Taking off in our designated directions, I opened my links with Kyle, Ty, and Liah as I ran then combined them into one. As soon as I had linked everyone together, Liah asked “how'd momma Richards take it?”

“Surprisingly well. She understood everything and made me promise to get both of us back to her in one piece. I just hope I can keep that promise” I explained as we ran. After a few minutes, Moon said “he's passed out again but the medication is almost out of his system. So, he should be lucid and strong enough to fight by the time you get to him and get him free.”

“Alright, thanks Moon. Tell Reign thanks too and keep me updated in case something changes” I said then explained my plan to the others. Stopping half a mile before the house, I shifted back and dressed quickly making sure to shove my phone into my sweatpants pocket.

“Alright, here we go. Stay quiet and alert. I'll give the signal when to attack” I explained and then nodded at Kyle before I started walking towards the house. The closer I got, the more nervous I became.

“Calm down Con. Remember, you're doing this for Dox. For the man you love. He's not gonna judge you for anything that happens. He already knows you went through this alone last time. So, he'll expect you to have brought back up this time to face this asshole scumbag” Liah said.

“Remember we're here brother. You're not alone” Kyle said and then together he and Ty said “you will never be alone.”

“Thanks, but I think I'm more nervous to face Madox right now since I'm the reason he's in this mess” I said as I approached the front lawn of the house.

“This mess is not your fault!” they all said together.

“Wow, that had to be some real Matrix type shit right there. That was genuinely scary” I thought fighting off my nervous laughter.

“Well at least you aren't scared shitless anymore” Liah pointed out and I could almost see her shrug.

“Yeah, thanks for pointing that out though” I snapped sarcastically then taking a deep breath, I opened the front door. Entering the house, I closed the door as softly as possible and then followed my mates scent to the dining room. The sight before me was almost entirely horrifying except I knew he was alive. The floor had been covered with plastic and situated in the exact center was Madox tied to a chair. Looking around for some sort of trap, I walked slowly over to him. Kneeling in front of him with one hand on his knee, I looked him over real quick. Reaching up to touch his face, I heard a voice behind me say “you came.” Fighting the shiver of fear that went down my spine, I told the others “shit, I hate when I'm right.”

“Oh god. Just breath baby, you can do this” Liah encouraged. Taking a deep breath, I kept my eyes on Dox and said “why wouldn't I? This is what you wanted right? Me here?” As I finished speaking, I felt the slightest shift against my hand and noticed Madox eyes slitted open.

“Moon, is he awake?” I asked not moving but wanting to be sure.

“Yes, he's completely lucid and at full strength” Moon all but laughed. A ghost of a smile appeared on my lips before I quickly covered it with my usual mask. He gave me a slightly irritated look before doing the same.

“Well, I wasn't sure you'd willingly come to meet me even if your friend here was involved” Argos said from the door way. Releasing Madox face, I stood up and turned to face my rapist.

“Glad I could prove you wrong” I said holding my ground before I added “but one correction. He's not just my friend.”

“What do you mean?” he asked. Before I could answer, another familiar voice came from the kitchen “they're mates. Couldn't you tell?”

“Okay guys, I have them both in sight. Slowly move in but keep an eye out for an additional ambush” I ordered Kyle, Ty, and Liah followed by Moon saying “Madox wants to know what your plan is and if you have back up. He also says to tell you that no matter what happens next, he won't think any less of you.”

“Fill him in Moon and tell him thanks” I said then refocused my attention back on the two assholes in front of me to hear Argos ask “how do you know? Neither are marked!”

“Carl is right. Madox is my mate but you are also correct in your observation, neither of us is marked because unlike you I don't just take what I want” I spat at them then glanced over my shoulder to see the ghost of a smile on Madox face. He had apparently given up play sleeping because his eyes were wide and focused on me. Turning back, I waited for Argos to attack me after I'd provoked him on purpose. Just before he decided how he'd attack, I linked Moon and said “tell Madox I'm sorry. Tell him that's not how I wanted to tell him but that I had planned to tell him tonight before all this happened.” Just as I refocused on Argos, he moved in as I countered every hit he tried to land until he was unconscious at my feet. Looking at Carl, he stared for three seconds before turning to run. Turning back to Madox, I untied him and said “yeah I know, we'll talk about this later. Now though, it's you're turn to take out an asshole.” Smiling, he kissed my head before shifting and chasing down the bastard. Tying up Argos, I added silver chains I had put in my duffle to his bindings burning my hands in the process.

“You okay little brother?” Ty asked as I hissed in pain.

“Yeah, just silver burns but this asshole isn't going anywhere. Seen Madox anywhere?” I asked as I went to the kitchen to rinse my burned hands.

“Yeah, he's actually not that far from you. He's tormenting a small brown wolf at the moment” he laughed.

“That's probably Carl. He'd be smaller than a full Were since he's only half, maybe about the size of a normal wolf” I thought.

“Yeah, that's about right. I would not want to be that guy right now because your mate is pissed and it shows” Ty said and then opened the visual link to the group.

“You'd be pissed too if some asshole kept torturing you for power you couldn't and would never give him” I said just as the link connected. Watching for a few seconds, Liah said “yikes, remind me never to piss him off” then added “Con be glad he loves you.”

“Wait, he what?” I asked in complete shock at that.

“Oops, forget I said anything. Otherwise, that'll be me” she said quickly and went back to her current fight. Still in complete shock, I walked out the back door of the house to go find my mate. Standing a few feet from him, I watched as he tore Carl to shreds.

“Yuck and damn boy, remind me never to piss you off” I chuckled aloud letting my mask fall away to be replaced by a disgusted face. Turning to look at me, he stopped attacking Carl and walked over to me. Stopping in front of me, I kneeled down and looked him in the eyes. Then taking a deep shaky breath, I said “I'm sorry I couldn't get to you sooner. I'm sorry they hurt you and most of all I'm sorry I kept us being mates from you. You had every right to know too. I just wanted to give you the chance to do something meaningful for your pack and your family without having to chose or be distracted by worrying about me.” Standing up, he backed away a little ways then without breaking eye contact he shifted back until there was a sexy naked man laying where the beautiful gray wolf had been. After another minute of heavy breathing, he stood up and said “I'm okay. Really, Reign made me think about it and I get it. You've had to fight for everything since your childhood was stolen from you when you should've been happily oblivious to all of that. Given the choice, I would've chosen to be marked and do my job. I wouldn't have been worried because I would've known what you were feeling” he said making me go wide eyed. Turning my head away, I whispered “one of us could feel it though.”

“What do you mean?” he asked shocked and confused. Still unable to face him, I said “I knew about every beating whether you told me or not. I felt them and sometimes, if it was bad enough, there was proof” then lifted the hem of my  dark blue t-shirt to show him the bruises left on my ribs from when they were beating him a few hours ago.

“Oh my god” he whispered walking over to me and gingerly touching my ribs.

“It's not as bad as it looks. Because we weren't marked, I didn't get the full brunt of it plus Moon and Reign have been dampening it for me. So, I could still function” I explained truthfully not wanting to keep anything else from him.

“Wait, Reign knew? Oh of course, that explains why he's been quiet recently. He missed his mate” he said then turning my face to make me look at him added “probably about as much as I missed mine” making my eyes go wide again in disbelief.

“You mean you still want me even after all this?” I asked as tears slid down my cheeks.

“Yes of course I do” he said putting his forehead against mine then asked “what made you ever think I wouldn't?”

“Ooh I don't know. I just wasn't sure after everything and I wasn't sure what would happen despite my plan. I was afraid you'd be forced to watch as he raped me again” I cried my body trembling as he held me.

“I... I will always want you no matter what happens. And if he did touch you again, I would've kept talking to you to distract you and remind you you weren't alone. Then when it was over and I was freed, I'd kill him” Dox said tears streaming down his face now too.

“oooh...” I dragged out the word then smiling slightly added “I heard you love me?”

“Oh and who told you that? Let me guess, a little caramel and chocolate colored wolf couldn't keep her mouth shut. No matter, I've wanted to tell you for a long time that, yes, I am in love with you and have been for a very long time” he said with a smile.

“That's good because I've been in love with you almost since the day we met” I said also smiling. Pulling me tighter against him, he laughed and said “we should probably help the others out.”

“Yeah, oh and any of our wolves or Wind Walker's wolves you find that are seriously injured need to be taken to our make shift medical triage tent to the south. My parents, the pack doctor, and two nurses are there running things” I explained as I stepped away to start stripping before shifting. Taking my shirt off, Madox pulled me back to him and softly kissed my neck before pulling away saying “you be careful. I'd hate to lose you just after I get to have you” making me blush.

“You be careful too. Oh and link your mom and tell her we got to you before they could do any serious damage. She knows what happened but we kept it from Charles and Anthony just to be safe since they're not fully healed yet” I said staring into his gorgeous amber eyes.

“Alright love. I'll take care of it” he said with a smirk.

“Love?” I asked surprised by the sudden pet name.

“Yes, unless you wanna be my kitten?” he teased playfully.

“We've gotta work on your pet names” I said as I took off my shoes and sweatpants leaving me completely naked to his piercing gaze. Sucking in a breath, he said “god you're gorgeous.” Chuckling, I smirked “looks who's talking. It took every once of self control I had every time I saw you shirtless or naked to shift not to touch you.”

“Well, after this is all done and over with, you can touch me all you want” he teased with a small laugh.

Hours seemed to pass as we continued to fight making me worry about my family and my mate with every passing second. At one point, I was fighting back to back with a gray wolf but because of all the smells I couldn't be sure it was Madox until he nipped my butt before running off. Rolling my eyes, I went back on the defensive as two brown wolves decided to gang up and attack me not realizing who they were up against. After managing to take them out, I felt a sharp pain in my left hind leg and assumed Madox had gotten bitten.