I spent three hours sorting through the papers in the box. My mind was full of codes of line and the random scribbled ideas that


    Rick had while building the security system. I groaned when my rm went off. I was nowhere near done sorting through


    everything and I had zero clue what I was even looking for.


    I sat back on my heels and sighed. I jumped up from my bed and ran downstairs to grab a drink when there was a knock at the


    door. I nced at the time and saw I had three minutes to get back to my room for the call. The knock sounded again, louder,


    impatient, and annoying. I sighed as I made my way to the front door. I opened it to see Brandon standing there with a basket of


    food and flower.


    "Hello..." I stood in the doorway as he took a step toe in. "Brandon, what are you doing here?"


    He smiled and tried to shove the flowers into my hands. "Hey baby, I came for dinner. I brought everything for us to have a pic


    under the stars." Something felt off.


    I looked down at my watch and saw I was due upstairs in two minutes. "I told you today I had a call at nine and you wait until now


    toe here?" I raised my eyebrow. "For dinner?"


    His smile grew a little tighter. "I forgot you had a callter. Can''t you reschedule?"


    I sighed and crossed my arms as I leaned against the door frame. “No, Brandon, I can''t reschedule. I''ve had this nned for


    weeks now, and I can''t back out a minute before the call because my boyfriend wants to have dinner under the stars." I looked at


    him. "Plus, I already told you, everything is off until you can figure out what to do about Shannon. Everyone is still talking about


    your mating ceremony in two weeks. Not ours. Yours." I stepped back, but he jumped to the door frame. "Brandon." I nearly


    growled and lost my fucking mind. But I held back.


    We can kill him in two weeks. Just hold it together. Megan''s tone was so dismissive, I nearlyughed.


    "Amy please. I''m doing my best, it''s just going top take time." He grabbed the door, trying to step into the house, and I caught a


    scent I recognized, but couldn''t ce.


    "I know you are, but I can''t allow your reputation to take another hit. I already exined it to your dad." I grabbed the door and


    held it so that he couldn''t get past me. I heard the distant call from myputer screen of an iing call. “I appreciate the


    pic, but I have to go."


    "Wait!" He mmed his body into the door, crowding me and blocking my way from closing the door. "Can''t Ie in? I want to


    spend the night with you." He leaned in to me and drew in a sniff. "You smelled fantastic today. Is that strawberry?" He tried to


    kiss me and I gave him a light peck before the chime from myputer went off again.


    I pushed him back out the door. "I have to go. And I already told you, I''m saving myself for our mating ceremony. So no, you can''t stay the night." I grabbed the door as I looked across the street to see someone from the pack watching us. "Look at Mrs. Cleroux. She is watching us and definitely judging us." Which was true, but she judged everyone. "Everyone is expecting you to mate Shannon now. And to keep your reputation, you should." I looked sad. "She loves you." He opened his mouth. "I love you too. And I love you enough to want you to be happy with your decision. You keep rushing to me, telling me you want to be with me. But


    +15 Bonus


    have you actually considered it? If she is what makes you happy, then be with Shannon. I won''t get in the way. But if you want to


    be with me, you have to make it very clear to Shannon without being cruel."


    "I understand." He looked away.


    "Do you? Because yet again here you are, rushing to convince me you want to be with me. But obviously, you haven''t spoken to Shannon since the pack still thinks you are together again." I gestured to Mrs. Cleroux, who was still staring at us. “I don''t know why I have to keep repeating myself. I deserve respect." I heard the video call chime again and now I was getting angry. "You keep acting like flowers, food, wine, or whatever else you have will solve everything, but it won''t. The only thing that will solve all of our issues is if you actually take the time and deal with your feelings. Shannon''s rumors, and figure out who you want to be with.


    I refuse to share my mate. I refuse to be the other woman." Then I mmed the door in his face and locked it.