His mind’s barrier comes crashing down and I feel it all. The pain. The grief. The hurt. The uncertainty in our bond. The certainty that he isn’t enough for me and our pups. I caused that. Not all of it. But there is a large part that is my fault. I held his face in my hands and poured all of my love for him into the matebond and my kiss. I love you, Devin. More than I could ever say. You are everything to me. You are more than enough for me. I link to him. He tries to pull away. Tries to reject what I’ve said, but I don’t let him. I devour his lips, nipping and sucking at them. He moans into my mouth, though I don’t know if it’s from his pain, or lust, or both. Tears run down his face and spread across both of our cheeks. I crawl into his lap, keeping my hands on his face. I hold him steady, keeping his lips pressed to mine. I can’t let him escape again. I can’t fuck this up. If I do, I might lose him forever. “I’m, uh…I’m gonna go,” Hakeem says quietly. We do

“DAMN IT!” I scream, throwing the closest object to me. It happens to be a large metal mixing bowl. It bounces off the wall and then the floor before rolling under the kitchen table. A week? A fucking week away from my mates and pups? I was going insane thinking that I’d be here for another two days and now I find out that it will AT LEAST be another six? I’m going to go fucking insane. Zak and Charlie aren’t fairing much better. The stress of being new parents and the lack of sleep that comes from having infant pups isn’t helping at all. I should be there! I should be with my family. Instead, I’m wasting away in this Goddess-forsaken cave with three fucking psychos. I can’t even leave if I wanted to. I’ve tried to get out of the barrier that Severn created. First off, there’s nothing sharp enough. There are a few kitchen knives, but they don’t even have a butcher’s knife in here. Must have gotten rid of everything sharp before they took me. Though, that doesn’t matte

I walk in the door late, having missed dinner with my boy again. I see Sandra and Bhakti on the floor with Nathan, building some monstrous stack of blocks with cars and Little People stacked on and around it. Nathan’s making roaring noises and giggling. The sight stops my heart. He’s been so happy here. The shadow of Julian and that pack has left, fallen away from his little psyche, and left this happy little boy in its wake. It’s amazing to see his healing. Amazing to see what his life should have been all along. Carefree, creative, full of hope and happiness. And love. So much love. He's never met a stranger. Every other pup fights to sit beside him in school or be on his team during recess. He is loved by everyone. I wish that I could be more like him. Yeah, I’m better. I’m not constantly on high alert, waiting to see what I would do to piss someone off, to see how they’d react. Using my son to keep me in line. Using my body to beat out their frustrations or gain

I wake to the smell of rotten meat surrounding me and a heavy weight in my lap. The feeling of cold stone on my back and beneath me reminds me that I’m in the gym cave with Sev, who is probably what is in my lap. I crack my eyes open slightly, just enough to take in the room. No one is in here yet, but they are just outside of the door. I can hear them moving in the leaves, not even attempting to be quiet. I guess they think that because there are six of them, they can stand against us. Yeah, ok. I put my hand over Sev’s mouth so that he doesn’t speak and shake him awake. Immediately, he’s alert and beginning to claw at my hand. I pull his head to mine quickly, keeping my eyes on the door. I can see one of them in wolf form starting to walk towards the door. “Rogues!” My whisper is urgent, my eyes tracking their movement. It’s then that we hear Corinda’s scream from the other cave. Without thinking, Sev leaps up, calling her name. “Fuck!” I mutter under my breath. He j

When Case floated Sev up to him, I almost expected to feel a pang of jealousy surge through my chest that he hadn’t done the same for me. But, I didn’t. Instead, I just feel that “awww” moment that you get when you watch sappy movies and the main characters finally get together. Happy for them, somewhat wishing that you had it yourself, but not really wanting to be a part of their moment. I don’t really dwell on the feeling long. Sev wasn’t completely wrong when he accused me of not being in love with my mates any longer. I am…but more as long time friends love each other. I guess you could call us friends with benefits? I hadn’t really felt love for them in…years? Even the fated sparks have died down for me. I don’t really feel them when I touch my mates anymore. I had hoped that once my revenge was exacted that I would start to fall back in love with them. It hasn’t happened though. I still feel too angry. At least, now, I have a new enemy to vent my anger on. I turn