CHAPTER TEN

I stare at the bank and see Ana.

My heart drops.

I am in so much trouble.

I don't know what to do.

I break away from Brock, who looks shocked.

Ana stares at him then at me.

"What are you doing?" she shrieks.

"Nothing," I say, defensively.

"It's my fault," Brock replies.

He looks crestfallen.

"No," I say.

I don't want him taking the blame for this.

He and Jeremiah have more of a relationship than me and Jeremiah after all.

"Oh how romantic," Ana mocks. "You're both trying to take the blame. It must be true love!"

I hurry to the water's edge and heave myself out.

"Ana, please don't tell Jeremiah..."

She narrows her eyes at me. "And why would I keep a secret for you?"

I have no good answer.

"Please," I say.

She scoffs. "You're making out with one of his best friends behind his back!"

"I know. I'm sorry."

I feel the tears well up in my eyes.

This is so wrong.

I shouldn't be kissing another man behind Jeremiah's back.

I'm a horrible, horrible person.

"I'm sorry," I repeat.

"Sorry isn't going to make the heartbreak you're about to cause him go away," she snaps. "Now I'm going to tell him."

I watch her stomp off, my heart thundering in my chest.

I can't let Ana tell Jeremiah.

I need to stop her.

But how?

I see Ana disappearing into the trees.

I have to go after her.

I have to stop her before she tells Jeremiah the truth.

But how do I do that?

I can't think straight.

I have to do something.

I turn to Brock.

He looks as though he's ready to cry.

"Please don't tell anyone about this," I beg.

"I have to be honest with the Alpha," he says.

"You can't!" I shout.

"I have to," he says. "Jeremiah is my alpha. And I owe him the truth."

I stare at him blankly.

He's right.

Jeremiah is his alpha.

Brock is going to have to tell him.

"Then let's tell him together," I say. "Before Ana does."

He nods.

I take a deep breath.

"Come on," I manage.

I feel nauseous.

But I have to do this.

Ana is standing on the porch when we return.

She's folding her arms impatiently.

"He's not back," I realize.

She stares at me for a long moment.

"Not yet," she says coolly.

I let out a relieved breath.

There's still time to make this wrong right.

To make her see sense.

"Ana, I know you're angry," I begin. "But please let Brock and I tell Jeremiah."

Ana laughs. "No chance."

Brock steps forward. "Please. It is better coming from us."

"Or what?" she smirks. "You'll spank me?"

"No," he says. "But I will have to reprimand you. In front of the whole pack."

My jaw drops.

"You wouldn't," she says. "You're bluffing."

He sighs. "I'm not. I can't let this go unpunished. If you disobey my command, I will punish you."

She stares at him for a long time. "You jerk!" she cries, then she marches away inside the house.

I let out a breath of relief.

We will be able to tell Jeremiah ourselves.

Just then, I hear the thrum of a car engine.

It can only mean one thing.

Jeremiah is back.

He pulls to a halt and spots us waiting for him.

He exits the car.

"Why do I feel like I'm not going to like whatever it is you're about to tell me?" he says.

I exchange a look with Brock.

"Come inside first," Brock says. "Then we'll speak."

*

We all go into a room that I assume is Jeremiah's office.

He sits heavily into the leather couch.

He rubs his eyes.

He seems exhausted.

"What is it?" he demands.

I ring my hands.

I feel awful.

How can I tell him what I've done?

"Brianna and I were swimming," Brock begins.

"And?" he eyes us with suspicion.

"And we were talking," I say.

"We kissed," Brock says.

Jeremiah's face is unreadable.

He places his face into his hand.

My heart sinks.

"I'm sorry," I stutter.

"I'm sorry, too, Alpha," Brock echoes.

For a long time, Jeremiah says nothing.

Then he finally looks up at me.

"I understand," he says.

My heart thumps.

"You do?" I ask.

My nods. "It's what the Moon Goddess wants."

There they go again, talking of soul mates.

I don't think that's what Brock and I are.

But then I don't know why else I would take such a huge risk if we weren't.

"I'm not sure about that," I say.

But Jeremiah is not listening. "I have a soul mate, too," he says. "I love her as you love Brock."

My eyes ping open.

Love?

Now they're talking about love?

I only just met the guy!

I kissed him once!

"Do you not want to be my mate anymore?" Jeremiah asks.

"Of course I do."

Jeremiah groans. "Really?"

I swallow back a sob.

I am insulted.

"My Alpha commanded it," I say.

"So?" Jeremiah presses.

"So the arrangement can't fall through!" I cry. "We must marry to prevent the war!"

I can't believe I'm the one having to say this now.

"I can't marry you if you love him," Jeremiah says.

"But I don't love him!"

My words hang in the air.

Brock's face drops.

I can't look at him.

I can't bear it.

"But you kissed him," Jeremiah says. "As the Moon Goddess wishes."

I swallow back tears.

I can't believe this is happening.

I feel so confused.

I don't understand any of this.

What is this moon goddess all about?!

"What do you want, Jeremiah?" I ask. "What do you want to do?"

He says nothing.

"I don't know," he says, finally. "All I know is you're not my soul mate."

And with that, he stands and leaves.

I turn to Brock.

He looks as shocked as I feel.

"I shouldn't have kissed you," he says.

"I shouldn't have kissed you, either," I say.

He stares down at his hands.

"Are you my soul mate?" I ask him.

"It doesn't matter." He looks at me, pained. "You're the Alpha's mate now."

He leaves the room.

What am I supposed to do now?