Chapter 26

Waking up slowly, with pale, weak sunlight pouring in through the open windows, I stretch, loving the aches and pains I feel all over my body. Especially the throbbing sensation on my neck where my mark now sits.

The last twenty-four hours have been quite a whirlwind. I went from kneeing my mate in the balls, to stroking them while he came inside me. It will be interesting to see what the next twenty-four bring.

Reaching over to Tyson's side of the bed, I frown when my fingers feel smooth, cool sheets instead of a warm body.

No Tyson.

Blinking, I sit up, dragging the blanket higher on my body as I scan the room, disappointed not to find my mate. How long have I been asleep? The last thing I remember is coming again as he drank his fill, that rhythmic pull on my clit in time with each suck on my vein enough to turn me into a writhing mess in seconds.

I yank a blanket free of the balled-up sheets, which reek deliciously of sex and Tyson, and wrap it around myself as I pad to the bathroom. Tyson's bedroom is all dark wood and rich colours. His bathroom is the same, with black marble and gold taps giving it a luxurious feel. Stretching on my tiptoes to see into the mirror, I grin at the two silvery marks on my neck.

When I brush my hand over the still-raised puncture wounds, a jolt of electricity shoots to my core. It feels like the mark is directly linked to my pussy.

"That's going to be fun," I mutter, pressing my thighs together as stars dance before my eyes. This is why newly mated couples normally disappear in a haze of sex and pheromones for a few days.

Somehow, everything just feels right.

Rooting through the presses, I'm relieved to find no evidence of women staying here. There are no hair brushes in here, no face creams. Nothing to suggest he's been having regular sleepovers with anyone. We haven't discussed previous partners, or recent partners, other than the one Tyson killed to protect me.

A jolt of jealousy flares inside me when I consider that some seductive she-vamp could appear here expecting Tyson to still be footloose and fancy free. I'll tear her face off if she thinks she can touch him.

Shocked at the level of violence I'm immediately willing to do if another woman even speaks to my unmarked mate, I decide that seeing him might be a good idea to calm the murderous rage building inside me. Pulling myself together, I do the best to smooth down my obviously freshly-fucked hair and go back out to the main bedroom to find my clothes.

No panties yet again. What is he doing with them?

As I start to worry that it might be later than I think, I reach out through our stronger bond and am relieved that I can still sense him close by.

"Tyson?" I make my way downstairs, scenting the air and tracking him down to the library, tucked away at the rear of the property. Head down, he's hunched over a map spread wide across a giant desk. Immediately, I feel awful that I was enjoying my sex-induced coma while Tyson was worrying about his impending meeting with my old alpha.

Stopping in the doorway, I wait for him to lift his eyes to meet mine, expecting at least a hint of a smile, but, instead, Tyson looks like he's about to tell me he ran over my dog.

"I sent a message back with Matt to Blake. When he gets it, he'll come straight here, so you'll have someone here to protect you in case the worst happens. Promise you'll stay safe, no matter what happens," he pleads, a stern look in his eye.

"No. Just ask for help, Tyson! Damn it, we can't do this on our own!"

I can't let him do this. I want to be free, but not at the expense of someone else's life. Or because of my mate's stubborn refusal to tell Blake the truth about what's going on.

"I won't be. You'll still be with me, little mate, and your blood flows through my veins now." The confidence in his voice does nothing to make me feel any better. Panic rises inside me that now, when I finally have a shot at being truly happy again, my pack is going to take it away from me again.

"He's going to kill you!" I don't even attempt to disguise the wobble in my voice. He can feel my emotions. He knows what he's doing to me.

Tyson remains tight-lipped, and I feel bad for not giving him my vote of confidence, but I can't bear the thought of him getting hurt. He stands as still as a statue, ignoring my horrified expression, and continues with his list of demands.

"You're not to step foot outside. The wards will protect you while you're indoors. Lee's father won't be able to get to you so long as you don't invite him in." He clears his throat and looks away guiltily for a moment, steeling himself and speaking once more. "Matt and Raiden will come if Blake doesn't return. They'll help you."

If things really go to shit, and anything happens to Blake, Matt will know where he went. He's the only person who knows where here is, apart from Weston.

"No, Tyson! You can't expect me to stay locked in here while you're putting your life on the line for me. It's ridiculous! I can help!" As I storm over to Tyson, he closes his eyes, pain crossing his expression briefly and he returns his crimson gaze to me, fierce and determined.

"You have to stay alive for Noah's sake." He coughs and clasps his hands behind his back. "I'm dispensable."

I don't believe this. "You're my mate!"

"Not yet. But I will be." His expression softens. "If it makes you feel safer, you can put up that stupid barricade in your room and hunker down until I get back."

Rolling my eyes, I sigh in exasperation. "That was to keep me in. Not to keep you out. I won't be wandering the halls in search of orgasms if you're not here."

Tyson blinks, once, twice, and then he's on me, his lips pressed to mine, his hands roaming every inch of my body. "Fuck! Fuck, Mandy. I thought you were scared."

Laughing at the absurdity of this conversation right before he leaves for what could be the last time, I grip his face in my hands. "Scared, yes. Of you, no. Only what I'd do to you if my wolf had control while I was sleepwalking."

"I'm coming back," he whispers against my ear, and I nod, trying my hardest not to cry. My former alpha must be getting on in years now, he'll be no match for Tyson. But, of course, he won't be alone.

"Wait for Blake to get here. He'll help you; I know he will," I plead.

Tyson ignores my request and sadly shakes his head as he pulls back, stroking my cheek once with his thumb. When he steps away, that small distance is already making my heart hurt.

"I can't. Blake will want to do things the proper way. Go to the rest of the council. Bring in head of your old region. Ask for a meeting with Lee's father to get him to promise that you won't be harmed if you come out of hiding, and that Noah will be left alone. Blah blah blah. None of that will work."

Tyson's fist comes down hard on the table beside us as he gets more and more worked up. The veins in his neck bulge as he swells in size right before my eyes, on the verge of shifting.

"Weston will deny he helped Jenna; Lee's father will lie and say he has no ill will toward you, welcoming you back into the family, convincing everyone that he's relieved to hear that you're alive and well. Right before he murders you and steals Noah away. No, I'm going to end this now."

I see the mixture of fear and anger in his eyes, but above all else, steely determination. He wants this over with, and Tyson is not a man who gets other people to do his dirty work. Unlike the men he's going up against.

"You are conveniently forgetting that Alpha Weston has a history of not playing fair. What if it's just him, and he kills you so you don't tell anyone he was trying to kill Blake?"

Throwing my hands up in the air, I stare at him, waiting for him to tell me something that makes sense. He doesn't. Instead, Tyson just stares right back, a stubborn set to his jaw and anger radiating from his body. The man is not for moving.

"Well?' I ask, but Tyson merely shrugs, like he couldn't give a shit, but now that our connection is stronger, he can't lie to me. I feel his inner turmoil. Though his expression is calm, his emotions are all over the place. He cares. Of course he does, otherwise he wouldn't be doing this for me and Noah, and he wouldn't have a wolf and vampire he's picked up along the way living here in his home.

"Then I'll be doing Blake a favour and getting rid of his problem for him. Because there's no way he's the one who leaves that fight alive."

Tyson"s casual dismissal of my concern irks me. Weston is dangerous. Very dangerous. He was close to securing the head alpha job after all. Maybe they'll join forces to get rid of Tyson and come for me then. I'll be a sitting duck, even with Blake here.

I bury my hands in my hair, pleading with my eyes for him to stop this madness.

"What if something happens to you? What am I supposed to do if you don't come back?" My voice cracks at the thought of him getting hurt trying to rid me of my past.

"That won't happen." Staying at arm's length, he brushes my messy hair from my face.

"Just promise you won't go outside. It's hard enough leaving as it is."

Cupping his face in my hands, I sigh. "I won't go outside, unless I have to."

Tyson growls, low and even, displeased at my refusal to go along with whatever he says. We have no idea what's going to happen tonight. I'm sure Tyson has a more elaborate plan than he's letting on, he just doesn't want me to know so I can't get involved. Even still, I'm not promising to stay indoors if going outside could help.

He cups my face in his hands and kisses me tenderly. Despite my annoyance, it's hard to resist him. I feel myself leaning into him, my body moulding to his, and he grips my ass as he deepens the kiss, pulling away to drag his lips over my mark. I moan, loud and unrestrained as my clit tingles, and my nipples harden from that tiny caress.

"I'm so sorry I'm not going to be here today to tend to you, but I'll make up for it."

Tyson pulls back, and I nod at him, bleary eyed and slightly dazed. When he glances at the clock, and his eyes flit to the windows, I baulk. The sky is dull, the sunlight starting to disappear.

"You're going now? Already?" I sound needy and pathetic but I don't care.

Nodding, he wraps his arms around me once more and kisses the top of my head. "I am, or I'll never leave. Thank you, Mandy. This, letting me mark you, is the greatest gift."

That sounds like a goodbye. I frown and move to follow him as he heads for the front door.

"Wait! I can't… you can't just go…" As I step into the hallway, ready to follow him outside for one last kiss, once last chance to get him to stay, Seth and Lucian step from the shadows, moving to block my way. "Tyson? You've got to be kidding me!"

He's appointed the two boys as my personal guards, and by the looks of their unsmiling faces and rigid postures, they're taking their new roles very seriously.

With one last stoic look in my direction, Tyson straightens, lifting his chin high, ready to do what needs to be done. I'm grateful and scared and pissed off all at once. Pausing without looking in my direction again, he pins the two boys with a hard stare. "Defend our home, and keep her inside, using whatever means necessary. Tie her up if you have to."

That asshole.