The song for this chapter is "a video is attached.

This chapter is dedicated to my Boo boo, !

Enjoy!

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The moment the final bell rang I was out of my seat and rushing toward the door. I barely made it through the day, I wanted to run and find Nate, just to know he was okay. Earlier he grew with pain, anger, and an abnormal sadness that seemed to over take his entire being. When I questioned it he silenced my wolf only to later tell me he was fine and he would tell me later. Him doing that proved that whatever had happened was something he wasn't ready for me to know. Knowing something was wrong I questioned Chloe who only told me Nate wanted me to stay in school and that he wasn't ready to talk to me just yet.

Sprinting toward the parking lot I searched the area for his car but he wasn't here. However, I did spot a very familiar silver pick up truck which only made me more nervous. Gulping I charged over to the truck and yanked open the door. As if on cue Trent's bright blue eyes met mine as they swirled with emotion. "Where is Nate?" I asked not expecting my voice to come out as weak and desperate as it had.

"He's fine" he assured me patting his hand on the seat signaling for me to get in. I'm getting really tired of hearing that. I wanted a real answer.

"Why are you here and not him?" I pried hopping directly into the truck just hoping he would give me the answers I needed.

He scoffed playfully. "That's no way to talk to your brother" he teased pulling from the parking lot before I even had my seat belt secure. Turning his head in my direction he showed off his friendly smile though his lips quickly turned downward as he saw my serious scowl. Sighing he gripped the steering wheel tightly, and adjusted his sitting position. "He's fine, okay?"

"Do you know what happened?" I continued to push him. "Please Trent" I whimpered when he remained silent.

"Listen, Nate wants to tell you and I'm taking you to him now" he informed me making my worry only grow. What was so bad that my brother had to keep it from me? "Before you ask me I'll just tell you... He didn't want to pick you up because he knows he couldn't have been able to wait until you got to his house to tell you, and he doesn't want to tell you when he can't... Comfort you I guess."

What the hell is going on?! "Our house" I corrected him wanting him to actually realize Nate and I as a true couple, in response he rolled his eyes. "Since when did you start helping Nate?" I asked a moment later when I realized by Trent's turns he was taking me to Paquete de Lune de Sangre.

"I'm not helping him, I'm helping you" he stammered defensively turning his back to me slightly in order to conceal his face. Peering around his shoulder he gave me a hard look. "I'm not working with him Jamie, I do not like him" he dictated sternly scrunching his eyebrows down to where they shielded his emotional eyes.

Nodding I laid my head back against the seat trying to convince my wolf that Nate was okay even though I wasn't sure myself. He felt so torn earlier whatever he was going through was tormenting him to the core. The pain that took over him crushed me immediately, it was like I was the one actually experiencing that conflict. The worst part was there wasn't anything I could do to help him.

"How do you even know that you love him?" Trent questioned causing my eyes to snap open. What kind of stupid question is that? Peeking over his shoulder our eyes met and he sighed seeing my confusion. "I mean obviously you feel it" he rolled his orbs again shoving his disapproval in my face. "But how do you know it's not just because of his mark?"

"His mark enhances my feelings I know that" I admitted causing his lips to purse up as though he was now in deep thought. "Does that really matter? I mean if I was with Carter and Nate never marked me my feelings would have only grown more for Carter the more time we spend together and if he marked me-"

"When he marked you" Trent interjected argumentatively.

"When" I changed my word to appease him "I would have only loved him more. The wolf marking just intensifies everything, it's like a spell" I explained with a shrug. "Carter's wolf would have done the same thing but with Nate... It was just out of order..."

Nodding he chomped on his bottom lip. "But what if Nate never marked you... You wouldn't feel anything for him, right?"

"Probably not" I muttered my wolf growing sad from the thought of a life without Nate. I know it's hard for people to understand how I gave up my 'true' mate so easily but it really wasn't hat easy. I cared about Carter a lot and I still do. Nate's just my mate now and I would never want to live in a world without him. "But whose to say that any of us would like our mates if we weren't destined to love them?" I proposed as he mashed his chapped lips together once again and took in my complex question. His electric eyes narrowed skeptically as he stared out the windshield seeming perplexed.

"Touché" he grinned after a moment of internal debate. "I just have to know why you chose him though? He's not your real mate, you can't possible love him like you would have Carter."

"Why are you so set on pushing me away from Nate?" I retorted becoming slightly defensive.

"I'm not" he shook his head from side to side in an attempt to prove he was just curious "I just am having a hard time wrapping my head around it. I want to make sure you really love Nate and you aren't just staying with him because the marking."

"I do...really love him" I assured with an assertive nod. "I know you keep thinking about how this all came about but I forgave him and I need you to" I murmured glancing out of the corner of my eye nervously. Huffing he let out a deep breath that caused his lips to flutter wildly.

"I'm helping him aren't I?" He retorted smoothly causing me to chuckle. I knew he was helping Nate too.

"Yeah" I murmured as a proud wide stretched smile dominated my face. "Alright well since you won't tell me what happened today at least tell me what happeend with you and Nate at Paquete de Lune de Sangre when you came to see me."

That instantly caught his attention as he jerked up to a full sitting position. His ran his tongue nervously against his lips as he tried to figure out exactly what to say. I know something went down with the two of them, Carter made that perfectly clear. "He just told me I wasn't taking you away from him" my brother muttered letting a light scoff escape his lips and causing my wolf to perk up with pride.

Hearing this my smile grew even wider causing my cheeks to look like a squirrels mouth stuffed with a dozen peanuts.

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Trotting back and forth around the field I let my wolf roam aimlessly, make sure to give him his space so he wouldn't explode on me. It wasn't often that my wolf and I were at odds and honestly I hated when we were. If it was up to him I would have finished Carter off when I had the chance. Trust me I wanted to but as much as I may hate him other people cared for that coward, including Jamie.

Peering up at sky I thought back to every memory I had here. This spot deep in the woods is where I always did my thinking. It had become my safe haven over the years and right now I needed this safe zone to figure out what the hell I was going to do.

'She's here' Brett informed me though he didn't need to. Only seconds later Jamie's powerful scent hit me like an emotional tidal wave. Knowing she was coming to find me and that she was packed with questions, I shifted back into my human form. My hands were instantly trembling as the worst case scenario I had envisioned earlier burned into my brain.

In a selfish way I wanted to remain in my wolf form. This way she wouldn't be able to see my emotions as well as if I was in my overly expressive human form. Being in this state left me so vulnerable, every movement I made was a sign of what I was truly feeling no matter how much I tried to hide it. Being my mate had it's perks and she would have felt my betrayal none the less. It wasn't like I was trying to conceal my feelings with her on a daily basis. However, right now that's exactly what I wanted to do for both of our sake.

Having to tell her about Carter and Lynn is probably going to be one of the hardest things I'll ever have to experience and I wasn't looking forward to it. I know she's going to be devastated, I can only imagine her heart break. Those potential feelings for Carter are only going to piss me off. Hence why I wanted to hide my true self behind my four legged friend and pretend I was unaffected. But, I knew I had to keep an open mind. She will be hurting and she is going to need me and I'll be damned if I let her down.

Sighing I tossed on a pair of royal blue basket ball shorts that I had carried with me, the silky fabric tickling my bare skin upon it's touch. I could feel Jamie growing closer and closer which pulled me from my thoughts and had my wolf on high alert. Her body swelled with anxiety as utter confusion began to rise up inside of her.

The sound of dried up old leaves hit my ear as they crunched under her feet."Nate" she whispered nervously as she made it to me, her voice soft and laced with worry.

At this point I had my arms folded above my head, leaning on the tree trunk as I laid my head down against my forearms. Here goes nothing. Pulling back slightly I turned to the left instantly meeting her weary gaze. Once seeing I was calm she hesitantly made her way toward me. Her slow paced actions made me feel guilty to be honest. It was as though she thought I would turn back as snap on her, like I had before. But I wasn't that guy anymore, I would never hurt her.

"Are you okay?" Jamie murmured placing her small hand on the waistline of my shorts. Swiftly she ducked her head under my wall built burier until she was pinned between my body and the tree.

I could feel my lips twitch up happily from her small movement. Untangling my arms I reached down and brushed the wind blown hair from her face and tucked it securely behind her ear. "I'm fine" I vowed though I wasn't. Of course Carter's constantly lying just proved my point that he was and still is the biggest piece of shit to curse this planet. However, his actions cause a lot of pain, as have mine and once again Jamie is in the direct center of this agony. "I have to tell you something" I admitted causing her to bit down on her bottom lip anxiously.

Looking into her widened bright eyes I considered not even telling her. I knew she had the right to know but telling her will only crush her and I'm not prepared to see that again. Leaning forward she placed her head against my bare chest and held my waist protectively. "I was so worried about you" she muttered pushing my dilemma to the side for the moment. "Never do that again" she demanded through a whisper. Bowing my head in agreement she kissed the skin directly between my pecs.

"I'm sorry" I apologized. Shutting her out wasn't in hopes of scaring her or making her think the worse. It was my way of keeping her from knowing the truth before I figured out the right way to tell her. Even though I had nearly begged Trent to let me be the one to tell her my wolf wasn't so easy to convince. In his eyes Jamie should know the truth and in telling her she would push Carter away completely. For me, it was a lot more complicated. I didn't want to gain anything from this even the satisfaction of him screwing up didn't comfort me when I thought of Jamie.

Seconds later she pulled her body back so she was resting against the bark of the tree again. A slight pout played on her plump lips as she watched me delicately, taking in every single move that I made. "Go ahead."

"It's about Carter" I began causing her eyebrows to instantly shoot up and her entire being to shift until she was standing up right.

"Is he alright?" Jamie questioned filled with panic as her hold tightened dramatically on me. I stifled the howl my wolf was desperate to make. It was obvious to everyone that Jamie still cared for Carter but having to feel her exact love filled emotions toward him was traumatic to say the least.

"He's fine" I grunted while having an internal debate with my wolf to shut up. "It's just..." I gulped. My three hours of planning the perfect thing to say was thrown out of the window within a matter of seconds. She stared on at me silently begging me to continue as her forehead creased from the anticipation. "He's been lying to you Jamie, and so has Lynn."

"What are you talking about?" She cracked an insecure laugh as her stomach began to churn with displeasure. "Carter wouldn't lie to me" she assured herself more than me.

"Before he met Heather, he slept with another she wolf... That wolf was Lynn" I stated confidently needing to get those words out. I thought I would feel better once I had spoken them and a weight would have been lifted off of my shoulder but, right now I felt the opposite. It was as if a dozen elephants had sat on my chest as Jamie pushed my stomach forcing a distance between us.

"You're lying" she demanded using the heel of her shoe to push off the tree. Marching past me my hand darted out and grabbed a hold of her petite wrist. "Get off of me!" She yelled, her powerful voice instantly echoing throughout the deserted forest. "You are lying!" She stated again though I knew she didn't believe that even as she said it.

In that very moment her wolf let out a loud pitiful whimper as rows of tears escaped Jamie's ocean eyes. "Jamie, stop" I begged breathlessly as she thrashed around trying to get me to drop my hold on her but I only held her arms tighter, forcing her to face this. Heart ache quickly took over her body as she realized she had been fooled by not only her chosen mate but her best friend. "It's okay" I assured her as she let her body slump to the ground.

A treacherous cry emerged from her lips as her knees smacked against the dirt. Still holding her wrists I tugged her closer until she was pressed firmly against my chest. I moved my arms around her back as I clutched her tightly using them as a shield to protect her from the screwed up world around us.

I hated that she felt so close to Carter. It killed me that she wanted to see the good in him and that she had hoped I was being dishonest in order to believe he was faithful. I knew telling her would only bring on confusion for my wolf and I but I never expected to feel so lousy. "It's okay, I got you" I repeated rocking our bodies together.

The wet streams fell from her face and rolled down my chest as she buried herself into me as though hoping she would just disappear. "Why would he lie?" She asked me through a tear filled whimper.

"I think he was scared, he was already worried about me marking you. He just didn't want to lose you" I reasoned wanting her to feel the best she could from this situation. Honestly, I wanted to tell her Carter was just a selfish douche but even I knew that wasn't the only reason. I believe that he truly did feel like he had to compete with me for her because he did. "As for Lynn," I sighed rolling my eyes secretly thankful that she wouldn't see my face. "She's just a bitch."

This caused her to let out a quiet snicker as she smirked against my flesh. "Thank you Nate" she whispered pulling back from my chest as I lifted my hand and wiped her tears away with the back of my fingers. Doing so was pretty useless considering they were still streaming down her cheeks as she spoke.

"You don't have to thank me" I assured her leaning forward and pressing my lips against her forehead which was heated from her wolf's overflowing emotions. Smiling she wrapped her arms around my back and gave me an loving and encouraging squeeze. A uncontrollable wince escaped my lips causing her to jerk back and flash me a questioning look. Gulping I ignored her look and pretending like nothing was wrong.

Catching on that I was hiding something I knew she wouldn't give up, she was fueled by determination. Her cries immediately ceased when she realized I was hurt. "What happened?"

"Nothing" I nearly demanded but I knew better then to order her to stand down. I didn't particularly want to tell her about the altercation with Carter for two reasons. One being she was feeling enough emotional trauma for the moment and two, I felt like the biggest wimp in the world for walking away. It wasn't like I was afraid of him, even with a bat I wouldn't flinch but I should have gave him one good swing.

"Nate" she groaned "did you and Carter get into a fight?" She gulped as my gaze diverted to the side. "I won't be upset with you if you hurt him" she vowed as her heart began to beat fastly.

"I didn't touch him" I grunted my body becoming as stiff as a rock.

She gasped as she filled with pity. "He hit you?" She asked her eyebrows knitting together. I didn't answer her, I couldn't. "Nate, what happened?" She know demanded a response from me.

"Nothing, okay" I hissed angrily. "It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me" she argued giving me a scowl. "What did Carter do?" She crossed her arms over her chest stubbornly. "Damn it Nate if you don't tell me I'm going to ask Carter" she stammered causing my eyes to widen. I don't want her near him at all. Over my dead body will he be able to be with her. I was trying to let them have the friendship that she wanted but fuck that, I don't trust him at all.

Huffing she stood up and turned away from me prepared to do whatever she had to do in order to get the answers she desperately wanted. Quickly I jumped up and chased after her "Jamie, you can't be around Carter, I won't allow it."

"Allow it?!" She yelled. "I don't want to see him either but you aren't giving me a choice. You need to be honest with me" she all but ordered. "Why can't you just talk to me?" She now whispered spinning to the side to look at me fully. Once her gaze was on me I stared above her head at the branches stemming from the tree.

I let out an exaggerated sigh as I dropped my eyes back to hers. "We were arguing, I turned away, and he hit me... With a bat" I murmured as she grabbed my bicep and pulled my body so she could get a view of my back. Immediately a gasp left her lips as she ran her fingers against the skin that I knew was bruised and swollen. "It's not bad, it's fine" I stated hating the pity she was giving me.

"No it's not Nate!" Jamie squealed as I shifted back so she couldn't see my wound anymore. "He hit you from behind!" She wailed dramatically. "I want to kill him" she growled her shoulders shaking as her wolf threatened to take over. Her protective instincts were in full effect and it was adorable. I loved that she wanted to defend me. "What did you do to him?"

"Nothing" I replied simply and to the point. "I wanted to bash his skull in" I groaned honestly as she took a hold of my hands in hers. "But I couldn't do that... to you" I admitted causing her to squeeze my knuckles tightly.

I was prepared for her to tell me I was a wuss but she didn't. Instead she smiled and took a step closer until her chest met mine. "I love you" she whispered peering directly into my eyes. Truth radiated off of her as she released my hands and placed hers on my hips.