BLAKE’S P.O.V

For a second, I was floored. She was kissing me. I had dreamed about it for so long but I realized that my imagination was a lot different from reality. She was soft and her lips were as soft as pillows. I tangled my hands into the back of her head and kissed her deeply. It felt like everything was suddenly right with the world.


She smelled like heaven if I ignored the scent of Kaden that seemed to linger due to the mark on her neck. I was going to get rid of that as soon as possible. I needed to make her mine in every way that mattered. I needed to sink my teeth into her neck and have her carry my mark for all to see but until then, I could settle for kissing her.

My hands trailed over her skin. I needed to remind myself that she was here, she was real and she was in front of me. I wanted us closer and I needed to pull her into me but loud ringing cut through the air effectively snapping me out of my trance. It pissed me off to no end that a call always came in at the worst time.

I muttered a small curse under my breath as I pulled back to check the caller ID. Sam’s name flashed across the screen and I didn’t hesitate to pick it up. She wouldn’t call unless it was important. She knew better than that.


“You need to come back, now,” she said immediately I picked up. “The Alpha is here. He knows she is with you. I told him that you went on a hunting expedition. Brittany interrupted us and asked him to spend the night. You need to keep the bitch in check because the next time she-”

“Enough,” I cut her off. “I am on my way.”


I turned back to Amelia who was seated cross legged on the bed. Her face betrayed nothing. It was a testament to how different she was now. Before, Amelia couldn’t hide anything from me, she wore her emotions on her sleeve like badges of honor but now, she was cold, more detached and her eyes were sharp as if they were always calculating. I wondered what it would take to get her back to that state where she could trust me, the state where she could be wholly dependent on me.

“You have to leave, don’t you?” she asked and I nodded. “Can I come with you?”

I shook my head vehemently. “It is Kaden, I don’t want him to get to you. You need to stay here.”

She inhaled sharply but said nothing. Her eyes welled with tears that I guessed were from fear that he would find her. I placed a soft and lingering kiss on her forehead.

“He will not harm you again,” I promised her. “I have to go and kill an animal now to keep up appearances. I will be back as soon as I can. There is food in the kitchen and I will leave once your guard arrives.”

“I can stay on my own.”

“I know, but I will feel better if I know that you are safe.”

“Okay,” she said finally. “Be safe.”

I waited until Jamal arrived before I left. I didn’t trust him, but he knew better than to double cross me. He had just as much if not more to lose than I did if Kaden was to find Amelia. Once I was sure that she was safe, I made my way back to the palace making sure to dirty myself up a little. I had to look like I had just come back from hunting.

By the time I did return to the pack, it was sundown. Amelia’s scent was completely gone and I had the body of a dead mountain lion trailing behind me. I paraded it round the pack like I usually would and made my way to the pack house. It seemed normal, at least until I walked in. I found Brittany walking with Kaden and his friend- Caleb- I knew him because Amelia stayed with him.

Brittany took a double take when she saw me and I narrowed my eyes at her. She knew she wasn’t to be discussing with Kaden. As soon as she noticed me, she turned on her heels and walked away. I was going to handle her later, but for now-

“Welcome,” I said to Kaden. “I didn’t know you were coming. To what do I owe the pleasure.”

“I want my mate, now,” he growled. With every passing second, it seemed like he was losing his cool. If not for Caleb holding him back and the guards around him, I was sure he would have attacked. “I have no interest in a war with you.”

“I am glad we are on the same page about that. Amelia isn’t here. Did you lose her or did she leave on her own?” I added the last part with a little smirk and he took a step towards me but was immediately met with drawn weapons. “You are on my territory, Kaden, don’t forget that.”

He sneered at me but said nothing. Caleb stepped in front of him, taking control of the conversation.

“What were you doing on our territory? You were seen.”

“I have been hunting,” I lied smoothly. “Besides, your pack has one of the best security of any pack. I couldn’t have dared sneak in. Is that why you are here? If it is then I hate to tell you but you’ve wasted your time. Regardless, feel free to search for her. If you find Amelia, you can take her back with you. If you will excuse me, I have to clean up.”

I left Kaden and Caleb and immediately headed into Brittany’s room. She was seated at her vanity waiting for me.

“You have her, don’t you?” she asked but I ignored her, choosing to stand behind her and cage her in with my hands.

“If you ever pull a stunt like this again, I will kill you, do you understand me?”

She ignored me. “I didn’t know Amelia was so special. She has two men fighting over her.”

I tugged her hair back hard. “Did you understand me?”

She nodded. “I understand.”