Cara’s POV
Noel was looking at me with a reserved sort of hope in his eyes. In a way, I hated to disappoint him. I did care about him, and I wished I could have been able to make him happy while also making myself happy. Unfortunately, those two things would not align.
As much as I cared for Noel, it was only as a friend. It would only ever be as a friend.
My heart, body, and soul all belonged to Alaric, and that would never change.
I thought he probably knew that. With the way he was looking at me, that hope so dulled and pulled back, he had to at least suspect that I didn’t feel the same. Yet, he likely couldn’t help himself.
I remembered years ago, when I had felt so strongly for Alaric just for him to be cold towards me. The mating bond made things complicated. Though things betw
