Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

"Since when did I take relationship advice from you."

"Since you get to hold your mate in bed every night. Just calm the fuck down Jace, you'd know if she was injured. Besides, she's a tough cookie Cleo, you need to give her more credit. Fucking scared the shit out of me when she tried to threaten me." It sounded good to have my brother laugh.

"Threaten you, when?"

"When I found out she was pregnant, I might have dressed up and pretended to

be you..."

"What, when was this?" I have to fight against my urge to slam the breaks down to give the conversation my full attention, I needed to get home.

"You had just arrived with Callie, I knew...I knew you loved her, I was just trying to bide you some time. But she fucking knew, she knew it was me."

"Well the missing tats will do that."

"No, she knew, I was covered from head to toe. She wouldn't have done something to put her and your baby's life in danger. Just hear her out before you start pointing the finger."

Why is this the first I am hearing of Jaxon pretending to be me. Shit, I'm surprised Cleo didn't give him a black eye. She's innocent and squeaky clean...until you really get to know her. The privilege my siblings and I have had for all her life. Now I get to call her mine.

"I didn't know that, thank you brother."

"I knew you just needed time."

My heart warms before it is replaced with guilt. He went to great lengths to stop Cleo making decisions that would take her from me, he bought me time before I woke the fuck up.

But now his own mate could be bleeding out and I can't fucking help him.

I've never felt so useless.

His words did offer a soothing affect on me but I couldn't ignore the adrenaline pumping through my body, my knee even bobbing as we drove into the Clear Water's gates, my foot not letting off the gas pedal until we were outside of the alpha mansion.

I rip the car door open, that urge to see her completely taking over my mind and body.

I didn't try the mind-link with her because I couldn't trust myself not to react and lose control of the car.noveldrama

But now that we are back I scream out her name through the mind-link, pushing through any barriers she may have put up to keep me out.

"Cleo!" I roar out only to find her already running towards me from the front door. "Jace!" She screams out, running towards me before leaping into my arms.

I lift her up, twirling her around as I sink my nose into the crook of her neck, letting her scent calm me and my wolf.

"What the fuck were you thinking?"

"I can explain, I didn't want her going alone. I went in your place."

"Listen to me carefully..." I place her feet back down on the ground, clutching her face in my hands.

"You and bump are the most important things to me, you do not do anything...no matter what you think I would do...do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand but...I'm glad I

went. You won't believe what homet

parents have done." She cuts the

link, her eyes moving to Jaxon.

BUMS

"Is everything okay?" She looks back to me with concern for my brother.

"I'll be inside..." Jaxon grunts out before heading into the alpha house.

"What's happened? Did you find

Medea?" Worries, Cleo bites down on her lower lip. A move that has my thumb pulling her lower lip from under her tops teeth.

"No, we found signs of a rogue camp in the mountains but they had already gone.

We are guessing her with them."

"So, it was a waste of a journey."

"No...we did find something." I sigh out, pulling her into my chest.

"What?"

"Jaxon's mate...he found signs of his mate being in the rogue camp."

"She's a rogue?"

"We don't know...but I would guess not."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because her scent was on a rope covered in blood, I would say she was being held hostage by rogues..." Pain radiates through me for my brother. I even hold Cleo a little

tighter, knowing I can.

He can't, not yet but I'll make it my life's mission to help him until he can do the

same.

"Goddess!" Cleo gasps outs, her hands moving to her mouth in shock.

I am one hell of a lucky man to be able to hold my mate, to kiss her lips.

My mouth moves to hers, my tongue running across the bottom lip eagerly

wanting her to open those peachy plump lips of hers.

With a moan she does, giving me full access to plunge my tongue to claim hers as

mine.