Emotion is the source of envy and guilt, what other way is there to get rid of them, than not to feel the emotions themselves.

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Victoria Ashton.

I was glad to have him back, glad to know that he was better, safer where he was and that it would always be like that for him, he was my cousin my world, I loved him, but when I was faced with a tough decision, I chose the devil instead of standing with my own blood, how could he easily forgive me after what I did, didn't he have anger or hatred, why did he have to have a heart so full of love, no matter how much the world took, he kept giving, like a mother.

"Choose Tori, I either exile you or you tell me what happened, and where the hell Carter is." Enzo harshly shook me as he declared his threat, his claws sunk deep into my skin drawing blood and pain from me. I couldn't do it, I couldn't survive out there without my family or pack, what about Tai, I would lose him but on the other hand Carter was in danger, he would get hurt, I knew where he was, I knew the truth, but if I said anything the alpha would have my head, I was cornered.

Tears burned my eyes as I couldn't take the pain, Enzo had broken my arm completely. "Tell me!" In his fury he lashed out kicking my right leg and breaking it. "Victoria!" Tai helplessly screamed my name but the other wolves held him back, I had no choice. "Tell me the truth Tori." Enzo growled but his father who stood behind him shook his head, his eyes showing a deep gold, a warning. "He did it, Carter attacked your mother and killed your pregnant mate." I lied and how that lie was going to haunt me for the rest of my life. "I told you son, he did it." Alpha Harrison asserted as Enzo stormed out of the house with eyes darkened by rage. "He's at his house, he's about to leave." I whispered as my body healed, there was nothing I could do now, I had served my own brother on a silver platter blessed in lies. When I looked at Alpha Harrison, there was no remorse in his eyes, just satisfaction.

"Hey." Tai's voice flooded my mind, the memory and pain washing away with it. "Hey, when did you get here." I asked trying to seem normal just as the alarm went off, my cake was burning, Tai quickly got into action and got it out whilst I stood back wiping away my tears. "What's wrong?" He demanded as he looked at me, I couldn't help it, so I just hugged him and let it out. "Why won't he hate me, atleast try and hurt me back." I cried out as Tai held me, I just needed to stop feeling the guilt, it was killing me. "I don't know love, that's the question on all our minds, we stood watch as his mate almost killed him, knowing he never did anything wrong, he should atleast be angry but it seems he's more peaceful than we are." Tai expressed just how I felt, and it was killing me.

The truth was and as we know it, Carter never hurt anyone, alpha Harrison had gotten the girl Enzo wanted pregnant, trying to cover it up he attacked his wife and killed the pregnant girl, because Enzo was conflicted on how he should accept Carter when he had a pregnant girlfriend, it was convenient for him to blame Carter for all of it, a jealous mate and we all helped him, it made me sick. "We will be alright, you don't worry, everything will be okay." Tai soothed me as we stood in the kitchen, I truly wanted to believe that, we would be okay, but karma was a bitch that never forgot her targets, and she struck where it hurt most.

As Tai and I sat by the breakfast bar, he suddenly froze, and began coughing, I wondered what had surprised him to the extent of choking him. "Good morning." Carter mumbled as he got down the stairs, he was a vision of absolute perfection, he wore black slightly loose fitting jeans, a pair of block heels that I would never attempt to wear, his red lipstick made his green and grey speckled eyes pop, he was gorgeous, something I never thought I'd see, no wonder my mate almost choked to death.

"Good morning, you look-." I tried to find the words but he beat me to it. "Don't say tired." He mumbled as he got water from the fridge. "No, immaculate." I responded patting my mate on the back. "Yeah, where you headed?" Tai asked and he chuckled, how I wish he would laugh, it was nice seeing him happy, it was as if he washed away negative energy and brought a new feeling everywhere, it was refreshing. "I have an errand or two, then I will do a little shopping, I didn't come with enough clothes for three weeks plus I need to find a few souvenirs." He stated happily as he drank the rest of the water and got his handbag, a black versace, damn that was pricey.

"Okay guys see you later." He called out as he hugged Tai and placed a kiss on my cheek, his heels clicking and the sound of the door closing made me know he was gone. "Damn!" Tai mumbled as I stood by the window. "You got that right." I exclaimed just as my breath hitched, Enzo was standing by the side walk, he was sure to be looking for Tai as a gorgeous Carter passed by him barely acknowledging his presence. "Did that just-" Tai whispered behind me and I furiously nodded. "He just passed Enzo without even looking his way, are you sure that's the real Carter?" Tai asked as we settled back in the kitchen, I was just as confused now, Enzo demanded attention, even silently. "He's not the same." I added just as my thoughts began to churn. "Hey, he had no-" I knew what Tai was going to say but I squeezed his thigh letting him know that alpha Lorenzo Harrison was gracing us with his presence.

"Victoria." His deep baritone called out as I faced him. "Alpha." I acknowledged as I stood up to leave but he held up his hand to stop me. "Who was that?" He asked pointing to the door, I chuckled as Tai's eyebrows were raised high in surprise. "Carter." I replied as his shock finally started to show. I knew he was also pondering the change, he was definitely not the same. "He's changed." He mumbled in absolute shock but I remained silent. As the tension finally sky rocketed Enzo finally spoke. "Does he know?" He asked and I knew exactly what it was that he was asking. Did Carter know that the truth finally came to light, does he know that Alpha Harrison had been the one to tell my mate to call Carter back so he could make amends, I didn't believe the crap, I knew there was always motive with that wolf.

I remained silent, I was rather too angry to say anything. "He doesn't know anything, why don't you talk to him, apologize, he's changed." Tai replied with an urging hope but Enzo was stubborn. "I won't do anything of the sort, I won't be weak to beg him." He replied and I knew he would stick like that, he's stubborn to the bitter end. Even though I could tolerate Enzo, with Carter back, it just made it harder, eight years ago I had chosen him, now it made it hard to do so as memories flooded my mind, Carter seemed to have moved on, kept loving and kept giving, we were still stewing in guilt but I knew, I just knew something was going to happen, karma, the goddess and fate were three things I firmly believed in, and in my belief of those things, there was always retribution for those who deserved it.

"If you don't mind, I have to raid Carter's closet before he comes back so I know which things I'm hogging." I announced and Enzo didn't stand in my way, his stoic face only flickered with emotions when I said his name, I knew deep down a mate would always remain a mate, and we would always want them, despite how broken our bond was, in Enzo's case he would always want Cherry but there was a lot he had to do to even be worthy of him now.

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LMJ