"I'm good on the murder front," I promised Lynn, strangely touched by the offer. I got the sense she didn't extend it to manypeople. "I'm just pissed off, and I don't want to talk to him ever again."
"What did he lie about?" Vienna asked gently, edging closer so she could set her hand on my arm, her face drawn with concern.
I shook my head, resistant to saying the truth out loud. I wasn't even surewhyI was so angry. But the emotion had drowned me, and it refused to ebb away again.
"He said he was helping me because he didn't want me to struggle with what I—what I saw in that house," I corrected quickly, keeping the truth buried. Lynn raised an eyebrow; ChaCha noticed. Shit. "But it'sbullshit."
"Ohhhhhhh," Everly breathed, wriggling away from Lynn and rushing over to me. "He's doing that overprotective,I'll keep you safething, right?"
I blinked. "Uh, maybe?"
Everly nodded sagely. "Didhe keep you safe by lying to you?"
"He only made me angry by lying but … maybe that's what he thought he was doing. I don't know."
Everly made a face. "Men are idiots. Mates are worse."
"Well,shit,"Lynn said with a low laugh of realisation.
I was glad I hadn’t had to say it out loud. I was still hurt to voice it. I had a mate—and he’d kept that from me.
"What is it with these bikers finding mates?" ChaCha demanded. "They're like goddamn mate magnets."
"Jealous, C?" Lynn purred.
ChaCha elbowed her in the gut.
My eyes fell on Vienna, and some things clicked together. "You're not shocked. That morning you woke me up…"
She winced, running a hand through her blonde hair. "Ah. Yeah. Don't be mad."
"I'm not mad atyou," I assured her, my skin itchy and hot. I needed to scream at the top of my lungs, or paint something violent. "He probably swore you to secrecy."
Her expression confirmed as much. She squeezed my arm. "He's really worried about you, Luna, and Everly's right. I think he tried to protect you by keeping this secret. Which is stupid, I know. But also…" She lowered her voice. "You've been through a lot. You might not evenwanta mate."
"Idiot was probably scared of rejection," Lynn remarked.
Which … I hadn't thought of, honestly. Being rejected by your mate was supposed to be the worst, most unimaginable pain. I hadn't given it much thought; I'd never expected a mate.
"I'm a beta," I muttered, thinking out loud. "I shouldn't even have a mate."
"Well, you do, so buckle up," ChaCha replied. She elbowed Lynn with a smile, but there was something brittle about it. Did she have a mate? Did shewantone? "We're finally gonna know who wins that bet."
"No, you're not," I replied firmly, shutting down that conversation, shutting downall of it.I was overwhelmed by thoughts and feelings, and … out of my depth. I was so fucking out of my depth it was crazy. "It's never gonna happen, I'm never gonna see his dick, end of story."
Lynn and ChaCha snorted in harmony. I glared.
"Give it time," Vienna urged, watching me with a warm sympathy that made me itchy. "Don't write off the bond yet, okay? It's … there's nothing else like it. It's special."
I made a face.
"You know your souls fit magically together, right?" ChaCha asked, not teasing anymore. "He's like—the perfect person for you. If you don't give that a shot, you're mad. Even if he lied and deserves a dick punch for it."
"Yes," Lynn agreed eagerly. "I volunteer."
I groaned, palming my face. She just wanted to know if he had a big cock to win her bet. "I'll think about it."
"Does it feel weird when you're together?" Vienna asked. "Or strained? Or do you feel threatened?"