The bond

Immediately Scarlett felt the mate bond burn through her, she began to feel scared. She had definitely not meant for this to happen!

Without any thought, she pushed Ian away and hurriedly stood up, running right back to the house. 

The 18-year-old felt the gaze of Ian boring into her back as she ran back to the house, right back up the stairs and to her room. She locked the door firmly, before turning around to lean her back on it, panting like someone who had just run a marathon.

Her mind was whirling, and her heart was in shattered pieces.

She had not meant for this to happen, she thought desperately, trying to cling to the image of the smile she last saw on Ian's face before they felt the mate bond. 

She did not want to think about how his eyes had looked at her, unreadable. She did not want to think about anything. Or else, she would lose it.