Tears are streaking down my face at Eli’s story. Everything he said is the truth. There was not one moment in his story that I could taste deceit. Liam had set me in the second chair and had begun pacing. Through the bond, I could feel his indecision, his frustration at hearing this story. “You could have told my father this story back then, why didn’t you?” Liam asks him. “Your father was a grief-stricken man, out for blood. He wouldn’t have listened to me any more than you have the last six months.” I can see the impact of his words on Liam, feel them through the bond. Liam knows he’s right and his own guilt is threatening to eat him up. I stand and go to him, wrapping my arms around him. It takes a moment, but his arms come around me and he pushes his face into my neck, breathing deeply, calming himself. We stand there for a moment, while Liam collects himself. When he’s calm, he looks back at Eli. “What about Cara? Why did you try to forcibly mark her?” It’s Eli’s turn to st

“Why would being mated to me help Liam see the vampires?” I ask Rik. “When Cara and I completed our mating process, I became stronger and took on some of her Guardian gifts, just not to the same extent that she has them. In the same way, I think that Liam will have some of your gifts, one of which is being able to see the vampires. I know I’m faster now that I’m mated to Cara, and I’ll guess Liam will be too.” I turn and look at Liam. “Do you feel stronger?” He shrugs, keeping his arms wrapped around me. “I felt the power surge when you marked me. I haven’t exactly had time to test out any of your other gifts.” “Back to the task at hand.” Clint brings us back to attention. “We need a plan to make sure that these vampires do not have the opportunity to get to Angel and Cara, especially now that Cara is pregnant. We don’t know how that may influence her taste to them.” “Meaning, I may taste better?” She asks with a disgusted look on her face, as Rik growls. “We don’t know enough.

I can’t believe that Liam is willing to let Eli go. I’m even more surprised that Rik agreed as well. But I’m glad. Alessia and I can tell that Eli meant everything that he said today. I’m exhausted after a long day, but my fatigue flies out the window as I watch my mate strip his clothes off for bed. He turns to me. “I don’t usually sleep with clothes on. Do you want me to keep wearing pants to bed or are you okay now that we’re mated?” I slowly walk toward him, unbuttoning my shirt as I go. His eyes darken as they follow the path of my hands down my shirt. I let the blouse drop on the floor, before undoing my bra and letting it drop as well. When I get to Liam, I run my hands over his stomach, tracing the lines of his abdominal muscles down to his adonis belt. That’s all it takes for my mate to pick me up and take me to bed, showing me how much he loves me over and over and over again. The next morning, I wake, still feeling a bit sore from the previous evening’s activities. I’m l

We collected Eli and Dustin and headed into the city. When we arrived, Liam took Eli to a store to get some clothes and a backpack before buying him a bus ticket. “Where do you want to go? The next bus is heading north to Asheville.” “That works.” Eli responds. Liam gives him an envelope with money in it. “This is enough to get you back on your feet and started in a new life. Good luck Eli.” After he thanks Liam, Eli boards the bus, and we watch as the bus leaves the station, heading north. I’ve never been in a human city. It is big and loud, lots of tall buildings and cars honking, moving in every direction. It’s very overwhelming for me and I am glad that Liam is holding my hand. When we get to his building, he takes me up to his apartment first. We brought a change of clothes and some things to stay overnight. When I walk in, I’m amazed at how beautiful it is. Everything looks new and the floor to ceiling windows give an amazing view of the city. “Wow.” I say. He comes up be

I watch as Liam walks away, then I turn to the kitchen. My mate is overwhelmed with work and I added to that this morning by shifting everything around in the kitchen. That, at least, is something that I can help correct. When I walk in, the Omegas bow their head in deference to me. The one who must be temporarily in charge comes over to me. “Luna, can we get you something?” She asks me. “Yes, first what is your name?” I ask her. “My name is Olivia, Luna.” “Olivia. I’m Angel. I know you were thrown into this today, so why don’t I give you a hand?” Two hours later, I have an inventory of all the food currently in stock, we have a meal plan established for the next week, and a grocery list started. We’re working on a roster of rotating shifts for the Omegas and I’m enjoying the camaraderie of being in a pack again. It’s been a long time and it feels good. “What’s going on here?” I hear Liam ask from behind me and the relaxed atmosphere that I’ve been working at creating deflates f