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Eric POV I see Elizabeth and Carter stand, “I think it is time for us to go. Notify me as soon as you find Cami. We need to know whatever she knows,” Elizabeth says as her and Carter exit the room. Julia is standing beside me. She has not moved since asking me the question, “You did not want to accept me at your mate?”. I looked at her and could see the turmoil she was going through. “It is not quite as simple as that,” I started to say, before she cut me off. “Well break it down for me, Eric,” she said. I smiled at her attitude. My mate has a backbone. “I feared because you were human, that it would not work,” I said to her. She frowned, “So if I had not shifted into a wolf, you would have not wanted me as your mate?” she asked me. “No, I had already accepted you,” I reminded her. “But you did reject me when you first met me,” she reminded me. “I was an idiot,” I said to her. “You certainly sound like
Julia POV It had been a couple hours since I had stormed upstairs leaving Eric to fend for himself. I know I am new to this world, but it seemed that sleeping with someone else when you found your mate was fundamentally wrong. What had possessed him that night? What made sense? And the scariest part … did my night of pain have something to do with it all? I needed to talk to Cami. I grabbed my phone, glad I had it in my pocket when I raced upstairs. I had texted her a couple of times, trying to reach her but had not heard anything back. I hoped that meant she was busy and not that she was in danger. There had been so much I learned in the last couple of days, it was overwhelming. But it also felt like I had found my place. For so long, I had not felt like I belonged anywhere aside from with my mom. When I lost her, that feeling of being alone just got worse. Cami had filled some of that void, but Eric was truly the key
Julia POV Within minutes of receiving Cami’s text, Jackson was pacing in the sitting area, trying to track Cami’s phone. “What is taking so long?” Jackson asked as he stopped his pacing to look at Eric. “They are working as fast as they can,” Eric replied, while Jackson cursed. “What have I done?” he mumbled to himself. I felt sorry for him, recognizing that he was truly worried about Cami. Jackson sits putting his head in his hands. Eric moves over putting his hand on his friend’s shoulder, “We will get her back,” Eric promised. “I should not have let her leave,” Jackson mumbled. “I do not think you had a choice,” Eric replied with a chuckle. “If I had not pissed her off, she would not have left like that,” Jackson said. He had my phone and kept reading Cami’s messages. “Have you ever visited Cami’s home?” Eric asked me. I looked to him, “Yes, a few times. It is a nice place, on the opposite side of town as me,” I shared
Julia POV “Can you at least promise you will stay behind with Eric?” Jackson pleaded with me. I looked out the window as we drove through the darkening streets, “Nope,” I replied. I heard Eric’s growl, but I ignored it. I turned to look at them both, “We know I am a strong wolf. You need me out there,” I said to them both. “We do not know what we are dealing with,” Eric said. “Well, we will figure it out when we arrive,” I suggested, feeling his frustration. “They have been able to capture Cami. We do not know what we are dealing with. As a witch, she has powers that we do not have. And she has not been able to use them to save herself,” Jackson said to me angrily. I knew he was not angry with me. He is angry at the situation. “She will be fine,” I mumbled, needing them to agree with me. “She will be fine. We will get her back, and then we will deal with whoever is after you,” Eric agreed. I looked to him, and nodded, “
Julia POV We waited impatiently for word on Cami. Eric was frustrated that his leg prevented him from being a part of the rescue team. I was frustrated because I did not know that he really needed me here. I know Eric and Jackson were concerned for me, but I had a strong need to be there when they found Cami. Perhaps Eric was right, and Jackson was what Cami needed. “Come here, sweetheart,” Eric said, holding his hand out to me. I reached across to him, and he pulled me to his side. He was leaning against the car and pulled me into his arms. I soaked up his warmth and simply enjoyed the moment in his arms. “Jackson will get her back,” Eric promised me. “I feel guilty,” I admitted to Eric. “Why?” he asked me. “I cannot help but feel this is about me,” I replied turning my face into Eric’s throat. “It is not your fault, Julia,” Eric said pushing me back so he could look into my eyes. “Whoever is after you – they are re
Julia POV Jackson was pacing the room, as I sat with Eric holding my hand. He was drawing designs on the back of my hand, and it was calming me to know he was here with me. Jackson had told us what he knew, which was not a lot. But we did know that once Cami was out of surgery, the doctor would come and speak with us. “This is too much,” I said as both men looked to me. “What do you mean?” Eric asked. “Cami has been seriously hurt twice in less than a week. Because of me,” I said. “It is not your fault,” Eric said, with Jackson agreeing. “Whoever these people are, they want you, Julia. It is critical that we all protect you,” Jackson added. “Cami was trained for this. She knows the risks and has not hesitated in protecting you. Do not let her down, by giving up,” Jackson stated. Before I could reply, the door to our private room opened and a doctor stepped inside. He looked at Jackson, before looking at us.
Julia POV The doctors and nurses were frantically working on Cami. I could see Jackson simply standing there watching helplessly as everyone tried to save Cami. “Everyone stop for a minute,” the doctor called out, quieting everyone down. “There seems to have been a shift in the level of poison in the patient,” the doctor murmured. “What do you mean?” Jackson asked, stepping forward. “Something is drawing the poison from her body,” the doctor observed looking at everyone in the room. “It makes no sense,” the doctor continued saying to himself. He looked to the machines connected to Cami. “She is stable for the moment. I suggest we step out and observe what is happening,” the doctor suggested, nodding to the nurses to leave the room. “Something is going on; I am not certain what, but I believe one of you is helping Cami. Let’s see what happens next,” the doctor said as he left us alone. Jackson looked to Er
Julia POV I watched my friend in pain, trying to fight her demons. Suddenly Cami gasped and sat up in the bed, “Stop!” she yelled, with Jackson pulling her into his arms. She was gasping for breath, until she opened her eyes and realized she was in Jackson’s arms. Tears filled her eyes as she looked to him, and then looked over to me. “You are safe,” she whispered, looking at me, as Jackson continued to hold her in his arms. “I am safe,” I replied, stepping forward to touch her arm. She reached her hand out and clasped onto my hand. “They want you, Julia. You are the key,” Cami shared with us. “The key to what?” Eric asked, stepping forward. “He never said. He kept asking me where you were and had you come into your powers yet,” Cami shared with us softly. “I did not tell him anything,” she swore to us. “I know you did not, sweetheart,” Jackson said to her. He drew her attention, and she moved forward resting her head on
Julia POV We came downstairs the next morning to find Laura sobbing in the sitting room. I looked around to see if anyone had brought her anything for breakfast. Walking towards her, I asked, “Have you eaten?”. She looked up at me with her wet cheeks and bloodshot eyes and spit out, “It is because of you he left!”. “He tried to have Eric killed last night. If he had not left on his own, I was going to kick him out. The only unfortunate part is he did not take you with him,” I replied calmly. “Julia,” Eric started to say but I held my hand up. “I do not know who you are, but my mother never pined away for a man in her life. It is like by saving you, you lost a piece of yourself,” I told her. She looked at me and wiped her cheeks, “I need to leave. I need to find him,” she murmured. “Do you know how to find him?” I asked, as we still wanted to get him back. “I think I could find my way,” she mumbled, as she stood and moved
Julia POV As we shifted and raced back home, I considered how I was going to handle Lincoln. He needed to go; I simply did not know if he would go peacefully. Did it matter, I thought to myself. Eric stuck close to me, offering me his warmth to help deal with the anger I felt. I was furious that so many lives had been risked tonight and for what? As we arrived at the clearing, we both shifted and put our clothes on. Eric turned to me, “Whatever happens, you have my support,” he stated. “I appreciate that; there is only one solution,” I replied as we walked towards the house. “Make the right decision for you. You have much to learn, still,” he reminded me. “There must be other ways to learn,” I replied as we walked into the open door of the house. As we walked in, it was eerily silent. Eric nudged me behind him. I rolled my eyes but allowed my man to take the lead as I listened intently for any movement. There was nothi
Eric POV Lincoln was up to something. What I did not know, but it was something. As I lay there considering everything, with Julia snuggled in my arms, I hear an alarm through the palace mind-link. “Rogues! Rogue attack happening at the main border!!!” came through in a panic. We never had rogue attacks. In fact, we often raided rogue hideouts to ensure we did not have any situations to take care of. I jumped up, with Julia looking at me startled. “What is happening?” she asked sleepily. “Rogues; I want you to stay with your guards until we are certain you are safe,” I said to her as I threw on a pair of basketball shorts. Julia moved out of the bed, “No,” she replied as she grabbed a t-shirt of mine and threw it over her naked body. “Julia,” I started to say when she cut me off. “You will be too distracted worrying about me, if you leave me behind. I am going with you” she said with finality. “This cou
Julia POV I spent the afternoon training once again with Lincoln. We were introduced to our security details. Lincoln was as ungracious as ever, already starting to alienate himself from those around him. I ignored his attitude and simply focused on learning. Eric was there once again, watching over me and assuring himself Lincoln was only focused on training. It was an intense fight, and I was loving it. A few times Lincoln almost got the better of me, but I managed to deflect his hits and prevent him from kicking my stomach. I felt angry when he tried and went at him like a mama bear protecting her pups. Good lord, now I was thinking like the rest of them, I thought with a chuckle. I would die for these babies. They were the best of Eric and me. I loved them already so intensely it hurt. Distracted I got a kick in the face, when Eric yelled, “Enough!”. He raced over to me, as my dislocated jaw quickly mended. I was good
Julia POV It was time. We were almost to the palace, and I could not wait to get back to Eric’s place. He kept reminding me it was our place, but it was still surreal to think I lived in a palace. I was home. With Eric, he was home for me and that was all that mattered. I could see the front of his house, and my breath caught. Cami was waiting for us, with Jackson by her side. She was beaming, and I was bouncing in my seat to get out of the vehicle. As soon as it stopped, I flew the door open and ran into my best friend’s waiting arms. “I cannot believe you are here; I have been so worried about you,” Cami murmured as we stood there holding one another, tears of joy rolling down our cheeks. “I know; I was not sure when I would see you again,” I blubbered on. Cami stepped back and looked at me. She placed her hand on my small baby bump and smiled, “Two happy babies in there,” she commented before remov
Julia POV I felt nauseous at the conditions Eric had just accepted. He was putting our entire relationship on the line for something we may not be able to control. “I disagree,” I stated angrily. Eric looked to me, realizing that he should have spoken with me first before agreeing to such a ridiculous condition. “Too late, the deal has been struck. Or do you not trust your mate to protect you?” Lincoln taunted, softly. “Aren’t I the strongest wolf? If I am, then the question should be, do you not trust me?” I asked. Lincoln looked at me for a moment before he looked away. “I do not want to lose you so quickly after I just found you,” he murmured. “Taking me from my mate is not the way to accomplish that,” I replied. I did not add that I did not look to him as a father figure. Lincoln looked back to me, “Well, I hope your mate can prove his ability to protect us, or the three of us will be leaving together,” he said as he t
Julia POV The food was delicious, and our night together, reconnecting, was amazing. I had gotten up early, out of habit, as I needed to be ready for my training session with Lincoln. Eric sat up groggily in the bed, “Where are you going, so early?” he asked. “I have a training session that I need to get to,” I replied. Eric was instantly alert, “I am going with you. I do not trust that bastard, and I am not letting you deal with him alone,” he stated. I was going to tell him it was alright; I could handle this on my own, but I knew it would not stop him. He had a strong desire to be with me and protect me. And I had an equally strong desire to let him, I thought with a smile. Eric quickly threw on some gym pants, and a t-shirt and he was ready to roll. I smiled at him, and he paused, “What?” he asked as he moved closer, pulling me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck, bringing his lips to mine, “Good morning,”
Eric POV “Will you stay with Lincoln, or will you come home with me?” I asked Julia. I waited, nervously, for her to reply. What was likely seconds seemed like forever, “Wherever you are is home for me,” she replied moving into my arms. “I love you so much, sweetheart,” I said to her. She looked up at me with her beautiful eyes, “I love you more,” she replied with a smile. I held her in my arms, happy that we had found a way forward. A plan to start with. “Let’s go and discuss our plans with Lincoln,” I suggested to Julia. She nodded, standing up and walking towards the washroom. She glanced back at me, “Shower first?” she teased as she raced to the washroom with me in hot pursuit. Later … much later … we were walking towards the dining area where Julia usually joined Lincoln and Laura. As we rounded the corner, we saw Lincoln and Laura in what seemed to be a tense conversation. As Laura saw us, she had a tentative smile.
Julia POV I laid in bed, feeling warm and cozy. I had the best rest and could only breathe in the scent of my mate. I must have been having a good dream to have his scent so strong surrounding me. I stretched out and then paused feeling an arm holding me close to their body. I screamed, and bounced off the bed, startling whoever had been holding me. I cleared my eyes and looked in shock as Eric looked back at me, confused with my reaction. “Eric?” I whispered, before I recognized he was in front of me, “Eric!” I squealed as I jumped back into bed and into his waiting arms. I kissed him all over his face, before landing on his smiling mouth. He had been laughing, but immediately captured my attention as his tongue slid into my mouth. I moved closer so I was straddling his body, his hardness awakening and pushing against my core. “When did you get here?” I asked, moving my head back slightly. “A while ago, I