Page 117 of As The Shifter World Turns

“You left without telling me why. I had to find out from Daire what happened.”

I’d forgotten that. I owed Daire an apology because it wasn’t fair that he’d been the one to confront Ryder.

“What Kellan told you was a lie.”

When I finally had my pants on, I strode toward him but froze as his aroma hit me in the face. The same scent that used to welcome me home to Sunshine Manor or into the office when I arrived from campus.

“So, you’re telling me Kellan isn’t pregnant?”

“I don’t know for sure but my guess is yes, he is. I only spoke to him tonight.”

More like shouted.“Oh no. You’ve been ignoring your baby daddy.” I waggled my finger at him. “Tsk tsk. Bad alpha.” I was channeling someone, I wasn’t sure who. I wanted to hurt Ryder, needed my words to wound him.

“Stop it. This isn’t like you,” he snapped.

His harsh tone had me curl my hands into fists and pummel his chest. My eyes were awash with tears as I screamed, “This is the real me. This is who I’ve become thanks to you and your betrayal.”

“No!” He grabbed my shoulders and I peered at his face while sobs wracked my body. His cheeks were wet. Were those tears? He didn’t have the right to cry. All tears belonged to me. He should be dry and parched.

Mate. I could never convince my beast that Ryder was a bad guy. He hated me being unhappy but was convinced Ryder was our soulmate.

“Ivor, I never slept with Kellan.”

“Liar.”

“I mean since long before we were together. I made a commitment to you and I love you. Wanted you to be my mate. Want you to be my mate.”

“Wanted to have it both ways. A mate sitting at home keeping your bed warm and then Kellan on the side.”

“No! Why aren’t you listening to me?” He fell to his knees and I was thankful I was clothed from the waist down. “Think of all the times Kellan has lied and cheated in the past.” He put a hand over his heart. “What he told you about him and me was a lie.”

“No, I can’t hear this.” I put both hands over my ears but Ryder stood up and pulled them away. We were skin to skin, my hands in his. And then he yanked me close and I let him, resting my head on his chest and listening to his heart thrumming under my ear.

We stood for I didn’t know how long while he held me and I sobbed.

“I’m telling you the truth.”

“Ivor, what’s going on?” Archer was walking toward us, Micah’s unicorn behind him.

That broke the spell and I tore myself out of Ryder’s hug. From over his shoulder, I noted Daire and Martin coming out of the woods. “Nothing,” I sniffed. “He’s just leaving.”

Ryder hesitated, but there were four shifters at his back, people he regarded as his family. “Think about what I said,” he told me. And then with a nod to the others, he picked up his clothes and strode to where his car was parked in the distance.

Archer ran to me. “You okay?”

“Mmmm. Let’s go home.” But my home was in the same building where Ryder lived. What I meant was I wanted the pain to go away but Ryder’s words repeated in my head.What Kellan told you was a lie.

44

WHY DID I ANSWER THE PHONE?

Ryder

He didn’t believe me. Ivor thought I was the liar in all of this and I didn’t know how to make it right.

I got it, the reasons why he believed Kellan over me. I’d been so quick to side with him for so long, forgiving Kellan’s sorry ass every time he let someone stick his dick in him or he sucked someone off. Ivor saw all of that. Everyone did. It was far from the best of me.

But still… I thought Ivor and I had worked through it. That maybe he would see the real me and understand that I could never do something like that to him. That I loved him.

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