Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
“Do you see my mate?”
“I assume so, but since you’re not with him, I can’t be sure. I think he’s the single man I see with brown hair and brown eyes. He’s often with Rylee and her mate. I think he’s her mate’s brother, but I can’t be certain of any of that. It could be he’s just some random single Alpha Protector.”
Sienna looked down, making Amber curious. “You don’t believe that, though. Something tells you he’s my mate. Something else.”
“Yeah.” Sienna met Amber’s gaze again. “Rylee’s been going to his home a lot lately. She’s helping him prepare a room. I think it’s for you. It’s…”
Amber leaned closer, her entire body filled with anxiety. “It’s what?”
“Do you like rainbows?”
Amber gasped. This was truly the most shocking encounter she’d ever had in her life. She didn’t know this woman. There was no reason why Sienna would come to her with this bizarre story and lie. What good would it do her? She was obviously also marked and had kept that a secret. She was taking a huge risk in facing Amber and revealing her extremely strange visions.
No. The visions had to be real. And that didn’t even matter much. What mattered was that Sienna was providing a tremendous comfort to Amber.
“I should go.” Sienna jumped to her feet. “My mom is going to wonder what happened to me.”
Amber stood also. On instinct, she pulled Sienna into a hug. “Thank you for sharing that with me. I know it was scary.”
Sienna let out a rough chuckle. “I’m glad one of us feels better. I was hoping you could corroborate. Now I just feel foolish.”
“Don’t.” Amber held her new friend at arm’s length. “I don’t know why that’s happening to you, but I think there’s a reason. We’ll find out soon. I can’t wait to see you when you get there. I bet we’ll be close friends.”
Sienna threw her arms around Amber, hugging her tight. “I hope you’re right.”
Chapter One
As Amber knelt on the ceremonial pillow in the government building, a million questions ran through her mind. She’d met with Sienna two more times in the past week. Each time, she’d gathered more information. Each time, she’d felt more comforted by what was about to happen.
Now, she just had to pray to the heavens that Sienna’s visions were accurate. If they weren’t, Amber wouldn’t even have any way to alert her new friend that she was simply hallucinating. She wouldn’t see Sienna again for at least a month if not longer. Or ever. There was no guarantee the visions had any validity. There was also no guarantee Amber would ever see Sienna again.
She jolted when the door to the round room opened, keeping her head bowed as was expected of her. There was no mistaking the man who stepped in front of her was her mate. She didn’t need to see him to know that. She could scent him.
The connection was powerful and unexpected. No one had warned her about this. Her mother had told her many things about what it meant to be mated, but never once had she mentioned this intense attraction she already felt for a man she had not yet seen.
It was difficult to maintain her balance throughout the short ceremony. She kept her hands clasped at the small of her back and wobbled on her knees, beyond grateful when her mate set his hand on top of her head.
It was part of the ceremony, but it grounded her, helping calm her heart as well as keeping her from toppling to the side.
Amber couldn’t focus on the words. She didn’t care what her mate’s father was saying. She simply wanted this to be over with. She somehow managed to say her dutiful parts at the right times and breathed a sigh of relief when everyone but her mate departed.
In the silence, it seemed like her heart was beating so fast that he could surely hear it.
“They’re gone, Little mate,” he said, his voice deep and tender. He slid his hand around from the top of her head to cup her cheek, squatting down in front of her.
When she lifted her head, she drew in a deep breath. He certainly matched the man Sienna had described. Thick brown hair, brown eyes, about twice her age.
His age was intimidating. Sienna had told her that the Alpha Protectors appeared to be all different ages. She thought the man who was destined to be her own mate was in his late twenties. She believed Rylee’s mate was younger than his brother but still in his thirties.
So much information, and Amber shouldn’t have any of it. That’s not how this worked. Girls from the valley weren’t meant to know a single thing about their mates until this moment. And yet, Amber felt like she had a small window to the future.