»Let me put this straight,« Slade said and raised an eyebrow, »you met her five days ago and want me to get the mate papers?«

Jaded rolled his eyes. »Which part of "I'm marrying her" didn't you understand?«

»Oh, I perfectly understood. It's just that human females aren't usually this quick as I experienced.«

Jaded collapsed on a chair in Slade's office. »Ashley's different. She says life taught her never to wait.« He looked out of the window and grew silent for a moment before meeting Slade's gaze again. »We talked about it thoroughly. She's aware of the consequences and that being a Species mate might affect her career. In fact, she's ready to quit and start working for the NSO.«

Slade wasn't convinced. »She comes with a child. That's a whole different story.«

»I know. Did you ever feel frightened and excited at the same time?« A soft smile appeared on Jaded's face. »Hope wants to call me "daddy" when I married her mom. You're right. This changes everything.«

»I see.« Slade watched him for a few seconds. »I take it you're serious about it.«

Jaded just nodded. He sure as fuck was!

Slade sighed. »Alright… I'll get the papers ready within the next few days.«

»Thanks,« Jaded smiled. »I appreciate it.«

»You said you're going to see Vengeance?« Slade asked grinning, changing the subject. »Fury said something about brochures of gravestones. I assume that's the reason, isn't it?«

Jaded gritted his teeth. »Yeah. Ashley is waiting in the Jeep with Hope. Did I mention, I don't like my girls to meet him?«

»I can imagine,« Slade smirked.

Jaded shrugged. »Ashley promised to come back. I really tried to talk her out of it but…«

Slade chuckled. »Human females can be stubborn as fuck. Just get over it. The sooner – the better!«

Vengeance stood on his porch and leaned against a pole as Jaded's Jeep arrived with Ashley and Hope. A smile crossed his features. She came back! Just like she promised. And she brought her little one along. As Hope scooted towards him, he walked down the steps and crouched in the grass so he won't frighten her.

She stopped close in front of him. »Are you Vengeance?«

He nodded. »I am. Nice to meet you, Hope.«

»Nice to meet you, too.« She tilted her head and her curious looking dark blue eyes met his ice-blue ones. »Can you purr? Like Jaded?«

Jaded threw his head back and burst out in laughter.

»Hope!« Her mother approached quickly with a deep frown. »That's not nice! Vengeance isn't a kitty cat.«

Vengeance ignored Ashley and smiled at Hope. »No, little one, I can't purr because I'm canine, not feline. But I can howl. That's fun as well. I'll show you later.« He winked at her. »I've got cookies and milk on the table waiting for you.« Hope squeaked and ran inside.

Ashley shook her head. »I'm so sorry, Vengeance. She's a child. It wasn't her intention to offend you.«

»No offense taken, Ashley. Don't worry.« He rose and sniffed slightly, his eyes wandering to Jaded. »I want to have word with Jaded if you don't mind,« he suddenly said. »It won't take long.«

She shrugged. »No problem.«

Vengeance waited until she entered his house and closed the door. Immediately he gripped Jaded's throat and pushed his back against a tree trunk.

Jaded gasped for breath. »Have you…lost…your mind? Release me,« he croaked, clawing at the wrist of the hand choking him.

»She reeks of your stench, so there's no doubt you shared sex with her,« Vengeance hissed and narrowed his eyes. »She's my friend and you better be serious about her. Because if you hurt her I'll hurt you. Am I clear?« He came close and eyed him, while Jaded's face slowly turned blue. »Now tell me… Are you serious?«

»I am... Told Slade… get… mate papers...« Jaded groaned. »Let… me go...«

Vengeance loosened his grip and Jaded slapped his hand away from his throat. He bent forward, placing his hands on his thighs and coughed. The door opened and Ashley stepped out.

»If one of you wants any cookies you better be quick or Hope will eat them all.« She paused and frowned. »Is everything fine over there? Are you having trouble?«

Vengeance grinned broadly and patted Jaded's back. »No, we're good, aren't we?«

Jaded managed to straighten himself and nod. Vengeance gave him a light shove, which made him stumble and almost fall. He watched Vengeance pass him by with a big smile, walking up his porch and closing the door behind him and Ashley. Hands off my female!, Jaded wanted to shout after him but his vocal cords refused to work. He still had trouble breathing.

The door opened again and Vengeance's mean grinning face appeared. »You coming or what?«

Asshole! Jaded glared daggers at him. Vengeance was going to pay! One way or another… As he finally entered the house he was taken aback by the scene. Hope sat on Vengeance's lap, while she raved about him being her daddy soon. Never before had he seen this crazy fucker as relaxed as now. Puppy protection! Jaded couldn't help but grin. Hope simply twisted Vengeance around her little finger. Nevertheless, Jaded felt tense. Vengeance tried to touch his mate! That didn't sit well with him at all. But for Hope and Ashley he tried to put a good face on the matter – just for them.

The sun was already setting as Ashley said good-bye to Vengeance. When Jaded headed for the Jeep, Vengeance grabbed his upper arm.

»Thanks for bringing your females, Jaded. This means a lot to me.«

He scowled. »Don't thank me. In fact, I didn't have a say in that matter. Otherwise, they wouldn't have come anywhere near you, trust me on that.«

Vengeance lowered his gaze. »I know,« he mumbled sadly, letting go off Jaded's arm and turning towards his door, »believe me, I know.«

After the door closed behind Vengeance, Jaded remained frozen to the point. Deep inside himself, he felt sorry him.

»Jaded?« Ashley's voice dragged him out of his thoughts and he smiled in response.

»Coming!«

Hope was sooo bored! She looked at all the adults around her. Most of them were busy congratulating her newly wed parents. She started scooting through the crowd until one of the males caught her attention. He didn't notice her first. She gaped up at him with her mouth open and wide eyes.

Justice tried hard to focus on the conversation with Jessie and his father-in-law but the little girl distracted him. Finally, he crouched in front of her.

»Why are you staring at me, Smurfette?« he asked with a grin.

»You're so pretty,« she lisped.

He blinked. »You think I'm pretty?«

»Uh-huh…« She nodded. »Daddy is pretty, too. But you're prettier.«

»Awww… Thank you, young lady.« Jaded! You lucky bastard!

Meanwhile, Jessie and her father stopped their discussion and looked down on them with a smile.

Hope bit her lip. »I want to ask you something.«

»Well then… Fire away.«

She motioned for Justice to come close. »Mommy said it's not nice to ask that,« she whispered, »so I want to say it in your ear.«

Now curiosity got the best of him. He tugged his long hair behind his ear and gestured for her to talk right into it.

»Promise, you won't tell mommy,« she demanded.

He held up his right hand. »I swear. It'll be our little secret, Smurfette.«

She cupped his ear. »Can you purr? Like daddy?« she whispered.

»I can,« he winked at her, »but don't you tell anybody or they won't fear me anymore.«

She frowned. »Why should they fear you?«

»Because I'm the boss,« he grinned.

She tilted her head. »So you want them to fear you?«

Smart gal! Justice shrugged. »Maybe…«

»I don't fear you,« she said. »You're nice.«

Oh boy! Wasn't that a cute little sweetheart?

»There you are, Hope,« Jaded said as he approached quickly, picked her up and sat her on his hip. »Did she bother you, Justice?«

»Not at all,« he said with a smile and stood. »She's such a darling, Jaded. I almost envy you. Promise me to take good care of her.«

»I surely will, Justice. She's mine forever.«

Justice gave him a curt nod and Jaded headed back towards his mate as Slade stepped into his path. Grinning, he handed him the keys for their new home and winked at him. »Have fun tonight.« Then he was gone.

Jaded frowned. He'd love to spend this night with his mate. There were so many places to have wild and mindless sex like the bathtub, the kitchen counter, the floor… but unfortunately there was Hope! He looked at the keys in his hand and then at the beautiful girl on his hip. Not that he complained but he didn't think it was selfish, wishing to have his female all for himself for the wedding night. Suddenly he had an idea. He drew out his phone and dialed a number.

Jaded slapped Vengeance's shoulder as he stood on his porch and smiled. »Thank you so much for babysitting.«

»Ah! I'm happy to help you out. And Hope is sweetest burden ever. She's safe with me. I'd willingly give my life for your cub.« He turned to look at a tired little girl sitting in his Jeep and beaming at him.

»I know, Ven.« Jaded hesitated a second, then drew him into a tight bear hug. »And I surely never forget that,« he said.

Vengeance hugged him back. »Whenever you need me I'll be there.« Suddenly he broke the contact and gave Jaded a hard shove. »Now, be mates.« He spun on his heel and headed towards his Jeep and jumped in. Hope squealed with glee as Vengeance drove of at a tearing pace. He looked after them as Ashley sneaked up behind him and slid her arms around his waist.

»The night is ours, lover boy,« she whispered and her heard the smile in her voice.

Thoughtfully he watched the lights of the Jeep disappear. »Do you consider me egoistic for giving Hope to Vengeance?«

She stepped in front of him and cupped his face. »Not at all. Hope likes Vengeance and spending the next days with him is like a big adventure to her.«

»Speaking of which…« he grinned, scooping her in his arms and carrying her over the threshold, »I'm feeling like a brave adventurer myself. There's so much to explore!«

»Are you fucking kidding me, Ashley?« Bob hollered. »You married one of those… those…«

»Be careful,« she hissed and narrowed her eyes, »you're walking on dangerous ground.«

He shook his head. »What about your career?«

She shrugged and kept on packing up her belongings. »I'll find a way to keep myself busy, don't worry.« She had no intension of hiding her sarcasm.

»You'll regret this. I know you will.«

Again he shook his head and left her office, which she was thankful for. It was early in the evening already and Jaded was probably finished with collecting all their things in her house. She could hardly wait to get away from Bob! As quick as possible she carried her boxes to her car and drove to her place. The moment she parked her car, Jaded opened the door with a huge smile on his face. She jumped out of her car and quickly walked up to him.

»Just in time,« he said. »They left with all your stuff a few minutes ago.«

»Fine! Let's go.«

He frowned. »Don't you want to have look at your house? Maybe I forgot something.«

She shook her head. »I trust you and I want to get out of here quickly.«

»Had trouble with Bob?« he asked, raising an eyebrow.

She avoided his gaze. »As always. He was being his usual asshole self and... Oh!« She bent down to pick up a photo, as he spotted a tiny red dot on his chest. What the fuck? A laser-pointer was aimed at him! The moment it sank in that someone wanted to shoot him, Ashley stood in front of him.

»Ouch!« she winced and her hand touched her shoulder.

NO! His heart froze in his chest and he couldn't move.

»Ssssommmething stung mmme,« she slurred and her knees buckled. Now his brain started function again. He caught her in his arms before she hit the ground. His hand stroked her shoulder until he found a small dart and pulled it out. Sniffing at it, he recognized it immediately. Breeding drug! No doubt! ... but it was mixed with something else he couldn't identify. Ashley's body went limp and her heart raced. He felt her temperature rise in no time and sweat coated her skin. Fear shot through him.

»Please don't die on me!« he shouted and tears blurred his vision. Somehow he managed to get his phone out of his back pocket and dial Trisha's number.

»Having trouble, newly wed?« Trisha laughed.

»She's been drugged! I think she's dying.« His voice cracked.

»What? Where are you?«

»Her house! Please help me! She's unconscious and burning up with fever! Her heart races like crazy!«

»I send a team, Jaded. Calm down! Please! If her heart stops before we reach you I need you to do CPR. Understand?«

»Yes,« he whispered. »Please hurry.«