Maddie POV Touching my mate feels amazing like it should. I don’t know why I didn’t put my foot down sooner. I was so terrified when I found out about my heat. I was afraid Colt wouldn’t be there. I went to find him to tell him had to escape sooner, only to save his life, and then never actually tell him about it. Then once instincts took over, and I marked 1006, I never thought I would be able to touch my fated mate again but now all is right in the world. “Maddie,” Ryan’s voice echoes behind me and I turn to face him. Guilt is written all over his face and he sighs, “We need to talk.” I look at Colt and he nods, “Go ahead. Caleb wanted me to meet him at the training grounds.” I sigh but kiss him goodbye- my whole body feels on fire but it’s nice. That’s how it’s meant to be. Ryan sighs and I look at him, “What’s going on?” I ask him, my eyes narrowing. Lila is my best friend. He better have the best intentions. He looks around the hospital and then pulls me into a closet, “Madd
Colt POV“So, I will take it easy on you at first. Then we can progress as you get stronger and learn to use your body without the limb,” Caleb tells me. I lift my right hand over my face to block the sun and shake my head.“I was highly trained, Caleb. Like since I could walk. This missing limb may take some time to get used to not having but I don’t want you to go easy on me. I am not weak.”“No one said you were weak but,” he pauses and swings at me, “I block with my right hand, and he smirks, swinging his other arm. I lift my stub and he smirks at me as he stops an inch from my face, “See. Your muscle memory remembers you having a left arm. It is going to take time for you to figure out how to fight without it.”I sigh but nod, “No, that is true. How do I block now?”Caleb grins, “Duck and kick?” he lifts his arm again and swings at me. His words echo in my brain, duck and kick. I duck to the ground, using my right hand to balance, and kick his legs out from under him with my left
Maddie POVI kiss Colt and smile as he pulls away, “Okay, again!” I giggle and throw another ball at him. He jumps up and kicks it at me with his right foot. I duck and Caleb claps behind us. His balance just keeps getting better and I can’t say I am not proud. My mate is damn sexy. “See, Colt. No one said you were weak. I only said we would go easy at first to make sure you got to know your body again. You are doing so well. Tomorrow, we work on shifting.” Caleb smiles as he looks at us both, “ And Maddie, I need your help with the perimeter check. Lucas is with Lilly.”I nod and smile again as Colt pulls me into his arms and kisses me deeply, “I’ll see you after though, right?” he asks. I sigh as I look up at the sunset- I promised someone else I would spend time with them and even know it’s a fake bond, it’s still there.“I promised Ian I would have dinner with him, but I will sleep with you tonight,” I say smiling. Caleb nods. “Yes, it seems both you and Lila are moving out of m
Maddie POVI can’t believe this. Ian has to be lying. I may have accepted him, but I didn’t accept him as my mate. I didn’t mean to mark and mate him. It was the ions and the lab. The lab is always ruining my life! I have to talk to Caleb. Maybe he’ll let Ian move into the guest house in the packhouse. I want to get to know him and NOT by living with him.I want to be able to walk around my cottage naked for the next week and be ravaged by my mate in privacy. We are finally just able to touch one another. Ian can’t ruin that for us! It isn’t fair. I won’t feel comfortable having sex with Colt if Ian is close by- it feels weird even though we all accepted each other. I am not ready to fully accept him.The way he just used the fake bond to try to get him to have sex with him?! What the hell was that!? It’s not even a real fated bond but my body betrayed me.I walk toward the packhouse, but all the lights are off. Where is Caleb?I walk toward Lucas’s house. Maybe he is still there but
Colt POVI watch Maddie walk away and even though I don’t want her to go or see Ian, that was part of our deal. I wanted the bond back and that was the price, but it was well worth it. I look toward where Caleb pointed and look for the cottage.I find it easily but it’s not quite what I expected. It’s a little worn down and old, but the roof looks good. I open the door and walk inside to find a small space like the other cottage but all of this furniture is covered in sheets and dusty. I don’t have too long until Maddie comes back so I move quickly- I want her to be welcomed home to our new house in a romantic style.I grab each sheet and look at the furniture underneath. It’s in good condition and I run through the house like a crazy wolf cleaning it up. This cottage is small like the other one. One bedroom, a living, a kitchen, and 1 bathroom but this will do nicely until Maddie go on our way to find Julia and then Andy.Flash Back.“Colt, you make Maddie weak,” Andy’s voice is cold
Maddie POV “What the hell are you doing here?! You told me you were being released tomorrow! I never got a chance..” but he interrupts me, “To talk to Caleb in protest? I know, my dear. Why do you think I am here? Dr. Wayne said I could leave tonight if I had a place to go and I did- with you and my brother- whom I graciously accepted.” He grins at Colt. Colt stands up and I step in between them, “Why do you want to be here so badly?” I ask. “Maddie, you are my mate too, and earlier when you moaned.” He grins at Colt, and Colt stares at me, but I shake my head, “No, Colt! That’s not what happened!” I shout. “Maddie, you can try to deny this,” he points to both him and me, “All you want but eventually the ions will pull hard enough, and you’ll want to be with me. Rather you like it or not.” Colt growls and I glare at Ian, “I agreed to get to know you. I told you I would give you a chance. Are you just so evil, you just knew I would never like you or are you just a scared, immature
Ian POVI awake feeling fuzzy and constrained. I try to move and realize I am indeed tied up. I open my eyes and look around the room. Maddie walks out of the bedroom and I can smell her and my brother had sex. It makes me angry and sad. She is my mate too. I am attractive and she has a pull toward me. Why not me? She sits down on the sofa. Crossing her legs first and stares at me as she folds her arms over her chest.“Why am I tied up?” I ask, looking at the ropes that hold me. They are scratchy and I don’t like them.“Gee, I don’t know. Because you attacked my mate?” her eyes are cold, and her words are coated with anger.“I am your mate too!” I shout, struggling against the ropes.“Then act like it,” she says with her eyes glaring at me and I look at her confused.“I’ve been trying but you won’t let me touch you,” I say as my voice breaks some. Her eyes peer up into mine and she shakes her head.“Mating is not the only part of being a mate, Ian. There are conversations, getting to
Maddie POVI touch Ian and the sparks engulf my body. I bite my tongue- Colt is still sleeping and honestly, I am tired of this. I hate that my body doesn’t give me a choice. This isn’t fair.Ian opens his eyes and sits up and then heads to the bathroom. I walk toward the front door and open it. Caleb hands me a cup of coffee and Ian walks out of the bathroom. He looks at me and then at him and I shake my head, “No, Ian slept on the couch. Colt is in the room, but I have a bone to pick with you, Alpha,” I say glaring at him.He smirks and looks at Ian, “So, you are coming with us?” he asks him.Ian nods and Caleb chuckles, “This will be fun.” He says sarcastically.“Well, he can’t be left alone, and we can’t leave him with Colt. There was a scuffle last night already.”Caleb covers his mouth to muffle his laugh, “A scuffle? They aren’t baby goats, Maddie. When you say scuffle, I think of them head butting each other and bahing.”Ian sighs, walking past Caleb, “Bah- I got my ass kicked
Maddie I hug Lila goodbye as she has tears in her eyes, “We will be back, you know that,” I whisper into her ear. She wipes her eyes as she sighs. “I know, and I understand why I can’t come, but I will miss all of you. Even Ian,” she says, and I chuckle as I wipe the tears that fall from my eyes. Then, finally, I release her so Ryan can hug her next. “It’s only for a few days,” Andy reminds us both. We are going to kill the Norms and be home by Saturday.” He says with confidence. We both nod, and Lila sighs, kissing and hugging Ryan. I watch them as Colt grabs my hand, “She is safest here, you know.” He reminds me. I nod, “I know. I am glad she won’t be alone here but still.” I say, looking at the staff that will stay with her. She is my sister, and I will miss her dearly. “Is everyone ready?” Andy asks, and we all nod. Even though we have to leave Lila and I can’t see into the future like him, I know I am ready. This has been a long time coming, and I am prepared for it to end
ColtIt’s been three days since Andy showed us the basement where we would be training, and we have been down here every day ever since. There is so much equipment down here that it’s insane. When he said he had unlimited resources, he wasn’t kidding.“Duck!” Ryan shouts to me, and I do, avoiding Andy’s fist. We have been down here not only learning to control our powers but also learning to fight at the same time.“GO, Ryan!” Andy shouts, and Ryan closes his eyes, twisting into a twister. Everything in the basement gets windy, and Andy claps his hands, “See! You got it,” he says, and Ryan twists back into himself.“I still can’t believe I can do that,” he admits, and I nod, agreeing. Yep. None of us ever imagined he could become a twister. Even though he can do the things that Andy does, he is still not as powerful as him; none of us are.Ian walks down the stairs carrying a dead bunny, and I know it’s my turn. He grins evilly, and I roll my eyes. Andy’s sense of humor is sick. He
RyanI have never seen anything like this in my entire life. This house is massive, and there are so many rooms. My entire pack could live here. As we walk inside, we are greeted with a grand staircase, but there are two more entryways in either direction to explore the house.“This way first,” Andy says, pointing up the stairs. “I’ll give you the grand tour after dinner.” Lila smiles as she grabs my hand, and we begin to climb the stairs. I can hear her heart beating and feel her excitement through the bond. I know this must be exciting for her. By becoming Maddie’s friend, she was thrown into an extraordinary life.When we reach the top, there’s a long hallway and a vast living area. Complete with a traditional kitchen and a living room. It looks as big as Caleb’s packhouse. “Each of you will have a room up here on this floor. Mates, of course, share,” he says, winking at Colt and Maddie, and I mind-link her, “He’s weird, right?” Maddie chuckles and covers her mouth as he shows us
MaddieSilence ensues in the limo, and I eye my pack as Andy scrolls on his phone. “Do you really think we can trust him?” Colt’s voice comes through the group mind link, and Ian and Ryan begin to talk over one another.“No, why, how, where, no,”“STOP!” I shout. “One at a time,” I say as I eye Ryan; he is our leader; he should go first.“I don’t know, and look at this- a freaking limo, what the hell?” he responds, and I notice Andy’s eyes dart between us all- he knows were mind-linking, but of course, he would; he has a pack.“If there is something you guys want to ask me, just ask. I promise, I am an open book,” he says, placing his hands in his lap. I look around the limo at our pack and clear my throat. We definitely have questions.“How do you have money?” I ask. This is valid. Most of us ended up barely getting by.Andy chuckles and lifts his hands up as he speaks, “I was found by a pack after we all split up. I am now the heir to the pack and future Alpha. My adoptive father is
AndyIt has been nine years since I have seen any of them, but they look the same as they do in my visions. I know where they have all been- I keep tabs on my OG pack. Pack.That’s a funny word. One I didn’t know until I was in the outside world. I often wonder if I made the right decision leaving them. I have seen some of the stuff they have all been through, and I know it’s horrendous.I have watched all of them closely over the years struggle, but I have gained money and power. My powers are all of theirs but mixed. I have visions of the future, much like Maddie, but mine are more in-depth, and I can control when they come.I can bring people back to life, like Colt, and even kill them like Ian, but not with a kiss but with the flick of my wrist.Like Ryan, I can control the weather, but the elements, too: Wind, Earth, Water, and even Fire.I can manipulate feelings like Julia and feel them, but I don’t allow them to eat me like she has. She has no idea what she is truly capable
ColtI watch as the wind blows through Maddie’s hair, and I smile. My mate is so beautiful and intelligent. I am so happy the fake bond is gone, but how can we ever trust my evil twin now? He almost had us all fooled. I want to kill him, but I know none of them will let me, but only because of Selene.Maddie’s body suddenly stiffens and begins convulsing. Shit, what is it now?“Pull over,” Ryan shouts through the truck window. Ken stops the truck, and I cradle her head in my lap to save her from banging it against the metal sides. The convulsing only lasts a few minutes, and then her eyes fly open.“They are coming!” she shouts.“The lab? They found us?!” Ian asks, and Maddie shakes her head, trying to sit up.“The Mafia, Drive!!!” she screams.Ryan bangs on the window, and Ken begins driving as she looks at Julia, “A man with dark hair and dark eyes wants you back. I saw a tattoo of a hawk.”“That’s Antonio,” Julia’s voice is almost a whisper, “But don’t they all think I’m dead?”“Y
MaddieThe pain is excruciating, and I grip Colt’s shoulder as it radiates through my entire being. Even my bones feel on fire. Ryan made it sound like it would be more painful for Ian, but this is the worst pain I have ever felt in my entire life. It feels like part of my soul is literally being ripped away from my body.My stomach churns, and I hear Ryan say he has told hold the melted metal for two minutes, but this is beginning to feel like hours. Ian’s bond is being pulled from me, and even though that’s what I want, it hurts so bad. He removes the spoon from Ian’s neck, and I throw up into the dirt. The physical pain is no longer there, but I am left with a hole in its place.So- this is what it feels like when your mate dies? I can’t imagine losing Colt now, like ever.I wipe my eyes as I hear Ken speak, “Once everyone is ready to go, we can head toward Denver. We are only twelve hours away,” the words roll off me, but I am too weak to respond.“Are you okay, love?” Colt whi
RyanIs it wrong that I want to physically hurt Ian? I don’t think so. He ruined Marge and Ken’s lives when they wanted to help me- to help us. He doesn’t care about any of us. The only reason he dug the tracker out was because of Julia. I’ve heard finding your mate will make you do crazy things, but that could have been all for show too! What if there’s another tracker or has another way of communicating with them?We have no idea what he is capable of! If it were up to me, I would rip out his heart right here, right now. I hate him. He tried to hurt all of us for better treatment when he could have just had a better life, but I suppose that’s why he’s not a part of our pack anymore, anyway. He has always played into their games.I mean, he tried to kill Colt when he was three. That’s a toddler! Fucking sociopath.I put the lighter’s flame on the spoon, and it begins to heat up, and I look up as Lila’s eyes catch mine. I wish she could feel what I feel. I wish she knew how much I lov
MaddieWe have been driving for hours now, and I know we are all exhausted. Ken says we should be able to make it to Denver by noon tomorrow, but we need to take back roads. Ryan says even back roads may have cameras, so we need to wear hooded sweaters and sunglasses the entire way to Denver; once we get there, we can find Andy as carefully as possible.I still don’t understand Julia’s gift or what Selene expects us to do. We knew there was more than one lab, but I didn’t realize there were over one hundred. I don’t understand how she expects us to take them down even though we desperately want to.How can six wolves with gifts like ours take out over one hundred labs? Especially when some are even out of the country.Colt snores into my ear, and I kiss his forehead gently. I can tell he feels somewhat relieved. He is happy Ian’s ions are gone, but the bond isn’t. It is still there because we are marked and mated. If Ian wants to burn his mark, he can. I will not stop him, but I am pr