The sting of Astor’s kiss lingered on my lips, a warmth that felt more like a betrayal than a declaration. I pulled away sharply, my heart thudding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. “Don’t. Don’t ever do that again, Astor.” My voice was rough, laced with an indignation that surprised even myself.
He blinked, his handsome face momentarily clouded with confusion, then a flicker of something I recognized as guilt. “Faith, I…”
“No,” I cut him off, my gaze fixed on the spot where his lips had been, trying to erase the feeling. “I know why you did that. You did it for Alpha Kyle. You saw him watching, and you wanted to show off. You were jealous, weren’t you?” The words spilled out, raw and unvarnished. This wasn’t the way I wanted to be kissed, not for a show, not out of spite. My heart ache
