Chapter 6

"Saxon!" I hiss.

"Look the bastard is alive. They are both Alpha children, a fall from this high isn't going to kill them. Bruise their egos a little, but they are fine," he chuckles as if kicking a fully grown male off a tree house porch is a regular guy thing.

"You're an idiot." Shaking my head, I lean over the edge to see both Saxon and Roarke walking around. Are they injured? My mind is racing a million miles a minute with those critical thoughts. Even if I am frightened to be lovey dovey with Roarke, he is my mate, and I care if he comes to harms door.

"Anthony is on his way along with the rest of the guys. Don't worry; he will find out if your stud muffin is going to be able to give you children." Winking at me, he shoves my shoulder with a laugh.

"Gross, Kai." Talking about having sex with my mate, with my ex-lover doesn't sit well with me.

"On a different note, I wonder how many more pack members of his are to arrive in the coming weeks. It's been a month already, and it seems as if his wolves are never ending," he ponders with curiosity.

"Well maybe if you didn't cut the rope and kick his brother in the gut, then he might let you sniff out the new females. I doubt he wants you anywhere near them at this moment. In fact, I believe he wants your head on a spike if I heard him right that is." Keeping my eyes on Roarke and his brothers, I strain my ears to listen to what exactly they are cursing about. Saxon hasn't attempted to climb again, and it worries me. What is he planning on doing?

"You're already defending your boy toy." Rolling his eyes, he plops down onto the wood. "I want my female supporting me."

"She will come soon, Kai. You have to have faith." It's been hard on the guys these past years. Most of the pack males have found their mates. For some reason none of my besties have, and it's draining on them; emotionally and hormonally. Being near irritable wolves is no fun.

"I hope so," he sighs, his shoulders slump forward in depression.

"It looks like the cavalry has arrived. Just in time too, my stomach is angry with the scent of spicy chicken down there." Patting my belly, I moan out in agony.

"I don't think Lexi will make it unless she gets that food in her belly soon!" Kai shouts to the group of males and wolves down below.

Seconds later, Cain clips all the bags to a climbing hook before he latches onto the tree and begins to scale it. In no time at all he reaches us and Kai helps him up onto the porch.

"Took you long enough, jeez," Kai chuckles before snatching up the food and heading into the kitchen area.

"You're welcome, fat ass," Cain grumbles back. "How are you doing?" He gives me a warm smile and hug before we sit down and await our plates of food.

"As best as I can be at the moment. I'm split in two; one side wants to devour Roarke, the other wants to hide under a rock and never see him again. His brother Saxon spoke of how they do not harm their females, but can I trust his words?"

"There is no rush, Lexi. Take the time to get to know him. I'm sure once he finds out why you are so hesitant to be with him, he will understand. Roarke doesn't seem like the type of guy to act without thinking. At least we haven't seen him do it yet. With every couple, there are bound to be trials and no doubt you and Roarke will have them. This time, you will have us right down the street to run to in case he becomes a douche bag."

"No blowing up houses?" I mumble, my fingers twisting together.

"Not unless he deserves it." Cain's arm around my shoulder gives me a sense of peace. He is the only one who can calm me down after a night terror, and I'm frightened to see how Roarke will react to that information.

He doesn't know what he is getting himself into being my mate. I'm not an average person, well besides the whole turning into a wolf thing that is. My past isn't pretty, and neither is my mind. Cain helped me recover after being rescued, but instead of reverting to my old happy-go-lucky self, I turned to sex. Sex with Kai to be exact. The worst time for me is when I go into heat. Kai has to be locked inside a room with me for at least a week each month otherwise I will wither in pain.

The first few months of my recovery, Ant, and Cain refused to have someone help me in the bedroom. They thought it would further traumatize me. Instead, it's my coping mechanism. From the moment they changed their minds to a month ago, Kai was my go to guy. In one week, I'll be chained up in the basement for roughly five days. The doc will safely drug me to the point I won't have to stay awake and relieve the pain each day and night.

Shouting draws mine and Cain's attention to the men below.

"It seems as if Roarke isn't agreeing to what Anthony is saying," Cain says as Kai brings out three plates full of mouthwatering food.

"How about we spy? You know Anthony won't be mad." Kai loves spying through Ant. For some reason, the trait is only in Alphas. Ant loves giving us access to the link when it serves us all.

"I'll ask." Attaching my ankle to the tie up rope, I lie on my stomach and rest my arms on the edge of the wood, giving me a clear view of all the men and wolves below. "Hey, can we ease drop?" I ask Ant.

"Want to know what your mate is yelling at me about?"

"Nope, I want to ogle him through your eyes." Rolling blue eyes, I give Kai and Cain thumbs up. He would have told me no right off the bat if he didn't want us barging into his conversation.

"That's disgusting. Go head, but I do not want to hear you panting in my mind. Otherwise, I'm locking you out." Ant isn't mad, grossed out is more accurate of a word at how he is feeling right now.

It's easy to link with his mind as we've done it plenty of times.

"Cut the bullshit, Anthony. She is mine, and you damn well know it," Roarke snarls in Ant's face.

"I do not know what you're speaking of, Sheriff. If Lexi is your mate, she will come to you when she feels safe and ready."

"Safe? Why doesn't she feel safe now? I'm her mate; I'm not going to harm her. She is my everything. As an Alpha, you should know what happens when you keep mates apart. It's not an appealing sight." Roarke begins to pace back and forth in front of Ant, Andrew, and Rob as he clasps his hands behind his neck.

"Yes, unfortunately, I do know what happens when mates ignore the bond they share. If she is your female, it will not come to that." It's weird looking through Ant's eyes. He's continuously scanning the males and surrounding forest while keeping a close watch on Roarke at the same time. I don't know how he does it all.

"If?" Roarke's eyes flash black as he comes within inches of Ant's face. "There is no such thing as if she is my mate. She is, and I will find out why she is hiding from me." His upper lip lifts up to show pearly white teeth as a snarl leaves his mouth, teeth snapping at Ant.

"Good luck with that." Ant is trying to infuriate Roarke, we all know it and the reason behind why, other than the Maccoy brothers of course.

"Does she realize what she is doing to my wolf and me?" It's as if Roarke is pleading with me to feel his pain.

"Tell her then," Ant says. Bastard informed Roarke I'm watching and listening in on their conversation. This might actually work in my favor. Will he spill his guts to me?

"She's listening in, isn't she? I wasn't sure if you knew about that ability." He berates Ant.

"We may be a small pack, but do not underestimate us, Roarke. We've done things other packs will cower away from. Do not test our resolve to protect the ones we love either. Lexi is considered my little sister and I will die protecting her, as will the others. Though, if you do attack my pack and kill anyone off, I know for a fact she will reject your ass instantly. So, if I were you, I'd make sure to be on my best behavior and not disrespect the people she loves. Fair warning." Ant takes a few steps back from Roarke, to give him room to breathe.

Roarke's eyes flash back to their natural silver, a hint of irritation hiding within the beautiful color. He slowly rolls his shoulder, flexing and loosening his muscles up to drive me hungry with lust - and he knows it too.

"Lexi sweetheart, all I want to do is hold you close. I promise I'll never cause you harm; physically or mentally. Baby, please come down. If you don't want me to touch you that's alright, I won't. If you're next to me, that will work too. I just need you close by, to not only ease myself but my wolf as well. He is going crazy without you by our side. I fear he will attempt to attack any unmated male next to you out of desperation of being rejected. You feel it don't you; the longing to be near me, to feel my touch?"

He looks up at me, not at Ant, but I see the anguish on his face as he pours his heart out to me. Is it true, though, that is the question I've been pondering on these past few weeks? Or is it all an act? He looks sincere, but so did he.

"She has heard you. Now let her decide what to do. It's the best this way." Ant pats Roarke on the shoulder before climbing the tree with Rob and Andrew right behind him.

"Make sure she knows that I belong to her as well. If she is scared I'm a lying cheating bastard; she has nothing to fear. This body has always been hers and will continue to be until the day we die in each other's arms." He shouts to Ant.

"Damn, I'm not gay, but that sounded hot. You sure you want to stay away from him?" Kai says as we exit the link with Ant. "I mean don't you want him to fulfill all those wet dreams of yours?" He nudges me before sitting up and continues to eat his lukewarm food.

"You have that man whipped, my dear. He isn't kidding about the beating the living shit out of an unmated male. Can you blame him, though?" Kai tilts his head and gives me 'the look' that says I know better.

"No, I'm sure you five will act the same way when you find your mates." Clapping my hands, I stare at all the guys. "So...how did he react while I was dancing? Did he see me, track me down by my scent? Whatever happened, I want the details. Please," I beg with wide eyes.

They all shake their heads and roll their eyes before sitting down with plates of food. They knew I would be asking them the second we decided to go to the club. They can't get out of answering now since they are stuck up here until Roarke, and his posy leave.

"You need a girlfriend. You know that," Andrew sputters around his spicy chicken and noodles.

"Andrew is right you know. Going over how your mate's eyes glowed and his dick rose to high mass when he saw you running away isn't something any of us want to discuss. It's quite disgusting if you get my drift," Ant continues with a shudder.

It's horrible, but knowing Roarke wanted the chase does things to me. It may be the part of me that needs to quench my growing sexual tension or the female wolf inside me who desires to make our male work for us.

"You owe all of us by the way," Andrew carries on chewing as he talks.

"How so? I know you five had fun grinding on those females," I retort back. He can't guilt trip me. They've been wanting to go dancing for a few days now and tonight was an excellent chance to do it.

"We saw your mates' dick. Do you realize how hard it will be to get that mental image out of our heads?" Rob mumbles as if I'm stolen his favorite toy and ran over it with the truck until the pieces are slivers of dust being blown away by the wind.

Nothing could have prepared me for what Rob said, and all I can do is bust out laughing at the nauseating looks on their faces.

"Oh, this is brilliant! How big was it? A descent size or will I be walking funny for days?" Clutching my stomach with one hand, I slap the wood with the other as I continue to bark my head off.

"Shut up and eat, woman. Or we might just kick you off and see how you fair in your mate's arms," Andrew grumbles before shoving more noodles into his awaiting mouth.

"I love you guys, but that, how can I not laugh?" I snort out in enjoyment. Teasing them is way too much fun to stop.

"Alright, who is helping me toss her off?" Andrew drops his fork on his plate and stands up. His hands reach out to me, making me squeak and try to roll out of his grip. Too bad Kai is right there to help him. They lift me up and pretend to drop me over the railing. My mind isn't quick enough to realize my ankle is to this point still attached to a rope which is indeed secured to the tree house.

"Uncle! Uncle!" I scream out between laughs. My fingers desperately try to clutch onto their arms to keep from being tossed overboard.

"Hey Roarke, you wanted your mate right?" Kai shouts.

"I said, Uncle!" I squeal as Andrew's fingers find my tickle spot on my sides.

"There is no one here by that name, sweetheart. Though, I do believe there is a pissed off or possibly worried man down below. Does he honestly think we will drop you? I'm hurt." Shaking his head, Kai pretends to release me, my fingers break their skin as I grip onto their arms for dear life.

"I'll kill you in your sleep, boy! I will seek my sweet revenge, and you will be none the wiser." I sneer in his face as he drops me to the wood planks.

"Bring it, Barbie," he counters.

"Oh, shit." Andrew steps back, lifting his hands up in surrender.

"Seriously, dude?" Rob tosses a water bottle at Kai's head.

"You know she hates that word. When she kicks you off in the middle of the night, don't come crying to us about it." Ant shakes his head as he ignores Kai's whining about them not having his back.

A noise catches my ears, making me lean over the edge once more. "Saxon? What are you doing?" I thought they were going to leave us alone for the night.

"How would you feel if you saw four males holding Roarke over a ledge, threatening to drop him?" He asks as he clings to the tree, his feet resting on nearby branches.

For a damn fact, I'd be scared shitless and agitated until he was in my arms safe and sound.

With each passing day, Roarke shows the same characteristics him, but can I trust Roarke to be genuine? This time, Roarke will not be able to hide me away from my family like he did.

We do not know how many pack members he has as they continue to arrive daily. If his numbers rise anymore, I'm not sure if Blue Crest will be able to beat the Black Knights if a war breaks out. Not that I will allow one to. If it comes down to my happiness and safety over the lives of my fellow pack members, I'll pick their lives in a heartbeat.

"He sent you to check on my health?" I question with hope. Maybe...just maybe Roarke is different. The guys are examples of real men, Roarke can be one too, right?

"If my brother knew how to climb a tree, he would be here instead of me. He, of course, might pull you into his arms and smother you with kisses and breathe in your scent to ease the ache in his heart, but it would be worth it I'm sure." Reaching up, he hands me a bag. "Please take this. He wants you to have it for tonight."

Taking it, I place it to my side so as not to drop it. "What is it?"

"Open it when you go to bed. I'm assuming you will be sleeping here tonight as it's already past two am?"

Is it? I didn't realize time has flown by so fast. "We are. The guys will shift into wolves and sleep on the floor, and I'll take the bed. Cain usually sleeps at the foot of the bed, but I doubt he will tonight."

"Because you know Roarke is your mate?"

"And what if he is?" I ask.

"He won't hurt you, Lexi. Whatever happened in your past, whoever harmed you, he isn't Roarke. He would rather die than cause you harm in any way. Roarke's been searching for you for years now. We actually thought he was mateless to tell you the truth."

"Why do you say that?" Can a wolf be mateless?

"You know you feel a connection to a wolf, but you do not know where that wolf is? Every wolf has that feeling as it gives us hope of finding our soul-mate. Roarke has never felt that connection, not until a few years ago. He may be a little bit possessive of you, but he has good cause. He fears that link with you will dissipate if he doesn't stay in constant contact. Wouldn't you do the same if you were in his shoes?"

"I'm sure I would want to complete our bond as soon as possible to ease my mind if I was in his shoes."

"Don't fault him when he becomes jealous, Lexi. You may love a chase, but Roarke can only take so much. And those men up there are not being gentle with him. I secretly pray their mates are in our pack so that they will give them hell." Winking, he shows me his devilish smirk. Repositioning his weight on the branch below his feet, it creaks under his heaviness, begging him to get off.

"If Roarke promises me, none of you will attempt to kidnap me in the middle of the morning while we are sleeping, I will let you up here to sleep." I fear he will fall and he doesn't need another one from this height. "Remember if he breaks this promise, there will be no future for us."

"He understands and will never break his word. He swears to stay below as do our other brothers. No one other than me will be up here." Crossing his chest, he holds out his pinky for me.

"Pinky swearing?" I chuckle.

"It's the only way to swear, I promise." Curling our pinkies together, we shake on it.

"Alright, get up here Saxon before you drop to your death. You nearly scared me half to death when Kai kicked you off last time. Please don't trick or piss him off. He isn't too pleased to be near you right now."

"The feelings are mutual," he grunts as he heaves himself up onto my level.

"Now, I believe it's time to go inside and finish eating. If we spend any more time outside, shit will happen, and I do not want any more drama tonight." Untying my ankle, I pick up the bag and my empty plate before heading into the family room slash kitchen. "I believe there is some food left over if you're hungry. Otherwise, it will be breakfast when we wake up."

"I'm good. We were finishing up dinner when we were linked and informed our new Luna was getting down on the dance floor with unmated males surrounding her." He doesn't look too pleased about that.

"Eh...it was a night out. The guys made sure no one touched or for that matter came within bumping distance. Nothing was going to happen," I promise.

"So, you're not a cheater?" he questions as he sits down next to me on my bed. The guys do not take kindly to his words.

"Lexi, a cheater?" Kai throws his head back and laughs as if it's the funniest thing in the world. "Believe me, she isn't a cheater."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Saxon snaps, his fist clenching next to my thigh. This is drama, and exactly what I said I wanted to leave outside.

"It means I have a past I do not wish to go into details about right now Saxon. Please, respect my wishes. There are things you do not know about me, and it will take a while to become relaxed enough to give details of something that isn't a happy time of my life." My hands automatically bunch up in the bedding beneath them as tears build in my eyes.

"It seems as if I'll be making a lot of promises in the future. When you're ready to explain or give hints, I'll be here for you, as well as my brothers. Roarke will be your rock to lean on, your furry wolf to cuddle with and your pillow to cry on when the time comes. Please give him a chance."

That's what I'm afraid of most. I gave him a chance, and it ended with his pack being blown to smithereens.

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Edited 9-22-22: If you wish to read this book 1 and 2 are done. Book 3 had 43 chapters. Www.patreon.com/TessaT

How do you feel about Roarke now? Liking? Disliking?

Will Lexi give him a chance?

My Morning sickness is kicking my butt guys. If you haven't noticed I haven't updated any of my books other than this one(as I already have the chapters). It's because I can not sit for more than a bit to write before feeling unwell. Once that goes away, hopefully, soon I will be able to get back on track with Matched for Life and A Hidden Princess.

Pompeii, Italy