The song for this chapter is " a video is attached. In fact, this song is perfect for Nate in general. :)

This chapter is dedicated to !

!

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I could feel Brett's dark eyes burning into my profile as he watched me flip through the stacks and stacks of papers on my desk like a mad man. 'Relax' my wolf spoke to me in an attempt to calm me down though I heard the protective tone in his voice which let me know he was just as much on edge as I was.

"Nate, take a breath" Brett stated almost ordering me though I ignored his advice as I shoved my desk roughly away from me causing it to scratch against the hardwood floors.

"I can't take a breath" i sneered harshly jerking my head up to glare at him. I knew Chloe would be home any minute with Jamie in tow and before they arrived I needed a solution to this problem.

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'Alpha, some one is at the gates for you' my omega chirped wearily to my wolf, I could hear the shaky terror in his voice as he spoke to me even though he tried to sound confident. Knowing that Charley hadn't allowed this mysterious person to enter our pack land led me to believe it wasn't an ally.

With out much thought I pushed myself up from the table excusing myself from my delicious pasta lunch with my other pack mates. Curiosity got the best of me as my walk turned into a steady jog from the house, and down the messily paved roads. The journey to the gates wasn't a very far one, for a wolf at least. For us a mile and a half walk only took a minute or so.

I charged up to the stony bars where Charley stood with his fellow guard body, a delta named Valerie. Instantly their eyes shot down as they avoided my face like the plaque, a clear indication that they continued to fear me, which I wasn't proud of. I bowed my head slightly as a greeting, once their orbs met mine briefly I smiled hoping it appeared friendly and not like a sinister grin.

Valerie reached down pushing the button to open the gates. Before the doors fully parted his scent caught my nose. Shane. The small omega was standing perfectly aligned with me, glaring at me with eyes filled with hate. Without bothering to utter another word to Valerie or Charley I marched outside of the gates waving my hand in the air as a signal to shut it behind me.

The closer I got to the stout man the more I hated everything about him. His jet black hair had grown since I last saw him as it now hung well past his chin. His green pools appeared as glossy marbles as they held mine skeptically. "What are you doing here?" I growled staring directly at him as a second scent caught my nose, my mother. My head snapped from left to right as I looked for her yet I knew she was hiding back in the woods, afraid to come to close.

"We heard you found a new mate" my mom's new boyfriend uttered causing my entire body to expand outward as he spoke of Jamie. I could feel my wolves sharp fur poking against my skin threatening for him to make an appearance.

"She is none of your concern" I spat through gritted teeth as I cracked each finger slowly to distract myself from my wolfs ideas to end him. "What do you want?" I restated my point using different words.

"Chloe" he stuttered letting me know he was nervous to be challenging me yet hopeful that I wouldn't murder him so close to where my pack was. Though, he thought wrong as a powerful howl escaped my lips.

"You're never getting her!" I yelled loudly wanting my mom to hear. No matter how much she tried, no matter what she threatened me with, I wasn't letting her take my sister away from me.

Shane remained still not straying away as my anger heightened but instead keeping his feet firmly planted on the brown concrete. "Nathaniel" my mom's soft voice hit my ears bringing back thousands of memories. From when she use to read me stories before bed as a young pup to the very last time we spoke when she cried for me to release her replacement mate.

My chest was heaving sporadically as my entire body shifted to the left watching as she descended from the trees. Her hair still a naturally golden blonde just as Chloe's yet hers now laid past her waist and appeared straggly and unkept. Her frame seemed thinner though she didn't look fragile as if she was starved. "You can't have her" I whimpered feeling my hate filled guard disintegrate as I took in her changed appearance.

"I don't want to take her" she whispered as she slowly made her way toward me. My gaze was trained on her I didn't notice Shane taking a few steps away from me so their was now a safe distance between us. "All I want to do is see her," my mom explained sounding genuine, and for a second I almost believed her.

I got lost in her eyes, a bright turquoise just like mine. She took my silence as almost a peace offering as she extended her hand and laid it against my forearm, slowing rubbing it up and down as she flashed me a weak smile. Snapping out of it I shook my head violently from side to side. "No!" I demanded. "You just want to tell her" I accused knowing my mothers motives haven't changed. Since the day she left she wanted Chloe to know the truth about me, and the truth about her departure. But, I couldn't allow that. I wouldn't risk losing her; she was the only family member I had left. Brody's face burned into my brain as I took note that the two of them had the same agenda. "Brody" I murmured outloud as her head nodded.

"He told me about Carter and about...Jamie" she admitted as I jerked my arm from her hold. Without glancing I took a large step away from her needing to get my mind straight. This women wasn't my mother, she abandoned me when I needed her the most. When I needed love and guidance she ran because she couldn't handle the truth. But what about me?! With her getting space she left me to pick up the pieces nearly alone except I had Brody. Who know turned out to be an even bigger let down.

"Jamie is none of your concern" I growled lowly hating the simple fact that she knew her name. "She has nothing to do with you" I harshly stated seeing her features sulk as her eyes widened with sadness.

"You have to stop hurting people" she mumbled in a warning way, closing the distance between us as she scooted closer. I knew what she was hinting. I knew exactly where her mind was, and it sickened me.

"Don't play mind games with me" I demanded pushing her hand down as she attempted to grasp me again. "You know I didn't mean to hurt him but you left me anyway!" I hissed making accusations left and right "you did this to me! You made me spiteful and angry!" My pitch continued to grow as I ignored the gates squeaking open behind me. "Don't put this all on me!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

My mom's eyes as well as Shane's drifted behind me taking sight of whoever was exiting though I couldn't take my gaze from my mom. Acting as if she wasn't wrong for leaving us, acting as though I'm only bad guy in this situation.

"Denise" Brett called through a gasp surprised to see my mothers again. I could tell he was shocked and rather curious but he stood behind me none the less, taking his new position into effect as he backed me up. "Are you alright?" He questioned lowly into my ear, wanting to prove to me that he was here for me. I nodded my head once not able to move it again as my entire being stiffened. What if she was to tell Brett? She knew he was Chloe's mate, she knew he would tell her yet she kept her lips mashed shut.

"Nate, please" she begged in a hushed tone. Her thin hands were shaking as she fought to keep herself from breaking down and crying. "I didn't mean to desert you and Chloe... But you have to understand... What happened killed me, I didn't know how to react" she continued to explain with the hopes I would understand and let her off the hook. Even though their was a part of me that wanted to run up to her and hug her, to tell her I forgave her and just wanted her back in my life. There was a bigger part of me that feared my past coming back to bite me. What could Chloe think? What would Jamie think? Would they both leave me to? I couldn't find out. I just couldn't.

"That's the thing, you didn't react. You just ran away" I whimpered back sounding one hundred percent pitiful yet I couldn't control the raw emotions that were pouring out of me. Bowing my head down I stared at my sneakers analyzing ever scuff and wear on them before returning my sights back to my mom. "I can't let you do that" I stated hinting at why she came here without tipping Brett off.

'What does she want?' He pried anyway. I could feel his wolf on edge a well. He knew exactly what my mom leaving did to Chloe and he resented her for it.

'To talk to Chloe' I replied feeling uneasy about doing so. I wasn't sure how he would react, he may push for them to rekindle their relationship and if he did I'd be screwed.

My mom turned her sights on Brett, giving him a warm encouraging smile hoping he would push me to grant her request. "You will only hurt her more" he voiced dominately as he stepped up to where he was level with me before crossing his arms over his chest. "I won't allow her to feel that pain again because of you" he blurted stubbornly which in turn caused me to let out a sigh of relief. Thank God.

"You don't know the whole story, Brett" she pleaded for him to listen. A ball of guilt began to brew in the pit of my stomach. I know she left because of my actions and that doesn't make it okay, but I do understand. Yet, the selfish side of me wouldn't allow her back into our lives, I wouldn't let her worm her way into Chloe's life just to out me for my wrong doings.

"Maybe I don't" Brett shrugged casually. "But, I do know that you haven't made an interest to see her in a long time and in my eyes you don't deserve to" he groaned feeling protective of my sister. His love for her was over flowing from him as he fought with his former Luna, yet my guilt was only growing larger by the second.

Bowing her head down I caught the slow tears falling for her eyes. "You know, Nathaniel" she murmured without bothering to look at me. "You know everything yet you share so little" she added dolefully. "You aren't worthy of being Alpha!" She yelled as loudly as I had earlier which only caused her voice to crack several times. Her words caused my body to stiffen and my shoulders to widen. I prepared for her to out my secret, the secret only four people knew. The secret I was desperately needed to stay hidden.

She spun around, dragging her feet toward the woods as Shane jogged over to her and engulfed her hand in his. I could feel my nostrils flaring as my mothers harsh words set into my brain. I deserved to be Alpha. I deserved this more then any other Alpha in any pack. I was pushed by her mate everyday to be the best. Her lack of care back then is what caused me to turn out the way I did. Instead of standing up for me she let him torture me, she let him abuse me. Quickly my mother turned on her heels, the blues of our eyes melting into one another as I awaited her departing words. "A mother knows her son" she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. "And I know mine is a brute."

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"Nate" Brett called out sternly yanking me from reliving the encounter with my mom over and over. Turning to him I took sight of all my belongings tossed on the floor in a messy fashion. Shit. "We have to tell her."

I could feel my face scrunch up to the center as I watched him carefully. "No, we can't. You said it yourself she made no effort to see Chloe before and once she sinks her teeth into her, metaphorically speaking of course, she will run. That will only hurt Chloe" I reasoned. Okay, I admit I left out some parts by "sinking her teeth" I meant tossing out my baggage for the entire pack to see. But, I did truly believe that was my moms intention. She didn't want Chloe in her life, in fact, I think she could care less. Over the years she only made two attempts to see her. Though, I shut her down for selfish purposes, if she really wanted to see Chloe she would keep trying.

Also, bringing up Jamie was just part of her plan. My mom wanted to hurt me simple as that, she didn't want to understand my actions. Oh no, she wanted revenge much like I did on Carter. We do have the same blood streaming through our veins after all.

"I can't lie to her" Brett declared all high and mighty standing up to me, which I admired.

"Then don't," I huffed. "Just don't get her hopes up for some happy reunion that you and I both know won't happen" I concluded arching my eyebrows in the process in order to get my point across.

Not only did I now have Brody to worry about now I had my mother, Shane and their rogue pack trying to reveal my deepest secret. It was only a matter of time before everyone knew but, I wouldn't give up. I was going to shut them up one way or another.

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MOMMA RYDER FINALLY MADE HER APPEARANCE! Holy moly! How do we feel about the lady? Do you think she is genuine about seeing Chloe? And do you think Nate made the right choice? Please let me know your thoughts and don't forget to !