Page 22

Alpha Stone

I pace outside the ICU, where Beta Miles is kept alive by machines.

Even the continuous IV drip of Amra isn’t easing his CMS symptoms as effectively as it once did.

They continue stitching him up, but his body isn’t able to recover fast enough.

Each time he heals to the point where he can leave the ICU, another episode hits, and he’s right back in surgery. It’s an endless cycle.

Marissa is well aware of the damage CMS causes. We didn’t hold anything back when Dr. Skye showed her the photographs and videos. But she’s heartless.

Miles isn’t blameless either. He had to know Marissa wasn’t being celibate when she disappeared for months.

But when she returned and beckoned him, he was foolish enough to take her back without much hesitation and jump into bed with her again.

The betrayal set his fate in motion as he later sealed the bond to Marissa through a claiming bite, disregarding Paisley’s pain.

Now he’s paying the brutal price for trusting Marissa and breaking Paisley’s heart.

I left Beta Knight in charge of the pack to check on Miles, who’s in bad shape. Continuing to pace, I see Dr. Skye approaching.

‘Alpha Stone,’ she begins, ‘Come with me, please.’

Dr. Skye, the surgeon treating Miles at Stone Mountain City Hospital, is the foremost authority on CMS, having more experience with it than any other surgeon.

“Sure,” I reply following her into a small room where we sit down at a table.

“Listen,” she hesitates, making me uneasy.

I can tell this conversation is going to be hard.

“Miles is the most serious case of CMS I’ve ever treated in a living person.

It’s a miracle he’s still alive with everything he’s going through.

It’s a testament to his strength. But...

he doesn’t have much more to give. After every surgery, he loses a little more ground. ”

“I could wring Marissa’s neck!” I roar, pounding my fist on the table.

“Marissa? Is that his mate? ”

“Yes. She ran off a couple of months ago and hasn’t returned,” I spit. “I have enforcers looking for her, but she’s crawled into some hole and hasn’t come out yet.”

“I see,” she sighs. “I've heard the story and know what Beta Miles did to his fated mate, and I usually don’t feel ill will toward my patients, but this is Karma at its finest–he’s been suffering for months now, hasn’t he?”

“Yes. Even though our healer has been increasing his dose of Amra, nothing seems to be helping. His pain is off the charts.”

"His mate is cheating repeatedly." Dr. Skye quips. "When he’s conscious, his pain can’t be controlled well at all,” she adds. “And, his condition is precarious, and I’m becoming desperate. There is an alternative that we need to consider.”

“There is a she-wolf who actually cut her mate mark off with a spell that worked, effectively removing the bond. Let's pursue that route quickly. At the rate of deterioration, Miles doesn’t have much time left.”

I agree with Dr. Skye’s assessment, and she proceeds to fill me in on Luna Charlie’s bond-breaking ritual when she and Alpha Jenson split up.

We all knew that they had divorced, but I wasn’t aware of the extent of Jenson’s indiscretions or the things Charlie had gone through to cut ties.

By the time we left that room, we had a plan in place and had made all the arrangements with Charlie herself to assist with the spell.

"You know, I suffered from CMS, too," Dr. Skye confides. "Ironically, I treated my ex-mate here at the hospital for a week after the headquarters attack."

"How did that turn out for you?"

"I'm afraid we’re still dealing with it," she laughs.

"I don't know how much I should burden you with my scrape with CMS, but it’s why I studied it and became a surgeon. I know first-hand the pain, but my ex-fated never had to deal with those consequences, and I’m very bitter about that. Does that make me a bad person?"

"Goddess, No!"

"He deserted us."

"Us?"

"Yeah, turns out I was carrying his pup," she shakes her head, tears forming.

"Even after so long, it still hurts. But Amra helps.

" She wipes the tears from her cheeks. "Sorry.

That's why I say we’re still dealing with it.

He now knows about his son, and I have to endure him in my life because of it.

I can't rest until the threat of Cheating Mate Syndrome is eliminated.

It hurts the innocent. It should hurt the cheaters. "

"I--I’m sorry for your pain. "

"Anyway, don't mind me," she grins and waves her hand through the air in dismissal. Let's save Miles' life and get things back to normal. How is his ex-true mate doing?"

"I think she’s okay, physically, because Marissa and Miles have the mate bond," I reply. "But I know she suffers mentally because my other Beta, Knight, reports to me that she cries every night. How will the mate bond removal affect her?"

"I don't know, Alpha, we’re in uncharted waters here," she taps her chin. "It would be a good idea to warn her and admit her to the hospital for observation before, during, and after the procedure so I can ensure her well-being."

"Good idea. I'll get Beta Knight to get in touch with her and bring her here whenever you’re ready to proceed."

Lynsey

“What were you thinking, Snake?” I snap. “You definitely weren’t thinking with your brain!” I smack him on the back of the head. Yeah, I know he’s a tough biker, but as a female in a male-dominated biker world, you have to be tougher, or you’ll get eaten alive.

Snake jumps to his feet, fists drawn .

“Don’t even think about it, Snake,” Que breathes out in warning. “After I get through, Drágon will finish you.”

“I can speak for myself, Que darling.”

Que backs off, his hands lifted in surrender.

“What were you thinking, Snake?” I repeat. “To send us out to pick up an innocent based on the word of Joyride, who had already proven herself to be false, by agreeing to be Slade’s ol’ lady and then proceeding to act like a club girl. You know how Slade wears his heart on his sleeve.”

Snake remains stubbornly mute.

“Have you even questioned Joyride?”

“No, but I’m about to go question the prisoner.”

“I don’t think so, Snake.Joyride is the prisoner.Paisley is an innocent.How do you think Drágon is going to react when he hears what a screw-up you’ve been?”

“Dragoness,” he calls me by my road name, “this disrespect ends now.Here’s how it’s going to go!

”He sticks his finger in my face.“Paisley is going to be interrogated whether you like it or not. We got intel that she’s involved in providing drugs to kids, and until I find out differently, she doesn’t get a pass. ”

He's pacing back and forth, ranting, periodically jabbing his finger in my face.

“If, and I mean if , Paisley is innocent, I’ll look at Joyride’s credibility. But not before. And, I’m releasing Joyride to my custody because I plan on making her my ol’ lady and taking control of her.”

His movements grow jerky and frantic as Que and I watch him prance around like we’re following a tennis match.

“You can’t stop me. Understand? I’m the one left in charge.” He gets up in my face again, jabbing his offending finger at me.

And.

I.

Snatch it!

Que

Often, people mistake my protective energy for Lynsey. Don’t get me wrong, I’d fight a pack of wolves, a flight of dragons, and the entire motorcycle club to protect her. The fact is, she doesn’t need me to fight her battles.

Case in point, I’m currently witnessing the funniest thing I have ever seen and damn if I don’t have any popcorn.

Picture this: a six-foot beefy biker on his knees, literally crying while a fiery red-headed female is bending his finger backward, her foot planted firmly between his legs.

Lynsey is tall, with a solid and strong build and sculpted muscles; she exudes the confidence you would call big dong energy if she were male. She’s in beast mode!

Her voice is steely quiet when she speaks.

“Snake let’s get one thing straight between us.

Never, and I mean NEVER, put your finger in my face again.

I can support you as temporary president in Drágon’s absence, and I can show you respect in that position and as a brother.

“However, when you’re thinking with your tool instead of the good of the club, I’ll put you in your place, fast.”

Snake is sniveling, and honestly, it’s kind of sad to watch. But better him than me. That’s what I always say.

“Goddess, Dragoness, you broke my finger," he shouts.

Lynsey steps back, releases his hand, and removes her foot from his family jewels. He cups his broken hand to his chest while his other cradles his balls, shooting dirty looks at her as he gets up off his knees and sits behind the desk.

“You’re a shifter. You'll heal quickly,” Lynsey goads. “Are you ready to discuss this reasonably?”

Snake pops his fingers back in place with a grimace.

“Paisley is an innocent,” Lynsey reiterates.

“We watched what went down between her and Joyride. Joyride is jealous of her and has a vendetta. Worse, she lied to you, Snake, and to the club.A mistake like this could tarnish our reputation.The Alpha Commander leaves us alone because we target the drugs and criminals that come into our world from the borders.Do you think he’ll tolerate us for long if we victimize law-abiding shifters because of a jealous club girl? ”

Snake rubs his face with his good hand. “Dragoness, I've caught feelings for her.”

“She’s charismatic when it comes to males. But from what we witnessed earlier, and from Joyride’s reputation here, you aren’t the first, and that's not a good idea, Snake. Let’s talk to Paisley and get the story from her side.”

Snake agrees, and Que leaves to bring Paisley to the office.Once she’s seated, she looks around at us with a look of fear.

“Paisley, Joyride has accused you of grievous crimes.She says you have been providing drugs to teenagers,” Lynsey tells her.

“I would never. I’m a teacher,” Paisley says, her face paling. “I wouldn’t hurt a child. Are you calling Marissa ‘Joyride’?”

“Yes. That is the name the brothers gave her–her road name.”

Paisley begins to laugh hysterically. With tears rolling down her face, she gasps for breath between fits of laughter.“That’s so fitting,” she finally manages.“The brothers pegged her.”

Lynsey shoots Snake a pointed look as he growls, not seeming happy about Paisley’s words.

“Why don’t you tell us your side of the story, Paisley,” Lynsey encourages. “Tell us about Marissa.”

Paisley nods and begins to tell us about her true mate, Beta Miles from the Wind Howl Pack.

As she weaves her tale over the next hour, we get a better picture of Joyride's treachery.

We learn about how Marissa seduced Miles, Paisley's ex-mate, the night before their wedding, and eventually, Miles chose Marissa by mating and bonding with her.

I could see her pain as she recounted her fight and recovery from CMS, and now Miles is suffering from it severely, especially since he had bonded with Marissa, and because of her infidelities, Miles might be dying.

By the time she finally finished, Snake looked a bit guilty.

This shifter MC might be filled with tough characters and sometimes the dregs of society, but beneath the tough exterior, we actually don’t want to hurt guiltless people.

While Miles is not exactly an innocent, he’s no criminal, and Joyride’s blatant disregard for Miles’ and Paisley's pain is galling.

“Snake, are you ready to question Joyride now?”Lynsey asks.

He nods his head, and they exit the room. Snake turns around and addresses Paisley. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry about this. If you could hang around for a few days, we’ll get everything worked out and return you home.”

Paisley’s big, doe brown eyes fill with tears as she nods her head. “Thank you,” she whispers.

“Que, can you get a guard set up for Paisley? She needs to be protected, and we need to ensure she doesn’t try to run off until Drágon returns. Since we picked her up, we need his approval to release her.”

“I can do that, Snake,” I reply. “I’m sorry about Joyride. ”

He waves it off, but I can see the pain of betrayal in his eyes.

“Are you hungry, Paisley?”

“Starved,” she murmurs.

“Let’s go get you something to eat.”