"Punishment? What do you mean punishment?"

"I mean exactly that. You disobeyed my command, you put your life and my mate's life in immediate danger. Do you know how terrified August and I were when we got back to that cabin and you two weren't there?"

Basil and Maddox continued to argue from across the dining room table while August, the rest of my brothers and their mates watched. My brothers were giggling like little school girls at Basil getting reprimanded. We all knew there was nothing he could do to save himself from whatever punishment Maddox had worked up.

He disobeyed an Alpha. Family or not, Maddox couldn't play favorites. He had to make an example out of Basil to show what would happen if you put the pack in danger.

"August, my darling mate, could you please explain to our poor, misguided Alpha that being drugged and stabbed was punishment enough? I've learned my lesson, no need to keep teaching it to me."

August shakes his head and looks helplessly at his mate.

"You know I can't. Maddox is right, and as much as I love you, I'm also under a direct command to not interfere. I have to respect that Maddox is doing what he feels is right."

Basil shifts his gaze back to Maddox, imploring him to go easy.

"But I'm your brother-in-law! Doesn't that earn me a little leniency at least?"

"You know I can't play favorites," Maddox responds calmly.

His hand rests on my thigh under the table and his thumb rubs mindless patterns across my skin, causing my stomach to tighten delightfully in anticipation. We've been back for a few days now, but Maddox wanted to give everyone more time to settle in before getting back to business.

He, of course, didn't allow himself the same break and threw himself back into work almost immediately, leaving very little time for us to spend alone together. I didn't mind it at first- I spent most of the time back with Lennon, helping her prepare for the baby that she's absolutely convinced is a witch, but still. I wanted my mate.

"You just went through something traumatic, Poppy. There's no need to rush things. I'll be here for you when you're ready," He had told me the night we got back.

"I'm ready now. I don't want to think about what happened, I just want you."

I had reached for his belt buckle, but he had gently pulled my hand away and dismissed me with a kiss on the forehead.

"Go to bed."

Now, three days later, my body is humming in anticipation. If Maddox doesn't give in soon, I might just explode. Damn Alphas and their unnaturally strong resolve...

I can hear you.

I can see the grin forming at the corners of his mouth, but Maddox fought to maintain his poise and control and he focused his energy on Basil.

Good. Should I take my pants off or would you like to do that part?

Maddox tries to cover his laugh with a cough and I consider that a victory. Maybe now that he sees I'm okay, back with my family and joking like usual, he'll give up on holding out on me.

"It's just one week of dish duty, Basil. Anyone else that had put my mate in danger like that would be dead. I am going easy on you," Maddox says firmly.

His tone says that would be the end of that discussion, and any more arguing would mean more punishment for Basil.

"Fine," he finally mumbles back.

August rubs his hand comfortingly against Basil's arm and kisses his temple, murmuring something to him about keeping him occupied during his punishment.

The dinner table erupts into a mix of conversation and casual chatter, and the sound is so comforting to me. It was the sound of home, one that I would never take for granted again.

"I have something for you," Maddox whispers in my ear, causing warmth to pool in the pit of my stomach.

Excitement courses through me as all sorts of ideas come to mind.

"Follow me."

He stands up and holds a hand out to me to help me out of my seat before leading me to the patio door in the kitchen. We make our way across the back yard, through the trail that leads to the green house.

In it, Hecate wanders aimlessly, examining the different plants, smiling at some of the tinctures other witches had been working on and left to finish later. I run to her without hesitation, hugging her as tightly as I can.

"Hello, my darling girl," she greets me warmly. "I hear you've had quite the eventful week."

Her hands wrap into my hair as she pulls me closer and as much as I want to just enjoy the moment and be happy that she's here, I can't help but feel a little anger at her.

"You knew," I say, pulling back to look her in the eyes.

"About what, exactly?"

"I brought my dead brother back to life, Hecate! What I did was dark magic and I didn't even mean to! You set me up for failure," I cry out.

Hecate doesn't look nearly stressed enough to learn this information which tells me that my suspicions were right and she already knew. She had warned me of the dangers of dark magic and I failed her anyways.

"You were blessed with a beautiful, ancient healing magic, Poppy. You are one of the strongest witches of your generation and you haven't even realized it yet. What will it take for you to finally see your potential?" She asks, a hint of annoyance lacing her voice.

"I've been asking that since day one," Maddox chimes in with a cheeky grin. "Have any potions or spells for making her less stubborn?"

I fight to keep the grin off my face despite my inner turmoil as I narrow my eyes at him playfully.

"Oh please, you love my stubborn ass," I scoff.

"Your ass is one of the many things I love about you, baby."

Hecate rolls her eyes at our exchange, but she doesn't comment.

"Shouldn't you be a little more worried about the fact that your mate has a knack for necromancy?"

Maddox shrugs, looking the least bit worried as he leans lazily against the door frame of the green house.

"If Hecate isn't worried about it, why would I be?"

"Thank you!" Hecate yells sarcastically.

"I just don't understand why you would give me dark magic. Witches spend years trying to hone it. I didn't even have to think about it."

"I bless witches with magic, but even I have no idea how that magic will manifest itself. You adapted to necromancy just as easily as Basil adapted to divination, or Clover to spirit work. It called to your soul because that's what you were meant to do. All magic can be twisted to become something dark. It's up to each witch to decide what they'll do with it."

I pace the floor of the greenhouse nervously, avoiding their gazes as I try to wrap my head around it. Clover. She and the other rogue witches have been spending their time with Hecate, who's been helping them heal from everything. I wonder if she had noticed that the witch she saved brought a soul back from the dead.

"I appreciate the pep talk, I really do, it's just... we're not looking at the bigger picture here. To give Basil his life back, I had to take someone else's. How can I practice magic with that kind of responsibility? I can't decide who lives and who dies."

Maddox's smile falters as he sees the pain on my face. He steps towards me and wraps his arms tightly around my shoulders, cradling my head into his chest until I can't think about anything but his scent.

"Hopefully you will never have to make that choice again. But, in the meantime, we'll find new ways to hone your skills."

"And until then?"

I tilt my head up and rest my chin on his chest so I can look up into his eyes.

"We live. Without worry, without fear of someone else's revenge. We live and enjoy our lives and love each other the way we were bound to do."