The song for this chapter is " by Seether.

This chapter is dedicated to , she's just an absolute wonderful person.

Enjoy!

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I splashed the icy water over my face again no longer to clean the extensive wounds I had gained but in hopes that when I opened my eyes back up it would be the start of the day again. I couldn't even bare to look at my own reflection, I know I went too far today, I crossed a line I never thought I'd come close to. "Carter" Lynn's voice called in a panic as I heard a steady banging of footsteps tearing up the stairs traveling at an unhuman speed. Turning off the water I reached for a towel to dry my face but before I could the door was forced open smacking against the wall behind it. "Oh my God" she whispered taking a step closer her deep dilated pools darting around my face accessing the damage. Shaking her head slightly she pushed herself forward until her small arms wound themselves around my waist.

Unsure of how to react I hugged her back, actually enjoying the presence of someone giving me affection again. Pulling her head back she pushed my body until my ankles hit the rim of the toilet, gesturing for me to sit which I did. Lynn began rummaging through the cabinets pulling out bucket after bucket until she found what she was looking for. Lugging the container to the counter she pulled out a bottle of alcohol and began pouring the liquid on to a cotton ball. Slowly she rubbed it over the gash on my forehead causing it to sting and me to jump. "Man up Carter" she giggled continuing to clean my wounds as her slender stomach brushed against my arm.

After sanitizing the cuts she put neosporian on them followed by small bandaids. "Thank you" I whispered back truly appreciative for everything she has done for me since I've been here.

"You don't have to thank me for being a good friend" she assured me leaning down and pecking my cheek. Grabbing my hand she pulled me out of the room and down the stairs. "Save the ass kissing for the elders" she advised dropping my hand before we reached everyone who were angrily staring at me as I approached the living room.

"We had to ban him from ever coming back" the Alpha was the first to speak up not sounding happy with the decision he made. "Then he proceeded to say Jamie isn't allowed back without a body guard because of your erratic behavior."

Scoffing loudly I caught even more negative attention my way. "Erratic behavior? Excuse me for being a little touchy considering she came here to help me through my heart break yet isn't actually helping me at all. Besides at least you know see Nate for who he truly is."

"A man pushed to the edge?" Trent retorted actually defending the psychotic Alpha.

"Pushed to the edge? How is he pushed?" I yelled "he has everything he's wanted, me gone and a loyal Luna. Meanwhile I'm being penalized for being mate less and pack less. That's bullshit Trent and you know it. Just yesterday he threatened you but now I'm the bad guy for becoming the sacrificial lamb."

"No one asked you to put yourself in that position, you said something to set him off Carter, that's how you pushed him" George spoke smoothly folding his hands together and placing them in his lap.

"Your daughter is mating with a lunatic and you're going to question what I said to him?" I spat rudely. "Did you not hear him admit he was a highbred beast? He kicked down your front door for fucks sake! Imagine what he's going to do when Jamie steps out of line." I rambled on anger fueling my words causing the group watching me to pause and take in what I had said. I don't know if Nate would ever attack Jamie again, he loved her and wanted to protect her but he lived his life with his emotions. Each decision he makes is due to what he is feeling in the moment without concern for the consequences,

After a moment of silence, of everyone thinking there was a possibility that Nate could attack Jamie the way he had done with me I grew guilty. I don't know what goes on inside that idiots head but beating Jamie down the way he had done me was too far even for him. "That whole fight between you two was years of built up aggression, that's why he went after you. It wasn't just what happened today. You were wrong for what you said to them" Wyatt spoke calmly being the voice of reason.

"Don't you think I know I was out of line? With Jamie and with Nate. She didn't deserve my anger, it is not her fault he marked her" my wolf growled out still not wanting to admit this was our reality. "He claimed her, tricking her wolf into thinking they were meant to be. Forcing their connection that wasn't originally mutual, not like her and I. Not blissful and easy, flirting and laughing. No," I rocked my head back and forth "he locked her in his room, fighting with her making her rid her brain of me, silencing our wolves from speaking, because he was our Alpha, because he could."

A look of pity hit each other their faces as I told my story. They knew of the heart break I felt when Jamie broke our bond but they didn't know what happened before hand at Paquete de Luna de Sangre. Half of which, what happened on the Alpha floor I, myself was unaware of. "That night that we met was beautiful, she was shy and adorable, blushing and grinning. I knew she was perfect. But he tricked me into leaving, he told me I had to go watch the pack house because their was word of Rogue's circling and he would be right behind me. I believed him and left her there...with him. The thought of him wanting revenge never crossed my mind. It had been a months since he denied Heather but he wasn't angry at me any longer, that only lasted a couple of days, or so I thought. But he planned this out, waiting for the moment to strike. When we went out Nate didn't even dance or drink, he sat in the corner booth watching predatorily. You may think I'm being erratic or perhaps in the wrong with my recent actions but remember this, I wanted to love Jamie. To be a good mate, to marry her, have pups with her, to be her other half and she would have wanted it too."

"Carter," George sighed pausing when his wife hopped up from her seat to give me a pity filled hug. "Trust me I would have picked you if I had the choice but I don't. I didn't want her to leave with him, you know that. But what can I do? Either accept the fact that she chose him or lose her?" He pointed out crushing me even more. These people were the only ones I had left and even they were turning to Nate.

"He's going to hurt her" I warned them though it seemed more like a promise. "Nate can't be changed by a forced mate and a promise of love. The only person he cares about besides himself is Chloe."

"What makes you so sure he will hurt her?" Trent questioned nervously.

"Being purebred is very important to the Ryder family, it's been what has made them stand out amongst Alphas for centuries. He won't give that up."

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"Nate" Jamie called out spinning around as I held her body against mine. Her bright blue eyes instantly meeting mine in the dimly lite room.

"You need to sleep you have school tomorrow" I told her matter of factly wanting to put an end to the our conversation before she could bring up Chloe and Carter's secret.

"I'm not tired" she sighed moving closer and resting her head on my bare chest. "I know you're upset" she whispered against my skin. Shared emotions were the biggest blessing in the mating bond, it was also the biggest pain in the ass. "Don't shut me out, please just talk to me."

After a moment of debating whether or not I should open up to her about the news I heard today, I decided I had nothing to lose. "I can't believe Chloe would keep this from me. Even after knowing about Heather. She still kept it a secret. How am I suppose to forgive her for that?" I asked her solemnly.

"She's your sister, Nate, besides she didn't intentionally hurt you. After she found out about Heather she probably figured you would only be angrier knowing it happened before" she reasoned realistically. Jamie was always the voice of reason. She always saw the good in people and in every situation.

"If she would have told me at the beginning none of this would have happened" I growled lowly instantly feeling her heart grow sad and making me regret my words.

"You mean if you would have known you could have been with your real mate" Jamie spat heartbrokenly pushing her body away from mine. "I'm sorry I'm such an inconvenience for you."

"That's not what I meant" I vowed back peddling as she turned her back to me sniffling slightly and I knew I really hurt her. God, why don't I think before I speak?! "Jamie" I called as she continued to ignore me. Pushing my body upward I pulled on her shoulder until she was laying flat, she swung her arms about trying desperately to get away from me. Needing her to hear me out I climbed on her straddling her waist and holding her arms in my hands above her head. "Even if I could go back and have Chloe tell me I wouldn't. I'm just hurt she betrayed me but I wouldn't change anything, I love you, okay?"

Jerking her head to the side, she refused to look at me only angering me that she was being so stubborn and not hearing me out. Maneuvering her arms I grasped them both with one hand using my free one to turn her chin making her look at me once and for all. "Now you don't shut me out" I ordered mimicking her earlier statement.

"Was Carter right? Because if you are really going to just throw me away just do it already" she whimpered pitifully as my stomach twisted into thousands of tiny knots. I didn't want to hurt her. I wanted her to trust me and believe me like one does with their mate but that can never be us. Our connection will never be that strong, there will always be doubt.

"Stop thinking about what he said, he's just trying to get to you. I. Am. Not. Leaving. You." I promised saying each word as if it was it's own sentence just to get my point across to her. "Don't doubt me, Jamie, I'm telling you I love you, I wouldn't lie about that."

"I love you too" she gave in making my lips twitched up as I bent my head down and pecked her lips.

"I love you more" I grinned cheekily against her mouth as I released her hands only for her to place them on my hips.

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'Nate...Nate... Nathaniel wake up!' Chloe's annoying voice buzzed through my mind link waking me from a dead sleep. Knowing her tone wasn't filled with panic I ignored her, grabbing Jamie's hip and yanking her closer into me. 'I can hear your loud breathing I know you're awake' she taunted making me sigh.

Pushing my body upward I kissed Jamie's soft fair cheek as I unraveled our entwined arms. Spinning back to see the clock which read 6:13 I groaned loudly hearing my sister snicker from outside the door. Pulling it open I stared at the bright-eyed girl who seemed way too cheerful for the time. "Can we talk?" She whispered being respectful of our new Luna who was sleeping.

"Now?" I yawned as she nodded. Rolling my eyes softly I made my way to the dresser pulling out a gray t-shirt and slipping it over my head before following her outside of the room. "Why are you up so early?" I questioned slowly closing the door so I wouldn't make too much noise.

"I told you I need to talk to you, it's important" she urged fiddling her thumbs as she gestured her head down the hall toward her bedroom. Following behind her I rubbed the sleep from my drowsy eyes. This better truly be important or I will kill Chloe. Once in her room, I took a seat on the big pink polka dot covered chair hiding in the corner.

"What's up?" I asked turning serious, noting the last time we had a heart to heart was when our mother had left and Chloe begged me not to kill her Rogue boyfriend.

"I want to talk to you about something that I would talk to dad about if he was here" she began gulping nervously as she sat across from me on her perfectly made bed as though she was trying to pretend Brett hadn't been laying in it with her. Not that I minded, they were mates and adults yet she tried to conceal the fact that they slept together by keeping them with separate bedrooms even though they were in fact fully mated to one another.

"Go on" I pushed encouragingly.

"I've been thinking about it a lot, and I know I'm young... But..." Her blue eyes darted around the room as she stalled afraid to say what she was thinking, fearing I wouldn't approve. "Given Brett's new position I think we are headed on the right track and...I'm asking for your permission to go ahead and start a family."

My eyes widened not expecting her confession at all. My younger sister, barely nineteen years old wanted to have pups. Her pools saddened at my silence taking it as a sign that I wasn't in favor of her goals. Smiling brightly I stood up. "I was wondering when you would" I chuckled as she jumped up huffing me appreciatively. "You are going to be a great mother and I can't wait to be an uncle" I vowed hearing her wolf howl with joy. 'You didn't have to get permission you know.'

'You're my brother, it was the right thing to do' she told me as I squeezed her tightly an overwhelming pride running through me that I had such a loyal, wonderful sister. "I have one more thing to ask you..." She started pulling back. What else could she possibly have to ask after that? For him to move to the Alpha floor? Fine. Lifting my eyebrows I ushered for her to continue "It's just that having a pup is important to both Brett and me" I nodded understandingly "and as much as I want your acceptance and support he wants Carter's" I stepped backwards distancing myself hoping she wouldn't ask what I knew was on her mind.

"Chloe" I warned stubbornly.

"You two need to make up in order for Brett and me to begin our family" she spoke having a valid point but that didn't ease my wolf who immediately became enraged. "I'm not asking for him to be Beta again but Brett needs him in his life just as much as I need you.

Shaking my head about angrily I spun away from her trying to contain my irritation. I knew what she was asking for wasn't unreasonable and it any other case I would give in to please my sister but I couldn't, not with Carter. "You are the one who pushed me to get with Jamie, to show her I could be loving, to have her want me yet now you think having Carter back here with being a good idea?" I yelled fueled by hate. "You saw how he acted yesterday, I can't trust him, you can't trust him, hell Brett shouldn't even trust him! He was a lousy friend, a terrible Beta and he doesn't even deserve to know his brother's offsprings" I growled as Chloe's hands darted out and she shoved my chest roughly.

"That's not your decision Nate!" She cried shocked by what she had just done. "Brett never asked me to turn my back on you for marking Jamie so why should I ask him to forget about Carter for sleeping with Heather?" She spat back once again having a good point but I wasn't thinking logically I was thinking with spite. "Don't be selfish Nate" she instructed walking past me and slamming the door.

'Nate, where are you?' Jamie questioned being woken up by Chloe and instantly feeling my annoyance and hostility.

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Hola amigos!

*Sighs* So how are we feeling about Chloe's request to bring Carter back and Nate's hesitation? Also, do you think Carter may be right about Nate? He is pretty adamant Nate will leave Jamie... Oh and how about the Ryder/Stone baby?! :D

If you enjoyed this chapter PRETTY PLEASE ! I appreciate it! :)