Kiara gasped, one hand clamping over her mouth.

I swallowed, forcing myself to eat the mouthful of chocolate, feeling dizzy and barely noticing when Kiara patted my mouth clean for me.

‘Mates. My mates… I have two mates…Goddess...’

The boys gazes snapped to each other. I couldn’t speak as I gouged their reaction. Damon looked stunned, and Liam… Liam’s reaction pulled at my chest. Accusatory, hurt and disappointment.

He stepped back, running a hand through his strawberry-coloured locks, which had been styled in a quiff moments earlier.

"I… how can she be both of our mate?" He said in his sexy husky voice, making my core throb.

"It happens." Damon’s deeper, seductive voice came.

"It does, and there’s a reason the Moon Goddess makes pairs…" Kiara said softly.

My heart was pounding as I looked at her. She looked scared, as she looked at Liam. Why? No… he would not reject me, would he?

Liam looked between Damon and me.

"Liam…" I said softly.

He shook his head, stepping back.

"I can’t do this."

His words cut me like a knife and I felt the pain of his rejection destroy me. He turned and walked off. Not even giving me a chance to say anything.

"Liam!" Damon called after him. He looked at me, his blue eyes softening before he ran after his friend.

I was about to fall to my knees when Kiara caught me.

"No babe, don’t let it get to you. It’s not a rejection. He just needs time." She whispered, fighting her own tears.

I didn’t speak, not wanting to burden her more, simply nodding as I wrapped my arms around her waist tightly.

Don’t cry. You will not cry. I swear Raven, if you cry, you are going to run fifty laps around the pack grounds without a break! I threatened myself.

But no matter what I said or thought, the pain of Liam’s rejection stung worse than being doused in wolfsbane.

I realised at that moment, I wouldn’t be happy with one… I needed them both… They were both a part of me…

-----

LIAM

No, this could not be happening. I had waited for my mate, and this was the game that fate played with me?

Why? And of all people, why was I pitched against my best friend? I pulled off my jacket, getting ready to shift when Damon called my name again.

"Can you stop causing a scene?" I growled.

"Come on man, don’t do this." Damon said with a tilt of his head.

Never had I ever felt angry towards the man that stood before me, not even when I found out he was sleeping with Kiara. I clenched my jaw, feeling my anger growing.

"Unlike you, who can shift your attention from one woman to another. I can’t." I said quietly.

Yes, it was a low blow, but right now I did not want to see his face.