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Jackson POV I see the fear in my mate’s eyes, and I want to go to her. I move to touch her, but she moves away from me. I frown as I try to reason what could cause her to move away from me when I know my touch would ease her worry. Of course, I could not forget how she had been abused by my Beta and me sticking her in the dungeon in the first place did not help. “Just tell me what is going on. I can decide if it is too risk for our Pack to support you,” I say to her calmly. Jessica looks at me with disgust, Christian sighs, and Carrie smirks. I do not know what I can do to ease her concern. Agreeing with her has not worked, disagreeing with her has not worked. I am confused and uncertain what else I can offer. “I will think about it. For now, I need you to bring Jessica and Mandy into your Pack,” Carrie says to me. Before I can agree or disagree, Mandy leans forward, “You do not make decisions for me. I will decide when I am ready to be pa
Carrie POV My heart stopped beating. And then it was racing. What did he mean he knew? He had known all along that I was running from my chosen mate. “What did you say?” I whisper. Jackson leans forward, elbows leaning against his knees. “You heard me, Carrie. Tell me what is going on, so I can protect you,” he repeats himself. I toss the covers off my legs whipping my legs over the edge of the bed and standing up. I frantically look around the room as Jackson stands. I can feel the sparks on my arm where he is holding me. I rip my arm from his grasp. “How much time do I have?” I demand of him angrily. “What are you talking about?” he asks confused. “How much time do I have before he comes for me?” I ask angry that I cannot hide the terror that is consuming me. “Nobody is coming for you. I said I wanted to hear from you what was going on. I did not call Alpha Adam,” Jackson says to me. I do not know if I can believe him.
Jackson POV I sit there lightly rubbing my mate’s arm as fire rages within me. My mate has suffered. Immense loss and I was not there to protect her. I would protect her from now on, but it would never change her past. It would never replace the darkness in her eyes. I know it will take time for her to trust me, but I can only hope, with time, that we are able to come together fully. I want her to believe in me. And to trust I will always be there for her. I would spend my last breath making her happy. Making her my priority and protecting her from the evil that lurks around us. I am starting to feel tired and want to lay down beside my mate. To close my eyes for a few minutes. Since she arrived, I have been on this high wire, trying to find my balance but afraid I would topple at any moment. Just as I put my head gently on the pillow beside my mate, I am startled awake by a yell from my Gamma, “Alpha!” I hear through the mind-link. I jum
Jackson POV “You are full of shit. Her mother died in a rogue attack,” I say turning away from him. I had no more time for his crap, and I needed to get back to Carrie. “That’s what her father wanted her to think,” he says causing me to stop for a moment. “If that was the case, why not tell her when you had Carrie?” I asked turning back to face his smirking face. “I did not need to tell her. She was a good little servant. I underestimated her. That won’t happen again,” he says with a chill to his voice. I take a step forward until we are almost nose to nose. “It will not happen again. She is not going with you … not now, not ever,” I say turning away. “I have proof,” he says as he tosses a picture to the ground at my feet. I stop to pick it up. It is of a woman, frail looking, abused. It meant nothing to me. I did not recognize this woman. “This means nothing,” I say as I pass the picture to Christian. He takes it and will study it t
Jackson POV I held Carrie while she was passed out. I had yelled for the doctor who quickly assured me it was a panic attack and that she would wake shortly. I sat there worrying about her. How would she be able to handle an investigation if the thoughts of what happened were this disturbing for her. And how would I be able to assure her I would not let her go. I thought back to the picture Christian had taken. I open my mind-link and contact him. “Yes Alpha?” he responds. “What have you learned of the photo?” I ask. “It looks legitimate,” he replies sounding a little frustrated. “What is wrong?” I ask curiously. “First, I had wished it was a fake and second, I cannot tell where this is taken. It does not look like a dungeon and is not an area that we have visited in the past,” he replies. “Perhaps the Luna will remember?” he asks. I quickly fill him in on what is happening, “I am sorry for that Jackson. I hope she knows none of us will
Carrie POV Hearing I belonged to Jackson was melting my hardened heart, but I reminded myself I needed to be practical. He has the best of intentions; however, I knew not to trust intentions. At one time Adam tried to convince me he had good intentions, but he quickly destroyed that illusion when he showed his true colors. “You shouldn’t make promises you cannot keep,” I say to Jackson stepping away from the doctor and moving to go around Jackson back to Jessica and Mandy. Before I can move away from Jackson, he grabs my arm pulling me back into his arms, so I am flush against his hard body. I feel the sparks between us. More shocking I feel a sense of desire I have never felt for a man before. My heart is starting to beat faster in excitement, and I see Jackson move a little closer to me, so he is looking straight into my eyes. “I only make promises I can keep,” he says sending a chill of excitement down my spine. I feel like we are the only
Carrie POV The three of us talk away as anxiety builds inside of me. Wondering what is happening with the Beta and hoping they figure something out. We are talking about our plans if things do not go as hoped. Both women are prepared to go with me, regardless of how much I plead with them to not do so. I want them safe, and they will not be safe on the run with me. Hearing footstep approaching the door, as I have for the past couple hours, I watch the door intently. I see the door start to swing open and my breath catches until I see Jackson walking through the door. Christian is directly behind him; Jackson walks over to me immediately. “How are the three of you doing?” Jackson asks. “You are looking at it,” Mandy replies quickly. “Have you planned your escape yet?” Christian asks with a smirk. The three of us look a little guilty as Jackson chuckles. “Did you think the guards could not hear you? They were quite concerned that you were go
Carrie POV “We mark one another,” Jackson replies. I look at him with shock on my face. “How is that possible? Adam already marked me,” I comment looking away confused with what he was proposing. “Did you not look at yourself in the mirror? Your mark is fading quickly,” he comments to me. I look at him in surprise before standing and rushing to the washroom. I look in the mirror. He was right. The mark was almost non-existent. When a chosen mate marks one another the marks are simply the points our fangs make in our skin. Unlike a fated or second chance mate, where we get a design for a mark signifying the tying of two souls blessed by the Moon Goddess. I touched the mark that had tortured me for the past two years and feel tears rise in my eyes. The bumps that used to be there were shrinking quickly. I feel Jackson at the door of the washroom, “If I mark you, it will disappear entirely and be replaced by my mark,” he promises as he watch
Carrie’s POV Jessica, Mandy, and I sat watching our pups. Jessica and Mandy each had a boy. We had thought one might be a female but had a pleasant surprise when two males were born to my two best friends. Colton, Rosie’s pup and my half-brother, were playing with the boys. It was easy to see they were best friends being born so close to one another. Unless Colton was upset about something. Then his temper showed through. We were concerned and already working with him to control his anger. Even at his young age, we knew we needed to build the capacity within Colton to control himself, at all times. It was challenging for Jackson and me. Having a gifted child when I was still learning my own talents was keeping us on our toes. He was going to be more talented than me. It is incredible but we now believe that my father had enhanced his powers in some way that resulted in Colton’s talents being enhanced. The challenge of trying to anticipate
Carrie POV Before I can move, Christian steps forward. I see tears in the doctor’s eyes as she looks at her mate, knowing her fate. “Please, I am sorry,” she whispers as Christians looks at her with hate in his eyes. He is owed this. She almost destroyed him and the fact that she is his mate is only a cruel twist of fate. He leans forward placing his lips on hers. One solitary kiss from his mate before he reaches his hands up to her neck and snaps it as her lips rest on his. He steps back, cradling her body in his arms. I feel tears of my own rise up as I watch helplessly at our friend being forced to deal with the crappy hand he had been dealt. Without saying anything else, Christian turns and walks out of the gala event with his dead mate in his arms. Nobody spoke. They simply watched the tragic event in slow motion. As Christian exits the building, I can hear people starting to speak softly. Talking about calling it a night. Sadly, I a
Carrie POV Christian cut off the words the doctor was about to say. “Christian!” I yell wanting to hear what she had to say. Christian was determined to snap her neck. Jackson was beside him trying to unwrap his hands around her neck. My mother kept yelling for Christian to do it. “Christian stop!” I command with all my power. Many surrounding us started to drop to their knees at the wave of power that left my body. Christian dropped his hands turning his angry glare on me. The female doctor leans forward gasping for air. “Why?” Christian demands. “We need to know who Rosie’s baby’s father is, Christian,” I say to him trying to reason with him. “It is my right to destroy her,” he says with anger. “I understand but this is important,” I say to him looking to Jackson. I know he is wondering as well and wants the answers from her. I feel a sense of trepidation as I move towards the woman. My mother is struggling to get out of Josh’s hands,
Carrie POV I block the bolts of power coming at me with my arms. It is as if my arms have become shields of steel and I simply have the intuitive awareness of how to deflect her attack. She moves closer as I step back. Taking a chance, I flip my right arm and make like I am tossing something at her. It shocks her and she stumbles backwards with a smirk, “Just testing out your powers, I see,” she says as she steps closer to me pushing a stronger wave of force at me. Before I can respond I am pushed backwards. My shoes fall off and I land on my ass. I hear Jackson yell my name, but I cannot look to him. I have to focus on the threat. She continues to stalk towards me as I crawl backwards trying to get my bearings. I am working my way towards standing when she slams into me again this time knocking me back and winding me. “If you were smart, you would stay down. As much as I want you dead, your father would never forgive me for destroying you
Jackson POV It has been a week since Carrie received the email from her mother. After a few months reprieve I had started to wonder if they would just give up. I had hoped they would give up. They were after something. I simply did not know what it was. Carrie was too independent. She could live on her own without them. She had always wanted her mother but not like this. Not this woman who had seemingly abandoned her at a young age for the greater good, as she liked to imply. We were all getting ready for the Gala event we were hosting. We had spent every waking moment well into the wee hours of the night, planning for every type of attack we could imagine. Christian had gone darker if that were possible. Now that the end was imminent, I knew he would take out the female doctor, or die trying. And that scared me. He had no fear of death. It was as if he had looked it in the face once and he was prepared to die if it meant taking out his
Carrie POV It has been three months since we last saw my mother, brother, or his mate the female doctor. Everyone has been on intense alert since that fight. Our warriors were exhausted from all the additional training and extra shifts they have been taking to protect the Pack. Jessica has settled into her job working with Carleton for the Wolf Council. They continue to try and find leads as to where my family is but have had no luck. They are all wanted and considered dangerous. There are huge bounties on all of them. I do not want them captured. I want them dead. They are wreaking havoc with my family and my doctor is concerned the stress is impacting my ability to get pregnant. I am exhausted myself worrying about how much I have brought to Jackson’s doorstep. He continues to tell me to stop worrying. He will stand by my side regardless. But the Pack did not sign on for this either. They continue to be supportive, but I know they are
Hi Everyone Quick note to let you know I have had the flu all weekend and have been unable to post. I am starting to come around but wanted to let you know why you have not received an update this weekend. I figure there are only four chapters left in the story and hope to pick those off starting tomorrow. My apologies for the less than consistent posting in March. Fingers crossed this is the end of the craziness. Any questions feel free to post below and I will either answer in the story or here :) Hope you all enjoyed your weekend. Catch up tomorrow. Ellie xo
Carrie POV Jackson returned to us and shared what they learned so far. Which was not much. My mother had attempted to have Randy freed, but Jackson quickly replied, “It is out of my hands. The Wolf Council is taking him into custody, and he will be charged accordingly.”. “That is outrageous. We have neutralized the threat!” my mother exclaims. “Take it up with Carleton. He is making transfer arrangements as we speak,” Jackson says without sympathy. “Carrie you must do something to help your brother,” my mother pleads with me. Shaking my head, “I am sorry, but I cannot. He betrayed me and my Pack; had he succeeded it would have been the end of us,” I reply to her. Jackson looks at me with love and pride at my response. The rage that crosses my mother’s face surprises me, but she quickly contains it. That causes me to pause for a moment as I watch her. “You have his wolf, his powers … what more do you want?” she asks coldly. “It is not abo
Carrie POV “Do you sincerely believe he deserves to have his wolf, after all that he has done?” my mother asks. I sit with that question. Did I think he deserved his wolf? I had not been prepared to help save him, yet I worried about him being without a wolf. A wolf was so much a part of who we were. And having been without my wolf for so long, I could easily identify with the devastation. “I do not know the answer to that question,” I respond honestly. “Well, you have time to decide,” my mother replies. “What do you mean?” I ask. “You have taken his wolf into your care; you can give it back or let the wolf go to its resting place. The choice will solely be yours,” my mother says softly. I sit back in my chair and chew my food slowly. Mandy is sitting silent listening to the conversation. “What do you think?” I ask her as she looks at me in surprise. “I think it is as your mother has said. It is your choice; your decision,” she replies.