Adea Shane was right. We did have a good day. I hated to admit it but he was right. We were having a blast, at least, I knew I was. I don’t know why I was surprised when he lead me downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. I knew this place better than the back of my hand. Everything was as I remembered and it made me miss Mavy. Unease filled my stomach as I realized hadn’t seen her at all yesterday. I needed to be on the lookout for her today. Would she come down for breakfast? Should I ask Shane? The staff seemed happy and I recognized them as women I had cleaned with before. As we took our seats, we were served waffles, scrambled eggs, and a huge brown of grapes, strawberries, and blackberries. I popped a few grapes into my mouth while Shane asked me to feed him strawberries. He wasn’t a baby but I didn’t deny him when he opened his mouth like a toddler. The big bad wolf likes to pretend to be an innocent puppy with me. There was no sign of Devin or Liam. It wasn’t odd for the Bet

By the time we were done playing, we realized we had missed lunch and it was dinner time. I wanted to ask him where we were going as we stepped outside but the fun of it wasn’t knowing. Orange and pink filled the sky, the sun was going to start its descent below the surface. My stomach growled and Shane lifted me onto the motorcycle. He was no gentleman and I flushed as his eyes dipped between my legs. I was well aware that I was on display but I wasn’t going to cower under his gaze. I hated the arrogant smirk that would tug at the corner of his lip. He took his time getting onto the bike and I wanted to yank on his nipple ring but I’m sure he’d like it. I wrapped my arms around him as he kicked up the kickstand. I held on tight while Shane drove us to our next destination. Five minutes later we arrived. It was nothing like Iron Pot. Today, we were eating at a pizzeria called ‘Home Plate Pub’. It wasn’t fancy but it had its own perks. The walls were made out of finished wood, the boo

I nodded. My mind raced as he reached for the door. Goosebumps broke out down my arms. Who could be in the dungeon? The only person I could think of was was Duke, the warrior from the wall. Shane had punished Pan while Duke remained untouched. He had said a surprise but I guess a day without killing would be too much to ask for. It’s not how I pictured how the night would end. A flashback of our past life flashes through my mind and I’m reminded of the beatings Shane had taken for me. Yes, he’d been dark and his love sometimes hurt but he’d never had a chance to be taught the right way. Sometimes you love the person and not the crimes they’ve committed. He did everything he could to protect me. I knew, I just knew that whoever was in there had done something bad and deserved the punishment they were getting. Whoever was on the other side of this door had not only offended Shane but had hurt me. If it was Duke, I couldn’t see him being sentenced to death. He didn’t do anything to me.

I know how I felt today and I knew I had been unfaithful. I didn’t sleep with Shane but I had been unfaithful with my body and my heart. Even so, I still chose Ethan. I don’t know if he would still choose me but I would continue to choose him. I still loved Ethan but I would not let Shane see this, I couldn’t. I wouldn’t give him a reason to be suspicious of me. Ethan was broken physically and I don’t know where he was mentally but tonight, I’d have to break his heart. I was playing an angle, playing a role, playing Shane and I was too deep, too involved to turn back now. I had hoped to keep my mate out of this, away from here but that wasn’t going to happen and I needed to accept that. I couldn’t let myself be swayed by Ethan’s presence. I said this yesterday while I drove away from Desert Moon and I’m going to repeat it today. A brokenhearted Ethan is a very much alive Ethan. Was he going to hate me? Yes. Was I going to hurt him? Yes, I was going to hurt him but he would be alive.

The path in front of me had blurred but I knew where I needed to go, I knew what I needed to do. It would hurt him, it would hurt me but I didn’t want him to be here for this. I never wanted him to see this. I closed my eyes to block Ethan out. I didn’t want to look at him, I didn’t want him to see my reaction to Shane, his hands on me, and I didn’t want him to see that I liked it. Goddess, I liked it. “What’s punishable by death, is killing warriors guarding their pack. Why are you here? I’m not doing anything she doesn’t want. Just look at her, can you tell me who she belongs to?” Shane asked. “She bears my mark. She’s mine,” Ethan spat as he fought to keep his head up. “Mm… let’s ask her, why don’t we? Ady, who do you belong to?” Shane asked. Shane’s fingers lifted my chin until my gaze locked with his. There’s anger, irritation, and a pinch of hope. He wants to believe I’ll pass this test, he wants to believe that I want him, he wants to believe that unlike the time at the Cres