12. Owen

"Fuck!" I slam the phone down and stare at Luke. He hasn't said a fucking word to me since last night. I hate being on bad terms with him. It's even worse knowing I've got to leave him to go handle this shit.

"What?" He doesn't even look up from the computer.

"I've been summoned." He stops typing but still doesn't look at me. "They want to meet in person to discuss our partnership."

"The vampires are a silent partner. What's there to discuss?" He sounds disinterested, but he's merely tapping a single key over and over, not typing, just waiting to hear what I have to tell him.

"There are other aspects of our deal." That gets his attention. Finally his eyes meet mine. His hard expression reflects the anger and nervousness I'm doing my best to contain.

"What the fuck do they want?"

"They won't answer over the phone."

"What are you thinking?"

"No fucking clue, but it must be something big for them to summon us."

"Us? No fucking way. Only one of us goes." We stare hard at each other. I clench my jaw so hard I hear something crack. "We can't leave her and we sure as fuck can't bring her." He casts his eyes down and turns away from me. "I'll go. You stay with her." My chest pains at the sight of him. He's so fucking beat up that she turned him away yesterday. I don't know why she did it. She wouldn't answer me when I asked. She wouldn't let me leave but wouldn't talk to me. She wouldn't let me get him. I imagined this may be difficult for her but I didn't expect her to…to be so willfully distant. I'm grateful she didn't deny me. I can't imagine what Luke is feeling.

I expected him to come in last night. I thought he'd try again to win her approval. "Stop fucking moping. You should be ashamed of yourself."

"I am." He starts typing again and I know he's trying to ignore me. Anger gets the best of me as I rise out of my seat.

"That's not what I meant." I rip the keyboard out of his hands and throw it on the ground. It shatters and I can tell it pisses him the fuck off, but I don't give a shit. "You're just going to give up on your mate?"

"It's not giving up." His eyes find mine and I can tell he's only holding on by a thread. "I'm giving her what she wants."

It fucking kills me to see him like this. Even if he weren't my brother, knowing what we went through, what he went through… "Fuck, Luke."

"What the fuck do you want from me?" He screams at me, pounding on his chest. The action rouses his wolf. It's the first time my wolf has felt his all day.

I stress my answer although it should be obvious. "Not to give up on her."

He looks at me like I'm his enemy and a cold chill runs through me. "She wants you, not me. She's made that clear."

I spear my fingers through my hair and watch Luke as he stands to leave. "You have to stay." My words keep him from leaving. It takes a moment for him to face me again. He looks like the shell of the man he was just yesterday. "You look like shit and your wolf is silent. You'll look weak to them." My words hurt me just as much as they hurt him. A sickness churns in my gut watching my once strong and proud brother turn inward. "I don't think she realizes what she's doing. She's just scared of what she feels or something. Heat can be hard on the best of us, and she's only just come into this world."

Luke nods his head and tries to speak but doesn't. His eyes fall and I can see his inner war. "It's not over Luke." His sad eyes find mine and I feel guilty as fuck. "You stay with her. Try. Just try."

"It fucking hurts, Owen." Luke's hand rubs against his chest. I've never seen my brother so disheveled and wretched. I pull him in for a quick hug and pound on his back.

"You can't just let her go." I can't believe he would even consider leaving our mate.

"I'm not. She's with you." Luke pulls away from me and stares down the hallway. "At first, I thought I'd kill you." He looks back at me with no remorse although his eyes rolling indicates he's aware of how ridiculous the thought is. "I literally thought, for the smallest of moments, I should kill you." His words should chill my blood but they don't. "Then I thought, I can't do that to you, you're my brother, and she would only hate me more because she loves you." He slams his fist on the door frame. "But then I realized the truth"—he swallows thickly—"I couldn't do it, because it would hurt her." His tortured eyes find mine. "It would hurt her to take away someone she loved."

I stare back at my twin with nothing to say. I wish I could take this pain away from him, but I can't. Only Emma can.

"I haven't given up." Hearing him admit he still has hope relaxes me, but only slightly. He clears his throat. "I won't ever stop trying. Just trying to get my wolf on board." Knowing his wolf is leaving him fucking kills my own animal. "You tell her. I'm going on a short run; I don't want to hear what she thinks about it." He slams a hand on my back. "Let me know what they say and make sure you take the Betas."

I watch my brother leave and I can't get over the feeling of sickness in my chest. I need to talk to Emma and tell her just how torn up he is. But then she may think he's weak. Shit. I don't know what to do. I don't want her to think of him as any less of a man, a wolf, an Alpha. He's my equal. Different, yeah. But he'd be just as good a mate to her as I would. Together we can give her everything. Just as we have our pack. I lean against the wall on my forearms and let out a tortured sigh. He's going to have to win her over on his own. At least now I have a reason to give them time alone together.

I gather my thoughts and push off the wall, I need to tell my mate I'm leaving. I should be leaving right now, but I at least need to tell her that I'm going. There's a small chance that I'll get into some shit heading out there. It's small, but still, I need to tell her.

Heading to the bedroom, I don't make it more than a few steps before taking another scent of the air. My brows furrow and I look down the hall with confusion. I walk over to the window and lift it up, staring down into the dirt. I see where she landed. What the fuck is my mate doing jumping out the window? Then reality slams into my chest. She's sneaking out. My mate fucking snuck out. She left us. While in heat!

It doesn't take long to scent her in the woods up to the abandoned estate. What the fuck is she doing up here? I hear the clang of the gate and tick my jaw. It won't open for her. It hasn't opened in nearly a hundred years. Only the magic that left the forest once the spell of the beast was broken will open the gate. I stalk to my mate and watch as her tiny fingers trace the intricate detail. She flashes a camera before putting it in her bag and looking behind her. Checking to see if anyone is following her. I huff and press my lips together. She takes a phone out of her rather stuffed backpack. A look of disappointment crosses her face before she holds the phone up into the air checking for a signal.

Anger consumes me. She asked about contacting people, I told her she couldn't. The Authority would be on her in minutes, and I'm not prepared to take on their fucking army with this small pack.

"What are you doing, sweetness?" My harsh voice startles her and she drops the phone. She looks back at me with wide eyes. Frozen in place. The weight of the moment hits me. She's really trying to leave me. Leave us. My fingers go numb, but I stalk my way to her, and she stays perfectly still.

She doesn't answer, she only looks up at me with wide eyes as I close the distance between us.

She denies my brother, confesses her love for me, and then tries to leave us both? My arm wraps around her lower back and I lean down to kiss her. Showing her affection allows her guard to come down. Even as I kiss her, I scent the air and I'm all too aware her heat is waning. I hold her lips with mine, savoring this moment. Knowing it could be our last. My wolf claws my chest, whining, refusing to allow it to happen. But if she truly wants to leave. I can't stop her. I won't do that to her. I won't let her think she has to stay with us. I need her to want to stay with us. I won't make her a prisoner.

"I was just going to tell you I had to leave for a day or two. I have to go to a meeting and it can't be put off." I speak into her hair, smelling her vanilla scent and memorizing it. I'll never stop watching over her and keeping her out of harm's way. And killing any fucker that tries to lay a hand on her. I shake my head. I can't think like that right now. I can still convince her to stay. If it doesn't work, I'll just have to keep trying. My wolf howls in agony and I ignore him.

I finally pull away from her and run my fingers down her jaw, down her throat. I rub a soothing circle in the crook of her neck where I imagined my claiming mark would be. "I see you were planning on leaving me first." Guilt flashes in her eyes. "You didn't even say goodbye." My voice is calm and steady; like she didn't just rip my heart out of my chest.

"I—" I put a finger over her lips before she can lie to me.

"Why are you leaving us?" I let my voice go cold. At least she looks just as fucking tore up as I feel.

"I can't stay here."

"Why the fuck not?" My voice comes out harder than I want it to, but I can't change that.

"I can't stay here." Her eyes cast down and she whispers, "with him."

I stare at her, unable to truly believe what she's saying. I've heard of mates being denied, but it's rare. While I'm concerned about Luke, I also can't help the feeling of hope that lingers in my tight chest. Maybe she'll only leave him; maybe she'll stay with me. I close my eyes and curse myself for being such a selfish prick, but she is my mate.

"I'll be gone for a day, two at most. Stay with him until then." She starts to protest, but I talk over her, finishing the thought. "If you want to leave when I get home, I'll take you back." Saying the words crumples my chest and makes my wolf snarl with denial. I don't know if the words are true. I don't know if I could actually let her leave, but I need to give her this so she'll stay just a little longer.

Her eyes, glossy with tears, stare into mine. I don't know what she's searching for in order to agree, but I fucking hope she finds it. She nods her head, looking solemn and resolved to leave us. She turns her body toward the village, ready to leave me, but I'm not ready to leave her. I'll be gone and the moment I get home she may be ready to leave, or worse, she may have already left. I just need one more moment with her.

"I should punish you for this." I growl the words in her ear. My dick hardens at the thought. I remember the way it felt when she pushed against me. When I first touched her and felt the spark, the pull to her, the need for her. I place my hand around her neck and run my thumb down her throat. "What do you think Emma? Do you want to leave me now? Do you want to run from me?"

I'm playing with fire. Pushing her like this. But fuck I want it. Let her try to run from me. I'll catch her and pin her to the ground like I've fantasized. Her eyes haze with lust knowing exactly what I want from her.

"You want me to run?" Her breathy voice makes my wolf howl with need.

"I want you to tell me to stop." She looks at me with confusion. But I need this. I need to know that I won't cross the line. "Say it now."

"Stop." She barely speaks the word and I move closer to her, crowding her space.

"Say it again."

"Stop." She speaks clearly this time.

"Good girl." I kiss the dip in her throat. "I'm going to punish you, but I want you to enjoy this." I kiss her lips gently. "If you want me to stop." I kiss her neck. "All you need to do it say the word." I lean back, wanting to ensure that she understands.

"Okay." Her answer is breathy. Even if she wants to leave, she still wants me. At least once more.

"If it gets too much?"

"I'll say stop."

"Good girl. Now try running from me, sweetness." I move my hand to the back of her head and lean down to give her a gentle kiss, before nipping her lip. "Just try running and see how I'll punish you. It's what I should be doing to you right now." I pull away slowly, watching her dark eyes spark with desire. The smell of her arousal floods my lungs. Maybe she'll allow us for the sake of relief from her heat. Afterall, now that her body knows us, she'll feel this way every heat. She'll need us. I cling to the hope that it will be enough. As soon as my hand drops to my side, she bolts. I watch her duck in between trees and run away from me, deeper into the forest. It hurts something deep inside me, but I push it aside and run after my mate.

My heavy strides crush everything in my path. I don't bother letting her get far. I need to be inside her. I need to feel her body against me. I want nothing more than to hear her moaning my name and telling me that she loves me again. I grab her small waist and wrap my arms around her body as she fights against my hold. I easily pin her body down and put my teeth to her neck. Another wave of her heat hits me as I rock my erection between her slit, feel her honey coat my dick. It's far too easy to push the shirt above her hips and feel her soft body under mine.

She pushes against me as I nudge my dick into her heat and growl the words I desperately need to say while breathing into her neck, "Don't you ever fucking think about leaving me again." Before she can respond, before she can even truly register my words, I slam into her to the hilt and rut violently into her warmth. I'm desperate for her pleasure. I need her to come on my dick just as much as I need to come inside of her. I pound into her. I'm fueled by my need to claim her.

I'm struck by a thought that makes me eager to come. I growl with triumph as I ruthlessly fuck my mate in the dirt. My hands grip her ass and tilt her up so I hit her clit with every downward stroke. My fingers dig into her hips as her back arches off the ground.

I pound into her, slamming to the hilt each time. I grab her throat and squeeze, not enough to bruise her or to cut off oxygen, but enough to show her my strength and pin her there. With one hand on her hip and the other on her throat, I watch as her body jolts with each hard, merciless thrust. Fucking hell, she's gorgeous like this. A flush rising up her chest, her sultry eyes staring into mine. It doesn't take long for her pussy to clamp down on my dick, while her head falls back and she screams out in pleasure. The image of her overwhelmed with the pleasure I gave her is all I need. I come instantly.

"I love you, Owen." She turns her head to the side, trying to hide herself as she starts to cry. It shreds me. She moves away from me the moment she can, leaving me wanting. "I'm so sorry. I love you."

The moment is over before its begun. Her sorrow is a knife to my heart. I know she loves me; she doesn't need to say it.

"I love you, Emma." I kiss her hair and hold her to my chest, hoping she knows just how much she means to me. Thank God she lets me hold her.

I've never lived without my brother; I can't imagine taking his mate away from him. Making him leave or leaving with his mate, either option would be akin to killing him myself. But how could I let my mate leave me? If he doesn't win her over, I don't know what the fuck I'm going to do.