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The queasiness is finally easing, but I’m still weak and trembling. Rachel reenters the room and sits down beside me.

"I have a couple of medications here,” she explains, holding up the two syringes in her hand. “One will settle your stomach, and the other is for the pain. The combination should knock you out for a couple of hours.”

“Okay,” I agree weakly. “Thank you.”

She takes an alcohol swab to my thigh. After cleansing the area, she administers the injections, one after another. Swiping again with the alcohol, she says, "There, that will help alleviate your symptoms."

I nod, nearly comatose by this point, so worn out by my ordeal. Thankfully, the fire has subsided, along with the debilitating pain. I’m not sure why, since the medicine hasn’t had time to take effect yet.

"I need you to take this pregnancy test before you pass out," Rachel orders. She and Syn help me back up, steadying me as I shakily provide the urine. It takes all my strength to keep myself upright.

After I pee on the stick, I place it on the sink.

My shirt rides up, as they steady me while I pull my underwear and shorts back on.

"Holy goddess, Paisley!" Syn shouts. "What have you done to your stomach?

Did you fall?" We freeze as Syn lifts my shirt, revealing my entire torso, covered in black welts.

Everything clicks into place. My stomach sinks with a different sensation.

Betrayal. I recognize these symptoms now.

I attended a teacher's continuing education seminar about a month ago in Stone Mountain City. During the week-long conference, we were inundated with information. With my eidetic memory, I can vividly recall Dr. Skye Roberts’ PowerPoint presentation.

As the foremost authority on Cheating Mate Syndrome (CMS), she explained it to us, showing stats, photographs, case studies, and symptoms. Reflecting on it, I realize I’m experiencing the same exact signs.

Miles is cheating on me at his bachelor party.

My heart shatters. I can't believe this!

"Well, you're not pregnant, thank the goddess." Rachel's voice snaps me back to reality, echoing in the stillness of the bathroom.

Standing there before the toilet, my friends holding me up, my stomach begins to roil again. Red-hot flames shoot through my veins, unrelenting. Fire snakes up my body. Oh goddess, no! Once would be a mistake. But a repeat? That's no mistake.

Dr. Roberts said that with every incident of cheating, the innocent mate endures another assault, and their body deteriorates.

How? How could he do this to me? To us? He said he loves me.

Everyone warned me about him.

Every.

Single.

Person.

But did I listen? No!

I believed every—

Lying.

Deceitful.

Word!

I trusted him!

"Paisley, don't jump to conclusions. We don't know where Miles is or what he’s doing." Juneau, my wolf, chimes in.

"Don't give me that BS, Juneau! We both know exactly what he did. What he's doing!" She throws her head back and howls in pain. She was always the one to defend him, always the first to forgive any slight.

As the pain continues to claw at me, I suddenly remember Dr. Roberts giving all the seminar attendees a twelve-pill sample pack of medication to treat CMS, just in case we ever experienced symptoms.

I drop to my knees in front of the toilet, retching violently. When the nausea finally subsides enough for me to speak, I gasp, "Guys, there’s a blister pack called Amra in my nightstand drawer. Someone, please, run and get it quickly. I think taking it will help me."

Syn darts out and quickly returns with the silver foil pack.

She snaps two pills out and hands them to me, along with a bottle of water.

I swallow them quickly, struggling not to throw up as the pain worsens, fire breathing down my throat.

As the burning sensation licks at my stomach, I instinctively reach for my shirt, pulling it up.

Glancing down, I see open lesions forming on the bruising, with blood leaking from them. Rachel gasps, her eyes widening in horror as we both watch the damage spread rapidly across my skin.

Everything I learned at the seminar suddenly makes alarming sense, and I realize just how dire my situation has become. "I know what’s wrong," I sob. I need a chopper to Stone Mountain City. I have to see Dr. Roberts. I don’t have much time."

Rachel gives me a panicked look. Then her lips form a thin line, and her brows crease in anger. She nods, then leaves the room. A moment later, she returns, holding her radio com. "Chopper One Team, Chopper One Team. This is Home Base. Do you copy?"

"Go ahead, Home Base," the reply is staticky and muffled.

"We have an urgent transport to Stone Mountain City for Dr. Roberts. Copy?"

"Copy! ETA 5 minutes. What’s the patient’s condition?"

"Paisley Reid, Beta's mate. Um...bleeding lesions on her stomach that are worsening, nausea and vomiting, weakness, and sporadic mild tremors. Classic symptoms of the recently identified Cheating Mate Syndrome."

“That son of a…” The radio cuts out, then crackles back on. "Goddess! We’re on our way. Chopper One Team Out." As he speaks, we hear the whir of blades in the background. Those guys must sleep on the chopper.

The pain blessedly begins to fade, but just as soon as it eases, the nausea sets in, and the cycle starts all over again.

"Goddess, I’m going to die right here!" I cry as the pain tears through me. Tears stream down my face. Blood now runs down my legs, pooling on the floor. I’m weakening.

"Rachel," I whisper, my voice barely audible.

"I don't want anyone to know what’s happened or where I’ve gone.

This is so humiliating. Please seal my medical records. No one, not even my husband, can know."

Ironically, the party in the main room has never slowed.

It seems to be getting louder. The only people who know something is wrong are me, Rachel, Syn, and whoever is on the chopper team.

"In case I can’t, please tell the chopper team, too.

" I plead as my body gives out and the blackness closes in.

"She’s seizing!"I hear Rachel shriek, her voice muffled as though speaking through water. Convulsions rack my body, twisting me from the inside out.

Male voices join the cacophony as Chopper One Team arrives. I feel a pinprick on my neck as they administer a sedative. Tears still course down my temples, and my heart aches like never before.

At this moment…

I’m bereft…

Soulless…

…adrift in misery and pain.

My body stills as a euphoric feeling of numbness cocoons me, and the fire finally abates. My unseeing eyes refuse to close as I’m bundled up and carried to the chopper.