Page 10

While he’s logging in on his phone, I continue.

"First, I developed black bruises, like someone was punching me repeatedly.

Oh—and the burning was excruciating, like fire licking through my veins.

" I squeeze my eyes shut tightly and lean my head back, remembering the pain.

"But since you two just kept going, my bruises turned into weeping sores, then bleeding wounds. "

"Here they are!" North holds out his phone to Miles, who takes one look at the photo, pushes the phone away, and bends to vomit into the garbage can. I turn my head aside. I’ve seen enough of my own bodily fluids to last a lifetime, let alone anyone else's.

I press a hand to my stomach as my eyes water.

Once Miles' retching stops, North thrusts the phone at him.

"Watch the video, Miles. You owe her that."

Miles looks at me guiltily, wipes his mouth with his sleeve, and reluctantly takes the phone. He staggers back, his face contorted with pain as he watches the footage of my surgery .

North gets up in his face. "We had to give her every ounce of blood we had on the chopper, and she still barely made it to the ER alive. She coded during surgery. But thankfully, we have a surgeon who specializes in CMS. She was able to save her. I hope a night of passion with Marissa was worth all that Paisley went through because of you. I know it wasn’t. There’s no comparison between them.

Next time you’re faced with choosing between your mate and Marissa, for goddess' sake, reject your mate first."

Miles shoves the phone back at North, his eyes red, but he remains speechless. Seething, North punches him. Miles is sent flying out of the chair and hits the back wall, blood gushing from his face. He says nothing, but tears stream freely down his cheeks.

“I never meant to hurt you, Paisley,” he says, his voice raw and guttural as he swallows. “I’m sorry.”

I sigh. Watching this play out has lost its appeal. Miles might be a cheater, but I’m not a sadist, and I do still love him. You can't just turn off love after a year of wonderful memories.

"North, stop," I say quietly.

He growls, pacing the room and pulling his hair .

"Go, North. Get us some cold bottled water, please."

North nods and leaves.

Knight looks at me, shell-shocked.

Miles leans against the wall, tilting his head and holding his nose.

"Miles, I want you to feel what it’s like to be on the receiving end of pain caused by a cheating mate." I step toward Knight. "May I?"

His eyes widen as he looks at Miles.

"Two things,” I say. “One, he deserves it. Two, I think North is halfway in love with me, and I don't want to encourage that by using him to demonstrate."

He nods.

I wrap my arms around Knight's neck and plant my lips on his.

I want Miles to get as much of a lesson as I can give, with clothes on.

As I initiate the kiss, Knight groans and pulls me closer, pressing me against the door frame.

Licking, biting and sucking my tongue should send a fire through me, but all I feel is a pleasant warmth from his attention.

Sadly, my body still aches for the touch of my mate, and tears prick my eyes.

I pull back and stare into Knight's beautiful crystal-green eyes, drawing in a deep breath. He’s visibly affected, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his breathing short and uneven. His gaze lingers on me for a moment, until I finally turn away.

I shift my attention to Miles, who is lying on the floor, screaming and thrashing. As the kiss ends, he gradually stills, breathing heavily, trying to recover, while Knight gently releases me from his embrace.

I help him into the chair as Knight leaves to find a first aid kit.

"Miles, can you imagine what I suffered through while you and Marissa spent the night together? If a kiss causes that much agony?

His eyes shine with misery as he looks at me.

"Paisley, I’m so sorry. I would never have knowingly done that to you. I do love you. I’m so confused, but I’d rather have died than make you hurt like that. I’m so sorry."

My heart aches as I look at the wolf I’ve loved for the past year, my soulmate.The one I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with.

All the faith and trust I’d placed in him lie in ashes. Every time I rely on a male, they betray me.

My dad hurt me by leaving my mom and me when I was just a pup.

He walked away without looking back. I never saw him again.

That kind of abandonment teaches you hard lessons.

You learn early that you can’t rely on males to protect you or keep you safe.

I’d blindly placed my heart in Miles’ care, and suddenly, a gut punch hits from nowhere, reopening wounds and bringing fresh pain. You can't trust males.

"I’m glad to hear that, Miles. I don't even wish this on you.

I don't want to torture you any longer. I just want you to be aware of the consequences of your actions.

Once you form a bond, even a partial one, like we have, it needs to be respected and cherished.

We were going to be bonded for eternity the next day, and I know you didn't even think twice about me. "

"I did think about you, Paisley." He gasps.

"Shhhhh." I place my finger against his lips lightly. "I don't want to know how pitifully little you thought about me, Miles. Besides, it obviously wasn't enough to stop you. If you ever find another mate, don't put her through this, okay?"

"What do you mean, another mate?" Recognition dawns. "No, please, Paisley. I thought you understood. Just give me a little time to work through this. Please wait for me."

"No, Miles. I waited a year, and this is how it turned out." I cry.

Taking a deep breath, I compose myself for the final nail .

"I, Paisley Woods, reject you, Miles Reid, as my mate, for now and forever."

Miles seems to deflate as he gasps, "No!" He begins to shake, sobbing.

Knight walks in as I turn from Miles. There’s an odd pull between us, a tether I’m sure he feels, too. He and I are frozen in time, bound together in that moment. But I’m too mentally exhausted to deal with anything more right now.

"Knight, please help Miles get cleaned up and make sure he doesn't need medical care. I’d appreciate it."

I race out of the room and nearly crash into North.

He drops the bottled water he’s carrying and clutches my arms to keep me from falling. He lifts his hands to my face and wipes the tears with his thumbs. "You okay, Paisley?"

"I will be." My breath hitches as I struggle to breathe normally. "I just need to shower and sleep." He nods as he releases me. "Please help Knight deal with Miles. I left him in a bad way.”

"Sure, Paisley."

“Thanks, North. "

I limp down the stairs and out the door. Everyone in the living room, thankfully, just watches me go and doesn't make a move to stop me.