Page 22 of Shattered Soulmates

She looks at me solemnly and bobs her head. “I promise. Cross my heart.” She makes an X on her chest.

What I fail to see in that moment are her fingers crossed behind her back. It’s a devious little gesture that signals the fricking games will never end. She’s conniving and manipulative, and I’m drowning in ignorant bliss.

“Yeah?” I smile brightly at her. “You’re ready to settle down with me?”

“Yes,” she giggles.

“You’re sure?”

“Uh-huh,” she confirms.

I grab her by the waist and swing her around, shouting, "Let's go talk to Alpha."

She nods, smiling.

I mind-link Alpha, and luckily, he’s still in his office, even this late. After calling in an elite enforcer to take over my duties, we head to his office.

Before I can even knock, Alpha Stone’s voice thunders through the door, "Come in, Miles." Marissa and I enter and take seats in the armchairs in front of his desk. Thankfully, Marissa conducts herself with dignity and sits in the chair instead of on my lap like she did last time we were here.

She’s a cool character with a strong Alpha presence and doesn’t usually show fear. However, she’s trembling slightly, probably because of the oppressive, angry aura Alpha Stone is projecting.

"Miles tells me you’ve been exonerated.”

“I—,” Marissa begins, but he cuts her off.

“Shut it! I’m talking,” Alpha growls.

Marissa immediately snaps her mouth shut.

I hand him the file with her paperwork. He opens it without looking, his stern glare burning into me. For a long moment, he pins me coldly with his eyes before finally looking down. After scanning the documents, he slams the file shut angrily.

Miles also tells me that you want to petition to rejoin the pack,” he continues. “Is that correct, Marissa?"

She swallows, and a bead of sweat forms above her lip. “Yes,” she barely squeaks.

Alpha Stone growls, "Please tell me why I’d allow such a thing?"

“I—,” Marissa tries to speak again, but when it’s clear she can’t, I answer for her.

Alpha. As you can see, Marissa has been cleared, and all charges have been dropped.

Alpha Stone rubs his face and sighs deeply.

"She’d like to become a member of the pack and declares she’s staying this time." I look at Marissa questioningly.

"That's right," she agrees. "I want to settle down here at home with Miles." She tries to plaster a smile on her face but fails.

“I—,” Alpha begins to speak, but I cut him off.

"Please, Alpha Stone, with all due respect, let me finish," I plead. He waves his hand, signaling me to continue.' "I haven’t fully discussed this part with Marissa beforehand, but I want to do so now with you as witness." I look at Marissa, who appears confused.

"Marissa, before you came back this last time, I’d found my true mate." A glimmer of jealousy flashes in her eyes.

"She and I had a beautiful relationship and were together for a year before you returned and destroyed me again." Her anger is palpable now, butI have to know if she means it this time, so I press on. "You say you never want to leave me again. Right?"

"Yes," she says through gritted teeth, eyes flashing.

"Paisley and I committed to each other," I continue as Marissa flinches. "We had a date set for our wedding, and the night before it was to happen, you reappeared in my life and helped me blow it all up. I was happy. I loved her… love her," my voice breaks.

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