Page 30 of Shattered Soulmates

I lean my head back and pinch my nose. “So, what are we looking at, Alpha? What are the consequences?”

What do you want, Miles? The only law she has broken is stealing. With restitution, she’d probably spend a couple of months on Prisoner Island and then get probation for a first offense, along with some community service. But what do you want, Miles? Her biggest disloyalty is against you.

“If I could interject," Rachel says, hesitating. “Miles, if you’re willing to live with Marissa’s... uh... indiscretions, you can choose to take Amra daily until she decides to be monogamous. Or, you can break the mate bond and live together while Marissa has her boyfriends or lovers. As long as there isn’t a mate bond between chosen mates, you don’t need Amra. It’s onlyrequired when there’s an actual mate bond or in the case of fated mates, whether they’re bonded or not.”

“Thanks, Rachel. Right now, I just want answers," I insist. “I’ll wait for her at my apartment. After we talk, Alpha, you can lock her up for theft. I’m done.”

“Okay, Miles. I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you," Alpha sighs. “We just have to live with the consequences of our choices.”

Rachel hands me another dose of Amra along with a bottle of water. I swallow the pill. “That should help the welts disappear and take care of the nausea.”

I nod. “Thanks, Doc.”

She smiles faintly. "If you need anything else, just let me know."

The first thing I do when I get to my apartment is search for the pills. In that video, the box she took would contain quite a lot. I first found a few odd pills in her nightstand drawer. Sure enough, the word Amra is printed on the side. Then, I dig around and find an old makeup bag in the back of her sink filled with bottles of medication. Jackpot!

While I’m digging, I find a couple of bottles labeled “Scent-Off Lotion,” with the manufacturer listed as “A Helping Hand.” That’s how she has kept me from scenting other males on her. We use this here, at thepack, for covert operations when we don't want other shifters to know we are nearby. Our border patrol guards often use scent-off for that exact reason. I never considered using it to cheat. If Marissa used her con-artist skills for good, we could solve all the world’s problems.

I run my fingers through my hair and settle on the edge of the bed, waiting for her to come back. I hope her night of fun was truly worth it, for her sake. Because if she really cares about me, which I’m starting to doubt, she’s lost me forever. I’m tired of this endless cycle of uncertainty and heartbreak. I’m honestly considering quitting my job and taking some time off to find clarity and peace.

Chapter 12 –Hair of the Dog

Miles

It’s well after 4:00 am before Marissa stumbles into our apartment.Her clothes are askew and crumpled, while her hair is disheveled as though she just crawled out of bed.Her makeup is smeared down her face, and she reeks of other males.She must still be drunk if she didn’t even use her “Scent-Off” to hide it.

I can’t help but compare Marissa and Paisley. I know this is unfair of me, but what in all of this is fair? The entire time Paisley and I were together, she was right here in this apartment with me in the evenings. She never went out for girls’ nights, which I wouldn’t have cared about, but she was utterly devoted to me. Paisley was the epitome of a loyal mate, while Marissa was the antithesis.

I rise from the chair and turn on the light. Marissa gasps, shielding her eyes with her hands as shesquints against the sudden brightness. “What the heck, Miles!” she slurs, her words thick with intoxication. She sways slightly to the left before catching herself on the couch to avoid falling.

“That must’ve been one heck of a movie night with your girlfriends.”

The look she gives me is one of pure confusion until she remembers her lie. “Oh, yeah, we really enjoyed it,” she giggles, covering her mouth with the hand that's not clutching the couch.

“Marissa, I have been an utter fool,” I sigh, rubbing my face dejectedly.

Her glassy eyes stare at me blankly.

“I just want answers.Do you think that you could show a little–I don’t know–loyalty to me for once in your life?Take pity on me, Marissa, and be honest with me. After all, I risked my position as Beta to be with you.”

She slides down to sit on the couch, fumbling around to keep from falling to the floor. “What are you talking about, Miles?”

“Do me the favor of not patronizing me, please,” I beg quietly. “I know what you’ve done.”

She actually gulps as her eyes slide from mine to the floor. I shiver at the sliminess, looking at her makes me feel sick right now.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Miles. I know it’s late, but we all kind of fell asleep while watching the movie.”

“Don’t lie and don’t play innocent with me,” I growl. “Your good friend Hannah and I both ended up in the medical bay last night.I was lucky. I had a dose of Amra in my system that saved my life, but Hannah isn’t so fortunate.

Last report, she’s in critical condition, and they don’t know if she’s going to make it. Apparently, she has been silently suffering from CMS for months.Her mate is a serial cheater, and obviously, so are you.I just didn’t realize it before because we didn’t share a bond.”

She stares at me mutely, but I can see her guilt in her eyes, maybe not because of me, but more likely because of Hannah.I don’t think she thought that far ahead.Hannah and her mate have only been together a year.

“Is Seth one of your regular partners?” I ask. “Be honest with me; you owe me that much, considering how you were involved in splitting Paisley and me apart. She was my true mate, and you contributed to that separation.

“Up yours, Miles!" she spits, wobbling in her seat. “I’m sick to death of hearing about Saint Paisley! Do youthink being your partner is easy? Yeah, the chemistry is fantastic, but you are so–so grown up!" she accuses. “You don’t know how to let loose and have a good time.”

---