Chapter 57

Lara

I’m trembling as I walk down the staircase. I can hear Sally and Ryan laughing inside the kitchen. They have probably made breakfast for me already, and guilt gnaws at me.

What happened on the night of my birthday has changed everything. I’m a slut now. No matter how hot and handsome he was in my room yesterday, I shouldn’t have slept with my best friend’s ex-mate. It was wrong.

…or was it?

Sally is perfectly happy with Ryan. He is her second chance mate, just like I’m Ashton’s second chance mate. So, is it really a crime for me to be drawn to him? He is also my Alpha—I’m naturally drawn to him.

“Lara?” Sally calls my name. “Do you want pancakes? There are some left.”

I walk inside the kitchen, and my heart thuds inside my chest. Sally isn’t a mind-reader, so she won’t figure out what’s going on unless I tell her, but her mate…

My eyes meet the red ones belonging to Ryan. He shoots me a friendly smile, and under normal circumstances, I would grin like the Cheshire Cat himself. I’