Uh-huh. I know, I know. I promised. :( I'm so sorry! Moving and school and job searching suuuucks. But I love you! I can't promise that I'm not going to be gone as long but I will most certainly try. Also, don't worry, we will be seeing more of Dox and Ash. That I can promise!

*Disclaimer*

Please Enjoy!


JulesPOV

From my perch on Bray's lap, I watched Jason pace furiously. He had tons of room to do it, too. We were in the recreational cabin on the compound used for large pack meets or other gatherings. Our large group was huddled inside.

"So who is Robert again?" Jason asked.

After Mara's declaration, we'd all stayed around the school to see if she could get any other readings about what had happened. What she'd needed to see the most was Trent's body. It had taken some persuasion from my mother for his parents to allow it. Over the years, my mother had honed her skills of being able to the pull at the heartstrings of other people.

Behind me, on the other side of the table, Brent said for the millionth time, "Son, I took you over there a couple times. You, Vice, Cecily, and Arden. I wanted to personally check on your sister, Bethany. Neither you nor Vice were particularly fond of Robert or Melice."

Jason nodded, but frowned down at the floor, still pacing. "She's been moved, right?"

The concern in his voice told me he cared for his siblings.

Brent nodded. "The moment Jerome went back, he packed her up and they disappeared to a pack in Mexico."

"Why now? It's been a year," Piper asked. "And why are they pissed at Mara?"

"They are not angry with me," Mara said, having just come back from the rez. "She is."

Against me, Bray sighed. "Who is 'she'?"

"Eleanora. She's the coven leader or high priestess. I trained with her coven when I was younger, before I came up here. She's quite powerful in every area except healing. For that reason, she never liked me."

"And she's allies with Robert?" Cecily asked from her spot on the wall. She was standing with Arden. The two of them watched their brother pace.

Mara nodded. "It's an uneasy alliance, kept only because neither the coven nor the pack want to destroy their homes."

"Then why would she be helping him?" Will said from his seat on the stairs that led up to another level. Hunter was sitting next to him, her hand rubbing over his thigh comfortingly.

Mara shook her head. "He probably made her an offer she couldn't refuse." Then she turned her purple and white gaze to my future sister-in-law. "Hunter, do you have anything to add?"

Blinking her gaze away from my brother, she looked around the room at all of us. Then she frowned. "I don't know. Something is bothering me."

The door to the cabin opened and my parents stepped through.

"What's bothering you?" Uncle Walker asked as my dad went to stand with him.

"That Robert would send the witches. He never liked them in the way that he didn't want to even talk about them, let alone to them. Even with Melice's death, I can't imagine him going to them for anything."

"What about Melice's mother?" Will asked her.

Hunter nodded. "Definitely. Robert was never all about Mel even though they were father and son. Robert had this…detachment. I always felt closer to the pack leader. Now, his mate?" She shook her head. "That woman was terrifying. She definitely didn't agree with Robert's arrangement that I mate Mel."

At that, Will growled and wrapped a protective arm around her, his hand resting on her belly. "The question is, though, would Robert be as upset about Mel's death?"

Shrugging, Hunter leaned into him.

It was Caden to answer. "The death of a child is painful for any parent on some level. Whether he wanted to feel it or not, he did feel something."

Aunt Leah rubbed his arm.

He smiled at her before continuing. "The question is, though," he said repeating Will's words. "How badly did he feel it?"

"Wait, wait, wait," Jason said, shaking his head. "Okay, assuming this isn't some rogue witch coven or alpha female, it doesn't make sense that he would come all this way just to start a war. Why wouldn't he start closer to home and amass forces? He has to know that the west coast of North America is massively fortified by the wolf and vampire alliances. Not to brag or anything, but we are a force to the reckoned with."

"And what if it is a rogue alpha female or coven?" my mother asked.

Jason shrugged. "No offense, but women are crazy and vindictive." He shook his head. "I'm not even going to pretend that I would know the first thing about how to battle that."

Everybody chuckled at that, the men pulling their women close. Even Bray held me tighter, laughing into my shoulder. He was probably thinking about my inappropriately placed discussion about sex.

Jason looked to Piper. "No offense, baby."

She grinned. "None taken."

The love that passed between the two of them left me feeling warm. Everybody else just tossed glances around.

Still chuckling, Uncle Caden nodded. "Jason has a point. Robert may be feeling grief, but he's never been one to let emotions get the better of him. He's lost children before."

"Yes," Hunter added, "but never a child born to his true mate." Her hand went to lay over Will's where it was resting over my unborn niece.

Everyone quieted down at that. No doubt we were all imagining what it would be like to lose a child created with our soulmates. Even those of us without kids, it was hard to deal with emotionally.

Thankfully, it was Jason who broke us all up. "Look, it's already been a long ass day. I say we end this here for now. We're all tired and stressed out from Seth and Piper and the school. And now the dead kid."

"I agree," Brent said. "We all need to take time to process and muddle through what we've learned and what we've still to figure out."

I frowned. "Okay, but where do we stand on this? Are we just going to assume for now that it's Robert or Melice's mom calling the shots?"

Sighing, Dad looked to Uncle Caden. "I think maybe it's time for you to get back into contact with your friends across the pond. Ask them if they can put any feelers out for information, but tell them not to risk themselves. Nobody else needs to get hurt. But hopefully someone will be able to get eyes on something for us."

Uncle Caden nodded. "I'll start making calls on the way home."

With that, everyone started to split up and head out in smaller groups.

I stood up from Bray's lap and stretched. "I was thinking about going to check on Uncle Seth and Aunt Shelby. Wanna come with?"

He looked at me and then the door before shaking his head. "Actually I need to talk to Uncle Caden."

Knowing what it was about, I nodded. I went up on my toes to kiss the corner of his mouth. "I'll meet you back at the cabin."

He kissed me back. "Sounds like a plan." And then he ran out to catch up with our uncle.

I was just walking out the door when Piper and Jason appeared on either side of me.

Piper held out her elbow. "Care for some company?"

Threading my arm through hers, I leaned my head on her shoulder. "I would love some." Reaching out blindly, I found Jason's arm with my other hand and threaded that arm through his.

I felt his surprise and looked up at him.

He stared down at my hand on his wrist as though touched by the gesture.

Squeezing that wrist, I brought his attention to my face. "Family, remember?"

Smiling, he lifted his arm all gentleman-like.

"I don't know how your sisters treat you, but in our little family, you need to be prepared to be loved on by all the females. We worry over the males something fierce," I told him with all seriousness.

Piper nodded. "She's right. My mom, her mom, the two of us."

"My mom is big on hugs."

He chuckled. "It might take a while, but I think I could get used to that. Maybe even bring my sisters around. They need it as much as I do."

I smiled up at him. "Honestly, the more, the merrier. And the new ones when they get older."

He nodded and ran his free hand through his silky hair. "Yeah. Shit, I can't believe I'm 'bout to have a baby brother."

"It's a boy?" Piper asked.

Jason nodded again. "Yeah. Arden's getting a sister."

"When are they due?"

"My mom's due first. I'm actually surprised she hasn't gone into labor yet. Arden's mom is due in a couple months assuming the genes don't kick in. Gestation for us is a bitch. Every pregnancy is different. I was supposed to be a normal nine-month-er."

"Really?" I asked. "What did you end up being?"

With his free hand, he held up four fingers. "Four. Apparently, by month two, Mom was beach ball size. She probably hated me."

I patted his hand. "I doubt that. My mom had the twins in three months. She was six weeks pregnant with them after only two days."

He winced. "Man, I don't envy the pregnancy process. To be honest, I think females are the strongest sex for going through it." Craning up, he looked over my head to Piper. "Just a warning, I might lose my shit when we have our first kid and you go into labor."

Raising my eyebrows, I looked over to see Piper beaming up at him. They were totally permanent. So permanent that he was the one talking about kids. I absolutely loved it for them.

I made a happy little squeal, squeezing their arms and pulling them toward me. "Aw, I love you two! I'm so excited!"

Jason pulled back to give me a rather affectionate look. And if I wasn't mistaken, his eyes were a little misty. "Love me, huh?"

Grinning, I winked up at him. "Don't tell Bray."

Going along with it, he gave me that look and nod that said, "I gotchu."

When I giggled, he leaned down to kiss my cheek. "Thank you," he whispered.

I kissed his cheek back. "Consider it my thanks for taking care of my best friend."

We pulled back to stare at each other, having a full moment of complete understanding.

Piper yanked on my arm playfully. "Hey, do I need to separate you two?"

Laughing, I leaned into her and kissed her shoulder. "Nah, we're good. As cute as he is, he's not my type."

"Not brunette enough for you?" he asked. "Or Clearwater-y enough?"

Piper and I laughed.

"I think it's the last one," I said.

They laughed as I snuggled between them. I honestly couldn't wait to get through this crap and be a family with them. Now I could understand my parents' relationship with Uncle Seth and Aunt Shelby. They were best friends. And with time, I was sure Bray and Jason could become friends. They just needed to have a man to man talk, and that would happen eventually. We just needed to survive this mess.

At my and Bray's cabin, they both kissed my cheeks, hugged me, and dropped me off before walking all of thirty steps to their cabin.

BraydenPOV

As soon as I kissed Jules goodbye, I ran out the door. My aunt, uncle, and cousin were quick. They were already getting close to the rez in the drizzle. Right now, they were on the lonely stretch between the Cullen turnoff and the rez turnoff.

"Uncle Caden!" I yelled as they came into sight around a turn. They stopped and I ran up to them, putting my hands on my knees and breathing hard.

The three of them blinked at me while I relearned how to breathe.

Eventually, my godfather frowned. "Something else happen?"

Shaking my head, I swallowed hard through a dry throat and panted. "No…I was…wanting…to talk…to you."

Understanding me, he turned to his family. "Why don't the two of you go on ahead? I'll catch up." When Aunt Leah nodded, he looked to Gage. "Watch over your mother."

Gage nodded. "You know it."

They wrapped their arms around each other and started back toward the rez.

By the time Uncle Caden turned back to me, I could get air into my lungs again. "I won't keep you long. I just wanted to apologize for hitting you yesterday."

He put a hand on my shoulder. "It's alright, son. I can understand why you did. And frankly, it was a good shot."

I shook my head. "It's not alright. To quote my dad, I shouldn't have hit you for not telling me something that wasn't your business to tell me. He talked to me about what happened, so I understand now."

Moving his hand from my shoulder to my neck, he gripped me hard. "Forgiven, Brayden. You've always been a good kid. I think you've earned a few throws. Nevertheless, you're forgiven."

I nodded. "You know, I never thought I'd become the problem child."

Patting my jaw, he laughed. "Brayden, we all have moments where we're the problem child whether we're actually children or not. Now, why don't you head on back? I'm sure Jules is waiting to talk to you about your sister's love bite. And if I'm not mistaken, Jason has one, too."

Sighing, I rolled my eyes and started walking backward toward Walker's land. "Yeah, yeah. I know they got it on. Probably another reason why it's a good thing they didn't go to see Dad."

Then again, after the conversation I'd had with him about me and Jules, I wasn't entirely sure of his reaction.

Caden shrugged. "Actually, your father likes Jason. It's kind of the same relationship that Jacob has with you."

"Really?"

He nodded. "Seth just gives Jason a hard time so that he can see where the boy stands when it comes to Piper. A little test, if you will. He's always liked Jason."

"Well that's actually really good to know."

He gave me a look. "Go on, son. None of us really need to be caught unaware out here in the middle of nowhere."

"True." I held my fist out, and he popped his knuckles to mine.

And then I went jogging back toward where Jules was waiting for me.

It was as I was almost to the turn that led toward the compound that I felt some serious heebie-jeebies. It started small. Just that paranoia of being watched. Then the prickling of my skin. And when I felt the air thicken around me, my skin actually crawled, like it was trying to get off my body to get away from me. Stopping in the middle of the road, I looked around, calling my wolf to surface.

Owls and doves called out in the late afternoon light. The sky was overcast today with the chance of drizzles, maybe a full-on shower. When my eyes failed to find anything, I closed them and focused on my hearing. After a while, I gave up. There was nothing other than the forest animals milling around and foraging.

And then something hit me like a ton of bricks, all the air shoving out of my lungs. Grabbing my chest and throat, I panicked, going to my knees on the pavement and clawing at myself trying to get air into my body.

But as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. Bracing both arms on the road, I gasped in great gulps of air, the rush both euphoric and excruciating.

The moment I could see straight again, I got to my feet and started rushing for the compound again. Whatever that had been wasn't natural. I didn't feel any different, but that didn't mean that I hadn't been affected. It could have had something to do with mental or emotional, not physical. And something was telling me that I needed to get to my imprint as soon as possible.

JulesPOV

Needless to say, I hadn't made it to check on Mara and Uncle Seth. I'd decided to give them a break and some rest.

I settled on making dinner instead. We'd all had a long day, and a good meal would help calm us down. I'd also invited Piper and Jason over. There was some chicken in the fridge that needed to be cooked so I'd decided on my mozzarella and roasted red pepper stuffed chicken breasts with roasted potatoes.

After I'd invited them, Jason and Piper had come back over. She'd helped me get everything prepared and in the oven. Overall, it wasn't that hard to make.

We'd just popped everything into the giant oven when Bray came through the door breathing hard.

I grinned. "Hey, baby."

And then I realized he looked panicked as he leaned back against the door, taking in huge gulps of air and breathing heavily.

"Baby?" I asked, wiping my freshly washed hands on a towel.

But he didn't answer.

"Bray?" Piper tried. "What's up, big brother?"

Jason came in from the sitting area. "Dude, you alright? You don't look so good."

Opening his eyes, Bray looked at all of us. The moment his eyes met mine, I knew he was spooked about something.

Going to him, I cupped his face. "Bray, what happened? Come on, talk to us."

His hands trembled as they wrapped around my waist. He swallowed hard. "I…I don't know what happened. Out on the road, as I was coming back, something…something happened. At first, I felt like I was being watched. And then, I couldn't breathe. And then it just stopped."

Piper reached for her phone. "I'll call Mara. We don't need another Dad situation."

"Good idea," Jason said as Bray nodded.

Ten minutes later, I'd gotten Bray to sit down, drink some water, and eat a little something so he didn't go into shock. Mara's hands glowed over his body as they passed around him. She was reading his aura first, and then would go to read him physically.

She frowned a little when she hit the spot over his heart.

I felt a pang of fear because the heart was symbolic of our relationship, of me. And a witch frowning during a reading wasn't a good thing.

After a moment, she changed to a physical reading. Her hands glowed white as they passed over him. White was the color of health. It dimmed a little as she passed, yet again, over his heart. My fear deepened just a little.

"Easy, Jules," she said with her eyes still closed. She probably sensed a disturbance in the force.

I snorted. Easy for her to say. I wanted my boyfriend back but I couldn't touch him until she was done.

Jason came up to wrap his arms around me. At first, I was surprised, but I quickly shook it off and hugged him back. Piper came up behind me, petting my hair down my back.

Over and over, Mara ran her hands over Bray. Each time, she went a little slower. Every time she started over, I wanted to scream.

After a good twenty minutes, she stepped back and opened her eyes.

I pulled away from Jason. "Well?"

Bray just looked up at her.

Mara frowned and her eyes went unfocused like she was remembering her reading. "There was nothing I could find."

"Then what you were frowning for?" I demanded. "When you went over his heart?"

Smiling a little, she caught my drift. "It's nothing about you, Jules. He's just worried. It's emotional."

Bray looked up at me, the hurt clear in those green eyes. "Are you really worried about my feelings for you?"

Despite the fact that that nagging fear was still there, I went to kneel between his legs. Comfortingly for both me and him, I rubbed his knees and thighs with my palms. "No, baby. Not at all. But you said you didn't feel any different physically. I just don't want to lose you and our connection. That's what worries me. Remember that the Volturi has a member that can cut ties between people? I couldn't handle it if that happened."

Reaching out, he cupped my face. "Jules, my first thought after I could think straight was to get home to you as soon as possible. You're not losing me." Leaning in, he pressed his lips to mine.

"As thrilled as I am about that," Jason said, "this doesn't make sense. What happened to him, Mara? Shouldn't you have found something?"

Instead of answering, she frowned again. "Eat your dinner. Give me a couple hours to look up a couple things and then I'll call a meeting of all the leaders. I have a theory; I just need to check on details." Coming over to us, she put her hand on Bray's shoulder. "As of this moment, though, you're fine. Be with your family without worry."

And then she left. The moment the door clicked shut, the timer on the oven chimed.

A Couple Hours Later…

RPOV

For the second time in one day, we were all gathered in the rec cabin. The surprising additions were Seth and Shelby with guards included.

Jacob and I had taken Will's original seat on the stairs. Everybody else took up their spots on the wall or at the tables. Mara was pacing around while we waited for Walker and Christa.

Two seconds later, the door opened and they came through. Followed by Haleigh and Garrett.

We all shared surprised looks.

She waved and smiled. "Hey, everyone. Sorry we're late. Had to drop the baby off with Bianca and Angelica." She went to lean between her mate and her father. Over the years, we'd watched her grow up into a tough young woman. She still had that chocolate brown hair and those sapphire blue eyes. Freckles still smattered over her cheeks and nose. As soon as she'd turned eighteen, she and Garrett had been mated. Not long after, Garrett's father, Calahan, had been killed, and they'd moved back down to southern Washington so Garrett could take over the pack. Their first baby, Mitchell, was going to be turning a year old in the spring.

Walker found them all some chairs. The moment the four of them were seated, he nodded to Mara. "We'll all say our hellos to them after this meeting. What's up, Mara?"

She took a moment to spin around, looking at everyone. "A couple of hours ago, I was called in to look over Brayden." She looked to him. "You want to tell them what happened?"

All of our gazes turned to him. Seth and Shelby looked worriedly at their son.

He nodded, hugging Jules tighter in his lap. "After our first meeting, I went to catch up with Uncle Caden to talk to him. We did our thing, but it was on my way back that something weird happened." He then went into an explanation of being watched, skin crawling, and then not being able to breathe to the point he wanted to open a hole in his chest.

Jacob and I shared a look. Seth went as white as his russet skin would let him.

Bray went on. "The moment I could breathe again and the world stopped spinning, I just had this overwhelming thought to get to Jules. When I did and they realized something had happened to me, Piper called Mara."

"Seth?" Mara said. "Does any of that sound familiar?"

Swallowing hard, he nodded. "A bit. I didn't have the problems breathing that he described. But I did feel the overwhelming touch of someone watching me. And then an invisible force hitting me."

Mara was nodding like their words were confirming something she had suspected.

"Mara," Jacob said beside me. "Tell us what you're thinking. It's obvious you've thought of something."

"I have. Eleanora is planting seeds."

"What does that mean?" Jules asked, worry and anger in her eyes.

Bray stroked her hips and the tops if her thighs, trying to calm her. Surprisingly, Jacob didn't react in any way even though I knew he saw them.

Mara met her gaze. "It means I was wrong about Brayden."

Over Bray's shoulder, my daughter and Shelby shared a look.

Shelby looked at the witch. "As much as I love you, Mara, you'd better start talking."

"Mom-," Bray started.

"No, son," Seth interrupted.

Bray looked at him.

Seth shook his head. "I don't care what I'm going through, but this bitch is messing with my son." He looked at Mara pointedly. "You were about to explain?"

Though that last was said as a question, it was more an order. Jacob and I tossed a glance. Seth was in one of his vicious moods, something we hadn't seen in years. Then again, who knew if this was the work of that dark energy in him and not just about a father protecting his child?

Apparently sensing that darkness, Mara nodded warily. "Let me start by saying I believe Eleanora also planted a seed in you, Seth. Given your account of an incident similar to Brayden's, I believe she poked at that darkness. Eleanora has a way of finding weakness in others. I believe you were her experiment. It's a spell, one that can affect someone mentally, emphasizing the weakness." She looked around at all of us. "Seth's is the dark energy inside him. Her only fault was that it manifested too fast to seem like he was naturally reverting. When I read Brayden a bit ago, I found some spots over his heart." She looked to Jules and Bray. "I'm sorry, but I do think Eleanora is trying to somehow damage the bond between the two of you."

It was Piper who spoke angrily. "Well can you fix it?"

Will, standing up next to her, looked just as angry.

Piper and Will were closest to Jules and Bray. It would make sense that those were the two who would feel the heaviest emotion other than Bray and Jules themselves.

It was clear that Mara struggled between what needed to be said and what she wanted to tell them. After a moment, though, she sighed heavily and shook her head. "Unfortunately, a spell like this is very personal. It's woven with the fingerprints of the witch. If I went into Bray right now to find that seed, I would be denied access and he would probably totally shut down the way a computer would if the wrong thumbprint was given as a passcode."

"Then how did you fix me?" Seth demanded.

Mara turned toward him again. "I didn't. You did. I just managed you. As long as I didn't mess around with the seed in your mind, it was safe to try to help you back. You and I had already been through this before and the human side of you was, thankfully, still conscious. If Brayden is willing, I can work with him to try to keep whatever fears he has at bay." Her purple and white eyes went to my nephew. "But he'll have to be completely honest with me about those fears. Otherwise, I can't help him."

At this, before Bray could say anything, Shelby stood up from Seth's lap and went to stand next to her son, facing the witch. "Wait just a damn minute. So, you're saying that we just contain and deal with whatever that bitch is doing to my son?"

Mara hesitated before saying, "That is the only solution that I can see for now."

I didn't need wolf senses to know she'd just lied. And it pissed me off.

She went on quickly. "Let me just look through some-,"

"Bullshit," I said, standing and going to stand next to my best friend, blocking Bray and Jules from Mara protectively. And I knew Mara understood the gesture. These were our kids and we weren't just going to "deal" with this. Beside Shelby, I crossed my arms over my stomach and raised my eyebrows. "This entire room knows you just lied. What's the solution?"

With her being our self-proclaimed pack witch, she was obligated to answer any question given to her by the pack leader or alpha female. I was that female, and she was damn well going to answer truthfully. If she lied in answer to a question posed to her by me or Jacob, we were within our rights to kick her out of our territory and refuse her protection.

Mara swallowed hard, eyes wide as she looked around. Nobody offered her protection. They all looked at her with expectation.

Finally, she let out a breath of defeat. "She has to die. I doubt she will willingly unravel the spells."

"Then we kill her," Brent said.

Surprised, we all looked over to him.

He shrugged. "I'm an enforcer. She's threatening the people I've sworn to protect." Then he looked to Jason. "Also, Brayden is Piper's brother. Whatever hurts him will hurt her, and she's my son's mate. I have to get used to the fact that she's practically my daughter-in-law now by wolf standards."

It was obvious he didn't like saying that last, but he was also resigned to the fact that Jason wasn't giving up Piper. That was obvious in the way he stood protectively near her, eyes watching anyone that got too close to her.

Jason looked at his father in astonishment followed by gratitude.

Mara rubbed her forehead with her thumb and middle finger. "It's not that easy."

"Why not?" Jacob asked.

"Eleanora's not stupid. If she's here, she brought her coven. Or at least the most powerful. And they are intensely loyal to her. That's how we are. If you kill her, you'd have to kill them all, preferably at the same time because if you don't, they could wipe out this side of the country and toss it into the sea."

With that, the room went quiet as everyone shared looks.

Garrett moved out of his chair. The kid was now in his thirties and was a huge, hulking male. "So how would you kill them?"

Spinning around, she looked up at him in horror, her skin somehow getting even whiter. "M-Me? I…no, I would never…"

He crossed his arms over his chest. "Mara, she singled you out in the boy's skin. That's pretty personal. She's not just after us, but you, too. For right now, it doesn't matter who sent them. What matters is that she's here, tearing this place apart from the inside. Who else has she messed with? And I think it's pretty damn clear that she and her coven are the ones who took those kids and teachers. Why aren't you outraged that one of your own species is giving you a bad reputation right now?"

She glared up at him. "Because we don't kill each other."

Garrett snorted. "Oh? It looks to me like she wants to kill you."

"Maybe she doesn't have a choice."

"You're defending her?" Jules asked, coming to stand beside me and Piper. "After what she did to Trent? Bray? Uncle Seth? Why would you defend her?"

"Robert or Genevieve could have threatened her if she didn't help."

The room broke out into various calls of disbelief. Until Jacob stood up.

His presence overpowered the room. Over the years with age and wisdom, he'd become the Alpha that the legends all spoke about. He commanded respect as soon as attention was called to him. Quietly, we all watched him walk toward Mara.

Going to her, he put a hand on her shoulder and tilted her chin up with the other to get her to look at him. "Mara, you're not making any sense," he said in a low tone. "If Eleanora and her coven can wipe us out, why would they be scared of Robert and Genevieve?"

Mara looked away, her eyes shimmering.

Jacob went on quietly. "I know that it's hard. Nobody wants to know that their own kind is the enemy. I get it, and I'm sorry for your sense of loss. Really, I am. But because of this, I have a feeling that you aren't telling us everything that you know. Mara, she's the enemy. Will you really let her kill us?"

The tears were quiet when she looked up at him. "I'm a healer," she whispered.

My husband shook his head. "No, you're not. Not entirely. Healing is your most powerful gift, but we all know you have power elsewhere. You know how to kill Eleanora and the others. Or you have an idea. I'll give you a few days to do any research, but our patience is thin. Our people are getting hurt; someone's son is dead. If you don't come to me or Walker or Garrett within a week, we'll start to see you as an enemy, and I know you don't want that. None of us want that."

I couldn't help it. I had to step up and soften the blow.

Going to stand beside Jacob, I reached out to take Mara's hand. "Don't misunderstand us. We realize the sacrifice we're asking you to make. We're asking you to choose between us and your own kind. But right now, you're the only witch we have on our side. You're our only source of information as to what's going on. We need you. As of this moment, it's not about pack versus pack. It's about pack versus coven. Will you really let this woman kill all of these people? All the children you helped bring into this world? If what you're saying about her is true, then that's what will happen. All the good you've done here will be erased like it never existed. And what about your own family? If you don't cooperate with her and she destroys us, where will she turn next? She's taking Melice's death as the opportunity to settle a personal score. Jacob gave you some time. All we're asking is that you use it wisely. And I'm begging you, not as an alpha female, but as a mother and a wife and a daughter, please do the right thing and help us."

The room went silent once more as all eyes went to her. Some were angry, some pleading. Others neutral.

Mara's lip and chin trembled as she slumped. "Allow me a week to search through options. I want to be as thorough as possible."

I squeezed her hand. "Of course. We hate this for you, Mara. We truly do."

Beside me, Shelby nodded. "We know you're not a bad guy. You're caught between a rock and a hard place. But this is one of those times when you need to pick which side you're on in this battle. Jacob and Garrett said it best. Our people are dying, and it seems like she's after you. If I were in your position, I'd know where I stood."

Gripping my hand tightly in return, Mara looked sadly down at the floor before frowning. I knew she was thinking through everything. Clenching her jaw, she nodded and looked up. Visibly, she straightened up. "I do know where I stand. Give me the time. I'll sort through my information."

"Thank you," I whispered.

She nodded, let go of my hand, and moved between me and Piper to get to Bray. She came up short when my daughter blocked her path with arms crossed over her stomach. They met eye to eye, sizing each other up before Jules narrowed her eyes and moved aside.

Mara nodded to her before going to stand in front of Brayden. "I'll still need to get into your mind to put up a block around that spell, but of course I'll need your permission."

He looked from her to Jules. "Will it hurt?"

To her credit, Mara didn't lie. "Spells are different to each person. I can't promise that you won't feel me in your head. The most important thing you'd need to worry about is controlling your wolf while I'm doing my thing. If he interrupts me because he thinks I'm a threat, then that could be problematic."

My nephew nodded. "I can do that. What about my dad?"

Surprisingly, Mara grinned. "Eleanora vastly underestimated your father. Nor did she know all the facts of the past. Because Seth had already been through this once, he knew how to keep himself in the driver's seat once we got his wolf calmed down. As I said earlier, all Jules and I did was manage him while he did the hard work of fighting for full control of his consciousness. Even though the spell is still there, we could say that Seth has found a kind of immunity to it." She turned to look at the wolf in question. "You'll still need to utilize the techniques I showed you until we can permanently rid you of the spell, but you shouldn't need me to do anything."

He nodded, but looked tired. "Yeah, I'll keep up with it." Standing up, he grabbed Shelby, pulling her close. "Now if none of you care, I want to go to bed with my mate and sleep until someone needs to wake me up."

Coming up beside me, Jacob wrapped his arm around my waist. "Go for it. You look like crap."

He laughed and pulled Shelby closer, kissing her hair.

Shelby leaned into the touch. "I think Jason was right earlier. We all just need to go rest. Despite the sense of urgency we have, we're no good to anyone without some rest."

After an agreement floated around the room, people started filing out. My family, the Clearwaters, Hunter, and Jason stayed around with Bray so that he wouldn't be alone while Mara went to work. It was also a protective measure having Jason, Jacob, Will, and Seth around. Jules kissed Bray's forehead before coming over to stand with me, Shelby, and Piper while the guys stood around Mara and Bray.

I wrapped my arms around her as Mara started doing her thing.

"Hey, momma," she said, leaning against me.

"Hi, baby." I stroked her hair that was so like mine.

The air suddenly tightened and thickened, making it harder to breathe. Mara was whispering as the men circling her and Brayden became restless before tightening their ranks.

I rubbed Jules's back. "Where are your brothers?" I asked to try to calm her nerves.

Her arms wrapped around my waist. "On the rez again. Probably talking to the teams for extra security measures."

"That was a good idea on their parts. You kids are doing really well on your own."

She pulled back to look up at me. Her aqua eyes still astounded me after all these years. "We're not trying to be rebellious and disobedient, Momma."

Smiling at her, I tucked a stray curl back. "I know, baby. We all know. We're proud of you."

I hate to ruin the moment," Mara called, "but Jules, could you come back over here?"

Instantly, Jules was all about the crowd and Bray beyond it. Giving my waist one last squeeze, she broke away and went where she was needed.

JulesPOV

The moment Mara called out to me, I was ready to run toward them. If she needed me, it was because Bray did.

Dad and Jason parted to let me into the circle.

Bray was bent over, his forehead pressed to his knees. I could see the bulge in his jaw from where he was clenching his teeth hard. His whole body was vibrating hard, like he was fighting the phase.

Somebody could have been talking to me and I wouldn't have heard it. Fear and worry were suffocating like a bad perfume. I was afraid that I was going to lose Brayden. The feeling just wouldn't get shaken away. And the worry? I didn't want him going through any pain, so I hated seeing him like this.

Going to kneel beside his chair, I rubbed his shin with one hand and gripped his palm with the other.

The moment I touched him, the tension in his body eased. The bulge is his jaw loosened as he took a deep breath.

There were no words that needed to be said between us. Slowly, he turned his head, laying his temple against his knees. His eyes were amber as he stared at me. Without looking away from me, he said, "I'm good, Mara. Do your thing." The voice wasn't his normal tone. It was low and deep with just the hint of a growl.

I wasn't staring at Bray. I was looking at his wolf.

Mara hesitated, and I could tell that her eyes were on me.

Reaching out, I shakily brushed my fingers against his forehead, moving his sweaty hair out of the way. I swallowed hard. "It's alright, Mara. He's good. Just don't make me move."

In my peripheral vision, I saw her nod as she moved closer. "I can work around you. Just keep his wolf calm."

Standing over us, she closed her eyes and hovered her glowing hands over his head.

Without talking, I kept stroking my palms over him and kept constant eye contact. I didn't even flinch when the air grew heavy once more with her power. It was familiar to me, and because I was calm, so was Bray.

All in all, it didn't take long before Mara pulled back looking tired. "I've done what I can."

Without breaking eye contact with Bray, I said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Come to me if you notice any changes."

I nodded and tried to shuffle around to get to my feet. Somehow, I just couldn't get to it. Unfortunately, it was Jason who was closest to me. He leaned forward to help me up, but the moment his skin touched mine, Bray sat up and snarled at him. Jason moved back as I wrapped myself around my mate.

"Easy, Bray," I cooed. "It's alright. He was just helping me."

Jason didn't seem fazed as Brayden glared up at him. "It's not him, Jules," he said in a low, calm voice. "For the most part, he may seem Quileute. But it seems that when it comes to his mate, he's more Child. It's territorial. And his wolf, being so close to the surface, is finding something worth being at the surface for."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that since the wolf couldn't expend its energy on battling Mara, he's using it to protect you even though Brayden would know that you don't need it. This is a territorial flash of color. He's warning me."

I squeezed Bray's hand. "Look at me. Please." I didn't try using his name. The wolf was too close to the surface for him to recognize his own name.

As though it was difficult to take his eyes from the "enemy", those amber eyes slowly moved to me.

I cupped his face. "It's alright. He won't hurt me, and he's not going to touch me again. Let's just go home. You and Brayden are safe now. Just take me home. Please?"

Immediately, he was on his feet and pulling me to mine. Before I could really get my balance, I was tucked against his body while he glared pointedly at Jason and growled just a little.

Jason just stood there. "Growl all you want, but you know damn well I'm not after her."

"Jason," Piper hissed as her brother let out a snarl.

Lifting a blonde eyebrow, Jason glanced over his shoulder. "What?"

"Don't provoke him," she said incredulously.

"I'm not." He turned his gaze back to Bray. "Just letting him know he's not the only dominant male here. If I were to back down, it would tell him that I think my actions were wrong. I don't."

Knowing not to get in the way of two alpha males in a pissing contest, I just rubbed Bray's abdomen. "Come on, baby. Take me home. Please. I'm not worried about him; you shouldn't be either."

Bray's arm tightened around me. Slowly, he started backing up, dragging me with him. When we were far enough from the group, he let me go enough to turn around. Taking my hand, he pulled me out the door and away from everyone else.

JasonPOV

I watched as Brayden and Jules disappeared. Piper came up beside me and punched my arm.

Frowning, I looked down at her. "What was that for?"

"Why'd you do that?" she demanded, glaring up at me.

I studied her and then turned toward the group, toward Jacob. "This is what's wrong with the packs."

"What do you mean?" Jacob asked.

"Every time one of us gets aggressive and flashes fang, we back off. That's not how the Children work. That might be how your pack works, Jacob, because you're a docile bunch. But if you hope to one day combine our packs," I shook my head, "none of you will survive. Bray just displayed a characteristic of one of us. His human mind might be Quileute, but his wolf is not. His wolf understood the gesture. If he'd still considered me a threat, he wouldn't have let Jules pull him out of the building."

Taking a deep breath, Jacob pinched the bridge of his nose. "I really can't find room to care about this at the moment." His other hand blindly reached out until Ness stepped forward to bump into it. Jacob wrapped that arm around her. "We'll deal with all this etiquette crap later. Right now, we all just need some down time." Opening his eyes, he looked at me. "Take care of them for us."

I felt the shock widen my eyes.

Jacob let out a laugh. "What?"

Gathering my composure again, I shook my head. "Just didn't know you saw me as an enforcer."

For a long moment, Jacob studied me. And I could feel other eyes on me. Then he glanced at Piper. He nodded to her. "That girl beside you is as good as my niece. You're her mate; that much is clear. You might be an enforcer, but to me, to us, you're family now. We take care of our own. And I trust you to look after them."

For the second time in two minutes, I was surprised, but I didn't show it this time. I just stared at the small intimate group. Piper came up to lace her fingers with mine and rest her head on my arm. She smiled up at me when I looked down at her.

Now I knew who Jules sounded like. Her father. It was well known that the Quileute and the Cullens were all about family. It also known that once you were considered family by them, you were going be well taken care of. It was a hard concept to grasp. My own father had finally told me why he kept me and Cecily at a distance, but it didn't change the fact that he didn't treat us like his children. Maybe when we'd been little, sure there'd been softer emotions from him. But not for a long time now. It was also clear now why I was mostly raised by Vice instead of my mother. She's always known she was my father's true mate, and so she's been chasing him for years. Seeing him with Arden's mom must break her heart. That still doesn't excuse the fact that the only parenting I'd known from them had been just enough to keep me human with emotions instead of some feral pup. I really only considered them my parents in name only.

I looked around at all of them watching me with varying degrees of pity and sympathy. Was it really that visible on my part that I didn't really understand the word "family"?

It was Will who came up to clap me on the shoulder. He smirked. "Come on. It's been a long fucking day. Hunter and I will walk with you back to the cabins."

I nodded. "Sounds good."

Moving around, he went to stand next to Piper and offered her his arm. She grinned up at him as she took it.

Hunter appeared beside me with a grin. "Care to walk a lady?"

It pulled a smile from me as I lifted my arm. "I'd love to."

We said our goodnights and left.

"Jason," Hunter said beside me once we were into the woods. "I know what it's like to grown up in a pack like this with enforcers who treat their children the way your father has treated you and your sisters. Brent loves you. And I'm sure your mother does, too."

She was right. I knew my parents loved me, but… "It's not the kind of relationship I want with them, though. I want a real family. When Piper and I have kids, I'm not going to just drop my kids when they get to a certain age. That's not what a father is supposed to do. And I know Piper won't ignore them just to put all her effort into getting my attention. If she doesn't get what she wants from me, then it's going to be 'fuck you, Jason'."

Beside me, Piper snorted. "You got that right. I'm not gonna beg."

I looked down at a grinning Hunter and wiggled my eyebrows. "And that's why I love her."

"Why not tell them?" Will asked.

I looked over at him. "Who?"

His toffee-colored eyes were bright in the clear moonlight filtering through the trees. "Your parents. If you have a problem with the way they're treating you and your sisters, why not tell them? I mean, don't get me wrong. I'm all for respecting our parents and what all they do for us. I love and respect the hell out of my parents. It's just…they consider us adults now. We have a right to speak up when we don't think we're being treated right. Dad wants me to be alpha, but if he still treated me like a kid, then it wouldn't work. And if that did happen, I'd say something to him."

Piper looked up at me. "You already stood up to him about me."

"What about you?" Hunter asked her with a frown.

"My dad didn't like that I'm keeping her because she's my true mate. He wanted me to dump her because she's my weakness."

"It is customary that enforcers not be with their true mates."

I snorted. "Yeah well, I prefer not to be customary. Like I told my dad, Piper is mine, and she's staying that way."

Both girls grinned up at me.

Will chuckled. "Oh, yeah. You're gonna get along fine with our pack."

JulesPOV

The moment we'd made it into the woods, Bray slowed down, but I could tell his wolf was still at the forefront of his person. When we got to the cabin, I moved forward to unlock the door. It should have been easy, but I could feel those amber eyes not just on the back of my head, but on my entire body. I was shaking so badly that it took at least four tries before I could get the key in the damn hole. Usually, by now, Bray would have taken the key from me and done it himself, but I suspected that the wolf was in contemplation about what to do with me once we were inside more than he was worried about hurrying to get inside.

Finally falling through the door, I took a deep breath as my heart pounded in my chest. Something close to fear was fluttering around my stomach as well as lust. I'd never really seen Brayden like this, at the mercy of his wolf. While Bray was still dominant, he was also softer, like Uncle Seth. This personality was dominant and aggressive, just like I'd heard about.

Not turning around, I waited for him to make the move. Males in both packs were notorious for wanting to put their females where they wanted them. When the door quietly clicked shut behind me, I closed my eyes and took a deep, shaky breath. When I heard the lock slide home, the fluttering of my heart reached into my throat.

A heavy touch landed on my shoulder. I jumped. It was light but not gentle. I could somehow tell that this wasn't Brayden's usual softness.

"You're frightened," he whispered in a low, slightly growling voice. I could feel him lean over to put his lips to my ear. "You don't have to be. It's still me, still Brayden. Just a different….version…of me. No part of me would ever dream of hurting you. You're ours. You belong to us."

That hand skimmed down my shoulder to my short sleeve. His fingers smoothed up my skin to tug at my bra strap, pulling it down my arm as far as it would go. While his other hand went to my other shoulder, he used the first to pull my hair over my shoulder so he could press his lips to the nape of my neck. My body shivered hard against him.

He hummed against my skin. "You said you were ready when I am."

I didn't know if it was a question, but I nodded anyway.

"Good," he whispered.

A sigh fluttered between my lips as he maneuvered my arms so the bra straps were free. Shock had my eyes popping open when his fingers moved up my back to unclasp my bra. Like my mother, I wasn't small in that department. Not as big as Piper, but at least a good handful each.

Bray's hands grabbed my hips hard and pulled back so my butt was against his front, his erection a distinct presence against me. He smoothed his palms up my stomach and over my ribs until they cupped the cups of my bra. With his fingers wrapped over the edges, he tugged down and out. With the piece of clothing away from my body, he tossed it into the living area. Before it even hit the floor his hands were back on my skin, hands firmly palming my breasts. I gasped then groaned as his fingers explored. With my head back against his shoulder, his lips were free to roam my neck and jaw. A full-body spasm hit me hard when his fingers pinched my nipples playfully.

"Bray," I choked out.

"Mmm, yes?" he murmured against my throat. I could hear the smile and amusement in his voice.

"You don't have to go slow if you don't want to. I know what your wolf wants. It's his. He can have it."

Instantly, he froze. And then, he pulled away from me. I opened my eyes just in time to see his shirt fly across the room. Abruptly, I was spun around to face him, but I didn't get to stare adoringly at his perfectly sculpted torso because my shirt was already being pulled over my head and tossed somewhere.

After I got my bearings, I looked up at him and fought to cover myself. Instinctively, I knew he wouldn't like that at all, me hiding from him. Especially with the way those amber eyes stared at what was bared to them.

Bray, on the other hand, was perfect. His torso was finely sculpted in the way of all Quileute boys. Broad shoulders, barrel chest, ribbed abdomen. All wrapped up in beautiful russet skin. No chest hair, but he kept his happy trail trimmed and in a straight line like an arrow that was meant to tempt me. And oh, did it tempt me. Every damn time I saw it.

Without any hesitation, his hands came up to cup my breasts before he bent over. I thought he was going for my chest so I was ready to put my head back and sigh. Instead, his lips landed hard but gentle on mine, tongue coming out to taste the sigh I decided to use anyway.

"Perfect," he murmured. "So perfect in my hands."

While I was busy losing IQ points, I felt a tugging at my waist. So caught up in his kiss, I hadn't realized he'd stopped touching my chest to move to my pants. Swiftly, he unbuttoned them.

"Kick off your shoes," he ordered with his lips still on mine.

Hurrying to obey, I did as he said then used my toes to take off my socks.

His lips let go of mine so he could kneel down and slide my jeans down my legs. Rolling his eyes up to me, he leaned forward to kiss my belly. His eyes were still amber, but I could see Bray in them. Which was why I wasn't nervous or scared. I was riding his mood, his confidence that we were finally going to do this.

He'd never hurt me.

BraydenPOV

As I stared up at my beautiful mate, I couldn't believe the confidence roaring through me. But I knew that I needed her and so did the other presence inside me. With him being so close to the surface, the moment he saw Jason touch Jules, we both knew we'd be taking her tonight. There was no question about that. And both I and the wolf were in agreement that her pleasure was most important in this coupling.

Once we got her out of her jeans, I stood up and she reached for my jeans. The good boy side of me wanted to stop her because I'd gone commando today. But the wolf overrode me hard and fast. He wanted to test her, push just a little to see how far she'd go. We kept eye contact with her until she had to look down to watch what she was doing so that she wouldn't hurt me.

I heard the small gasp before she swallowed it and went to her knees in front of me. "Boots," she said shakily.

Smirking, I kicked out of them while she looked down. She was just tall enough that her eyes would be on level with my erection.

Jules finished tugging off my jeans and then took a deep breath before looking up. She studied me. Because I'd phased and the fur matched body hair in quantity, I'd learned to trim down a lot to avoid my groin being hot and chafing from all the fur. It was something that all the Quileute guys had to make a decision on. Come to think of it, so did the girls. Which made me wonder…

Jules moved her eyes up my body to meet my gaze before she grabbed my thighs and pulled herself to her feet. On her way up, she stayed so close that her breasts brushed over me. My breath punched out of my lungs.

Her hands continued up my body, nails scratching my abs and chest.

I couldn't help the groan when her fingers pushed up the nape of my neck and into my hair. I always loved it when she played with my hair. The wolf purred.

There was a split second warning of her hands tightening just before she jumped up. I caught the backs of her thighs. The hot center of her was just above my erection, and I could feel the heat coming from her.

Jules put her mouth to mine. "Take me to bed, Bray."

Crushing our lips together, I walked us back toward the bedroom. I walked until my knees hit the bed, then bent over. Jules laid back, arms over her head. The moment she was down, I crawled up, knees spreading her legs wider. Gripping her wrists, I pushed them into the mattress and reared up over her so I could stare down at her. Like every male with his female, I and my wolf thought she was the most beautiful thing we could ever lay eyes on. Unlike Will, her skin was sun-kissed, not russet. And her copper and black curls were spread over the bed and pillows.

She frowned and opened her eyes. "Bray?"

When she saw that I was staring, she started wiggling on the bed, embarrassed as her cheeks flamed. Under my hands, her wrists worked.

"What? What is it?"

Letting go of a hand, I stroked my fingers down her cheek with a smile. "What? I can't stare at the gorgeous woman under me?"

Jules fought the smile but lost. "Charmer."

The wolf used my throat to growl as we bent down to put lips to her throat. "No charm. Just honesty."

Stop talking, the wolf said in my head. Mark her. Take her.

We can't move too fast.

He growled. She's ready for us. Let me take over again. She liked our surety.

Small hands cupped my face. I focused on her and watched the movement of her throat as she swallowed in fascination.

"No hesitation, Bray. Just ride it out." Her thumbs stroked under my eyes.

See?

I stared at her and remembered my dominance from just moments ago. And how she'd responded to it.

Okay.

In my head, the wolf nudged me aside but left me as a co-pilot.

Jules smiled and I knew my eyes flared amber again.

I rode my wolf's confidence and rolled with it. "Your panties still on is somewhat offensive."

Her giggle was low and dark. "You're the one who left them on."

"Mmm," we growled. "Then I suppose I should remedy that."

The look in her eyes heated my blood. "I suppose you should."

JulesPOV

With an evil little grin and lips to my skin, Bray slid down my body. I knew he was letting his wolf take over the movements because his eyes were amber and the hesitancy was gone again.

And this time when he bent over my chest, he did stop over my breasts. His mouth hovered over a nipple, breath playing over me, making me shiver. I groaned in anticipation. And the touch was better than expected. All I managed to watch before throwing my head back was Bray's tongue peeking out to trace a circle around my nipple. Reaching up, I gripped the sheets and pulled, wriggling around. The pleasure was indescribably delicious.

But he didn't stay too long. After a few laps around both breasts, those lush lips moved down the center of my body to dip into my belly button before continuing on down to the edge of my panties.

In the fog of my mind, I briefly wondered if Bray would be surprised at what he found. Before phasing, I wouldn't have dreamed of taking a razor to myself down there. But after phasing, Piper and I had had a talk. I knew she trimmed, but being Quileute, I needed it completely gone. Running had just plain sucked with all that hair between my legs.

It was the moment of truth as Bray gripped my panties at my hips and tugged them down, coming face to face with the most intimate part of my body. Smirking, he kissed the very lower part of my belly where other territory began. "You shaved."

"You didn't."

His smirk grew to a smile. "Trimmed up a bit."

Staring at the humor in his eyes, I couldn't help the giggle. Now I understood Piper's need to laugh. Even though Bray and I hadn't cemented this yet, I did feel a sense of freedom. We were bared to each other for the first time and there was no judgement, no fear that one would find the other lacking.

Chuckling, he silenced my giggles with a kiss to the mound of my sex. The laugh turned to an erotic sigh, then to a purr. My panties flew to the other side of the room before Bray laid himself between my legs, his broad shoulders widening my thighs.

"What are you doing?" I gasped.

That smirk was back and it fit the look in those amber eyes. "You think the lips on that beautiful face are the only ones I've been dying to taste?"

The blush was fast and furious as it raced up my neck. Yup, this was definitely Bray's wolf talking. But I couldn't say I didn't like it. It actually made me more comfortable with the whole sex thing and naughty talk. I'd always been the good girl raised with a bunch of guys. Bray had always been the good ol' boy.

Tonight, that was changing. Somehow, I knew that the wolf was voicing everything that Bray thought about privately.

Bray settled in, elbows in the mattress and palms gripping my thighs wider. Looking down, the only part of his face that I could see was his eyes. Everything else was blocked by my body. He was so close to me that I could feel when he growled. The vibrations slid over those intimate folds, and I gripped the sheets above my head again.

BraydenPOV

I couldn't believe I was actually here, in this position, seeing Jules so vulnerable. And she was amazing.

"Beautiful," I whispered before I got brave and licked up the center of her. Her taste was sweet and thick on my tongue.

"Bray!" she shouted. "Oh, God."

I closed my eyes and groaned. "Easy, my female. This is just the beginning."

And boy, wasn't that the truth. Time could have passed in millennia but she wouldn't have noticed as I went to work with the confidence of my wolf. Nervous? Yes, of course I was, but we were both finally ready for this. And I needed to taste her. Tongue, lips, and teeth worked and gently worried on her slickening flesh. I could scent her body react and rush to my touch. It was intoxicating. No wonder males loved sex so much and were so territorial over their mates.

Writhing beneath me, she threw her head back into the pillows, her nails shredding the sheets. Every time I hit the top of her sex, her body jerked, and she yelled out.

Caught in the moment of wanting her but unsure of the scream, I squeezed her thighs to get her attention. She managed to roll her eyes back to the front of her head and found me staring up at her. From her worried expression, I figured my eyes were back to green, the wolf having receded for the most part. He'd been hoping his wave of confidence would morph into my own.

Now that I noticed he was gone, the nerves fluttered in my chest.

"You okay? You yelled."

Panting, she relaxed a little. Swallowing hard, she nodded, her aqua eyes heavy-lidded. "Yeah, baby. I'm good. Why'd you stop?"

Licking my slick lips, I looked at her body in front of me. "You yelled. Loudly. I didn't know if I hurt you. I have no idea what I'm doing."

Her expression changed from the lust haze to loving warmth, as she reached down to run a hand through my hair. "You didn't hurt me. It feels good. My only issue is that you stopped."

My turn to swallow hard. And my lids fluttered as her honey slipped down my throat. My breath was shaky when it came out.

Jules convulsed at the feel. "Just follow your wolf, Bray. We're not human. Listen to your primal instincts. What are they telling you?"

Before answering, I felt the wolf crawl back into the light again, sensing my anxiousness.

Go on. Tell her what you want. It won't frighten her away. Be the male you want to be with your female.

Breathing her scent deeply, I let the dark, erotic thoughts seep into my gaze. "I want to kiss you until you scream."

Seeing the look on my face, she threw her head back. "Then do it," she groaned.

Without another word or questioning my impulse, I went back to it, lowering my face to her sex. Her body rushed hard when I dove in rougher than before, that honey coating my tongue and mouth. I wasn't kissing her; I was feeding at her, feeding at what her body was offering me.

Surprisingly, she raced to the point of exploding that she'd been before I'd stopped. I was a virgin, had never done anything nefarious with anyone, and it was hard to believe that I was actually pleasuring her to the point of orgasm.

Letting go of her thighs, my hands slowly, with a little hesitancy, moved up her body. Touching and caressing, my fingers were soft and light, teasing. And when I cupped her breasts hard, I growled against her. Her upper body bucked off the bed while her hips gyrated closer to my mouth for more. She was close to the edge and in a hurry to jump over it. So in a bid to get her there, I understood the gesture she made sure to let me know her most intense pleasure spot was her clit every time I hit it by making some noise or heavy movement. True to the tie of imprint, I understood and concentrated my attentions there.

Since the sheets were ripped up, she reached over her head for the bars of the headboard and threw her body at me.

I took the hint and stayed there. After a minute, I started growling in a steady stream, my fingers playing over her nipples.

Her body hummed and tightened around me. Her head thrashed so fiercely that the pillow were pushed to either side as she gripped the bars of the headboard.

"Bray," she whimpered.

Finding that nub with my teeth, I sucked it into my mouth hard.

Screaming, her body seized. A heavy squeal sounded from the bed as the bars bent. More of that sweet honey flooded from her, coating my lips and chin.

After a minute or so, she came down, breathing hard.

Easing away from her, I crawled up her body so that when she opened her eyes, she'd see me above her. The sensation of our bodies brushing and sliding fired off the nerves where we touched, sending electric shocks through my body. Reaching up, I pried her hands from the bent bars and brought her limp arms down so I could rest my elbows on the mattress over her shoulders.

While she gathered her wits, I softly kissed her lips, between her eyes, nose, jaw, anywhere I could reach. A purr thrummed in her chest, and I felt her arms come to slide over my shoulders.

When I dropped my body to hers we both let out gasps, and her eyes flew open, staring up at me. My hips were nestled against hers, her warmth cradling my erection.

"Okay?" I asked against her lips.

She nodded. "That was amazing."

I grinned. "I'm glad. Shall we finish this?"

Biting her lip, she nodded. "Please."

JulesPOV

Bray and I kept eye contact as he reached down between us. At the first nudge of his erection, my mouth went dry and the butterflies exploded in my chest. My belly was still too busy with the aftershocks of having my first ever orgasm.

Bray hesitated, but then his eyes flashed amber just before he pushed inside. His intrusion was thick and hot inside me, and I had to grit my teeth against the discomfort. Thankfully, with my body still slick from the orgasm, he slid inside easily. But he still wasn't small and I could tell I was tight from the way he worked his hips in little back and forth movements.

With a groan, he dropped his forehead to my chest. "You're so hot, Jules."

Knowing he was talking about my body heat, I asked, "Is it too much?"

He shook his head. "Perfect. Fucking perfect."

The purr spilled through my lips again. I couldn't help it. I was like a cat getting my belly rubbed. Everything just felt so damned good.

My arms cupped Bray's head as my nails dug into the skin of his shoulders and back. His body rubbed mine from the inside out, and I couldn't get enough of the sensation. It was so much pleasure that I wanted to tear up is back.

I heard him swallow hard at the same time he lifted his head and shoved his hips forward. With a sound that mixture of shout and gasp, my upper body came up off the bed, my head landing on his shoulder, face in his neck. The tightness inside me surprisingly didn't come with any pain. Just a discomfort that eased the longer I stayed still. When I pulled back from Bray, his eyes were that lovely mix of amber and his human green. He was watching me closely with a blank expression as though he was waiting for my response. He and his wolf waited.

Leaning forward, I kissed his jaw. "So good," I whispered.

Without another word or question, Bray started moving at a steady but harder pace. Each glide of him inside me was deliciously heavy. My hands touched any part of him they could reach, nails sliding over his skin, feeling his muscles as they caught and released bones. His biceps flexed with every push in.

Dropping his head, his lips brushed over my neck and collarbone. "So beautiful," he breathed. "I can't believe Fate let me have you, Jules. You've always been the only one I've ever wanted."

It was stupid, but in this moment and with his words, I teared up. In the middle of the most intense experience I'd ever had. Except for when I'd been at Melice's mercy…

No! Not right now, not here.

I forced those thoughts down and concentrated on my mate as our bodies found a perfect rhythm. Grabbing onto the here and now, I gripped him as hard as I could, nails digging into his skin. "I've always wanted you, too."

His body jerked hard both on top of me and inside me. "God, that's music to my ears." Pulling back and slowing his pace, his green and gold eyes stared down at me. "I love you. So fucking much."

Our bodies going on without us, I gazed up at him, eyes watering once more. "I love you, too, baby."

His eyes flashed to pure amber before going completely green. When his body stopped over me, I knew he was about to say something.

I stroked his face, those sharp cheekbones. "What is it?"

For a long moment, we just laid there, our bodies connected but still as we stared at each other. "Marry me."

Not what I was expecting, especially at this moment. I gasped. "W-what?"

Licking his lips, Bray settled heavier on top of me. He looked away from me as if afraid of my reaction. "I know we're imprints, but I don't want to assume anything about our future. I don't have a ring or any plans. I just want-,"

Affirmation, I thought. "Yes," I answered.

His gaze turned back to me sharply, the corners of his lips lifting just a little. "Yes?"

I grinned and wrapped my arms around his neck. "Yes, I will marry you, Brayden Clearwater."

The small smile turned to a grin as he laughed, wrapped his arms around me, and rolled us over. Laughing with him, I moved up his body enough to kiss him. "I love you."

Sitting up, he took me with him and I was forced to straddle his lap. His body had fallen out of mine when he'd rolled us. We sat tangled up in the sheets and my hair while he nuzzled my throat. "I love you, too."

Bray wrapped an arm around my waist to lift me up while his other hand connected us once more. I purred for him as he pulled my hips back down. His hips moved under me while his hands moved me with him. His lips were everywhere, sliding over mine, down my chin and across my jaw. "You are so perfect."

Cradling his head to my chest, I kissed the top of his head. "So are you. Now shut up and make love to me."

Bray laughed into my chest, and, in a fast series of movements, I was on my back again at the foot of the bed with him on top. This time, when he started to move, there was no hesitation as he took me. The rhythm started slow but firm. As we both became accustomed once more to the sensations, he sped up, adding some power to his thrusts. My nails were back in his flesh and his lips were back on mine. Only this time, he wrapped my hair around his knuckles and fisted it as he drilled into me.

It wasn't long before we were both breathing heavy and sweaty. Sweat pooled between us, making our skin slick. That same delicious pressure was building in me again, filling me up until my fingers tingled and my toes curled on the bed.

I ran my nails down his spine, and the moment I sank them into his ass, his body convulsed hard over me. Bray's smooth rhythm stumbled, quickening and hardening. I yelled out at a particularly hard thrust that would have brought my body up off the bed again had he not been pinning me down. When his fists tightened in my hair and his eyes squeezed down tight, I knew he was close to coming.

Our bodies had turned to mindless, grinding machines, pushing us closer and closer to ecstasy.

And at just the right moment, Bray swiveled his hips in just the right way. Between one breath and the next, I flew apart. The dense, thick pleasure that had been building inside me exploded into what felt like a lightning strike inside my body. Every nerve flared to life, sensitive to everything that touched my body. The sheets were rough against my skin. Bray's touch sent shocks through me. Throwing my head back, I screamed to the ceiling when it became too much. Above me, Bray thrust hard before freezing up. His teeth ground together as he growled out his orgasm. My newly responsive nerves felt the heat that filled me between my legs.

When the initial freeze was over and he could move again, he kept up little pumps in and out, almost like his body wasn't done using up its energy. And I didn't mind at all. Lying there, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sensations and ran my hands over his sweat-slicked skin.

Finally, he briefly collapsed on top of me before rolling onto his side and taking me with him, pulling me against his chest. "Wow," he panted.

I managed a laugh. "Yeah. Wow."

"Your dad's gonna murder me."

Now I let out a full-throated laugh and pulled back to look up at him. His eyes were back to their human green again, tired but sated. "No, he won't. He knows how much I love you. Not to mention, he loves you, too. He just gives you a hard time because it's the normal thing that dads do." Reaching up, I stroked his hair from his forehead. "I can't say he'll be thrilled, but he can't say anything. Will is giving him a granddaughter already. Another girl for Team Black, remember?"

He huffed out a laugh before getting serious again. His hand came down from my hip to land over my belly. "What if we-,"

I gripped the back of his neck and jerked until he looked up at me. "Stop it, Brayden. Whatever happens will happen. You think I have my life path set in stone. I don't. Our lives are changing, and plans will change. I just want to have you beside me when we face whatever the future brings us. Please, stop worrying so much. I have my family and I have you. That's all I want set in stone. Okay?"

Those piercing emerald eyes studied my face. "What about college? A normal job?"

I knew what he was asking. All our lives, we'd been raised as normally as possible. But our world was shifting. Giving him stern eye contact, I said, "Fuck normal, Bray. Fuck it to hell and back. If all goes right, we'll be living a very long time. I'll have time to go to college. What I want right now is to survive this witch business. I want to marry you. No matter how we were raised, we're not normal. We're way more primal than humans. And we're not all about ourselves. We're about our mates and families. If I'd had plans to go to college and you asked me not to go because you didn't want to leave, I would have happily stayed without one single regret. Don't ever think you're not the most important thing to me, way above myself. I come last to you and the family. As for a job? Fuck that, too. I'm the alpha's daughter. Right now, my job is to learn how to care for the pack and protect them. Maybe one day I'll have a job like dad or Will. Or maybe you'll insist on supporting me while my brothers and I take care of the pack. I don't know what the future holds for us, but we'll work it out when we get to it."

Bray studied me for a moment before grinning and hugging me to his chest. His warm lips pressed to my forehead. "I hear you, baby. God, I love you."

I kissed the spot over his heart. "I love you, too."

"I guess I need to see if Uncle Jake or Uncle Embry can get me a job at one of the shops so I can start saving for your ring."

"Hmmm, about that…" Wiggling away from him, I got shakily got out of bed and wobbled over to the small jewelry box I'd brought with me from the house.

"What are you doing?" he asked, dark amusement coloring his tone. I could feel his gaze on my body like a touch.

After grabbing what I wanted, I went back to bed and cuddled in next to him. "You probably don't remember this. It was a long, long time ago when we were little." Between us, I held up the adjustable ring that had designs etched into it. "You got this out of one of those little twenty-five cent machines in the diner and gave me the little ball before even opening it to know what it was. I've kept it ever since."

Laughing, he took it from me. "Holy shit. I do remember. I can't believe you kept it."

I shrugged. "Why wouldn't I?" Before he could answer, I held up my left hand and spread my fingers. "I already said yes."

Grinning, he opened up the ring a little more before sliding it onto my ring finger. "Fit okay?" he asked.

I smiled back up at him. "It's perfect."

Who knew how long we laid there, his fingers playing with mine. We were just soaking up the happy vibes and love from one another.

"It's late," he said.

"I know."

"I'm sorry if I was rough with you earlier in the rec cabin. I don't know what happened. When Jason touched you, I just…I don't know. I snapped."

Lacing our fingers, I clasped his hand. He looked at me. "It's alright. I understand. And so does he. You weren't rough with me."

Pulling me close, he kissed m hair. "Good. Why don't we try to get some sleep? It's been a long-ass day."

I snuggled closer, tucking my head under his chin. I kissed the hollow of his throat. "Agreed. But it was good to see your dad up and around."

"Amen to that."

Thinking about Uncle Seth made me think about what was going on with Bray. "How are you feeling?"

Bray sighed and rolled onto his back, tucking me into his side. His warm palm stroked my back. "I feel fine, but I can't say I don't have a bad feeling about whatever was done to me. My main worry is hurting you. Or the family."

I stroked his chest. "We won't let you. If you feel yourself slipping, tell us. We'll take care of you."

His jaw clenched. "Put me in a cell, you mean."

Going up on my elbow, I looked down at him. "Don't. Don't do that, Bray. It would be the safest place for you. You just said that you don't want to hurt anybody. I don't like the thought of you locked up any more than you do. And I'm not saying that it for sure will happen. I just think you should be prepared. We all should. This is going to get uglier than it is right now. It's a waiting game now. Eleanora knows we can't find her. She also knows we're going to try. Which means she has more opportunity to infect more of our wolves. My feeling is just as bad as yours. Something tells me that we don't have enough cells. Not by a long shot."

Bray's thumb smoothed up and down my spine as he contemplated. Then he looked up at me. "Aw, hell. I'm sorry, Jules. This night…it was supposed to be…different after we made love. I didn't mean to drag it down."

Laying back down on his chest, I said, "It's alright. It's still special. I was the one who asked how you were feeling."

He squeezed me to him. "That doesn't mean you're not right. About the cell thing." With his arm around me, he pulled me further on top of him and kissed my forehead. "Thanks for an amazing night," he murmured.

I smiled against his skin. "You are most welcome. Although, I should be thanking you. You're the one who did all the work."

Under me, he chuckled. "Hey, you could have said no when we came in because I know you knew my wolf was there."

"True. But I didn't want to say no. I told you I was ready whenever you were. I do have to say thank god you were ready sooner rather than later. The tension was killing me."

His body moved with another laugh. "Sorry to have kept you waiting."

I shrugged the best I could in his arms. "Eh, now that we've taken care of business, I forgive you."

He laughed again and completely wrapped his arms around me in a hug. "Good. Now go to sleep. I know you're tired."

At that moment, a yawn hit me hard. "Mhm, clearly."

Snuggling down on him, I breathed in his scent and knew I was home. I fell asleep to his breathing and the steady beat of his heart. The most perfect beat I'd ever heard.


I'm pretty sure we're all thinking, "FINALLY!" Surprisingly, this was the hardest lemon I've ever written in my life...if you can tell, don't tell me. I know it's kinda rough lol. Other than that, let me know how you feel! I love you guys! xoxoxo