"FUCKSHITGODDAMNMIT!" I yelled, throwing the cordless phone across the room. Jason's quick reflexes grabbed the phone before smashing against the wall. "That fucking bastard," I raged on. "He cannot keep doing this." There was no controlling my temper right then. Grabbing the first thing in arms reach, the vase smashed against the wall narrowly missing Jack's head.

Not noticing when Jack, Dmitri, and Nickoli came in I did a double take then ranted to Jack. "No more Jack, he has to go. He has to be stopped."

Jack raised his eyebrow taking a step forward while the others slowly moved in front of objects that could be thrown. "Samantha calm down and tell me what's going on." As he came closer he kept his hands up in an, I mean you no harm gesture.

"I will not calm down! Will everyone stop telling me what the fuck to do! And stop pushing your will against me," I shrieked the last, "It doesn't fucking work!" Catching Bo looking across the room, I followed his eyes. Joseph was still in the same spot, broad shoulders hunched, bald head bowed staring down at his feet. All the talking, touching, and influence Jack and Lawrence could throw at me would not have the effect that the sight of Joseph torn apart did. Watching his almost 7 foot tattooed frame depleted my anger.

"Oh Joseph," I rushed over throwing my arms around his waist holding him tight. "I'm so sorry. I can't go back. You can't go back. I will not let you go back. I...I will try to think of something."

"I know, I know," he squeezed me back, breathing against the top of my hair, "But she's my sister. I can't not do something. I'm not asking you to help me, but I am asking you to let me go." I was already shaking my head against his chest before he finished. "Are you going to...," his voice cracked and he cleared it, "Are you going to keep me here against my wishes as he did?"

I flew back a step as if I had been hit. He could leave whenever he wanted, like me, I did not feel compelled to do as other pack members did when their Alpha spoke. Joseph was very much a submissive and needed a pack. To look at him you would think he was a badass with his bald head, almost 7-foot frame, broad shoulders, tattoos covered his arms, shoulders, and back. Although his looks were hard and his face handsome, his eyes were soft, the darkest of blue, close to black I had ever seen. Straightening up, standing tall and strong but it was his eyes that gave him away. He didn't mean what he said, not really. He had a point to make and made it he did. "No I won't hold you here against your wishes, your freedom," Opening my eyes wider to stop the tears that threaten to spill. "Please give me one hour to think of something. Just an hour and if I can't then I will let you go."

Thirty minutes later pacing in my dining room, which had become the official meeting room these past few weeks. Or was it months? One day to another just seemed to be jumbled up. The men that were already there plus others that have been called, the room filled up quickly. It started off with around 10 men and now it was 25 and counting. I just finished explaining what was said on the phone to everyone and they were coming up with ideas on how we can get Joseph's sister back. So far none that would work.

Refusing to sit or receive any comforting words or touch, I was at my wits end. Looking over at the clock I only had a few minutes left before the hour was up. I said I would let him go but wasn't sure if I could. Unless someone was going to hold me down I could see myself tackling Joseph and not let him go.

"Let me see if I got this since I was the last one here," Mason said from the far side of the room. "Elijah found and took Joseph's sister to leer you back to him. He also said that Joseph can come back to, but could actually care less. No offense Joe. His main purpose is to get Sam to become his mate." I could see his wheels turning as he was thinking. "So what if she already had a mate? Would he still want her? He doesn't want Joseph so he just might let Suzie go if Sam was already spoken for."

The room went quiet as Mason spoke; deathly quiet. For all of a minute I truly thought about it, than the realization on what he said hit. Standing there mouth open staring at Mason, one by one the others started to turn and look at me. There were many different emotions flying around, intrigue, shock, and anger.

"Huh, I wonder," Jack broke the silence, and then all hell broke loose. Some were agreeing, others wanted to know who would be the one to become my mate, and more were not happy and did not think it would work and it would just end up hurting me even more.

The faces I knew best, Dmitri and Nickoli, stayed blank and said nothing. After Mason said it he looked like he wanted to take it back once he realized what he actually said. Jack was seriously considering the idea and Lawrence; well I wasn't sure what he was thinking. He stood in the corner and stared down at the table. Still as a statue

"Mating can be broken if it's not a true mated pair," Joseph spoke up. He wasn't loud but the roomed hushed immediately. "Sam will never be a true half of a mated pair." Turning to me he said, "I know I gave you an hour to come up with something and the chances of you doing that in..." he looks at the clock, "ten minutes are pretty slim. If I leave now I can keep a steady pace without wearing myself thin." He finished and not confirming what he meant about being a true mate.

Joseph wanting to leave took precedence over the comment about never having a true mate. Taking a step towards him, Joseph backed up out of arms reach. "No. No you can't go. Mason said it earlier, Elijah doesn't want you. What do you think you can do to get her back? No, Joseph, I won't let you leave."

"What do you mean she cannot be a true mate," Dmitri was mad and not containing his anger at all, "I know she is my true mate."

Joseph was shaking his head, "I didn't say she wasn't a true mate. I said she cannot be a half of a true mated pair. She has two halves. Unless both her animals agree she cannot be truly half of a mated pair," He said as if it should make sense.

"We don't have time for this, Dmitri," Jack cut in before anyone else could ask what he meant. "Sam's right Joseph. If you go off on your own what do you hope to accomplish? I won't stop you, but there has to a better idea. We need more time."

That, I did agree with. Leaving the room I found the cordless phone and went through the caller ID. Finding the last number, I hit the button. After the first ring, Elijah, picked up, "What do I owe the pleasure of this call? Shouldn't you have left already or do I prepare little Suzie for her big night?"

Breathing slowly to keep my calm I answered, "I just can't leave." Some of the others had followed me into the living room. No one ever really trusted me not to do something stupid. Like take off. I sighed at the sight of the others and continued, "I need more time. Hell I don't even know where you are."

"Joseph does. I gave you 3 hours Sam, plenty of time to get here and save Suzie. I take it that you refuse and I will go on with my plans?" he said.

Hoping I was a better actress than I thought, I gritted out between my teeth, "You don't understand. I can't just leave."

After a few seconds he chuckled, "Are you alone Sam? Or do you have company?"

Giving a bitter laugh I answered, "I always have company." I hoped he would take the bait.

Lowering his voice just above a whisper he said, "You have six hours Samantha. If you are not here I will do more than just change Suzie here. There are others that you were not honoured to meet. Mr. Whyte had a fondness for you and only shared you with a few of his own men. If you do not come alone I will kill her. If I so much as scent anyone nearby I will slit her throat for all of you to see. Ask Joseph where the meeting place is and keep him there. You had your chance to have someone with you and lost it. So be a good little cub and do not be late. The clock is ticking Samantha." He hung up.

Breathing easier, I got us more time and hopefully enough to plan something. The problem was that I believed he would kill Suzie. Now the question was what I was willing to do to get her back.

My back to everyone in the room and in my own thoughts, I was startled when Joseph spoke. "Sam? Sam what did you just do?"

Putting on my best everything is Ok smile, I turned and said, "I got us more time, 6 hours then I have to meet him, but Joseph is no longer allowed to come. Just me and me alone." At least I knew he would be safe.