GINA“Silas, don’t hurt him!” The words came out of my mouth on instinct. I hadn’t intended on saying anything. I didn’t plan on telling anyone that he was my mate since I was unsure if I even wanted to acknowledge it myself.My track record with relationships has not been good, and I’m not sure I’m willing to risk another heartbreak, but when they started closing in on him my wolf started losing it. It was as if my body and even my voice acted without my consent and betrayed me. This is only going to raise questions from Silas and I’m not sure how he will deal with my mate since he’d obviously already set his sights on me.I really didn’t want to deal with jealousy. It’s probably the nastiest emotion I’ve encountered, but it’s too late now. Silas mind-links everyone to stop advancing, but keep the warrior from taking off, then he opens a private mind-link with me. “Is there something you’d like to share, Gina?”Cringing because I knew there was no way out of this conversation n

JERICHO I haven’t seen my mate, Giovanna, in weeks. My wolf is growing more agitated each day and clawing to get out and go find her. If I thought it was just Silas keeping us apart, I wouldn’t hesitate to fight to see her, but I’m still unclear on where she stands when it comes to us. It’s clear that she’s holding back, but I could also see the pull of the mate bond working on her the last few times I saw her. I don’t know her reasons for fighting the bond, but I know that forcing her to accept it will not work in my favor to win her heart. I’m trying to be patient, but my wolf does not understand. At first, I was camping out in the woods with limited resources, but Silas would send someone out to check on my food and water supply and to come get me when he wanted to talk, but after the first couple of weeks, he provided a cell phone that he can use to call me. I know they have been keeping watch over me, even when I don’t see them. When the wind was in my favor I could smell

GINAKarli is fuming! I’ve never seen this girl get angry, but right now she looks like a cartoon character who’s about to have steam shooting out of her ears! It was endearing how angry she was for me and the fact that I had previously been rejected by my mate, but I reminded myself that she didn’t truly know me. She might be more understanding of my mate’s decision if she knew about my past, but I had no intention of giving her all those details.“Gina, I’m so sorry that you went through that,” she apologizes, “It totally makes sense that you would avoid any sort of relationship after that kind of hurt, but you must see that the moon goddess is trying to set things right by giving you a second chance mate.”I smile at her attempt to comfort and reassure me. I appreciate her concern for me but remain guarded. She might feel differently about me if she only knew the truth. I earned that rejection with my own stupid choices. I had already proven that I was not deserving of a mate

GINA As I ran through the forest, back to my room, the cool night air helped to clear my head. I can’t believe I almost kissed him! So much for keeping my distance and remaining neutral. Half of me was kicking myself for letting my guard down, while the other half was upset that I didn’t move in for the kiss sooner before I had to leave. I was a mess. The next day I prepared myself to go with Silas and see Jericho again. Jericho and I had already discussed how this would go and what we would say to one another, so I wasn’t worried about that part, but after the way I ran out on him last night, I was nervous about seeing him again. When Silas and I arrived at Jericho’s house, my heart felt like it would beat right out of my chest. It was probably a good thing because if I seemed too calm, Silas might be suspicious. Jericho played his part perfectly and the meeting with Silas went exactly as we had planned. I kept Jericho “on the hook” without fully giving in to the mate bond,

GINAKarli and I went over the modified plan about eight times before we had to go our separate ways to fulfill our pack duties. It rained a bit as well, which was a stroke of luck! I was back in my room by 9:00 PM, but couldn’t stop fidgeting and thinking about the task ahead of me.Everything must be perfect, or it will all fall apart, and I can safely assume that I’ll never see my mate again. I’m not sure how he would do it, but I’m convinced that Silas would find a way to keep us apart indefinitely.Watching the clock, the hours crept forward at the slowest pace I’ve ever experienced in my life. Finally, 11:30 PM rolled around and it was time for me to head out. I need to make it to the first checkpoint before midnight.After double checking my satchel for the elixir, I snuck out the east entrance. Upon entering the more dense section of the forest, I glance around to make sure no one else is out or watching me, then I take off running at a steady pace.The woods are quiet a