Justin POV“Reject her first. Then I’ll save Helen.”I stood firm against that. “No. I can’t reject my mate. No matter what, she is mine, Scott. I would never let her live a life, no matter an antidote, with you as her Alpha.”She purred against my leg, nodding her head in steady agreement. She wasn’t made to be a pawn in this war, but here she was, swallowing poison and spitting out Scott’s offer to be her mate all the same.She was strong, but it wasn’t going to last under these circumstances. Her sickness will only worsen.“Come here, Helen,” I groaned, lifting her off the floor and into my arms. She hung there, lazy and sweaty and tired. So understandably tired. “Tell me something, Scott. How did you and my father poison my mate?”He smiled proudly. “The fish. We knew you’d take opportunity of the river water. She would eat from it eventually, as would the traitors that left Fiery Cross. Their death is retaliation but hers, it can be prevented. You just have to reject her, Devil.”

Helen POVI felt lethargic the night following Scott’s execution. My head hurt, my stomach turned, but it wasn’t in grief. It felt more like relaxation. Everything had come to a head and finally, it seemed like things were shifting into our favor.Justin was trying hard to get me moving, kissing my lips until I woke up and kissed him back. He grinned, pulling the blankets backwards to pull me out of bed once and for all.I groaned, but obliged, leaning into an embrace against his chest.“Are you okay?” He asked.I shrugged slightly. “I’m okay, Justin. Just a little bit in shock.”“He had it coming, Helen. You know that.”And I did know that. I swallowed my shock and moved on with the night. Justin gently swayed to the silence between us, rocking us back and forth in a smooth dance.“Let’s go out tonight, mate,” he hummed into my neck. “I want to get away from all of this trouble. We should relax and unwind.”“What if Juden comes after us?”He kissed the side of my neck. “We can’t live

Helen POVI finally had enough of watching Justin talk with Randy on the front porch. I had been pacing and trying to listen into their conversation but it had far exceeded a few hours.Storming out of the house, I pushed my away against Justin as he stood up.“If you’re going to reject me, then do it!”Justin’s brow creased in response. “Never mention rejection, Helen, I told you that before.”Through grit teeth, I pushed my chest against his so he could feel my fiery anger. “Well I have to say something, Justin! You won’t talk to me but you’ll be out here talking to your Beta all night!”He flickered a look to Randy who hadn’t moved since I came out here. To give us some space, Randy lingered to the town square but he made no efforts to head home.My mate took my chin in his hand, leveling my eyes while I trembled under his. “Why are you yelling at me? What have I done tonight to illicit this tone?”I swallowed, gaffed by his ignorance. “The whole thing at the night club, Justin! Yo

Justin POVGwen, our pack healer, left the house at sunrise. I could have personally healed Helen but I was too afraid of shifting, of letting my Lycan get close enough to shift while exploring her beautifully sweet body.I waved to the healer and retreated upstairs, seeing my mate still sniffling into her pillow. Her scars were still bright and fresh, and I could have the marks gone completely if I had my way with her, but this would be the best Helen could have for now.I’m still too far on edge to have her body meet mine in sex.Randy watched me carefully as I kissed her cheek. Her scent was so strong, too strong, that it burned my lungs and set a new fire ablaze in my blood.“Careful,” Randy warned.I gave him a pleading look. “She’s my mate. I am always careful with her.”He shrugged, throwing his hands up in surrender. “Fine. I’ll go downstairs then.”I waited for him to leave before slipping in bed beside my whimpering, distraught mate. I knew Randy had told her the truth about

Helen POV“Dammit, Helen!” Justin roared.This fight wasn’t ending anytime soon. He stood from his chair, throwing it across the kitchen.“Fuck! I’m sorry!” he screamed. “Dammit! I can’t fucking believe—”“Stop,” I cried. “It’s fine, Justin, please—”“IT’S NOT FINE!”I shuddered, backing away on the floor. He lifted the table easily, breaking it against the counters nearby. I flinched, knowing he would never intentionally hurt me.I felt the remainder of my wet core still pooling from between my legs.He tipped his nose in the air, eyes darting straight to my pinched thighs on the floor. He hit the ground, forcing my legs apart and I fell onto my back, panting in embarrassment.“You’re bleeding,” he groaned, eyes lit with fire. “Oh moon goddess, you’re bleeding. It was too much, too big, and I fucked you anyways.”“Don’t be mad,” I begged. “Please, Justin, I wanted it! I enjoyed it!”He sneered standing as he backed away from me. “You enjoyed it? Psh! Please! You are hurt because of t