Did my implant malfunction and I zapped myself?!
I know all about True Mates.
I studied the subject in-depth back in the day. Between betas, that first touch never does anything. No spark. But between betas and other subgenders, it’s different. Some say youcan feel a faint jolt that runs through your whole body when skin touches skin for the first time.
But this? This sure as hell isn’t a faint jolt.
My whole body lights up like I just plugged myself into a socket. I’ve used electricity for years to punish disobedient soldiers and stubborn relatives, but this isn’t that. This isn’t pain. This is something else.
Sweet. Euphoric.
And it rips a sound out of my throat that I can’t hold back.
"Is this—fuck—is this what I think it is?" I grit out through clenched teeth, still locked in that current.
The alpha named Sun must be feeling the same thing, because he squeezes his eyes shut and lets out a shaky breath.
"Is this seriously what I think it is?" I repeat louder, my jaw muscles still tense from that burst of… whatever the hell that was.
He opens his eye, and his iris is eclipsed by his pupils.
"Well, looks like we just found a way to get you out of supermax," Sun says, then suddenly bursts into wild, uncontrollable laughter, pure, relieved laughter, like something huge just broke loose inside him. Like some pent-up energy finally let go.
Weird thing is, I feel it too, like his emotions just flooded straight into me.
"Can you believe it? I denied taking suppressants when they put me here! Excused myself for allergy reasons! Didn’t want to be dulled by that shit and look, it pays off… a miracle!"
"This is…" My head is swirling, dizzy.
"This is one seriously fucked-up twist of fate! Meeting your True Mate in a damn holding cell!" He forces the words out between fits of laughter.
"But I guess it makes sense. We probably wouldn’t have met in some city library, right? If we’re perfect mates, then looks like it’s the perfect setup!"
That’s when it finally sinks in for me too. Unbelievable. Impossible.
My whole body tenses, and what I say next barely gets past my throat.
"I’m a beast, Sun. A fucking monster. How is it possible that Fate thinks I deserve something this… marvelous?" The words slip out of my mouth before I can even think them through.
Sun sobers up too.
There’s a pause, and our eyes meet.
"Funny," he says quietly. "I’m a monster too. And I sure as hell don’t deserve something like this. But… here we are."
We just stare at each other in silence for a second.
That damn Moon was right from the very beginning. I take back every overcomplicated curse I ever threw at his pretty, silver-haired head. The guy’s legit.
It was never aboutthatSun. It was always aboutthisone.
And it strikes me.
I’m going to heal. I’ll regenerate. I’ll get back what was taken from me! Fuck!
When Sun and I enter the Joining, my body will repair itself. I’ll get back my manhood, my hand, and he’ll get back his eye.
"You know what the best part is?" Sun leans in, his hand wrapping around mine like he wants to make sure I’m really listening. "You know the law about True Mates? We can’t be separated! Because it would literally kill us. The True Mate Government Agency handles cases like ours. Prisoners either get special cells to live together, or if one gets released, the other does too. With an ankle monitor for house arrest, but still—freedom!"
