This was it...This was the day that I've both been dreading and longing for. The day in which Wynter returns home. I haven't told Darius yet, as I want to wait until she's here. I need to make sure she's safe before attempting to bring Darius into this.I arranged for a small clinic just outside our pack border to house Lexi while she's here. Charlie liaised with the medical staff to ensure they would have everything we needed. We couldn't risk bringing her onto pack grounds, as Alpha Xander would find out right away. He knows anything and everything to do with the pack. Until Darius becomes Alpha, all members are loyal to Alpha Xander. In their eyes, there's no reason for them not to be. They don't know what's been happening behind closed doors. They are unaware that Darius is being played like an instrument and kept in the dark about his true mate.My phone rings a few moments later, bringing me out of my thoughts."It's done." The caller says, then immediately hangs up the phone.
...Darius POV...I was so confused. I had no idea what was going on. 'What the hell was he talking about our true mate?' I ask Asher, hoping that he'll be able to shed some light.'Catherine is our true mate. And she's at home. We just left her.' I say to him.'I don't know. But I want to see where he's going. I can't explain it, but I feel worried. Like something bad happened.' Asher replies.'I felt that too. But I thought I was just feeding into Ken's emotions. He seems super stressed about something. I just don't know what.' I reply.'Could it be true? Is it even possible to have a true mate, after finding our mate?' I ask as doubt begins to creep into my mind.It was something that I had often wondered about. Since I never felt that connection that everyone talks about when they have their mate. Even the way I look at Catherine. It's not the way that Kenji looks at Genesis. The fact alone that I was fine being away from her for years at a time should be a red flag. I never even c
When I wake up, everything's silent. A complicated mixture of Sandalwood, Jasmine, and vanilla fill my nostrils, making me purr. I look around to realize that I had fallen unconscious on the floor. When I stand up, my eyes grew wide as realization falls over me. I remember everything. "WYNTER!" I shout, shaking her. "NO! This can't be happening! I just got you back!" I shout at her, shaking her body."This is all your fault!" Kenji says, storming back into the room."What are you talking about?" I ask."She's your true mate! And you marked and mated someone else, while being mated to her! That's a pain no one should ever have to endure."I look back down at Wynter's lifeless body."I didn't know." I say, on the brink of tears."That doesn't matter. You should've kept it in your pants. I know you felt something was off with Catherine. But you never once doubted her!" He yells at me again.I understand why he's so upset, he just lost his Luna. So I won't do anything about his insubord
I feel a slight tap along my thigh, waking me up from a solemn slumber. I didn't realize that I had drifted off until I had woken up. I lean on my elbow, looking down at her. I don't know how long it's been since I've been here, but either way, I can't bring myself to leave her.My instincts are yelling at me to kiss her once more. So I do just that. This time, her lips are no longer cool to the touch; rather, they're a bit warm. I turn my head to the side, leaning away from her slightly. I stare into her beautiful eyes, which is when I realize they're staring back at me."Wynter?" I call out. Shaking her slightly."D-Darius?" She says, confused.My eyes grow wide upon hearing my name from her beautiful mouth."WYNTER!" I call out to her, pulling her tight to me."I'M SO SORRY!" I say to her."I-it's n-not your f-fault." She coughs out."It is! I Should've been there! I should've protected you! I never should've believed Catherine!" I state.She weakly raises her hand and places it on
...Darius POV...I was so frustrated. I didn't even know what to do or where to go. The moment I left Wynter's room, I ran outside and changed into my wolf form. I didn't care about my clothes and rather ran deep into the forest. Both Asher and I were on edge. It felt like we singlehandedly betrayed our mate. I know she says it's not my fault. But that doesn't stop me from blaming myself. I was weak. I didn't protect her. I should've tried harder. I should've...I cut myself off as I slump down onto the forest floor. I change out of my wolf form and begin to chuck rocks over the cliff. I'm furious. The past twelve hours begin to swarm my mind. I can't believe I marked and mated another wolf that wasn't my mate. I've waited for years for my mate. Then when I find her, I find out that Catherine isn't my true mate. Catherine had somehow manipulated me into believing that she was my mate. Which makes me wonder. 'How did she get away with it? How did she manage to make me believe that sh
...Wynter POV...Shortly after Kenji left, Charlie came back into the room to check up on me."How's my princess doing?" He asks."I've been better." I say, causing Charlie to laugh. He walks closer to me and checks all of my vitals while also performing other tests on me."Everything looks good." He says."Good enough to leave?" I ask, making his eyes grow wide."What?""You heard me. I know that you know he's my mate. But I can't stay.""But I thought.." He begins; however, I cut him off."If our circumstances were different, then there would be nothing I wouldn't do to stay here. But we both know that I can't. I can't risk putting his life at risk.""Do you really think he'll just let you leave?""He doesn't have the choice. It's a decision I have to make for the both of us." I say, looking away. I can feel my eyes prick with tears with the thought of having to leave him once again.I thought that it would get easier over time, but it only seems to be getting more difficult."I un
...Darius POV...Kenji was right. I needed to stay focused. It was going to be hard, especially after finding out about Wynter, but I needed to keep up the act. I was still unsure of why they had such a need for secrecy. While I got some of my memories back, I can't help but think that I'm missing something. I just don't understand why Wynter would even feel the need to compel me? Not only that, but why did she feel she had no other choice?I was so confused, but Kenji had promised me answers. Answers to my burning questions. In my anger, I had shredded my clothes when I had suddenly transformed into my wolf. Which meant that I needed some extra clothes. While we may be werewolves, and nudity isn't as big of a deal in comparison to humans, there's also a time and place for it. Having an in-depth conversation with your mate about our history together, certainly wasn't the time nor place. Which is why I was heading back to the pack to get some more clothes. Kenji had only brought cloth
...Kenji POV...Was I proud of what I did? Of course not. I hated the idea. But I knew I had no other choice. We had hoped that we had more time. But Darius got back to the clinic much faster than we had anticipated. It took us an hour to get there, and it should've taken him just as long to return. But somehow he had made it to the packhouse and back in under two hours. I had severely miscalculated his need to be with his mate. Before we left, we had come up with backup plans should Darius manage to catch up to us. Which is why I went with Charlie and Wynter. By going with them, I had hoped that I could somehow stall him. Preventing him from getting to her on time.A large part of me wanted no part in this. I wanted my best friend to be happy. Darius had only been with Wynter for a few minutes, and already I could see a change in him. He was happy. Something I didn't want to take away from him. But fate seem to have another idea.Charlie had given me a vial of wolfsbane mixed with s