Chapter 441

I wiped my face as he whirled to face Shannon. Her eyes burned, and I could smell her devastation. “How could you?” Her words seemed to hit him like physical blows. She turned to me, but I held up my hands.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I called to her, and she fumed. “I told him he had to make everything very clear before our mating ceremony.”

Brandon spun to face me, anger and something else I couldn’t pinpoint on his face. But it was Shannon’s choking that had him spinning back. “Your mating ceremony?” She looked between us. “You two are holding the ceremony still?” She stumbled back a step before her eyes raged. “Is that true?”

Brandon looked back and forth between us, and he settled on me, pleading. “Amy…”

I laughed. “I knew it.” I scowled at him. “If you love her, then mate her and keep me out of it.” I snarled as I turned back to the house.

“Wait!” Brandon screamed as I slammed the door open.

I turned back. “What? What the fuck are you going to say?”

Shannon growled. “Don’t talk to him like that.”

I turned to Shannon. “I love you. I’m sorry for any part I had in this.” I looked at Brandon, who was looking between the two of us. “I would have never agreed to becoming his girlfriend or mate if either of you had just been honest with me.” I forced some tears into my eyes. “I was trying to avoid this exact fucking scenario.”

Shannon laughed. “You love me? Bullshit.” She screamed, drawing more people outside. Good, let them see this. Brandon looked around and realized we were gathering an audience. “You don’t fucking love me,” she kept screaming. Her hair was flying everywhere as she tossed her head. “If you loved me, you would have never dated my boyfriend.”

“Let’s calm down.”

I laughed this time. “He’s your boyfriend?” I faced him. “I fucking knew it.” I stepped up to him and poked his chest. “You said she was just someone to pass the time with. That the truth was that you talked to her so you could get close to me, and then you guys got close. Isn’t that what you said?”

He looked back at Shannon, who looked devastated. “Did you say that about us, Bran?”

Brandon backed up a step. “What, of course not.”

I laughed. “So what? Now I am the one lying?” I snarled, but I turned to Shannon. “I know we hated each other growing up, but I need you to think clearly here.” She glared back at me. “Did I ever give you any fucking inclination that I secretly liked Brandon in school?” She shook her head. “Exactly.” I turned back to Brandon. “I never wanted you. But you chased me. You made me believe that you and Shannon were done. You told me you had already told her how you felt. And now look at us.” I flung my hands out. “We are less than two weeks to our mating ceremony, and I have to deal with this.”

Shannon scoffed. “Your mating ceremony? You didn’t even plan it.”

I ran my fingers through my hair and laughed. “Because you two convinced me you would plan it, since I had to work. I was working to protect this pack, to make it money, while you two were supposed to be planning our mating ceremony.” I laughed. “I’m an idiot. I’m honestly the idiot because I actually believed the two of you. But you were fucking lying the entire time. You were never planning our mating ceremony. You were busy planning your own.” I laughed again, and I wiped the tears from my face. I yelled so everyone heard. “I was too blinded by the bullshit you were feeding me. I love you, Amy. I want to be with you, Amy. Lies. All of them were lies.”

“Amy, please.” Brandon grabbed for me, but I pushed him away and let my tears fall faster.

“No.” I yelled at him, catching everyone by surprise. Brandon blinked his eyes a few times, surprised by my outburst. “You promised me you wouldn’t hurt me. You swore you wouldn’t ever cheat. But look at you now.”

“Amy.” He tried again, but I let out a sob.

“I trusted you!” I screamed out, and more people filed out to watch. “You chased me. You told me you loved me. And now I’m somehow competing for a place by your side with my own fucking sister.” He grabbed for me again, but I swatted at him. “I’m done.” I pushed back, then turned to Shannon. “He’s all yours. Take my mate, take my mating ceremony, take my position.” I saw triumph on her face and had to hold back my cackle. I turned back to a pale Brandon. “I’m done.”