Page 143 of Roaring Flames

Ethan, on the other hand, is still blushing a beet-red, attempting to cover his junk with his hands.

“You already have it,” one of the shifters says, and a few laughs trickle through the crowd.

“Was this a part of the bet?” Desiree whispers to me.

I shake my head wordlessly, even as desire beats through my blood like a pulse.

“My twin and I have something to say!” Emery continues, gesturing for Ethan to join him on the table.

Ethan looks as if he’d rather stab himself in the eye than join his twin, but he eventually sighs and climbs up.

“What the fuck are they doing?” Ashton hisses.

“Hush,” Desiree snaps.

“We made a mistake,” Emery says. “Imade a mistake.”

He searches the crowd until his searing gaze catches my own. Time seems to stand still, and I find that I can’t look away. My heart thumps unevenly in my chest, and my breath catches.

“I hurt someone I care about very much by keeping secrets from her. Lying.”

Ethan clears his throat and takes a step forward, still covering his dick with his hands. “About a year ago, I did something I shouldn’t have.” His voice rings out clear and concise. “I won’t go into the details now because it’s not something you guys need to know, but I was in a lot of trouble. I made a deal to get out of it.”

Shame coats each word.

“Oh my god,” Desiree breathes, her gaze flicking to an older gentleman standing opposite the street.

Even from this distance, I can pick up the similarities between him and his daughter.

“What are they doing?” Ashton repeats, and this time, his voice is rife with something akin to panic.

“A lot of you think that Desiree is our mate,” Emery says, taking over the conversation. “But that’s a lie. She’s not and will never be our mate.”

Desiree’s breath hitches, but it’s not because of Emery’s words. She’s focused on her father, who is stalking through the crowd, fury painted onto every line of his face.

“We found our true mate, and she is the most caring, beautiful, amazing girl in the world.” Emery’s lips twitch into an adoring smile. “I don’t think we’ll ever be worthy of her.”

“Oh my god.” That seems to be the only three words I’m capable of saying.

“We’re sorry,” Ethan adds, and though his voice is soft, I can hear it across the distance as if he screamed. His green gaze never strays from my face. “We promise to never hurt you like that again.”

Desiree’s dad is close to them now, his hands balled into fists.

Emery and Ethan exchange a look, and the latter smirks evilly.

Then, as one, the two of them shift into their wolves.

Their furless,nakedwolves.

Someone chuckles in the audience, and then that noise is followed by a few more laughs. It isn’t long until the entire crowd is laughing at the guys’ expense. Emery—I can tell it’s him based on his personality alone—prances around in all his naked glory, his tiny tail wagging behind him. Ethan, however, comes straight to me, his head lowered in what appears to be submission.

“Oh, Ethan. What did you do?” I whisper as I tentatively reach out to touch his head.

He presses his cheek flat against my palm, his lashes fluttering shut, and I have to stop myself from grimacing. He’s really, really gross like this.

“What the fuck did you do?” Ashton bellows, moving to stand beside me, his chest heaving, his eyes wild with fear. “Do you know what this means?”

Ethan’s eyes snap open, and he sits, watching his packmate.

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