She took a shaky breath. “Heartbroken wolf jumps to death.” She slammed her hand on the desk. “It’s a terrible cliché, and not one Theron would’ve fallen prey to. I didn’t believe it. Not for a second.” Her words were fierce, backed with years of pent-up anger. “Vivian was the one who found him. She said she saw it happen, and everyone took her word. But I didn’t trust her for one bloody second. And I was right not to. I saw her walking from her room to the baths in the matching bra to the pants I found in Theron’s bloody room. She was mocking me. She wanted me to know she’d done it.”

Ciara’s story was too crazy to believe. If it were true, then I felt horrible for her. She’d been tormented by a cruel woman. But I had more questions. Something wasn’t adding up for me. “Why would Vivian kill him? And why would she want you to know?” It didn’t make any sense.

“Because she’s mad as a box of frogs. And my best guess for why she killed him? Who am I to know? Maybe she was trying to get back at me for taking a crack onto Donovan? But I wasn’t trying to steal him. I had my own mate. At most, I’ve had a few conversations with Donovan, and he helped correct my form once.” She growled in frustration. Her eyes flashed bright and her nails lengthened, digging into her wooden desk.

Holy shit. Ciara was angry. It was the first time I’d ever seen her wolf slip out, and I’d been kind of a troublemaker growing up. She’d never once lost control. She closed her eyes as she struggled for dominance with her wolf.

I stayed quiet as her nails slowly shortened, and when she finally opened her eyes again, they were a plain brown.

“That’s why I’m telling you this.” Ciara’s words were calm and careful. “For years Vivian has gone around telling people she’s Donovan’s mate, and he hasn’t said a word against it. You’re stepping into a mess.”

A pang of betrayal hit deep. Why wouldn’t Donovan stop her from spreading that around? “Has he promised her anything?” Even as I asked the question, I knew he couldn’t have. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been open to bonding with me. The pairing with her would’ve already started, and that hadn’t happened because he and I had a bond. A Were could only have one romantic bond.

“He must’ve or else he would’ve said something. No one claims to be mated unless it’s true.”

I started pacing back and forth in the small room, trying to think. There was no way Donovan would knowingly let this chick go around calling herself his mate. But if Ciara was telling the truth—and she had no reason to lie to me—then what was going on? It was too absurd. “If she killed your mate just because she saw Donovan helping you…” I spun to her. “I’m his true mate. Not her. How is she going to deal with that?”