Waking up in my mates arms was something I never thought I would experience. This morning though, having her curled up against me. Her hair splayed out my arm and her breath brushing my skin. I couldn’t remember the last time I had slept so hard and felt so rejuvenated when I woke up. Nuzzling into her, taking in her scent, I closed my eyes again. I must have fallen back asleep because when I woke up again, I was alone. The door was open and sunlight was shining through the window. I could see Olivia, dressed in some black jeans and a band shirt, moving around the stove. Getting up, I stretched and heard the multitude of cracks down my back. Olivia turned, eye brows raised. “Shit Desmond, that sounded awful.” Sticking my tongue out, I shook my head. “Getting old isn’t all it’s cracked up to me.” Olivia giggled. “I get it…cracked up…” With my head shaking, I got up and got dressed. My shirt was wrinkled after being crumpled all night and I trie

I had woken up in the hospital with Desmond holding my hand. He looked terrible. His eyes were sunken in and his complexion was pale. He looked like the life had been drained out of him. Whatever he was wearing was also too big. It made him look small and I hated it. It made him look hollow. As soon as I could, I pulled him next to me. I already knew what they were going to say. I knew that if I lived through the attack I wouldn’t be able to use my right arm again. The fact that it worked at all was a testament to the doctors here.What I didn’t appreciate was Vic getting mad enough to want to reach out to Tatiana. She was the last person I wanted to be added to this mix. Healing me came with a price and I was worried this price would be too high. It was getting higher and higher, her meddling in my life getting worse. Vic didn’t understand and he just focused on the fact that I wouldn’t be able to move my arm or fight. After he stormed out, I knew I w

I sat at the table with Liam. He was nervously running his hands over his pants. I took his hand and smiled.“Sorry.” He mumbled. I laughed. “Liam, relax. They are just your parents. Don’t be so nervous.”Just as I said it, Desmond and Helena walked into the cafe. Liam waved and I could see the look of shock on both of their faces but Helena’s quickly turned to anger. She whispered something to Desmond and he looked at her, narrowing his eyes.They walked over to us and I smiled. Liam shifted in his seat.“We waited to order.” I stood up. “I’ll got get the menus and we can eat.” Liam looked at me, fearful but I smiled. “I’ll be right back.”Going to the counter, I asked for four menus. The woman behind the counter smiled but I could tell she was acutely aware that I was sitting at the table with the Alpha, Luna

Nasir was slowing down. We had been running for five days straight. My legs burned as did my shoulders but I refused to stop. I felt Desmond pull hard at the mate bond but I refused to acknowledge it. Refused to let it pull me back. I just kept running. Letting it fuel me to keep going, keeping him and the kids safe was all that mattered. Poor Nasir was not used to cross country running. He did really well and I knew my pace was nowhere near his running speed but the continuous run wore on him. “Up there, there are some rocks. We will rest there. I know you’re tired. I am too. We can rest and figure out where we are.”Nasir barked and he pulled up next to me, pushing with one last bit of strength. We all out sprinted towards the jutted out rocks and once we made it, I climbed up. Nasir easily jumped and we sat down, huffing. I laughed as he rolled on his back and stuck his tongue out.

***Desmond’s POV*** I slammed my hand into the desk. Scott backed away a couple steps, surprised. “Damn it! She probably thinks I walked away from her!”I fell back into my chair, pinching the bridge of my nose. No. It was just a dream. It wasn’t her. She isn’t here. She is gone. I’m just too wound up. Taking a deep breath, I leaned fulling back in my chair. I was in my office at the pack house, where nearly all of my time was now spent.“Alpha?”“Sorry Scott, I fell asleep at my desk. Did you need something?”His eyes narrowed. “When’s the last time you actually had a fulls nights rest?”“I’m fine.”“No, you’re not. You’ve been staying here and I know you haven’t been actually eating meals.”I glared at Scott. “Do you have the revisions for the lake houses? As well as the new patrol