Lara's POV
After Austin stepped out to retrieve my phone, a hospital staff member entered carrying the meal that my friends had thoughtfully arranged for us. I gestured for her to place the tray aside, my mind consumed by the overwhelming realization that our secret was no longer contained. Others were now aware that Austin and I shared the mate bond.
My reluctance to reveal this truth had solid foundations. The moment my father discovered this development, he would mobilize every resource at his disposal to drag me back home. He would never allow me to remain here for an entire year with Austin, not when such an arrangement could potentially shatter the carefully constructed alliance agreement that bound our packs together.
