Carrie POV At some point I managed to fall asleep on my side facing the wall. It was a restless sleep, but it was something. The two rogues on either side of me had finally shut up. Since my eyes had opened the only sounds were the random moans from those who had been tortured. Would that be me soon, I wondered. I heard the door to my cell open and the smell of my mate hit me before he spoke. “Mate, I know you are awake,” he says to me. I hear him move closer to me, but I ignore him. I refuse to acknowledge this man. “Tell me how you came to be on my territory, and we can move forward from this,” he says as if he is trying to befriend me. I continue to ignore him simply closing my eyes feeling a tear roll down the side of my cheek. “You have to agree, I would be a terrible Alpha if I did not investigate you before I put my Pack at risk,” he says starting to get angry. I continue to lie on the bed curled up in a ball. I hear him blow out a

Carrie POV I come awake with a gasp. I am confused as to where I am. Last I was being beaten by the Beta. There is a soft light overhead and I am lying on something soft. I am warm. I had been so cold, that I felt nothing when the Beta had beaten me. I was numb to the abuse and my silence only enraged the Beta more. At one point I passed out. His anger confused me. He said it was personal. That I would be sorry, and that they were coming for me. Could he know about my past? But how? I laid there for a few moments just taking in the sounds around me. I heard the sounds of a blood pressure machine. I heard other things among them someone was breathing beside me. I slowly turned my head to where I was hearing the sound. I find myself looking into the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. For a moment I was captured by their stare. By the scent of chocolate and coffee. As quickly as I was basking in the moment, I realized wh

Jackson POV I see the fear in my mate’s eyes, and I want to go to her. I move to touch her, but she moves away from me. I frown as I try to reason what could cause her to move away from me when I know my touch would ease her worry. Of course, I could not forget how she had been abused by my Beta and me sticking her in the dungeon in the first place did not help. “Just tell me what is going on. I can decide if it is too risk for our Pack to support you,” I say to her calmly. Jessica looks at me with disgust, Christian sighs, and Carrie smirks. I do not know what I can do to ease her concern. Agreeing with her has not worked, disagreeing with her has not worked. I am confused and uncertain what else I can offer. “I will think about it. For now, I need you to bring Jessica and Mandy into your Pack,” Carrie says to me. Before I can agree or disagree, Mandy leans forward, “You do not make decisions for me. I will decide when I am ready to be pa

Jackson POV I sit there lightly rubbing my mate’s arm as fire rages within me. My mate has suffered. Immense loss and I was not there to protect her. I would protect her from now on, but it would never change her past. It would never replace the darkness in her eyes. I know it will take time for her to trust me, but I can only hope, with time, that we are able to come together fully. I want her to believe in me. And to trust I will always be there for her. I would spend my last breath making her happy. Making her my priority and protecting her from the evil that lurks around us. I am starting to feel tired and want to lay down beside my mate. To close my eyes for a few minutes. Since she arrived, I have been on this high wire, trying to find my balance but afraid I would topple at any moment. Just as I put my head gently on the pillow beside my mate, I am startled awake by a yell from my Gamma, “Alpha!” I hear through the mind-link. I jum

Jackson POV I held Carrie while she was passed out. I had yelled for the doctor who quickly assured me it was a panic attack and that she would wake shortly. I sat there worrying about her. How would she be able to handle an investigation if the thoughts of what happened were this disturbing for her. And how would I be able to assure her I would not let her go. I thought back to the picture Christian had taken. I open my mind-link and contact him. “Yes Alpha?” he responds. “What have you learned of the photo?” I ask. “It looks legitimate,” he replies sounding a little frustrated. “What is wrong?” I ask curiously. “First, I had wished it was a fake and second, I cannot tell where this is taken. It does not look like a dungeon and is not an area that we have visited in the past,” he replies. “Perhaps the Luna will remember?” he asks. I quickly fill him in on what is happening, “I am sorry for that Jackson. I hope she knows none of us will