All Chapters of Mated in the Shadow of Betrayal: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

(Xander POV)“Mate,” the she-wolf repeated, this time with a slight edge to her voice.I looked at the she-wolf in complete confusion. Why was she identifying herself as my mate? I certainly did not feel a mate bond pull to her. I asked my wolf what he thought, but he was just as confused as I was. I checked my hands for open wounds, silently wondering if I had gotten something on my hands or in my system that would explain this situation. However, I dismissed the thought as quickly as it came to me.“I’m sorry, who are you?” I asked.“You don’t remember me, do you?” the she-wolf asked, almost bitterly.“No, I don’t.”“Well, I recommend you start remembering fast, because I’m best friends with Piper and I’m sure she is going to have a lot of questions about us.”Best friends with Piper? That did not make any sense. She looked to be a little older than both Piper and I. Plus, I had not met any of Piper’s friends at Moon Shadow. Heck, I did not even know if she had any friends b

(Leo Bloodstone POV) I punched yet another hole in the wall of the office, and I made quick work of destroying yet another desk.  As I did so, Addie was leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the room.  Her arms were crossed as she watched me with amusement. “Feel better yet?” “No,” I growled. “Ready to tell me what is wrong?” I glared at her.  “They lost Xander.  Again.” Addie stared back at me as though it was no big deal. “I thought you wanted them to lose Xander.”“I NEVER WANTED THEM TO LOSE XANDER.” “Yes, you did.  You specifically said that you wanted them to lose Xander so that he could lead you to Piper.  It sounds like they did that.  Now just look up Xander’s location w

(Xander POV)I am currently in a guest office at Moon Shadow, waiting for Piper to be brought up to see me. It is hard to believe that, after two years, I am finally going to see her.I have been dreaming of this moment for a very long time, and my heart is pounding in anticipation. I have wanted nothing more than to see her for so very long.…And yet, my gut is screaming at me that this is a bad idea. That I should walk away. The words “ABORT MISSION” are raging through my mind. My wolf also seems unsettled. Nothing about this feels right.There is simply too much going on. Too many things have gone wrong already. I am too angry —at myself, Piper, and the situation generally— to meet with Piper right now. I do not want to say something to Piper that I will regret. And now there is Daphne to consider too. How do I explain to Piper that she should wait for me to take her as my chosen mate when her best friend Daphne is my “fated”? What will she think of me when I tell her

(Xander POV)I have known Piper for a very long time, but even a stranger could tell that Daphne’s announcement has crushed her. The pain, disappointment, and shock is rolling off of her in waves.A part of me is relieved —Piper’s reaction means that she still has feelings for me— but another part of me hates that she had to find out about Daphne and I this way. My instincts —and my wolf— want to comfort Piper, but I am not sure what to do. The situation is far too complicated.“Is it true, Xander?” Piper asks me. “Is Daphne really your mate?”“No!” I respond instinctively.I see hope flash through Piper’s eyes, but then Daphne discreetly pinches my arm and sends me a warning look. Sh&t.“I mean, yes.” I wrap my arm around Daphne’s shoulders. “Yes, Daphne is my mate. But –”“And you are my best friend, Piper,” Daphne interrupts. “My mate and my best friend are childhood best friends! Could this be any more perfect?!?!?! The Moon Goddess really knew what she was doing!!!”Pi

(Piper POV)It took me more than ten minutes to tell Xander everything that had happened at Wildwood Pack, and everything that had led up to that night. Xander gently held my hands throughout the story, and he quietly listened to the whole thing without interrupting or asking any questions. In a way, it felt good to finally talk to someone about what had happened. I had been having a hard time making sense of everything on my own, especially my conflicting feelings about Leo. Xander’s quiet support reminded me of when he was there for me after my mother died. Back then, he let me cry for hours until I had gotten all of the emotions out —good, bad, irrational, and ugly. When I finally ran out of tears and things to say, he took me in his arms and promised me that everything was going to be okay, even if it did not feel like it in that moment.Call me crazy, but I had expected a similar reaction from Xander when I finished talking about everything that had happened at Wildwood. M