Page 37 of Shattered Soulmates

“Yes. I don’t know what to do about it.” I lean over and put my head in my hands.

“What does he want?”

“He’s going on about making the cheating up to me and proving he can be a better male or some such!” I grit out.“I think he needs counseling because I can’t help him.I will not put my heart back on the line and wait for Marissa to snatch him up again.”

“Do you still have feelings for him?”

“No—well, not like you might be thinking. I feel an overwhelming sorrow for the loss of my mate. When he sneaks around my cabin, and I can feel his presence, my soul grieves for what we had and lost. It hurts toknow that he threw our relationship away for nothing–because now, Marissa is gone again, and all he’s left doing is stalking me. Had he not cheated with Marissa and then mated her, we would still be together. Instead, he’s here, lurking around my cabin, unable to move on, and I’m left with this heartache.

“I also feel sorry for him because Marissa has totally messed up his mind. I feel angry and spiteful that he has the nerve to try to talk to me again, like I’m so desperate for affection, I’d even consider it!”

“I know Knight has some feelings for you,” Dr. Rach suggests. “How is that progressing?”

“Knight says he believes he’s my second-chance mate.” I huff. “I think that may be my fault because I used Knight to illustrate to Miles the pains of CMS. When I was first released from the hospital after Miles cheated, I kissed Knight. It was a passionate kiss—one that definitely got Miles’ attention as he writhed in pain—but it gave Knight false hope.For that, I feel guilty. Especially since I still turn to Knight for comfort.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not sure if it’s the Amra or something else, but I don’t have feelings for anyone. I don’t care about anything most of the time,” I confess. “I’ll admit, Knight comes to my cabin almost every night after Miles leaves.I’m usually a mess—crying, overwhelmed by Miles’ skulking around—and Knight comes inside, climbs into my bed, and holds me until the sobs stop and I finally fall asleep. He’s always gone by morning, but the comfort he gives helps me sleep. Still, there’s no real mate bond between us. I don’t feel any connection like that with him. It could be anybody,” I whisper sadly.

“Some studies are coming out that Amra may be stifling new mate bond connections as well as old ones.” Dr. Rach advises. “Since Miles has officially mated with Marissa, your bond should be gone. However, the fact that Miles’ presence still distresses you suggests that there are some vestiges of the bond left. I want to keep you on Amra for a while longer. Perhaps we’ll look at reducing the dosage when I assess you next month.”

“Okay.”

“In the meantime, I want you to see a counselor.” Dr. Rach takes out a sticky-note pad. “I want you to call Dr. Bishop. He has a home office on the edge of the territory where he sees his patients. I think you’re clinically depressed, possibly with complications of PTSD as a result of the CMS. Dr. Bishop can help diagnose and treat those conditions as well.” She tears the top sheet from the pad and hands it to me.

“Sounds good, Dr. Rach,”I respond. “Thanks.”

“Sure thing,” she replies. Is there anything else you want to discuss while you’re here?”

“I don’t think so. Thanks again for your help.”

Chapter 16 – Date with A Dragoness

***Trigger Warning -- Drug References***

Marissa

Males are so easy to manipulate. I love the influence I have at the MC, especially when I can use my wiles to get into the heads of the brothers. I’ve always relied on my looks to get what I want, but here, I can coerce these powerful males into giving me exactly what I need. Right now, all I need is revenge on Paisley.

Sure, other females have come between me and males before, but Paisley has crossed a line by interfering with my relationship with Miles. He’s off-limits to any female, especially one who thinks she can take him from me permanently. Even with things the way they ended with Miles this last time, I know it’s never really over. He. Is. Mine.

Ironically, these tough brothers, who pride themselves on protecting the vulnerable, are also theperfect pawns in my plan. I’ve whispered my schemes into the ears of several of them. I’ve learned how to speak their language and use it to my advantage.

Any day now, I expect my plan to come to fruition, and I can almost taste the satisfaction. Sure, it’s all lies, but if it gets rid of Paisley, I don’t care to stretch the truth a little.

Lynsey

I’m a rarity in motorcycle clubs for two reasons: First, I’m part of the “brotherhood,” even though I’m a female. Second, I’m Drágon’s sister, which means I’m a dragon shifter, too.

They call me and my ol’ man, Que, the “relocation specialists.” Let me explain. The club operates several successful, legitimate businesses under Talons & Claws MC Corporation to fund our vigilante justice operations, which have enabled us to become wealthy. Some of the club ventures include The Inked Beast Tattoo Parlor, Savage Auto Repair, Howler’s Grill, The Thirsty Claw & Fang Bar, The Night Lair Dance Club, Wolfstone Construction, Crescent Moon Cakery, Lunar Real Estate Group, Guardian Protectors & Defense Security, Primal Pack Digital Information Technologies, and Crimson Flame Wealth Group, to name a few.

Several club members are also successful business people in their own right. For example, by day, Que and I own and manage Crimson Flame Wealth Group, where we oversee stock portfolios for the club and its members, as well as for external clients. Additionally, I serve as the club treasurer.

By night, however, our focus shifts to a very different business—moving unsavory individuals. The club brothers identify dangerous characters, such as drug lords, drug dealers, and human traffickers. They bring these individuals into what they call a ‘stress test’ in the “Lie Detector Lounge”—a room located in the basement of the club.

The lounge is soundproofed and equipped with reinforced chains and manacles, designed to restrain and torture these unsavory elements into revealing vital information that will help dismantle these rings. If the individuals are lucky enough to survive the “elimination process”, Que and I step in to manage their relocation to the wilds of Prisoner Island, warning them of the consequences if they return to their previous occupations.

No one ever returns from Prisoner Island, and we may bring shovels with us during transport for “persuasion” purposes.

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