Free Unbound by Cat Miller Page A

make amends but Chase was tired of running around in shadows.  Something in the past had caused a rift between their families and the Vaughn’s would not welcome his poaching of their daughter.  Not that she had been a virgin when he took her that first time in her family pool house.  Their fathers had been friends in spite of the discord before both men were bonded.
    “So, to what do I owe this visit?  I assume you have a reason.”  He was curious after the silence stretched a little too long.
    “I was wondering if you were going to ask me to the Gala.”  She smiled brightly.
    He sat straight up and tried to laugh but it came out as more of a choking sound, “Are you crazy?”
    “Actually, I have some great news for us,” she said with a bitter edge.  “Your parents have been visiting with my parents.  I overheard them talking about how it’s time for our houses to put the past behind them and maybe if they bonded you to one of us girls it would start the process.  They would share grandchildren.  It would bind our houses.  They said something about a sighted ancestor of mine, and a vision.  I didn’t get much of that part.”
    Chase stared at Samantha in disbelief.  All the color drained from his face and he felt sick.  He knew exactly what vision she spoke of.  His father had told him the story but he hadn’t informed him that he was the focus of the tale.  Many people in his family are blessed but he had no extra sensorial ability like his father and uncle.  Given the stories he had been told of past generations of gifted Deidricks, Chase hoped his children could be very powerful.
    “I’m assuming of course that you would prefer to bond w ith me rather than my sister so I need you to show some interest or your parents may choose Brandi.   She does look better on paper,” Samantha continued.
    Chase had to use all his strength to pull himself out of the spa.  He felt as though his bones had melted.  Maybe this was why his father had recently insisted Chase take part in house business and help with Council affairs.  He was being groomed for a bonding.  As he entered his bedroom, Samantha took advantage of his weakness and tackled him, knocking him onto the bed.  “Aren’t you excited?” she giggled.  “We can be together and not hide it anymore!”  Samantha beamed with joy and anticipation of the future she hoped would come to pass.
    “We’re not together and I’m not ready to be bonded.”  He dumped her onto the floor and went to dig for some clothes.  He’d changed his mind.  He would go to the club and get one of his girls really drunk.  He was ready to be numb now.  This was the worst day ever.  First Danielle rejected him, then his father scolded him for being lazy and loose before forcing him to help with the gala and now Samantha has ruined his hopes for a future with Danielle.  He hadn’t realized he was looking to the future until Sam informed him that his was already mapped out for him.  Now his chest ached at the thought of not having Danielle as his bonded mate.  He had never wanted to be mated, never permanently tied to a female but now he was crushed by the need for it.  A painful pull in his chest was dragging his soul toward a girl he only just met and now could never have.
    “I’m not ready either. It’ll probably be another two years before they start forcing the issue. My parents want to wait until Brandi and I are at least twenty.  The point is our relationship will be accepted.”  Agitated by the tone in his voice, she wanted to get his attention.  She stood and untied her bikini top, dropping it on the floor.  Chase had his back to her walking into a closet large enough to be another bedroom.  He returned to find her in nothing but her thong.
    “That’s it!” he shouted, “Get dressed and make sure you leave the keys on the way out.  I’m not in the mood for your shit!  The last time we spoke, I made it clear how I felt about