“What the fuck is this about?” Wheeler couldn’t help but notice the smear of burgundy lipstick across Ben’s mouth.

Ben glanced at me. “Some mate you picked out, Wheeler. She came on to me.”

“That what happened?” Wheeler asked me. He stepped all the way inside and closed the door behind him. Then he turned to face Ben. “You and I both know that’s bullshit. Were you hitting on my woman?”

“He tricked me with the mask,” I said. “Then we started arguing about you two.”

“Shut your fucking mouth!” Ben shouted, pointing his finger at me.

Wheeler slowly grabbed his wrist and moved his arm down. “If you ever point your finger at Naya again, I’ll break it off.”

The door opened and Austin pushed himself inside. “What’s going on in here? I told everyone to go outside and Reno to start the fireworks so they wouldn’t have to hear this bullshit. I don’t want our pack drama to ruin this party.”

“Ben came on to my woman,” Wheeler stated flatly, his eyes still on Ben.

Ben looked at Austin apprehensively and held up his hands. “Look, it’s a party and we’re all drinking. I had on my mask, things got carried away…”

Austin stepped forward and folded his arms. “Carried away? One of the golden rules of this pack is that under no circumstances ever—and I mean ever—do any of us go after a claimed woman. Out of respect for her, your brother, and this family. Trust and loyalty aren’t just words we toss around; they mean something. If you can’t respect that, then we have a serious fucking problem.”

“Tell him,” I said to Wheeler.

His eyes were downcast, and I knew he was struggling with the truth, fearing what it might mean for his future. Wheeler drew in a deep breath. “A month ago, I would have covered for Ben, but this shit can’t go on any longer. I have Naya to think about now, and if the truth means leaving this pack, then at least I won’t be alone. Maybe that’s what I’ve been afraid of this whole time—being alone. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to do anything from here on out that’s going to hurt my mate,” he said, glaring at Ben. “Fuck you for dragging me into this. I’ve hated myself for long enough.”

Ben shook his head. “You’re making a big mistake. Do you think Austin is going to see it the same way you do? Your ass is out on the street. How can you turn your back on me? I thought we were brothers; I thought we could trust each other.”

“Trust?” Wheeler snapped. “You’re not my only brother in this pack, Ben. But I’ve bent over backwards my entire life for you, and I owe them the truth.”

“What truth?” Austin asked, looking between the two.

Oh God, I knew how much his family meant to Wheeler, and this kind of deception could have terrible repercussions. It broke my heart to see the fractured relationship between two brothers.