Page 20 of Cuffed By My Mate

They had called me in ahead of everyone else to break the news to me first. Hearing it again when they told my friends didn’t make it any easier.

My friends had looked at me with pity, but my bear and I were silent and emotionless as we processed everything.

I had tried to insist that there had to be an explanation, but what could it be?

Why didn’t she tell me? Why is she here? How can I trust her after this?

Why did she do this?

I was wondering that same thing for the whole drive home. I was trying to remain calm, but by the time that I parked and got out of my car, I was pissed. Furious that she had lied to me and betrayed me. Angry that my fated mate is a spying traitor.

Heartbroken that I was going to have to reject her.

My bear roars in pain inside of me, and I close my eyes. We’re both in pain, and I don’t know how to fix it.

Don’t reject her,my bear begs, and I sigh.

We can’t be the reason that our pack is in danger. We can’t be with someone that we can’t trust,I tell him.

He knows that I’m right, but that doesn’t make this any easier.

I open the door and there she is, smiling at me, looking so happy that I’m home.

She’s a good actress.

Her smile drops and I wonder what emotions are etched onto my face right now.

“I can explain,” she blurts out.

“No, you can’t. You lied. About everything. About who you are. About where you came from. About who your family is and why you came to Twisted Oak.”

Her eyes glisten with tears, and I can feel my resolve breaking.

Don’t give into her,I remind my bear and myself.

She looks so sad though,my bear whines.

I grit my teeth and turn on my heel, stalking upstairs.

“Crew, wait! Please, just give me a chance,” she cries as she rushes after me.

“I can’t. How could I believe a word that you say to me after everything?”

She sobs, and it breaks my heart. I want to stop this and pull her into my arms. I want her to explain and have a good reason. I want none of this to have happened.

“Crew,” she chokes out, and I blink back my own tears as I start stuffing some clothes and toiletries into a duffle bag.

“I hope that you got what you wanted,” I say as I turn and push past her.

She doesn’t follow me downstairs. I’m not sure if I’m glad about that or not. I can hear her crying, and my heart and resolve break with each step that I take away from her, but I still force myself to continue on.

I head out to my car and toss my bag onto the passenger seat. I glance back at the house and every fiber of my being is screaming at me to go back in there and comfort my mate, but I can’t. So, I turn the key in the ignition and take off.

Where do I go now?

Tucker’s house?My bear suggests, and I shake my head.

He’s all happy with his mate. I can’t be around that. Not right now.

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