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"We're here." Sebastian sang as a smile crept onto his face. He seemed to be excited that we finally made it to the destination, only there was nothing here. We were simply parked on the side of the road surrounded by large green trees and boulders of various sizes and colors.
"What's this?" I asked, kitting my eyebrows. "It looks like we are in the middle of nowhere."
"That's because we kinda are. You'll see why I brought you here." He smiled.
He quickly pulled the keys out of the ignition and slid his body out of the seat and slammed the door behind him. Watching him walk around the front of the Hummer, I rubbed my fingers in small circles on my temples and took in a few deep breaths. 454Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6Q9kD9AUM
With everything I have been through today, I wasn't really in the mood for any more surprises but decided to just enjoy the time I had with Sebastian.
Reaching for the shimmering door handle it opened before I could even give it a little push. He slowly eased the door open and stood alongside it waiting for me to exit the car.
Sliding my body across the seat I swung my legs to the side and stepped out. The rocks under my sneakers crunched as I unleashed my full weight onto them and took a step closer to Sebastian.
What could he possibly want to show me here? I can't fantom there being a wondrous place hidden among this thick forest. It's so desolate I wouldn't be surprised if we found a dead body.
Smiling from ear to ear, he held his hand out for me to take. "I promise you'll like it." He laughed. "I can hear you, ya know? And I can say for certain there are no dead bodies."
Completely forgetting myself I just rolled my eyes and placed my hand in his. He tugged my hand gently and motioned for us to walk through a small clearing in the forest. "We will hit a trail in a minute." He mumbled as he directed us forward.
As soon as we stepped foot in the forest I could smell the dirt and leaves as they were kicked up with our steps. I closed my eyes for a second to hear the wind howling through the trees and the birds chirping as they flew overhead.
Bushes were overgrown and tree branches hung low as they tried to grab onto our body. We carefully made our way down the path, every few feet presenting us with another obstacle.
As the sky darkened, the chirping of crickets warned us the night was near. That soon the light would be replaced with darkness and the darkness with fear. The fear of the unknown.
I clutched onto Sebastian's hand a little tighter, moving my body closer to his. He could feel my uneasiness, my reluctance to keep going.
Scanning my surroundings, I noticed the chirping of the crickets had stopped and were replaced by the splashing of water. Where would there be water out here?
A row of beautiful willow trees blocked the path we were on. Instead of continuing onto a man-made clearing to the left, Sebastian parted the branches of the Willow tree and ushered me through them.
Sitting a few feet away from the trees was a massive rock formation with a magical waterfall. Rocks of all sizes lined the pool of water, forbidding it to seep past its barrier.
Sebastian dropped my hand and crawled onto the rocks. Immersing his hand into the water small lights began to flicker on until the whole waterfall was lit up, showing off its pure beauty.
"This is amazing," I whispered in awe.
"It's something else isn't it?" Sebastian smiled, patting the seat next to him. "The only people who know about this place are the Black Lace Alphas and their mates. No one else has ever been here."
I watched as the water effortlessly slipped over the edge and danced all the way down to the bottom. "That's really romantic." I breathed.
"Yes, it is, but that's not the only reason why I wanted to bring you here." He explained. "I want to tell you something."
"Okay," I answered while untying my shoes. I couldn't resist the urge to put my feet in the water.
"Do you remember when you were asking about the colors in this town?"
"Yes."
"Remember when I explained about the promise of the Moon and the stars?" He asked again. 454Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HsSxbgTWb
"I do." I smiled, while gently sliding my feet into the water, surprised by the warmth that surrounded my legs.
"When this town was built, my grandparents decided to base the color off of that promise. The black being the dead of night. The white being the Moon and the stars that shined so brightly regardless of the darkness that surrounded every living and nonliving thing."
"But why did your parents continue with the colors?" I asked curiously. "I read that your parents took over building the town."
"My father made that promise to my mother when they were children. They didn't even know what love was, but as they grew, they felt the promise was even more fitting than ever." He recited. "My parents were lucky. They found their mates as children and didn't know until they were adults. That was the kind of love that I dreamed about. The kind of love I wanted, no matter how gushy that sounds."
Placing my hand on my heart the only words that escaped my mouth was, "Awe."
He gave a crooked smile before inching closer to me and wrapping his arm around my waist. Instead of saying anything else we sat in silence. Enjoying the sound of the water and the view of the stars as they were reflected in the calm portion of the water.
"Are you upset that I'm your mate and not someone from your childhood?"
"For all we know, you could have been my soul mate in a past life." He chuckled. "You, my dear, are my Moon and my stars, even if you won't allow me to promise them to you."
I couldn't help but smile. His romantic side was starting to come back. His sweet talking returning to its normal rhythm.
"One day Veronica West, I will marry you."
"Is that so?" I asked as my heart began to race at an inhuman rate.
Running his fingers along my arm I could feel the fireworks erupting over my skin. My body instantly relaxing and giving in to the pleasure that ran through me.
"This mark right here says so." He whispered.
Instead of drawing circles along his mark, he placed gentle kisses around my unmarked skin. His tongue dancing circles around it before his sweet soft lips landed directly on my beautiful scar.
The submission I felt was overwhelming. I would do anything he asked. I would say anything he wanted me to. Right now, my body belonged to him.
"Be careful." A soft voice echoed in my head. "Remember what he has done. Remember who he has become."
"What?" I asked in return. Who was in my head now? It wasn't a voice I used to hearing.
"Keep your guard up. Don't take anything at face value. You are smarter than that."
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**JASPERS POV**
"How could I not warn her? How could she be so blind?" I had to ask myself trying to justify my actions. It wasn't right to get involved with my subordinates in this fashion, but Veronica was not just anyone to me. Oh no, she was far more important than that. 454Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfoP56PqHN
Turning my oversized computer chair around, I let out a sigh. Having only then noticed Ace rubbing his hand over his face before locking eyes with me.454Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR94yepTuSb
"How long have you been standing there? I didn't even hear you come in?"
Pulling out the same chair that Veronica sat across from me in I winced as his body plopped down into the seat. I could still picture her beautiful face staring back at me, the way she pushed her long blonde locks behind her ear. She was absolutely beautiful.
"Long enough to see the internal fight you were having with yourself." Ace rebutted, interrupting my daydreaming. "What's wrong?"
What was wrong with me? Was it just the fact that Sebastian was with her and not me? I couldn't wrap my head around the idea of her loving an animal instead of me.
"I'm having difficulties with the fact that Sebastian has regained some of his memory and that she continues to fall back in love with him after everything he has done to her."
I was basically throwing all of my emotions on the table, out in the open for everyone to criticize.
"Commander, you have to remember who she is mated to. Sebastian is not just any wolf. He is the most powerful wolf we have ever come across. I hate to say this, but this is a fight you will not win." He said quietly, not wanting any roaming Healers to hear our discussion.
Slamming my fist down on the oak desk I growled before my hands slid over the slick top and papers and a lamp went crashing to the ground. How could my own Healer be against me? Why was everyone so blind to the bullshit that Sebastian Cross has created?
Hovering over the desk I growled in his face. "He might be powerful, but I'm the most powerful Healer and I will not allow my promised to be swept away by him of all people."
It was time I finally allowed the Healers in on my secret. They needed to know that Veronica was not just some girl I attached myself to like in the past. I had finally found her. I had finally found my promised.
I could see all of the blood rush out of Ace's face as he turned whiter than a sheet of paper. I could see the sweat starting to form on the edge of his brow as he took in a deep breath.
I knew Ace had feelings for Veronica as well, but she is just an infatuation to him. Nothing more. It was the mere idea of her being his potential promised. Unfortunately, he knew the second he touched her that she did not belong to him.
"If that is, in fact, true, we need to have a meeting. Call all the Healers to the conference room so they know what we are up against. Do we still have our spy in the pack?" He asked while pinching the bridge of his nose.
"No. He is not with the pack anymore, but he is on the outskirts of Black Lace being fed information. To my knowledge, we are not a threat as of right now. But, when it is found out there will be war. A war like none of us has ever seen." I explained as I carefully picked up the broken lamp and sat it back on the desk.
Watching Ace creep closer to the door I could feel his eagerness to leave as his fingers gripped the door handle. He was hurt.
I have watched Ace suffer for many years as his friends and family found their promised and he was left alone, still waiting for his. But what he failed to see was that I was standing there with him, alone.
"She is out there somewhere, Ace." I promised him. I needed him to be level headed, aware and alert. I couldn't let him lead the Healers alongside me if he was going to wallow in self-pity.
Wiping the sweat from his face he nodded his head in agreement. "I will alert the others and call for the spy to return."
Thanking him quietly I watched as he turned heel and closed the door behind him. We were going to have our work cut out for us. The Black Lace pack was one of the largest, most respected packs in the world and I am about to turn it belly up.454Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTOu0q67Kn
