“I have heard of rumours that there can be signs of a fated bond in childhood, but i never quite believed it,” my father said.
My thoughts sobered up almost instantly.
“Dad,” I said, and he nodded.
“I know, son,” he replied. “We will find her and bring her home, I promise.”
“Good luck with that,” Damon muttered, and I narrowed my eyes on him.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that Erica hates packs, and Alphas for that matter. Something about a bad experience with a pack. You’ll need more than the fated bond to convince her,” Damon said and then looked down and mumbled. “I certainly couldn’t.”
“This is different,” I said. “This isn’t just some infatuation, it’s the fated mate bond. You wouldn’t understand.” Damon looked back up at me and I could see anger in his eyes.
“Is that it?” he hissed, “Because I haven’t found my fated mate, I don’t know what love is?”
“Yeah something like that,” I said, and he growled.
“Did it ever occur to you that love without the bond is more genuine love?” Damon snarled. “You don’t even know her, I do. You think that just because some all seeing power has connected you too that your love is more valid?” He was practically spitting the words.
“Are you saying that you love my mate?” I growled and stepped forward. Out of the corner of my eye I could see my father and Gregg both move, ready to intercept. Damon shot up out of his chair and growled at me.
“Is that what you want to hear?” he snarled, “Yes, I am in love with Erica, and it rips me apart knowing that she is my best friend's mate. It might take me a while to deal with that, so get off my damn back already.” My wolf snarled in my head and anger boiled around me as I rushed forward and grabbed Damon around the throat. I launched him across the room and he smashed against the wall before crumpling to the ground. I felt people grabbing my arms as I tried to lunge for him again.
“She is my mate,” I snarled trying to pull away from whoever was restraining me.
“And don’t I bloody know it,” Damon snapped as he pulled himself back to his feet, with the help of Jacob. He winced as he tried to stand up straight. “And you are treating her like some possession. Did it ever occur to you that she would be in more danger with you than without?” The question hit me like a ton of bricks.
“After what happened with Jessica, maybe Erica is better off disappearing and keeping the hell away from the lot of us,” Damon carried on before shrugging off Jacob’s arm and storming out of the room The words stung with bitter truth. I had already lost one mate because of this damn curse. Was he right? Was I being selfish? I looked at my father and shook my head.
“I..” I couldn’t form the words in my head. I sat in a nearby chair and dropped my head into my hands. I could hear movement around me and heard my father dismiss everyone. Soon the room was silent, and I was sure that I was alone. I rubbed my hands over my face and looked up to see my father sitting patiently on the edge of his desk.
“Is he right?” I asked. “Am I being selfish?” My father grimaced slightly.
“Son, the bond is powerful,” he said. “And yes maybe it is selfish, but there is also a reason why you and Erica were paired by the goddess. I have to believe that this is meant to be. To help both of our communities.”
He walked back around and sat back behind his desk.
"But Damon is right about one thing. Erica won't come easily. I am all too aware of the traumas she has experienced."
“Like what?” I asked. The idea that my beautiful mate has gone through anything traumatic made me want to hurt someone.
"A few years ago, Gregg and I were called by Trenton. One of his children had been manipulated into joining a pack that trafficked supernatural creatures. They kept her prisoner, and it took a coordinated effort from her old pack, myself, and Gregg to extract her from that situation. I didn’t know then but from the age, I reckon it was Erica." Declan's jaw tightened. "If so, then she has every reason to distrust Alphas and want nothing to do with packs. You'll have to prove you're different if you want her to accept you."
Rage simmered in my veins, directed at the bastards who had hurt her. At the same time, it made sense now why Erica had been so wary of me. Of any Alpha. My wolf snarled inside me, wanting to hunt down each of those responsible for her suffering. I balled my hands into fists, struggling to contain my anger.
"How could anyone do that to her? She didn't deserve that."
"No, she didn't." My father's eyes were hard as flint. “None of the girls we found there did. The conditions that we found them in were horrendous.” I could tell from the way he spoke he was still haunted by the incident. I couldn’t even imagine how my mate would be dealing with it.
“What happened to the pack?” I asked. I was ready to go and tear them limb from limb.
“We managed to disband them, although the Alpha disappeared before trial at the Conclave,” My father said. I growled at the thought. How could the Conclave lose someone like that? They were supposed to be the ones protecting the supernatural community.
My father spoke again, pulling me from my anger.
“Which is why you must proceed carefully. Erica has been through enough trauma to last several lifetimes. If you pressure her or make her feel threatened in any way, she will flee from you and never look back.”
