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My shoulders drop as I let out a sigh and turn to him. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. It is what it is. Aspen won’t forgive me, and the Goddess just got it wrong this time. We aren’t a perfect match for each other and will never be mated to each other. Now, if you don’t mind, I want to enjoy tonight.” My coat is hanging by the front door and I walk over to slip it on.

He lets out a heavy sigh as he turns to follow me out the door. “Besides,” I say as I clap him on the back. “I would much rathertalk about how you’re going to challenge Orion for the Alpha position.”

“Shhh, keep your voice down. You never know who is listening. I never said I would,” he says, as his eyes sweep from side to side, checking to see if anyone is around.

“I’m just saying you should. You can’t say that you are okay with how things are going around here.”

His head drops. “No, but you know the only way this works is a fight to the death. It’s not just that I challenge him and win the fight. I have to kill him. That is an enormous risk to take. We both know he is a dirty wolf, and I wouldn’t put it past him to do something shady to win.”

“He can’t though. He can be dirty all he wants, but the rules are firm. If he uses some sort of outside help to win, he automatically loses his position.”

Shaking his head, he replies, “That may be true, but I don’t think I’m the right person. Anyway, you don’t want to talk about why you are avoiding Aspen, and I don’t want to talk about challenging Orion.”

The sounds of laughter grow louder as we come closer to the bonfire. The glow of red and orange shifts the shadows around us as the flames dance. All the unmated pack members are scattered around the fire in a misshapen circle. Soft moans are already whispering from the trees.

“Seems that some people started early,” I say as I hook my thumb in the direction the moans are coming from.

Silas shakes his head. “Some people’s children, I swear.”

Spotting Samson and Alic, we both head in their direction.

As we get closer, we hear Samson whine, “There aren't that many single females. I am dying here. Can’t a guy just get his dick sucked?”

Alic shakes his head. “I know. With the way it’s going, we might have to search outside our pack before too long. Who do we have? Willow is scary. Erin is a bit too young. And I am pretty sure that Lyra just left with Eric and is who we are hearing moaning from the woods.”

Samson asks, “What about Hazel? I know she hasn’t found her mate yet.”

Alic’s eyes widen. “She is too sweet to taint with one-night stands. I am afraid that she will get attached and want more.”

Shrugging, Samson says, “What about Aspen?” His question irritates me—why are they talking about my mate? They shouldn’t even be thinking about her, much less mentioning her in this conversation. She is mine, even if I will not claim her.

My shoulders tighten in anger when I hear her name. Alic sighs, “I heard she’s dating that mountain lion shifter. Carson? Cash?” That’s fucking news to me! I can feel my temper rising, thinking of another man running his hands down her curves. Doing all the things I’ve only imagined in my most private moments.

Samson’s eyes widen when he looks up to find me behind them with my chest heaving. “Chase?”

Alic yips when he hears my growl behind him. “Yeah, that’s it, man. Don’t kill me over it. I’m just saying what I heard.”

Grabbing him by the back of his neck, I drag him to standing, with his feet barely touching the ground. “Where did you hear this?”

His throat bobs as he considers his words. “Some of the other guys were talking about it the other day.”

Baring my teeth at him, I growl, “What…were…they…saying?”

He trembles. “Just that they thought it was a waste of her time since it's forbidden to cross breed. They consider her tainted now.”

Pulling him closer to me until we’re almost touching, I growl, “You would do well to keep my mate’s name out of your mouth. Do I make myself clear?”

His head nods vigorously.

I drop him to the ground and his body crumples when it collides with the damp surface. Turning, I storm off in the direction of the housing for the mountain lions.

“Where are you going?” I hear Silas yell as I take off. “Fuck.”

My chest is heaving with uncontrolled anger seeping into my veins. I can’t even explain why I’m so mad. It’s not like I haven’t entertained other women instead of my mate. But this is different. I’m not dating them. We fuck and go our separate ways. What she is doing has feelings and feelings mean attachments.

“No one is allowed to touch our mate. Why have you let it get this far? If it was me, I would have already ripped his throat out,” Wraith, my wolf, growls at me in our shared mind space.

“Agreed.”