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Setting the scissors down on the counter again, I finally lifted the bag to my nose and let myself inhale.

My entire body shuddered as his scent flooded my lungs.

My fangs descended instantly.

My body flushed, despite the hours we’d spent in bed together.

I dropped the bag in the sink and scrambled to turn the water on. It rained down over the blood, easing the ferocity of his scent just a little.

I watched the blood thaw and roll down the drain bit by bit, before I forced myself to admit the truth.

Beckett Bauther was my fated mate.

He knew it. He’d known it since the moment he kissed me, if not earlier.

And he’d kept the truth from me.

He’d touched me.

Tasted me.

Fucked me.

But he hadn’t come clean about what he was to me.

“He could still be a good mate,” my wolf whispered.

“He lied to me,” I said.

My voice was flat.

Hollow.

My heart was, too.

And he wasn’t the only one who had kept the truth from me. Love had known, and hadn’t said anything.

I shut off the water and walked back to the bathroom. Picking up the phone, I calmly called Love back.

“Hey,” she said.

“If you and Madd can keep a secret like that for him, you can keep one just as big for me. Don’t say anything to him about what I told you.”

“Sienna,” Love protested.

“Give me your word. Both of you.”

“I won’t say anything.” Love’s voice was tight.

“Your business is between you and your mate,” Madd agreed.

“Good. Just so you’re aware, I’ll be joining Vex’s pack now, seeing as there’s a conflict of interest between me and your beta. I don’t need your protection anymore.”

“Wait,” Love started to argue.

I hung up before she had the chance to say anything, and let out a long breath.

Then, I reloaded the freezers, threw some clothes and blood bags in a duffel, and got in my car.