The Price They Paid: Imprinted Mates Series

took another sip. He’d eventually say what he wanted to.
“You’re back to your growly, brooding self. She made you smile. You were happy. Hell, the whole pack heard how happy you guys made each other. What’s the real reason that you haven’t claimed her?”
“I’m not ready,” I responded.
“Bullshit. I’ve known you all my life. I know when you’re lying about something.”
I was closer to Maddox than I was to my own brothers. Not that I wasn’t close to them, but Maddox was my best friend. Sometimes I wondered if we did share the same blood.
“I told you―”
“Seuss, you never let ANYBODY call you Odysseus.” Maddox folded his arms and waited. “What happened? Something had to have happened.”
I slammed my hand against the table before I jumped over it and gripped Maddox’s shirt. My face was inches from his and it took a shit ton of will not to rip out his throat. “I still owe you for that stunt that you pulled with her in the field! Watch yourself, wolf.”
Maddox’s face was unreadable. He’d not flinched one bit, and I knew it was because of that damn charmed necklace I’d given him years ago. I could feel his nervous energy, but he’d never cower. I’d given it to him in case anything ever happened to me. If my seat on the throne was ever truly challenged, Maddox’s strength would guarantee him the win. He would be a strong Alpha without the Beta gene. I’d simply provided him with the answer. A charm that made it a non-factor.
“What happened?” he asked.
His eyes glowed signaling his wolf. It excited me more than it should have. It’d been a long time since we’d brawled. It would give me a rush to tear into him. It wouldn’t be easy though. Fighting Maddox would be no easy win.
“Let it go, Maddox,” I hissed.
“What happened?”
I pulled his shirt tighter cutting off his air supply. Still he refused to engage more than he was. I could feel the life draining from his body as I deprived him of oxygen.
“Whaaaaaat happeeeeeeened?” His words were strangled but sure.
I growled loudly as I dropped him back into his chair and threw the potion I was drinking against the wall.
“She rejected the bond!”
Maddox leaned over the chair gasping for air but paused when he heard my outburst. “She what … how?”
“At the hospital, I opened the mating bond so that I could heal her. She rejected me. She said no. She doesn’t want me!”
“There’s no way … nobody is that strong.” Maddox said.
“Obviously she is.” I cursed the entire situation. Leave it to me to have the most difficult mate known to wolf. I’d asked myself a million times how it was possible for her to deny me.
The door burst open and Alice rushed in breathless. “Seuss, we have a problem. The wards around the pack grounds have been breached. Whoever’s done this is much more powerful than any spiritual being I’ve ever encountered.”
“Where are they?” I stood waiting for her response.
Alice’s eyes turned white as she reached out to the pack lands. “They’re on the east and …” Alice gasped, then her eyes turned back to normal. She struggled to breathe, and I held her head trying to soothe her.
“What is it Alice?” She seemed to be fighting something internally.
“She’s back …” she gasped. “And she’s got Justice.”
I growled knowing exactly who it was. She’d killed my mother, but I would not let her kill my mate.
“Alice, call my father and brothers.” I didn’t say anything else as I shifted and raced through the house and out the doors. Maddox was hot on my trail as we headed to find the strongest mage I’ve ever known. And this time, she wouldn’t get away.

Justice
Everything hurt. my body, my heart and my soul. When I’d left the pack, I had no idea that I was pregnant. It made me wonder if it was what Alec saw. That still plagued my mind to this day.
Ms. Sandy brought me beef broth and crackers to help with my stomach. I couldn’t keep anything down, and I had this ache that I couldn’t get rid of. I’d lost weight and I’d broken out into crying fits that would last for hours. I couldn’t control the amount of loneliness that I felt. One would think that the reoccurring dreams that I had would suffice. Each time, I saw that I was carrying more than one child.
Ms. Sandy paced often and kept silent. I couldn’t tell her anything, and the lack of communication was hard on our relationship. I wanted to tell her, but how could I explain the last three months of my life? “Hey, I’m really a wolf that spent the past few months healing my mate through a bond that he didn’t want. And oh yeah, I’m pregnant with his babies. Ms. Sandy, did you know healers, wolves and shit existed? Because I’m pretty sure that if wolves exist some of the other super naturals probably do too.” No, thank you.
Lately, I’d been weak and hadn’t been able to move from the couch. I feel like death is lurking, and I don’t know what to do about it. Ms. Sandy keeps trying to get me to sleep, but that only lasts for a few minutes at a time. I’d hate to see myself in a mirror. I probably looked like crap.
“Justice, I really need you to try to drink the broth and keep it down. It’s been days since you’ve kept anything in. Are you sure that they didn’t do anything to you where you were staying? You’ve been … getting sicker since you came home.”
“No, I’m fine. Just tired,” I told her. It was the truth. I was extremely tired but every time I closed my eyes, I saw Seuss.
“Justice, maybe we should get you to the doctor,” she pressed for the hundredth time. She exited the room to bring me something to drink.
“I told you, I can’t go to the