Mated in the Shadow of My Sister novel Chapter 18

Chapter 0018

“I do not feel strong anymore, Rose. I am really sorry. I want to be strong for you, but I think the Moon Goddess made a bunch of mistakes when it comes to me.”

“The Moon Goddess does not make mistakes, Lily,” Rose responds reassuringly.

“My own mate does not want me!” I exclaim. “All he wants is Stephanie. Stephanie, Stephanie, Stephanie. Everywhere I turn in this pack, it is all about Stephanie. She was my sister, and I loved her, but I cannot help but want people to forget about her and move on. And every time I feel that way, I feel

I

guilty. Good people do not wish the dead to be forgotten, do they? Maybe I am not a good person, Rose. Maybe that is why all of this is happening to us.”

Rose is silent for a minute, as though she is taking in my words.

“Maybe we should leave this pack. For good this time,” Rose offers.

I stop walking when she says that. “What?”

“I mean it, Lily. Listen to you. We have been in this pack for less than 12 hours and you are already. doubting yourself again. This is not who you are when you are at Red Rock, and it is not who I want you

to be anywhere.”

“I thought you wanted to fight for our mate? And fight for the mate bond with James? You told Luke that

you would give him time to fix it.”

“I am re–thinking that. I want to fight for you more. I NEED to fight for you more. This place is not healthy for you, at least not right now. Maybe one day we can come back. But I am starting to realize that we

cannot stay here.”

“Are you proposing that we reject James?” I ask, surprised.

“No. At least not yet. I am just suggesting that we move, permanently, and we stop coming back for these memorials. Maybe next year we should actually celebrate our birthday. You will be 21 next year.