MADDOX I left that hospital room, fast shifted and headed for our territory. Killian wasn't answering my mindlink, Asshole. I ran as fast as I could I needed to know the truth. I knew it wasn't common that wolves got second chance mates or if they did the chance of finding them was much lower. Most Alphas hated Killian and Killian's father. They had a history of being ruthless and power-hungry. So No Alpha had agreed to him choosing their daughter as his chosen mate. Killian rejected his first mate because she was an omega and he wanted a stronger bloodline. When Lucy arrived I thought it must be fate. Ellen's best friend and Axel's mate's sister. It all felt right or was I kidding myself because I was so madly in love with Ellen. When Victoria told Ellen what Damon had told her, it all made sense. Lucy did not feel the mate pull she might have thought she did but not growing up in a pack she wouldn't know the difference especially if magic was involved. FU

LUCY  I was feeling so confused. How could I feel this way about Damon? I have a mate. How do I not feel this way for Killian? He was good to me. He took care of me and loved me. We were marked and mated. How could I treat him this way? Almost like he could read my mind, Damon reached over, placing his hand over my hand.  "Lucy, I am sorry. I didn't mean to push you. I don't want you feeling badly about whatever this is between us. I honestly think we could be mates. I read it is uncommon, but it does happen. Let's just wait and see what Esmerelda says when we stop at my pack."  "How long until we get there?"  "About another hour, it's close to the city Devon lives in. We will stay the night and head into the city for the weekend." I relaxed in my seat and let Damon put on his techno music. I was thinking of all that has happened in the last few weeks. I had to tell Killian about the kiss. I had to tell him I had feelings for someo

DAMON I finally calmed down enough to go back to the packhouse. I was toast. I ran so hard my wolf Hunter whined he wanted to get back to Lucy. He was really attached to her. Another reason by I am sure we are mates. Her Link might be severed, but I will win her back. I can't believe my father. He is sorry. He is sorry he beat Victoria and me and let his father beat us. Treat us like slaves. Victoria was so tiny when he had her tied to a pole and whipped until she was barely conscious, and now he is sorry. Fuck that Fuck him. I don't need him; I never did. He doesn't get to all of a sudden be a decent person. He was a shitty dad, a shitty mate and a shitty Alpha. I am Alpha now, and I am better than he ever was. I make us stronger. I made us united. I stopped outside Lucy's room. I lifted my hand no knock but decided better of it. She doesn't need this drama. She has her own. I turn to leave when the door opens, and I feel her arms slip under mine and around my waist. I twis

LUCY After Melody removed the dark magic from my body, I could feel Astrid sinking back to the recess of my mind. Whereas before, she was always on edge like she was on a tight rope and could slip at any time. I could feel her looming over me, over every decision I made, every emotion I felt. It was oddly peaceful but lonely having her so far back in my subconscious. Was this how normal wolf/human counterparts interacted? Damon was beaming. He was so happy we were actually fated mates like he knew all along, and Melody confirmed it all for him. I am delighted too, really happy but also shocked and betrayed that Kilian would do that to me. That he would trick me like that. He acted like he loved me, but all he wanted was my abilities, womb, and bloodline. I felt my blood boil, and I was trying so hard to shove it down so Astrid wouldn't come forward. Then I noticed she wasn't there. She was just in my mind, not bothered by this at all. I reached out to her. 

DAMON I watched as Lucy confronted Killian. I wanted so badly to rip his throat out. Not only for keeping me from my mate but for hurting Lucy. She loved him even without the bond. Would she have ever felt that way about me without the mate bond? It took everything inside me not to shift and kill him. When he reached for her, I lost it—charging forward but keeping Hunter in check.  "Don't touch my mate, or I will kill you and take everything you own." I roared with a rage so deep and thick I almost choked on my own words." There it was, the look I had been waiting for as he questioned her being my mate. When we arrived back, Lucy was bursting at the seems to tell the girls. They were shocked, to say the least, and Axel was silent. He didn't say anything. I couldn't tell if he was mad or glad or just pissed Killian hurt Lucy. I know I was barely containing Hunter. Hunter wanted to murder him. Hunter was a lot less rational than I am. He is a warri