He drops me at my photography class. When I turn to leave, he wraps me in his arms picking my feet up from the floor. “I’ll see you soon,” he promises, then he sets me down.

Class seems to drag on as I wait to be dismissed. Knowing he’ll be waiting has me excited. I’m one of the first from my seat when the teacher tells us she’ll see us next week. I rush out the door with a smile plastered to my face, but it falls when I don’t see him. Looking at my phone, I see it’s five minutes earlier than I told him we’d get out.

I make my way to the front of the building when I see him under a tree talking on his phone. I walk up behind him and hear “know it’s hard. It’s hard for me too.” He’s running his hands through his hair. “Well, I’m not sure. I have something to do tonight. Maybe I can come by when I’m done or tomorrow.” There’s a stretch of silence. “I can’t answer that, just give me some time, Roxy.”

Piss off, are you kidding me? Here I was thinking all this bullshit with her is over, and now he’s on the phone consoling her. “I can’t. Not yet. She’s fragile.” Fragile, is he talking about me?

I’ve heard enough. I turn to walk away, but before I can, Michael walks up. “Hey Luna, class get out early?” Masen turns around slowly when he hears Michael address me as the Luna. The guilty look on his face says it all. Michael realizing there’s something wrong stands next to me.

Masen’s face is hard when he says, “I’ll talk to you later.” The placating softness in his voice is replaced with anger. I wonder who he’s mad at, me for catching him, or himself for not paying better attention and getting caught.

Masen reaches out like he is going to touch me, yeah, that’s not happening. I take one step back, Michael follows me. “I don’t think so, buddy.” I sneer. His face falls. “I’ll tell you this once and only once. You get your shit sorted before you ever come near me again. But know this, if you touch her or anyone else, I will never be your Mate. I survived losing you before. You better believe I could do it again.” I turn to Michael. “I would like for you to give me a ride home and arrange for my Jeep to be returned to me immediately. Please,” I add as an afterthought.

Michael looks to Masen for an answer. Masen again tries to close the distance between us, his mouth opens to speak. I hold my hand out. “I will not listen to any excuses you have. Nothing about what you were just doing is okay. No matter the reason! If you’re not willing to do it in front of me, then you should never do it behind my back. Sort your shit or walk. There is no other option!”