SKYLER'S POV
I can't believe they would do this to him. He is their brother and they are treating him like he is a rogue and shouldn't be here. I watch as his eyes return to his sapphire blue, and I get lost in them as he says,
"I love you, Skyler. I always have. I'm just sorry it wasn't different between us..."
I jump as an arm wraps around my waist and slowly starts to pull me back. I then hear Nathan whisper into my ear,
"Come, Skyler, you need to move away from him..."
I struggle in his arms as I say, "No... Nathan, wait... Please?"
I then swap to our private mate link. "Alice needs to talk to him, please Nathan??"
I feel him sigh and then nod, loosening his hold around my waist just a little. I know they don't trust him and I know that they probably won't like whatever Alice wants to say to him. So we concentrate hard, allowing Alice to find the weak mate link b
NATHAN'S POV It has been 3 days since Cole has completed his punishment, but both Xaiden and I believe he deserves more than what he got. He attacked not only his mate but our mate as well. He then ran away like a little coward, not staying to face the consequences of his actions. I can feel that Skyler has forgiven him as there is no longer that extra pressure coming from her down our mate bond. I know both Alice and Skyler need him, as Alice has been showing more and more of the side effects from him starting the mate bond between them. The deprivation of a mate's touch for so long and so soon after the marking can have a really devastating effect on both the male and female. Not only does their temper start to become uncontrollable, but their wolf can also go insane. We were lucky that Skyler had Elijah and me, but Cole and Xander had no one. I don't know if I can trust him around her. I can't trust yet that he won't do it again. Skyler has bee
SKYLER'S POV It's been 2 weeks since Doc Isaac allowed Cole to leave the hospital. He has been staying in his room at the packhouse as both Elijah and Nathan won't allow him to stay at the house until he earns his place back in the family. Much to their dismay, I have been spending as much time as I can with Cole around all my other responsibilities. Which is what I am trying to do now, I am trying to spend some quality time with Cole, but as I look around, I see Nathan sitting on the back porch. I am getting tired of this. I now have no time to myself and I think even Cole is finding it hard, as we are always under constant watch. I know Nathan and Elijah still don't trust him not to hurt me again, but if we are to ever repair the damage he did with what he did, then he and I need some time alone together.
SKYLER'S POV I wake the next morning, still wrapped in Elijah's arms. I sigh, stretch a little, and smile as Elijah growls low and kisses the back of my neck and shoulder. I turn in his arms and kiss him, but pull back and push against his chest as he runs his fingertips over my ribs and tickles me. He stops and then gets this sly look in his eyes he always gets when he is planning something that I am not going to like to start with, but will enjoy. He then pulls me back to him and kisses up and down my neck and chest, making me let out a mix of a moan and a growl, which then turns into laughter as he tickles me once again. It takes me a little while, but I manage to squirm and wriggle out of his hold and off of the bed. I then head into the bathroom, turn the water on and step under the water as soon as it has warmed. I feel much better after the time with Elijah last night, and even Alice feels a little better. At least she is talking to me agai
SKYLER'S POV Six months after my father attacked me in my new pack, my brother made the attempt and the first move to try to repair our relationship. ***FLASHBACK*** I wake up to a crying Marcus. I go to get out of bed but 2 arms tighten around me, accompanied by a low growl. "Where are you going?" I laugh and sigh at the same time as I turn in his arms, "Elijah, Marcus is crying, I need to get up..." He growls again, "I had forgotten how much a young pup interferes with our private time together..." "ELIJAH!..." I slap him on the chest, "He didn't stop you last night..." "Trruueee..." He runs his hand down my side, growls low again, and then lets me go. I get out of b
SKYLER'S POV ***FLASHBACK CONT'*** I head into one of the baby stores, walk around for a little while, and then pick up a few things for Marcus. I also grab a couple of things for Samuel and Emma before picking up a couple of neutral-coloured items to surprise Katie with when I get back. I go to the counter and pay for everything and once I leave the store, one of the guards approaches. "Luna, may I take and carry them for you?" I smile. "You don't have to do that." "I know Luna, I want to." I nod and hand him the couple of bags full of the baby stuff I just bought. I then head to the formal store, knowing that I still need to find something nice for the Blood Moon Celebrations coming. When I get to the formal store, the guard with my bags sits down on one of the benches a
COLE'S POV After my fight with Nathan and Xaiden, we have never really settled anything unless we fight each other over it. I apologised and explained to him what happened that night, that I had lost complete control over Xander allowing his jealously get the better of both of us, Xander apologised to them as well saying he didn't realise that she was still innocent at the time and that being the oldest the jealously that surfaced from how she was with them made him believe he deserved to have her first. Once we couldn't hit each other anymore, we just lay on the ground and looked up at the tops of the trees, the stars, and the small sliver of moon that was in the sky. We came to the agreement that really there was nothing he could do about the fact that I will at some stage, need to be alone with Skyler to complete the marking and re-enforce the weak mate bond we currently share. I just promised that I would make sure that Skyler was comple
COLE'S POV I have missed so much over the years, but there was no way I could have come back sooner, as I wasn't prepared to admit to myself, let alone to Elijah and Nathan, what I had done. I wasn't ready to receive Skyler's forgiveness. That would have only been brought on by the mate bond I had started by marking her. I slow as I get to the border. I then hear some voices that I don't recognize. So I cover my scent, move silently closer, and stay hidden in some bushes nearby. "So, what's the report?" "Alpha James and Luna Jen arrived this morning. Luna Jen is close to giving birth and plans to do it here. Alpha Cole has returned... The New moon celebration is planned for 3 days' time." "Good, the Alpha will be pleased with this and he can do some of his own recon at the New Moon celebration." "Does he have an invitation?" "No! I guess you will need to get him one!" "I think she is se
SKYLER'S POV Finding out what my father had planned for me on my 18th birthday was a shock, especially as he only seemed to be happy when he was punishing me, but then that would be the ultimate punishment, making me take my mother's place. I am brought out of my shock when Samuel, Emma, Marcus, Cooper, Ruby and Samantha all come running up to us yelling, "WHAT'S FOR LUNCH??" I smile and crouch down and ask, "Okay, what did you pups want for lunch?" "Mac and cheese or sandwiches?" I laugh as I get a unanimous, "MAC AND CHEESE!" "Okay, let's head inside so you all can wash your hands and I can make lunch..." They all run back inside our home. As I stand to follow them, I look around and notice that Cole has disappeared. I sigh and head inside, knowing that if I take much longer, the pups will be back out pestering me again. Once inside and in the kitchen, I make 3 b