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Why was I so focused on Chloe? She was out with her mate, while my mate was dying in a hospital bed. I groaned out loud again when I thought of Maddison. Why did I have to find her? And why did she have to make everything worse by dying if I don’t mate with her?

For some unknown reason, I was in love with Chloe, and I couldn’t stop the feeling that came over me when I thought of her. I only went to see Maddison because she asked me to and I was kicking myself for going, because my stupid wolf took control of me and I couldn’t stop myself from touching Maddison.

I sat up quickly. I knew I was going insane. I couldn’t stop thinking about Chloe and Maddison. Why wasn’t Chloe home yet? When was she coming home? Maybe she wasn’t coming home at all. I felt disappointed as I thought that. It was likely.

I couldn’t stop the overwhelming thought though that she didn’t belong with Xavier. She belonged with me.

Chloe

I changed back to my human form next to the pack house, quickly whipping a large shirt off the line. My clothes and the shoes I wore before were now torn into pieces back on a dark street near Xavier’s house. I wondered for a moment if he would be surprised to walk into the kitchen and find me gone. Though now that I think of it more, he would mostly likely be happy. After all, Emily wouldn’t see me that way.

Slowly I crept up the house stairs. This night wasn’t ending the way I wanted it to. Or how I thought it would.

I didn’t know what to do next. I didn’t know how or where to go from here. It was ripping me apart. How could my mate do this to me?

My hand paused on my doorknob before I turned it. A scent drifted from under the door.

Dan.

I flung the door open quickly and shut it softly behind me. My eyes adjusted to the little light in time to see Dan sit up abruptly on the bed.

“Chloe?” Dan was across the room within a heartbeat, holding me in his warm embrace. “What happened? What did he do?” His voice was boiling with anger already.

“Xavier….” I pulled my head from Dan’s chest and looked up into his eyes. His eyes were so caring and full of compassion for me. That’s when I realized it. “Xavier and I are over, for good.”

“You mean you guys had another fight.” Dan sounded disappointed.

“No we are over.” I leaned back in his arms so he could see it in my eyes. “He chose his wife and I chose to not be second.”

Dan looked me up and down for a few seconds before locking onto my eyes. Finally he opened his mouth. “You’re seriously, you are actually going to let your mate be with a human?”

“Nature must have made a mistake.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Xavier and I aren’t going to work.”

“He is your soul mate.”

“STOP TELLING ME THAT!” I roared and pulled myself away from him. “HOW DO YOU THINK THAT MAKES ME FEEL?”

“Chloe, just…”

“Don’t you dare say CALM DOWN!” Tears rolled down my cheeks freely, my emotions raw and now on display for Dan. “My soul mate wants me to wait. He has placed me second and do you know why? Because I’m his soul mate and I DON’T GET A CHOICE!”

“Chloe…”

“And then you stand there and remind me that I’m meant to just deal with it because he is my soul mate!”

“I didn’t say that!” Dan defended himself.

“Well, Dan, do you know what I say to nature and anyone else who mutters those words soul mate? Fuck you. Because I will not stand by and be second. I would rather be lonely and die alone, then be second for the man who is meant to love me unconditionally. I would rather have no one.”

“CHLOE!” Dan reached out and grasped my hands tightly, forcing me to look him in the eye. “You will never be alone. You will always have me.”

Sighing slowly, my head fell forward and leaned on Dan’s chest. For tonight I was going to take comfort in his words, even though I knew it could never happen.