I smile at my mom and go to stand up, but Jude keeps a tight hold on me. I give him the contact for now, since his emotions feel raw and painful.

"I'll be ok, Mom. The only people who know are the people in this room." I say.

"And Corinne." Jude says, spitting her name.

"No one would believe her anyway." Eli says.

"Why did you tell Corinne? Why did you finally say something?" Sean asks and I sigh, rubbing my temples as a headache forms. Jude runs his hand along my back and I melt into his touch.

"She asked me how it felt. To see her and Jude. So I showed her." I snarl and my dad lets out a loud laugh.

"That's my girl." He says affectionately. I smile before a flash of guilt goes through me.

I look over at Jude, remembering that my block dropped and he felt my emotions too. I still don't have the energy to put it back up and he gives me a sad smile, leaning forward to press his forehead against mine.

'Don't feel bad.' He links me. 'I deserved to feel it.' He adds and I sigh a little, resting my head on his shoulder. No matter how much pain he's caused me, his touch is what I need right now. I'm exhausted after using so much power as well as emotionally drained, feeling like every nerve ending is tender and inflamed.

"I want you to practice this gift." Alpha says pointedly. "You may need to use it someday and I want you to be stronger with it. You look about ready to pass out right now. You should build up a tolerance, nurture it rather than fight it." He says and I nod.

Eli comes to sit next to us and I crawl over to him, snuggling into his chest.

"Can we go home?" I look up at him with pleading eyes and he nods.

"Of course, sunshine." He murmurs, kissing my forehead and standing up. He sets me down on my feet and my knees buckle, my whole body feeling drained. Eli tightens his hold around me, scooping me into his arms to carry me.

"I'm okay. I can walk." I say, trying to push myself out of his hold, but he growls a little at me.

"Stop, Nat. Just relax. You need to take a day or two off. You're pushing yourself too hard and you're going to make yourself sick." He says and I feel his frustration through our bond. I nod and sit still as he carries me outside and to the house.

He takes me to his room, laying me on his bed. I look up at him, but his face is still hard.

"I'm sorry." I murmur and he looks at me confused.

"For what?" He asks.

"Whatever I did that made you so mad." I say and he sighs just as Jude comes to the door, resting against it with his shoulder.

"I'm not mad at you. I just don't like you keeping secrets." Eli says.

"Eli, I just found out a few days ago that you were my mate. I was going to tell you, I just hadn't figured out how." I explain and Eli nods. Some of the frustration in our bond ebbs and he crawls into bed with me. Jude goes to leave but I call out to him.

"Jude!" He turns around to watch me curiously.

"Will you stay with me too? I feel better with both of you." I say, a little shyly. I feel a blush spread over my face making Eli chuckle.

"Of course, sunshine." Jude says, laying in bed on the other side of me.

I rest my head on Eli's chest as Jude curls his body around me. He rubs his hand up and down my back how I like and my wolf purrs a little at the touch. I hear Jude's deep chuckle behind me, his face nuzzling into my neck. Eli throws a blanket over all of us and I drift off into sleep feeling warm and content.

I wake up later and stir in Eli's arms, yawning and cracking my eyes open. It's later now, the sun going down outside the window. I peek up at Eli who's looking down at me with a warm smile.

"There's my girl." He coos, running his fingers through my hair. I smile and look around, frowning when I see Jude is gone.

"He went on a run. Helping out with patrol." He says and I nod sitting up a little. It's then I realize that Eli is in nothing but a pair of boxers.

I bite my bottom lip, a groan slipping through as I take in his firm chest, chiseled abs, and the bulge in his boxers.

"What are you doing, Eli?" I ask teasingly, he watches me take in his form and chuckles.

"You refuse to leave the window open. It's hot as hell in here, baby." He murmurs, leaning forward to press warm kisses to my neck as his hand reaches up to cup my face. I groan and tilt my head giving him better access.

"Fuck yeah it is." I moan and he chuckles again, his hot breath skating across my sensitive skin. He takes a deep breath and growls when he scents the smell of my arousal flooding the room.

"You smell so good you're making my mouth water." He whispers in my ear, nibbling on my earlobe as his hand skates down my body, gripping my hip and pulling me closer to him. "Can I see if you taste as good as you smell?" He asks with a wicked grin.

My heart pounds hard in my chest, nerves taking over but I push them back. This is Eli, I've known him my whole life, trusted him my whole life. I want this experience with him.

"Yes." I say breathlessly. He gives me a wide smile before he moves down my body, lifting my shirt to kiss across the skin of my belly.

His fingers slip under the band of my pants and I lift my hips so he can slide them down. He growls a little as I lay open for him. I reinforce my block against Jude, not wanting him to feel this as I watch Eli licks his lips, his eyes darkening with his wolf.

"I've never done this before, sunshine. Tell me if you want me to do something different, okay?" He asks and I nod enthusiastically, pushing myself closer to him and he chuckles as he lowers himself between my legs.

He presses kisses up the inside of my thigh, breathing in my scent deeply before spreading me open with his thumbs. My heart pounds hard, my fingers clinging to the sheets as his tongue curls around my clit, flicking it gently. I groan, tilting my hips to push myself into his face. He lets out a pleased growl at my reaction and speeds up his tongue, wrapping his arms under my thighs to pull me into his face. His tongue dips into my pussy and I gasp at the delicious sensation, grinding my hips against his tongue. He goes back to my clit, his finger slipping gently into me, only a little and twirling around. I feel my arousal pour out of me, Eli's tongue moving frantically to catch every drop.

He pushes his finger deeper, curling it so it hits a sensitive spot that has me seeing white spots in my vision.

"Holy shit, Eli. Just like that." I whimper and he growls again, the vibrations against my clit pushing me higher. I writhe against the bed until Eli holds my hips down to keep me still. He increases the pressure of his tongue on my clit, rolling it from side to side until I feel my orgasm crest. I explode for him, wave after wave of bliss traveling through my body. I cry out his name, a low growl of approval slipping from his throat when I do. He brings me down gently, pulling away but still leaving kisses along my heated flesh.

"That was incredible." I say and he chuckles, a nervous smile on his face.

"Really?" He asks and I nod.

"Yeah, really." I say as he moves up next to me in the bed, his hard cock pushing against my leg.

"Sorry." He says, pulling away from me but I shake my head and sit up, moving down towards him.

"No, baby. You don't have to do that." He says, going to grab me but I bat his hand away.

"I want to. If it's okay with you." I say and his eyes turn dark as his wolf presses forward.

"You can do whatever you want to me." He says, his voice turning low with the growl of his wolf.

He lifts his hips so I can pull his boxers down, his cock springing free and smacking against his abs. My mouth drops at the sight of it and he lets out a nervous chuckle.

"You can change your mind, baby." He says gently, pulling away but I shake my head and reach for him.

"It's not that it's just so... big." I say breathlessly. His eyes widen a little before he lets out a loud laugh.

He stops laughing when I wrap my hand around him. He makes a choked sound as I stroke him tentatively, not really sure what I'm doing.

"Tell me what to do." I whisper and his eyes close as he groans, tilting his head back.

"Just like that, baby. Make your hand a little tighter." He murmurs and I follow his instructions, stroking him a little faster.

"Ah, fuck. I'm not gonna last long, sunshine. That feels amazing." He says and I get a proud smile on my face.

I add my other hand, swiping my thumb along the tip on every pass. Eli lets out a sexy groan that makes my body begin to warm again, but I keep my attention on him. Soon, a bead of precum leaks from his tip and I use it to lubricate his shaft as I continue my movements, switching up the speed and tightness occasionally. I watch as Eli bites his bottom lip, his hands tightening into fists in the sheet.

"I'm gonna come, baby." He murmurs just before his body stiffens. I watch in fascination as his cum shoots from his tip, landing on his stomach and my hand. He lets out a little growl as he jerks in my hand. I slow my movements, letting go of him when he relaxes again.

His eyes open and he looks at me with a wide smile. I grab him a towel and help him clean up before he pulls me in close to him, kissing me sweetly.

"That was the second most amazing moment of my life." He whispers and I smile up at him.

"What was the first?" I ask, getting sleepy again.

"When I found out you were my mate." He answers warmly, watching me yawn with soft affection.