“I don’t need you to keep me safe,” I whispered. “I needed you to talk to me. To listen to me.” My eyes are burning, hot tears streaming down my face. “I tried to tell you. Countless times, I tried to meet with you to tell you why you couldn’t feel the mate bond, and that I was your mate. You wouldn’t even see me. You sent me away, then would fuck one of your Leonas, making me bare that pain.” Someone gasps, and I hope Percy doesn't find offense with me saying this. I know Yasmin was often one of those women in my first life, but I also know she would never do that now in this life, especially with Percy as a mate now. That was one of the reasons I thought this was an alternate timeline or another world mirroring the one I died in. So much did change, but I was still married to the same person in the end.... “I didn’t know,” his voice cracked, tears running from the corners of his own eyes. “Seeing you when I didn't know made resisting you even harder.” “THEN YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE RES

Lachlan POV Seeing Lira on the dock as I came running from the packhouse was like a dream come true. That dream quickly turned into a nightmare as I saw how affectionate she was with this other man, watching him whisper in her ear and seeing her smiling brightly back up at him. His hands on her bare shoulders and his protective stance he had over her made Killian snarl in my head. He was ready to take over and remove the threat by force, but then she stepped forward, instantly calming him. All Killian or I cared about was getting to our mate, only….our mate didn’t want us near. She moved away from me when I tried to touch her, and I could see Val shining through her eyes, and recognized the tension in Lira’s body, like Val was ready to take over at a moment’s notice if she felt the need. Val, for the first time, didn't want her mate either. She was protecting Lira from me. I just wanted my mate, and I thought, with everyone on my side for once, that I might actually be able to co

Jack POV That bastard. My entire frame is shaking. Oisin, my Lycan, is snarling loudly, wanting blood. That bastard, Alpha Lachlan, basically called me a coward. Me. Cowardly is something no one has called me before. Oisin’s pride is critically damaged, and it’s taking all my strength to keep him at bay. Alpha Lachlan was the one who harmed Ela. He was the one who betrayed her endlessly for two years. He was the reason she ran away from him, not once but twice. Why am I the one who feels ashamed right now? He said I ran away? I’m a runner? He insulted not just me, but all my men. Running is what we all had to do. It was the only way of life for us after our packs were destroyed. He doesn’t know what it’s like being overrun but Alpha Wayne’s forces…. But that’s what he was trying to protect himself from. The thing he told Ela about thinking she was a trap sent by Wayne comes back to mind. Maybe he has an idea, but he doesn’t know what it feels like to have your mate raped and

I bite my lip, fighting back the heat building behind my eyes. Val got most of our aggression out while fighting Beretta, leaving us with mostly sorrow and despair from everything that has happened and was said earlier. If it was anyone else but Cherum that followed us out, I wouldn’t like feeling this vulnerable. I’d probably lash out and let Val take over, like I did with Lachlan earlier. I can’t lash out at Cherum that easily, though. He is still my Delta. My ultimate protector. I feel safe with him, even now. I know I can physically handle myself, but I also know emotionally I can still be a mess, and I trust Cherum to help me through that mess right now. “There is too much damage there,” I whisper, welcoming some of the calm he is trying to pour into me. “When I thought he was someone different, it was easy to consider that kind of life with him. I didn’t know he was the same man as before. Now….” I shook my head.“Ela,” Cherum took my hands. “He is not the same man as before. I

Lachlan POV “Alpha!” Cherum’s voice echoed in my head through the mind link. “Alpha. Help!” I was instantly on alert. “What’s wrong with Lira,” I asked, knowing that was the only thing that he would be needing this late at night. He was with her at the brothel. I was sitting in the parlor in our old bedchamber after meeting with her father, staring at the rowdy ships in my harbor and waiting for news she was somewhere safe for the night, praying it wouldn’t be in that grimy pirate’s presence. “The lass is drunk as a skunk, and Val is making this harder than it needs to be.” Drunk? Lira doesn’t get drunk. “Where are you?!” It’s Killian’s voice snarling at Cherum now, not just mine. “Meet me at the packhouse gates. She’s flailing like a flippin’ fish. Gah!” The mink link cuts out, and I race towards the entrance to the packhouse. Why would Val take over for Lira? Why the hell did Cherum let her get drunk in the first place? When I saw Cherum start stumbling up the path towards