I blinked a few more times before looking down. My legs collapsed as I started crying again. I rested my head on the edge of the bed, and Raphael’s arms came around me. “I thought you were going to die. I thought that was it. It was like losing a piece of my soul. We’re twins. You’re me and I’m you. You can’t die.”

“I’m not going to die. I’m okay.”

I wiped my face and looked at him. And then hit him. “Don’t ever scare me like that again. I swear. I don’t… You can’t… Just. No.”

He smiled. “I’ll do my best.”

I stood up and leaned over him, giving him a hug. I held on to him a little too long and Raphael laughed. “Hey, Cloud?”

“What?” I mumbled against his chest.

“You smell.”

I started laughing. Hard. It felt good. I’d been so panicked. Ever since z-Daniel bit him, I hadn’t relaxed.

When I caught my breath, I sat back down on the ground, exhausted.

Shane cleared his throat. “You bonded with this wolf?”

“Lucas…” Oh shit. I’d never learned his last name. I’d just mated to a guy whose last name I didn’t even know. What was wrong with me?

“Reyes,” he said for me.

“You paid for my hotel room?”

He raised a brow. “Yes. I’m the pack Alpha.”

I shook my head. It made sense. I just never put it together.

Shane cleared his throat again. “That means you broke your oath with Luciana.”

Oh God. I’d practically forgotten about that. I wasn’t tied to her anymore. My magic was my own again. “Yeah.” A grin spread across my face. “Yeah, I did.”

“So Beth, Raphael, and the others can take an oath to you. You’re stronger than her. I know you are.”

No. Nope. No way. “I don’t want to be a coven leader. I don’t want to be part of a coven at all. I’ve had enough of that for one lifetime.”

“It could be temporary,” Beth said. “Just until this is over and we join a new coven.”

“I don’t know…” Even temporarily, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. I hadn’t even tasted freedom yet, and now I was tying myself down.

I’d already tied myself to Lucas, but Mr. July was worth it. But anything more…

“Do it,” Raphael said. “Then she can’t use us to get back at you anymore.”

“You’ll still have your freedom,” Lucas said. “I’ll make sure you travel and take all the courses they offer at whatever college you choose. I won’t let you give up your dreams.”

“Please,” Beth said. “I don’t want to be tied to her anymore.”