Page 12

Miles

I just left my nightly vigil at Paisley's cabin and am on my way to relieve Knight at the main gate. As I approach, I see Knight speaking to a female shifter. When they hear me, she turns and smiles. It's Marissa. I’m stunned; she’s a fugitive.

Knight watches my approach warily. Coming to stand with them, I address Knight.

"I’ve got this," I say. He nods, handing over his clipboard and radio. I hear him spit a slur at me, then stalk off into the night.

"Marissa," I begin. "What are you doing here?"

I drop the clipboard as Marissa jumps into my arms, wrapping her long legs around my waist.

“Baby,” she moans. "I missed you."

“What are you doing here?” I repeat when she finally breaks the kiss .

"Well, it turns out I didn't commit a crime after all." She smiles, winding her fingers through my hair. "I came here as soon as I was released."

“I’ve seen all the news reports, Marissa. You broke out." I gently push her off me. She steps back, steadying herself.

“Technically, I was broken out," she purrs. "But I turned myself in and was released."

She reaches into her bag, pulls out a file folder full of documents, and hands it to me. She's telling the truth. All charges have been dropped, and she has been freed.

Miles," she continues. "I would’ve never left you this time. Please, believe me. I still want to make a go of it."

She smiles at me prettily.

I could never deny her anything she asked of me. That has always been my weakness. “Marissa, I’m on probation here because of what we did. This has been my life’s work, being Beta here. It’s my home and I can’t leave.”

“I know, baby,” she slinks up to me and wraps her arms around my neck with one arm, while rubbing my chest with her other hand. “I’m sorry for everything, but believe me, I’m a changed she-wolf. ”

“If we do this, you can’t leave again,” I warn.

“My job and reputation are both on the line. You’ll need to settle in and take on the role of a leader here.

Since there is no Luna, being the Beta female is a huge responsibility.

You’ll become a wife and later a mother.

Are you up to it? Are you through running off? The games end here.”

She looks at me solemnly and bobs her head. “I promise. Cross my heart.” She makes an X on her chest.

What I fail to see in that moment are her fingers crossed behind her back. It’s a devious little gesture that signals the fricking games will never end. She’s conniving and manipulative, and I’m drowning in ignorant bliss.

“Yeah?” I smile brightly at her. “You’re ready to settle down with me?”

“Yes,” she giggles.

“You’re sure?”

“Uh-huh,” she confirms.

I grab her by the waist and swing her around, shouting, "Let's go talk to Alpha."

She nods, smiling.

I mind-link Alpha, and luckily, he’s still in his office, even this late. After calling in an elite enforcer to take over my duties, we head to his office .

Before I can even knock, Alpha Stone’s voice thunders through the door, "Come in, Miles." Marissa and I enter and take seats in the armchairs in front of his desk. Thankfully, Marissa conducts herself with dignity and sits in the chair instead of on my lap like she did last time we were here.

She’s a cool character with a strong Alpha presence and doesn’t usually show fear. However, she’s trembling slightly, probably because of the oppressive, angry aura Alpha Stone is projecting.

"Miles tells me you’ve been exonerated.”

“I—,” Marissa begins, but he cuts her off.

“Shut it! I’m talking,” Alpha growls.

Marissa immediately snaps her mouth shut.

I hand him the file with her paperwork. He opens it without looking, his stern glare burning into me. For a long moment, he pins me coldly with his eyes before finally looking down. After scanning the documents, he slams the file shut angrily.

Miles also tells me that you want to petition to rejoin the pack,” he continues. “Is that correct, Marissa?"

She swallows, and a bead of sweat forms above her lip. “Yes,” she barely squeaks.

Alpha Stone growls, "Please tell me why I’d allow such a thing? "

“I—,” Marissa tries to speak again, but when it’s clear she can’t, I answer for her.

Alpha. As you can see, Marissa has been cleared, and all charges have been dropped.

Alpha Stone rubs his face and sighs deeply.

"She’d like to become a member of the pack and declares she’s staying this time." I look at Marissa questioningly.

"That's right," she agrees. "I want to settle down here at home with Miles." She tries to plaster a smile on her face but fails.

“I—,” Alpha begins to speak, but I cut him off.

"Please, Alpha Stone, with all due respect, let me finish," I plead. He waves his hand, signaling me to continue.' "I haven’t fully discussed this part with Marissa beforehand, but I want to do so now with you as witness." I look at Marissa, who appears confused.

"Marissa, before you came back this last time, I’d found my true mate." A glimmer of jealousy flashes in her eyes.

"She and I had a beautiful relationship and were together for a year before you returned and destroyed me again." Her anger is palpable now, but I have to know if she means it this time , so I press on. "You say you never want to leave me again. Right? "

"Yes," she says through gritted teeth, eyes flashing.

"Paisley and I committed to each other," I continue as Marissa flinches. "We had a date set for our wedding, and the night before it was to happen, you reappeared in my life and helped me blow it all up. I was happy. I loved her… love her," my voice breaks.

Her nervousness turns to anger as she snarls and jumps from her seat, growling.

I pull her back to her seat. "What do you expect, Marissa? You’ve played games with my emotions for years.

Now I’m torn. But thanks to what you and I have done, I no longer have my true mate.

I probably don't even stand a chance with her anymore.

" I lower my head. At this point, I don't care about the consequences; I need to speak my truth.

Sighing, I face a livid Marissa and continue. "I love you, Marissa, and I’ve loved you my entire life with all my heart and soul. Your inconsistent behaviors have kept me on edge—leaving and then coming back..."

She has the decency to look slightly guilty at that moment, but remains silent. She has no grounds to defend herself; there’s no justification for her actions.

"The only way I’ll take you back is if you commit to me," I demand. "We’ll have our bonding ceremony tomorrow evening, and we’ll mate and claim each other. You’ll not only wear my wedding ring, but you will bear my mate mark."

"Miles, you know how I feel about that. It's just a representation, a piece of paper, a ring; all symbols that mean nothing," she protests.

“Symbols that I require if we are to go any further in this relationship. Everything that Paisley was willing to take and give me from the moment I met her, but because of the mind-screw you put me through, I hesitated. Maybe for the best, seeing how I ended up devastating her.”

"Oh, poor, perfect Paisley," she spits. "I’m sick to death of hearing her name, Miles." She stands and walks toward the door.

"Before you leave, Marissa, know that there’s no coming back this time.

These are my conditions, take them or not.

" I meet her eyes. "If you accept them, I promise to focus on us and put all this behind us, never to mention Paisley again.

But in return, you have to be a faithful, present wife, a co-leader to this pack, and eventually, a mother. "

Marissa pauses, as if weighing her choices.

"I do love you, Miles. I know I’m restless.

But you’re my home." She approaches and wraps her arms around my waist. I agree to your terms, and I promise.

" She smiles at me, her eyes shining too brightly.

"I promise," she repeats in a whisper, leaning in to kiss me.

I desperately want to believe her. It feels off, contrived, but I ignore the nagging in my gut and let myself fall for her promises. I bury my unease and cling to hope.

Yet again, unknown to me, her fingers are hidden from view and crossed behind her back.

Alpha Stone coughs, interrupting the kiss.

"Miles, you know I believe in free will in this pack. For that reason, I’ll allow your bonding with Marissa, but with two conditions.

First, you both stay away from Paisley. Second, if Marissa leaves again, as she’s done in the past, she’ll be exiled and permanently banned from this pack.

I don’t need troublemakers. Understood?"

"Yes, Alpha," I agree and look to Marissa for confirmation.

“I-I agree,” Marissa stammers, as if unsure of her answer.

Alright, the bonding ceremony is tonight. You can opt to mate and mark either before or after. We’ll manage the pack admission beforehand.

"Thanks, Alpha." I dip my head as Marissa precedes me out the door .

"And, Miles?"

"Yes, Alpha?" I turn back to him.

"I meant what I said. Leave Paisley alone. Stop stalking her. Your stench is suffocating the area around her cabin." Alpha Blake’s voice drops, low and warning.

I lower my head. "Yes, sir."

Marissa stiffens beside me, her features carved in cold fury.

Paisley

It feels like my life is endless rounds of torment. On my way to school this morning, I’m waylaid by Marissa. It seems she’s back, and she wants to make sure I know.

"Paisley, right?" I nod in response. "I'm Marissa."

"I know who you are," I say calmly.

"Of course, you do," she smirks. "I want you to stay away from Miles.

He and I are getting married this evening.

We have already mated." She tilts her head to the side and pulls her hair back from her neck. My wolf, Juneau, mourns for the loss of her mate, and my heart aches as I wonder why I was never good enough for Miles. She’s wearing his claim, something he denied me, his true mate.

That should have been the first red flag .

At least I can find some comfort in the fact that I won't have to worry about CMS anymore. He has claimed Marissa, and she’s claimed him. Even though I rejected Miles, there’s always pain, dulled by the Amra I take. Those feelings should go away completely now, and I won't need the medication.

I take in Marissa's appearance. Physically, Marissa and I are opposites.

I'm petite and curvy, standing around 5'1", with brown eyes and long blonde hair, while Marissa is willowy and tall at about 5'9". She, too, is blonde but with green eyes. She’s undeniably beautiful on the outside, but there’s a putrid undertone of creosote lingering in her scent, as if her soul is tainted.

"Do you understand me?" she hisses. "Miles. Is. Mine." She jabs a finger into my chest to punctuate each word.

"Miles became yours the night he cheated on me, Marissa.

" I scoff. "I don't want a male who can be taken so easily.

And, I don't take second place to anyone. You’re welcome to him.

" I eye her up and down with disgust. “Don’t mistake me for a desperate female panting after a mated male!” I toss the barb, and she catches it.

“Oh! ”

I sense Miles walking up behind us. Marissa quickly seizes my hand, orchestrating a movement to make it look as though I pushed her.

She falls to the ground with a scream. "Miles, help me.

She pushed me! I was just trying to be nice and invite her to the wedding.

" Crocodile tears begin streaming down her cheeks.

Miles rushes to Marissa's side, reaching down to help her up. "Paisley! I can't believe you would actually attack another person," he berates me. "Don't you dare touch her again."

Tears prick my eyes. I’ve lived with Miles for the past year. He knows me. He knows I’d never harm anyone. My heart aches; my wolf howls inside, devastated that her once-true mate would treat her so callously.

Ignoring him, I know I have to get out of here before I completely break down.

"I didn't—I..." I choke out.

I straighten and face Marissa.

"You've made your point. But unlike you, I don't keep playing with people’s lives, nor do I compete for affection. Game, set, and match. You win… by default.” I smile.

Marissa stutters in mock innocence. "Wha—? "

Miles stares at me, his face clouded with pure confusion, as he holds Marissa next to him protectively. I notice a fleeting glimpse of suspicion in his eyes as he glances at Marissa. He shakes his head as if to clear his mind. Steeling myself, I turn and walk away, holding my head high.

"I'm done," I vow, so that no one can make any mistake about my meaning.