“Are you in a hurry or something?” she asked. But then her expression sobered up. “I get it,” she said sincerely. “Once you meet your mate, it’s all or nothing.” I raised an eyebrow at her.
“Speaking from the voice of experience there?” I asked, and Kaitlyn blushed and quickly shook her head.
“Of course not,” she blurted, and I smiled. I already knew my sister had a secret. I suspected she had found her mate when she turned eighteen four months ago. I also knew she would tell when she was ready.
“Anyway, give me an hour and I will have the information you need.” Then she looked at me.
“That quick,” I said. “You’re a genius.”
“Damn straight I am,” she replied. I leaned down to kiss her head and turned to walk out of the room.
“Mind link me when you get something,” I said, and she waved her arm. I was almost out the door when Kaitlyn called again.
“Liam?”
“Yeah?” I looked back, and she had a big grin on her face.
“I’m happy you found her,” she said, and I grinned.
“Yeah, so am I.”
With time to spare until Kaitlyn could get into the phone I decided it was time to go apologise to Damon. I went downstairs to the Beta and Gamma floor of the pack house, but his room was empty. I linked him, asking if we could talk. He cursed at me before shutting me out with a harsh force that must have taken some effort to shut down an Alpha link. A quick mind link to Gregg told me he was at the hospital, so I left the pack house and walked in that direction, which was located behind the training grounds. It seemed like I had done some serious damage.
My feet stomped on the ground as I marched, fuming just thinking about the Shadow Night pack and their tyrannical rule. My heart ached for Jessica and the many other victims who had been taken by their malicious Alpha, Jasper Blackwood. He was responsible for all of this, his acts of terror against us and neighbouring packs filling me with white-hot hatred.
It felt wrong. I had promised to keep Jessica safe, and yet here I was, putting Erica in the same position. My pack of over three thousand wolves would be affected by the curse if I didn't honour that promise and mate and mark with a compatible wolf before my thirtieth birthday, or they would all die. But as much as I couldn't risk losing them, I couldn't bear to see anyone else hurt like Jessica did either. It was a terrible dilemma.
My journey around the world had been filled with dark, magical encounters. I had spoken to wicked witches, powerful shamans and brutal witch doctors, but even when I was granted an audience with the Conclave. But, despite my cousin Ethan being on the board, they coldly refused to help with our insignificant problems. Now, however, I'm filled with joy because I've finally found my true mate, and I have less than five months before our bond has to be sealed forever.
I strode through the hospital doors, anxiety churning my gut. What if Damon refused to see me? What if he couldn't forgive me for attacking him? I wanted to blame my rage on him being with my mate. But the simple fact was, I was a dick who let his emotions and shit get the better of him. Kaitlyn was right. The mate bond fucked with your head. I was thinking from my heart, or in this case from my dick, and I felt threatened that Damon knew my mate more intimately than I did. I couldn’t even blame it on being worried or protective. Not fully anyway, even with the curse.
I smiled sweetly at the receptionist and got the room number for where Damon was. The place was small compared to a standard hospital, but we were a wealthy pack and we had a good healthcare system for our people. I found the room quickly and knocked lightly before walking in.
Damon was sitting on the hospital bed looking annoyed, which only got worse when he saw me.
“Can’t you take a bloody hint?” he snapped. “Or have you come to finish me off? I reckon I’ve got a part round the side that you haven’t hit yet.” I was immediately flooded with guilt again. Goddess, I really was a dick. I noticed Gregg, who was sitting in the visitor chair pretending to be asleep, raised an eyebrow. Damon was always the fun loving one. I was the angry, irrational one. I knew I really fucked up but the way he was reacting.
Gregg sighed dramatically, before opening his eyes.
“As much as I would like to watch another squabble, I’m tired,” he said standing up. “I’m going home to my mate.” He leaned over and patted Damon’s shoulder lightly. “Do as the doctor says. If she says you stay the night, then you stay the night. Understand?” Damon grumbled to himself but nodded to his father. Gregg walked over to me and nodded his head.
“Try to get along now,” he said, and I grimaced but also nodded. With one last look around Gregg let himself out of the room.
The room fell into an awkward silence. I fumbled with a loose string on my shirt while Damon scowled into space.
“You have to stay the night?” I finally asked and Damon scoffed.
“Like you care,” he snapped.
“Of course I care,” I said. “I’m a dick, I know. I’m sorry.”
“No arguments here.”
“Dude, I am trying here,” I snapped. “But the stress is not helping. It's not an excuse, I fully own my dickish nature.” Damon looked over at me. He met my eyes and held them for a few seconds before nodding.
“Fine,” he grumbled, “You’re a dick. But I get that it’s kind of tense as well.” I felt my body relax as I walked over to him.
“So, we’re good then?” I asked tentatively. Damon stood up from the bed and winced at the pain. I went to help him and didn’t even see his fist until it had connected with my face. Pain shot through my head as I stumbled back and I glared up at Damon. He stood holding his side with one hand and flexing the other, that had just hit me. He nodded briefly before lowering himself back to the bed.
