustration welled up inside me. "I just—"
"Give me a real reason. Saying you can't isn't a reason."
My mouth was dry. I grasped at logical straws, struggling to find a solid response to his demand, but came up empty every time.
IknewI couldn't have a fated mate... but why did I know that? Did something happen eons ago to bar me from ever finding my one true love?