“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” I cursed to myself and the four walls of my office. I’d come down here to hide from the fact that Charlie was still lying in bed. Completely naked. After showering together, we both agreed that particular cat was out of the bag. No need to hide what we’d already seen. And we both happened to prefer sleeping in the nude. The problem was, I couldn’t stop thinking about her luscious body. And my cock apparently had me on mute because all my attempts to talk him down were summarily ignored. Like I said, it was a problem. Which is how I found myself opening the Council summons claiming Darcy had conspired with Mallory and her mates to murder Quade. I set the summons aside. Even something that dire couldn’t divert my attention from the ache in my cock or the almost inescapable desire to rejoin my naked mate in our bed. I’d never felt such a soul-deep need to be one with another person before. Not even with Mallory. My mind automatically drifte

Nathan’s POV None of this was fair to Charlie. She’d been dealt a shit hand her whole life and I certainly wasn’t making things easier for her. Since the day our mate bond snapped into place, I’d been taking way more than I was giving. I could understand why she was frustrated with me. I was putting her in an uncomfortable position and I couldn’t expect her to be happy about it. If our roles were reversed, if it were her ex who was coming to stay and she expected me to play nice with him, well there was no fucking way that would be happening. At the same time, I couldn’t turn my back on Mallory when she needed me and I couldn’t say no to her mates when they asked me for a favor. I’d buried myself too deep in this mess with Quade and my pack wasn’t strong enough to stand alone if shit hit the fan. Winter Woods needed Black Moon as an ally. What I could do, what I needed to do for both Charlie and my own sake, was face my feelings for Mallory once and for all. Building a future

Nathan’s POV Sliding my throbbing length inside Charlie’s tight pussy was the best experience of my life, hands down. We fit together like two puzzle pieces, meant to be locked together, connected for all eternity. And I’d never felt anything so amazing in my life. But despite a physical pleasure so intense, I felt like I might spontaneously combust, it was so much more than that. Watching Charlie shatter, fall apart in my arms then trust me to put her back together, that was the real ecstasy. I couldn’t wait to do it over and over again, a plan my little mate seemed to agree with. “Where are you going little lamb?” She was crawling down my chest, inching toward my cock, already at attention and ready for round two. “You promised.” She reminded me with a pout and a pointed look at my slick-coated cock. “Yes, I did.” I smirked at her needy whine. “Go on then. I’m all yours.” A huge smile spread across her face and my heart thudded heavily in my chest. I could live on that smile

Nathan’s POV So much for that good night’s sleep I was hoping for the night before our court appearance. I thought a nice hot shower after working up a filthy sweat with my little lamb would put me right to sleep like it usually did. But instead, I was wide awake, watching her sleep and wondering how the hell she wormed her way under my skin so deep I'd give her anything she asked me for. Because the thing she asked me for was the last thing in the world I ever would have agreed to in my right mind. Apparently when it came to Charlie, sanity was a thing of the past. I still couldn’t believe I’d let her win our most recent argument. “I want to go with you to the hearing.” She’d mentioned one day over lunch. “No! Charlie, we’ve had this conversation before. It’s too dangerous. I can’t risk your safety by dragging you into the middle of our fight.” I lectured her in the sternest tone I could manage without an outright bark. “I know it’s dangerous! That's why I need to go. I’ll

Charlie’s POV Anguish consumed me. I felt the pain of Nathan’s rejection all the way to my bones. Packing was a slow endeavor between the pain in my chest taht left me breathless and my muscles aching against my wolf’s attempts to fight me. The fist squeezing the life out of my heart hadn’t let up since the moment Nathan shoved me into the car, refusing to even look at me. And now I could feel the last dregs of blood ebbing away, leaving nothing but a dry, brittle lump in my chest. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop the stabbing pain slicing through it. I actually wished someone would open my chest and tear the damn thing out if it meant the misery went with it. Nathan had been my every dream come true. He’d been everything I imagined every night when I closed my eyes and pictured what my mate would be like . I clung to the promise of my dream guy on those nights when I had no idea how I'd survive another day. But the problem with dreams was you always had to wake up. To have e