Gwen finally convinced me to have sex last night. I’d put it off as long as I could, which is ridiculous. Why am I waiting to have sex with my mate? And it was terrible. I could barely stay hard. Her moans and grunts only made it worse. I tried going down on her but her taste…I don’t understand why she doesn’t taste better than Emlyn. Emlyn tasted better than anything I’ve ever tasted. Shouldn’t my mate taste even better than that? Instead, I felt like I was going to gag. I finally had to get her off and then, unlike any other man in history, I faked my orgasm. No matter what I did, I couldn’t make my dick work. And let’s not even go there about my canines. When I was with Emlyn, my canines extended almost every time I was inside her. I had to constantly be careful to NOT mark her. Last night, Gwen had lifted her neck, inviting me to mark her and…nothing. My canines didn’t extend, and Finley was quiet, almost like he was embarrassed that his body wasn’t responding properly either. So

As soon as I recover from Emlyn’s rejection or recover enough to be able to function, I contact the council. I let them know what happened and ask them for any information that they can come up with. Not long after that, I get a call from Emerson. “Don’t show your face on my pack lands, Alpha Richard.” “She’s carrying my son, Emerson.” “She’s also carrying the proof of the mate bond that you cheated on. So, unless you want my father to kill you, or me to wage war against your pack, I suggest you stay away.” “You can’t keep me from her forever.” I say, my heart aching. “That is up to her. You lost the right to have any say in her life.” “Emerson…” I say just as the phone goes dead. “Richie.” That scent of patchouli fills my nose. I don’t have the time or the energy for Gwen right now. “What do you want, Gwen?” I ask her. “I….” I hear her sniffle. I really don’t have time for this. And now that I’m confused about what’s going on with the mate bond, I have less tolerance for her

“What do you suggest, Xander? I’m all ears?” Things have gone from bad to worse. My pack is falling apart, and I can’t focus. Ever since Emlyn rejected me and left, I can’t get my head on straight. “Get her out of the acting Luna role.” He says. “She’s making everything worse. The pack hates her. And why don’t you see what is happening? Everyone else sees it. It’s like you not being able to smell your son. How is that even possible?” My son. I turn and look at the picture I received from Emlyn a couple days ago. My beautiful boy. It was wrapped in a letter. All it had were lines from a song. I know because I looked it up. The Woman Makes the Man. I used to be a hero, and a lover She brought out the best in me But now I’m just lonesome, with a broken heart Not the man I used to be It took losing her, for me to finally understand That the woman really makes the man I felt like Emlyn looked into my heart and wrote the lines of my life. Everything has fallen apart without her. My

When I raced to Safe Haven pack, I didn’t stop to think that Emerson had told me I was persona non grata. I was reminded instantly when the border patrols surrounded me and let up the howl of an intruder. I shifted so I could speak to them. “It’s me, Alpha Richard. I’m here to speak to Alpha Emerson and Emlyn.” A dark wolf that looks familiar shifts as well and Clint is standing in front of me. “Clint? What are you doing here running patrols for Safe Haven?” I ask, momentarily distracted by his presence. “I’m Beta of Safe Haven now, Alpha Richard.” “Call me Rich, Clint, like you always have. And congratulations. I didn’t realize it had become official.” “Yes, about a month ago.” I realize that I wasn’t invited. My pack and I weren’t invited to a Beta ceremony involving two of my friends, Emerson and Clint. I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t sting. I’m sure Emlyn attended and Cayd too, most likely. “I need to speak to Emerson.” I watch as hi

I scheduled the meeting with Gwen’s father and Alpha three days after confronting Gwen. I informed Emerson and he told me that Uncle Eli would be joining him as well. I asked Xander and Leana to sit in with us. When Alpha Carter and Beta Trevor arrive, everyone is already in my office. I have Jackson show them into the office and I offer them a drink. “I’m hoping that this is a notification that you are finally going to be making my daughter your official Luna, Alpha Richard.” Beta Trevor says to me. His Alpha is watching me. Protocol would be that I would have Gwen in the room if I were going to tell her father that I’m claiming her as my Luna. “What is this about, Alpha Richard?” Alpha Carter asks. He took in the room when he walked in. He recognized Uncle Eli as the recent Alpha and Emerson as the current Alpha of Safe Haven pack. I fold my hands, watching Beta Trevor. I asked Xander to watch the Alpha. “It has come to my attention, Beta Trevor, that your daughter engaged the s