Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

Chapter 0369

- Josie -

I follow Mum as she moves back towards the sofa, curling her feet up as she flicks the television back on. Her eyes stare at the screen but I can tell she isn't watching it, just making herself look like she is. She is lost in thought, lost in memory. "Mum?" I softly try to regain her attention as I sit down next to her, my hand gently stroking at her upper arm.

"Hmm?" She doesn't take her eyes away from the TV, seemingly too lost in the car advert. I've never seen her like this and it's starting to terrify me. She's never had this lost look before, she's never been in a trance. She's always been fully alert, her mind fully present. "Do you want to talk about things?"

"Things?"

"About this Than person?"

"No...I don't want to waste the air of my lungs evening mentioning his name." There's a bite in her words, disdain upon her tongue.

is about to say something but she stops when the front door opens and Auntie Alora walks in. It doesn't take a genius to know that this also involves Auntie Alora in some way. "Not a

furrowing slightly as she takes in Mum's unusual wild eyes. They have that same connection I'm sure,

and often finish each

the answer, her eyes turning just as wild as

like me, she knows when something is bothering her,

nothing, I was just thinking about going back to work...and everyone says it's too early." I hate lying, especially to Auntie Alora. But that worry on her face drops and her shoulders relax, as she takes a deep

talking, why don't you come back to Crystal Waters with us for a few

"Really?"

swim in the waters, finish your healing there and return feeling

pack...it's completely different to here and I always feel like I've had a holiday when I return. But...things are different now...George was there and the thought of being near him again makes my blood

to know your wolf more, shift without the eyes of the pack on you." Her enthusiasm makes her

keen for me to be around an ex of mine. Not that anything would happen, but I would feel just as uncomfortable with the