Page 111 of The Secret Mate Society

I thought of my phone and calling for help.But my clothes had torn apart in the shift and were now buried under flaming debris.I realized, with sickening clarity, that despite all my power and all my abilities, there wasnothingI could do to save my mate.

At last, my body began to shift, the cold fear pulling me out of my Alpha form.I sat there, naked and covered in blood, trying to keep Ethan from bleeding out.

“Please, Ethan,” I begged.“Don’t give up on me.”

His eyes fluttered shut.“Calder… I… I love you.”

Burning tears streamed down my face.“I love you too…”

His hand slipped from my cheek, falling limp to the ground beside him.My world shattered into a thousand pieces, each one cutting deeper than Jake's claws ever could.

"No, no, no," I chanted, pressing harder against the wound even though I knew it was futile.The blood kept coming, seeping between my fingers, pooling in the dirt beneath us."You don't get to leave me.Not now.Not after everything."

I bent over him, my forehead pressing against his, desperate to feel any sign of life.His breath was so shallow I could barely detect it, his heartbeat a faint flutter against my chest where our bodies touched.

"Somebody help!"I screamed into the night, my voice breaking."Please!Anybody!"

But there was no one.Just me and Ethan and the roaring inferno consuming the barn behind us.The heat was intense even at this distance, the flames casting dancing shadows across Ethan's pale face.He looked almost peaceful, like he was simply sleeping.

"You can't do this to me," I whispered, my tears falling onto his cheeks."I just got you back.I just—" My voice cracked completely."I need you, Ethan.Please."

A cold wind swept through the clearing, and suddenly the temperature dropped so drastically I could see my breath misting in the air.The flames seemed to dim, as if something was sucking the heat from the world itself.

"Alpha Thorne."

I jerked my head up to find Ageratum standing a few feet away, his crimson eyes glowing in the darkness.For once, his expression wasn't cold or detached.There was something almost sympathetic in the way he looked at us.

"Help him," I begged, shame forgotten in my desperation."Please, I'll do anything.The Council can have whatever they want from me, just save him."

Ageratum moved closer, kneeling beside us.His pale hand reached out, fingers hovering over the wound in Ethan's thigh."The damage is extensive.He's lost too much blood."

"Then give him yours!Mine!Something!"I was babbling now, barely coherent."You're a demon, you must have some kind of magic, some way to?—"

"I’ll do what I can," Ageratum interrupted, his voice quiet as he reached for Ethan."But I make no promises."He pulled him away from me and into the shadows.“I’ll be in touch.”

With another blast of icy wind he sank into the shadows and Ethan with him.I sat there on the cold ground, the fire burning behind me, as tears continued to stream down my face.

The rogue was finally dead.But at what cost?

Chapter46

Calder

Aweek had passed since the barn had burned to the ground, consuming the body of Jake Harrison.Portland was safe, my pack was safe, and the Elder Council was quickly smoothing everything over with the mortal world to make the entire ordeal look like nothing more than a string of bad luck.As far as the humans knew, werewolves still didn’t exist.

And yet, I was more unhappy than I’d ever been.

Trevor and Patrick had tried their best to console me, bringing over food I couldn't eat, keeping me company in silence I couldn't break.They meant well, and I appreciated them more than I could express.But nothing they did could fill the gaping hole Ethan had left behind.

I hadn't heard from Ageratum since that night.Not a word, not a sign.I'd tried calling, tried reaching out through every supernatural channel I knew, but the demon had vanished into the shadows.Taking Ethan with him.

Was he alive?Had Ageratum been able to save him, or had I watched my mate die in my arms?The not knowing was slowly destroying me from the inside out.My wolf howled constantly inside me, a mournful sound that echoed in my chest, demanding we find our mate.But I had no idea where to even begin looking.

I stood at my living room window now, staring out at the street where Ethan had run from me just over a week ago.It felt like a lifetime had passed since then.Everything in the house still carried his scent—the sheets on my bed, the towel hanging in the bathroom, the coffee mug he'd used that last morning.I couldn't bring myself to wash any of it away.What if it was all I had?

"Calder."Trevor's voice came from behind me, gentle but firm."You need to eat something.Patrick made your favorite."

I didn't turn around."Not hungry."