“More than that. I believe we poisoned it.” She let out a weary breath. “And hurt our chance to destroy the dark ones.”

Yes. Well done.

Makawee examined me closely when my passing thoughts caused my eyes to widen. But then I realized that despite her apology, she would never understand what her actions, and those of the governing weres, robbed me of.

“I found my mate, a long, long, time ago,” she said slowly, as if acutely aware of what I was thinking. “I met her in passing while visiting London.” She folded her hands on her lap, staring outside the window and losing herself in the memory. “She was waiting for a bus in the pouring rain, without an umbrella or a hat, though she didn’t seem to mind.” Makawee chuckled, yet her laughter was filled with more sadness than any genuine trace of humor. “She probably resembled a drowned rat to anyone passing by. But to me she was the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen. It was only when she hurried onto the bus and looked out the window that she spotted me standing across the street. Our eyes met for one precious moment before the bus sped away.”

“How did you find her again?”

Makawee reached for her now tepid tea and took a sip before answering. “I didn’t.”

I frowned. “You let her go?” I couldn’t believe it. It had only taken one encounter with Aric, and I couldn’t wait to see him again.

Makawee gave me one of her softer smiles. “I was to marry another pureblood that summer. Had I chased the bus like I wanted to, I knew I wouldn’t have been able to fulfill my duties.” Her eyes dropped to stare at her tea. For someone who would maintain most of her strength, agility, and supernatural senses until her death, she appeared so fragile then. “Our obligation to our Pack is ingrained in us from birth, Celia. It’s in our blood, in our very souls. I believed only traitors and cowards abandoned their responsibilities. So I ran in the opposite direction, leaving on the first plane out of London and returning home to marry that pureblood as promised.” She paused. “He didn’t want me, either, and beat me for years to prove it.”

My jaw dropped open. “Makawee, I’m so sorry.”

She patted my hand. “Do not fret over matters long forgotten. I killed him after the birth of our third son. He had served his purpose, just as I had mine.”

This was a prime example of how were laws differed from human laws. Weres carried their own brand of justice.

I watched her take another sip of her tea when curiosity got the best of me. “Do you ever wonder what kind of life you could’ve had if you found your mate?” I asked.

Makawee’s eyes glistened with tears. “Every day,” she answered.

I didn’t cry at movies. I wasn’t into chick lit, but I did care very deeply and I knew too well what it was like to lose someone. “Maybe you can still find her.”

“It’s no longer possible, Celia. She was one of the Tribe’s first victims.” She ran the fingers of her wrinkled hand down her neck. “I felt it when they tore out her throat.”

I stilled, wanting to cry on her behalf. But instead of tears, pitiless thoughts filled my head.

That could have been Aric.

These mongrels kept him from you.

They shoved him into the arms of another.

And sent him to war to die.

I rose and glanced erratically around, trying to understand where those thoughts were coming from. This wasn’t me.

But it was my voice—my fears, my resentment, my anger—magnified and launching forward.

They took him from you.

They ordered him to breed.

They made him suffer.

And now you can’t give them what they need.

“Celia, what is it, child?”

Run.

“I have to—”

Run.

“I need—”

Run.

My breath came out too quickly. Holy shit, I was losing it.

She wants you to suffer.

“Celia, what’s happening?”

She wants you to die.

Makawee’s voice drifted in and out, fighting with mine to make me listen.

Mine won.

Run!

I bolted out of her office and out of the building, crashing right into Aric as he raced toward me.

Chapter 7

Aric’s warmth, his presence, his scent—everything about him should have calmed me. Instead my brain was flooded with images of those weres Lindsey and Dara. As vividly as if they stood in front of me I saw him take turns kissing them as they fondled him. I watched their hands tease and stroke the rising bulge in his jeans. I saw them yank down his waistband. I watched them open their mouths.

“Celia, Celia!” Aric clasped my shoulders. “Celia, what’s wrong?”

My words came out in a choked sob as I wrenched away from him. “How dare you touch me!”

Aric froze before slowly approaching me with his hands out. “Baby, you’re shaking. Tell me what happened.”

I was briefly aware of others close by—Delilah and Betty Sue were there—Genevieve, too. Was Genevieve laughing at me?

My tears fell despite the growing crowd of weres and witches. “I know about the club, and about those girls who take their turns with you,” I told him, not bothering to keep my voice low.

Aric frowned, more stunned at the accusation than angry. “What? I would never betray you—”

“Don’t lie to me!” I screamed. “I met Lindsey and Dara. They sat on the damn couch waiting for you to show.”

Understanding crossed his features. “Celia, I’ve had nothing to do with them since meeting you. Their presence insults me and disrespects our relationship. I won’t even acknowledge they exist.”

“But you knew about them.” My body grew strangely numb.

Aric worked his jaw. “I knew they were here, but I swear I don’t interact with them.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about them?”

“Because they don’t matter.”

“They matter to me.” My voice cracked. “You should have told me, Aric. All of it. You didn’t have to humiliate me like this.”

My words struck him like a blow. He stared at me, shocked. I stormed to my SUV, ignoring the stares that followed me as I threw open my car door and jumped in. The moment I cranked the engine, I stomped on the accelerator and sped off.

He played you.