Chapter 21: Alive Again   Amelie I gasp, and my eyes shoot open! I breathe heavily as I look around the room. I'm in the infirmary again. No one is here this time. "Why do I keep waking up here, damn it!" I say aloud. I try to get up, but I have cords and tubs stuck to me and in me. "How long was I out for? Yeah, that tube has to come out." I was referring to the catheter coming from under my gown. The only thing I can think to do is mind-link, Dad. "Dad, can you get a nurse to come to unplug me? I think I'm charged up now." My sarcasm let him know I was OK. "Amelie! You're awake! I'll have someone right there. We are coming up to see you too. Don't try running off now." He chuckles at the end. "I'm still plugged in. I can't really run around yet." I chuckle back. He ends the mind link, and a minute later, a nurse and the Doctor come in. The Doctor looks at all the m

Chapter 23: Violets   Gideon "Alright, I'll be back in a month. I'll still be following up on cases daily and expect reports as usual if anything happens with the girls' mind-link me immediately no matter the time.” I use my Alpha aura as I leave my last command to Tyson and Marcus. “Are we clear?" "Clear as mud." Tyson can be a bit of a smartass. Marcus rolls his eyes, "yes, Alpha, the twins are in good hands, and so is the pack." Marcus was a bit more serious. I take a deep breath. "Please have Shay and Jorden face time me with the girls every night. I'll let you both know when I arrive." I was known as a cutthroat and brutal Alpha, but when it came to my daughters, I was a sucker. I get into the driver's seat of the SUV. I am bringing two of my elite team with me to assist in James' training. It's about a 4-hour drive so we should arrive midafternoon. For

Chapter 25: Feeding Mate Gideon We walk back hand in hand. It feels so natural, and, wow, she is beyond beautiful. Every time I look into her eyes, my heart races. I can see a storm coming. I know once we get comfortable, I'll see those flashes of topaz like lightning. She is kind, caring, and nurturing, and I see how her siblings regard her. "Thank you, goddess, for hearing my call." I put my hand in my jacket pocket as we walk back, oh the violets. Do I give them to her?  I peek at them, and they are smashed. I don't want the first gift I give her to be smashed floors. So, I try to stuff them back in before Amelie notices, but I'm too late. "What's that you're messing with?" She stops and looks over. I close my eyes and drop my head. I pull out the bundle of smashed violets, "Um, on the way here, we stopped at a gas station, and a woman was selling little bundles of violets. I felt for her, so I

Chapter 27: Dinner and Face Time Gideon I didn't want to leave that room. I wanted to stay there and tease her more. I wanted to touch her more and be touched by her. I want to move slow, even though I want every part of her right now. I could smell her arousal, and I was doing everything I could to hold Ulv back. I can't take her while I'm here. I have to wait till we get back home. If I take her now, I will not be able to stop myself from marking her. Once I've marked her, and we've matted, she'll go into heat two days later. I want to be home and just have her and I locked away in our room. She-wolves go into heat every few months after they are mated. It happens to help with the bond and to produce offspring. "Ulv, we have to hold back. I don't want to mark her here." I am pleading with him. I can feel him watching her every move, wanting her. I want her too. "We don't have to mark her yet. I agree we shou

Chapter 29: The Start of Healing Scars Amelie "Beep, Beep, Beep" I quickly turn my alarm off. Gideon still has his arms around me. Before trying to wiggle my way out, I take in a deep breath of his eucalyptus scent. He was my mate, handsome, strong, intelligent, powerful, kind, thoughtful, tender, and a dedicated father to top it all off. Maybe going through all that hell was worth it. I notice his Mate Mark has healed and revealed itself. It's a tree similar looking to my dad's but different. It has a thicker trunk at the base and bushier foliage with wide roots. I look closer; It's a eucalyptus tree. It's just like his scent. I didn't know much about tree symbolism. I needed to look it up. I am still in bed; I reach over and grab my phone and look up the meaning behind a eucalyptus tree. I find it symbolizes strength, protection, and survival; it fits him to a T. I try to look at my own but looking at that spot witho