Heat Waves

DAKOTA

Hunter stares at me for a while, his face contorted with anguish. The hurt in his eyes is enough to steal the air from my lungs as my guilt worsens. It hits me in that moment that I am the villain in his story.

"How could you do this to me? What about all the plans and promises we made? Do they mean nothing to you?" He croaks, his frown deepening.

Instinctively, I bring a hand to the spot where his mark used to be on my neck. It's as good as gone right now. Dashiell is yet to mark me. It's the only reason the mark still exists.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have hurt you the way I did," I say, and he blinks at me.

I wonder what he's thinking. He probably thinks I'm a cheater. I wish I could let him know the whole truth. His mate is long gone.

"I saw you with him," he points out, and I freeze, refusing to look him in the eye.

"I heard that he's your mate as well. You could have told me. Did you ever feel anything for me? You fooled me!" He yells at me, suddenly raising his ha