CHAPTER 32: LOOPHOLE

The smell of the sterile floors tried desperately to overpower Darek’s scent that still lingered everywhere on my body. I had tried to scrub it all off that morning until my skin looked raw and red from the friction. It felt like the scent had already melted into my skin and seeped into my bones.

I clutched the piece of paper in my hands as I walked down the hall, the sound of my boots clicking and echoing against the walls. I kept tugging my collar higher to cover my neck and the mark that was as evident as possible. Darek had not shown any restraint on it.

But my body still swore at the restraint he showed after.

I walked straight into Kinley’s room after a brief knock. For some reason, no one had tried to ask me for my credentials or purpose for being there even though I was wearing my Omega uniform and walking through restricted floors. It felt like they all knew that I would be coming.

And Kinley looked like he was waiting.

He was sitting on his revolving chair, and the moment I shoved the door open and walked in, his face broke into a huge smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"I was hoping you would come," Kinley said as he stood up and walked over, gesturing me to take a seat. I gingerly sat down and eyed the papers strewn over his desk.

The word ’Fluid Approval’ caught my eye, and before I could notice more, he had gathered all of the papers, stacked them, and put them away, giving me his entire attention.

I bit my lips in anxiety.

"Were you the one who sent me this?" I dumped the piece of paper over the hardwood in front of him.

"Yes, it was me. I suppose you’ve come here since you want to reverse the effects of the curse, right Maeve?"He adjusted the glasses propped over his nose.

"Reverse? Is that really possible?"

"It is," he said leaning forward in his chair. "But I’m not sure if that would be something you want right now, judging from that mark on your neck."

I cleared my throat, not letting the humiliation get to me.

"All the more reason to get rid of the bond as soon as possible."

"If that’s what you want...then yes, it’s possible. All you need to do is redirect the bond."

"What?" My throat went dry. "How would I do that?"

"Help him find another mate. He may be fated to you right now, but I was under the impression that the both of you haven’t been ready to accept that. So you just have to find someone else for him that he actually wants to be with. Once you achieve that, I can take care of the rest. Your bond will be the weakest then, so it won’t be that hard to sever it."

He explained softly but my hands were already gripping my chair restlessly.

"When a bond is forged where it shouldn’t be, the only way to weaken its hold is for one of the wolves to be bound again. With someone else."

"But it’s not necessary that he’s bound and fated with the one he wants, right?"

"As long as he marks someone else as his mate, that’s enough. Then the both of you can finally be free of each other."

That seemed impossible. He had already got it into his head that he wanted me to be his mate for my powers, so it didn’t seem any likely that he would willingly mark someone else.

But the only name blaring through my head was Rhea Garrenwhan.

Would that really work?

Kinley cleared his throat.

"It’s all up to you now, Maeve."

My hands curled in my lap.

I stood up and left muttering a quiet ’thank you’.

I was the only one who had rejected the fated bond, and the only way I could get out of this was if he found someone else and marked them so that our bond would weaken.

So now I have to play parent trap and find someone for him.

That sounds so easy. Not.

The air felt heavier as I walked to the infirmary at the White Hall. Kinley had finally let me see him after all this time, even though the guilt had been gnawing at me for the past few days.

It felt like I hadn’t seen him in forever. Since I saw his damaged body being taken away from the glass room. I wasn’t even sure if he would make it. And I was the only one to blame. Because he went through all of that for me.

The thought of seeing him again, knowing he was still alive and well after all the torture had me speeding up. But before I could reach the doors of the infirmary, someone else was already rounding the corner and I almost crashed into her.

Valeria.

She looked radiant with her platinum hair loose around her shoulders but she wasn’t wearing her uniform anymore. Her eyes landed on me instantly and then....her lips tilted up in a mocking smile.

I stopped, unable to say anything. What could I possibly say? Thank you for alerting the guards about my powers? Thank you for beating me up in front of Valden and the other Omegas?

But she was already walking past me without another word. A sense of unease settled in my stomach. It seemed completely unlike her that she wouldn’t try to rub it all in my face.

A moment later, the only thing that lingered was the smell of her perfume, sweet and sharp like her teeth. I didn’t have the capacity for Valeria’s games now.

I shoved open the doors to the infirmary until the smell of herbs and the metallic tang of medicines hit my nose. I scanned the rows of cots, settling on the last one with the only occupant.

He was propped against pillows, his hands and chest wrapped in bandages but he still looked good.

Valden had recovered faster than I had thought.