“WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?” I yell, so angry at myself, at Michael, at everyone.

Michael is calm and speaks in a measured voice, “Why would you let her feel like that, Mase? Why would you not go to her and make whatever hurt her, better?” He stands up tall. “What I’m saying Mase is maybe the last five years have changed you. Maybe, you can’t be what she needs. What she deserves...”

My ass drops to a chair, all the fight in me gone. I don’t even know how to answer my best friend. I knew she was hurting, and I didn’t do anything to fix it. I didn’t know when she left the house. I knew she was outside, but I had no idea she had been gone for hours. Maybe, he’s right, maybe, I’m fucked up.

My voice is defeated when I say, “She told me she is a virgin. I mean, I suspected! But to hear her say it. I had just finished eating her pussy, and she said she was a virgin and that when I kissed her yesterday it was her first kiss.” I hang my head. “She wanted me to know I was the only man to ever touch her. She was insecure about making love because she didn’t want to disappoint me.” I look at my best friend and tell him what a selfish fucker I am. “I sat there, didn’t speak, didn’t move, I sat there. Did you know she knew me as her Mate that first night? She told Cass when someone asked me who she was I called her no one. She’s lived five years believing I chose Roxanne over her. Then, when she comes to my house, she sees Roxanne standing on my front porch almost naked.” I shake my head. “I just kept thinking how I was all that time. Fucking anyone I wanted, while she never let anyone touch her. I was disgusted with myself so I just sat there, and when I didn’t respond, she got upset. I knew what she was thinking, and I let her believe it was her that disgusted me.”

Michael’s face is angry. “Fuck Mase. I don’t even know what to say to that.” My Beta does something he’s never done. He turns away from me and walks out the door.

I take a few minutes to get my shit together, before walking out. I overhear Gavin talking, “smells different, maybe my Mate is here. My boys can feel it too. You guys bring in a new bunch of females? I’d love to find which one smells so damn good,” he laughs.

Now, my anger has a new direction because I know who he’s talking about. Michael responds, “If you’re smart, you’ll keep your mouth shut!”

I have to find out what he knows about the rogues before I snap his fucking neck. Every head turns to me the moment I walk into the room. I’m so close to shifting I can feel my fangs descending, heat flows from me in waves. Michael is the only one to keep his ground, everyone else in the room has either taken a step back in retreat or dropped their heads in submission. My voice comes out as a growl, barely understandable. “Gavin, tell me what you know.”