The song for this chapter is "" by Korn. This song is 100%, Nate!

Enjoy!

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The two men stood on either side of me, watching me carefully. Nate seemed to think I would not care about meeting Carter's father which caused an overwhelming annoyance to flow through him when I did. Brody, on the other hand, looked worn. I was certain he knew I was Carter's mate since he knew my name and I was hopeful that he may be able to help. "Go" Nate ordered harshly though I ignored his command as I stared at Carter's dad watching the golden flecks in his eyes beam just like his sons. Dismissing his command, I extended my hand to Brody.

"It's nice to meet you," I told him smiling brightly and friendly though I wish Carter was the one to introduce me to his father I was still happy I got to meet him. I just hope he did not judge me too much by my messy hair and tiny dress. In fact, the only thing I really know about Carter's father was that he was Puerto Rican due to Carter noting he believed his good looks came from his partial nationality.

"It's nice to meet you as well" he grinned back, his smile reminding me of Carter's instantly which only led my heart to swell with sadness. Where was he? Why wasn't he helping me fix this like he said he would?

"Where is he?" I whispered out loud this time knowing that Nate could hear me but hoping he could not. Brody's brown orbs lifted to his Alpha as his face quickly pained. Even though he was a grown man he still had to obey Nate. The two men remained in an intense stare battle wishing the other would back down.

He pulled his hand back from mine and briefly gave me a break look over before continuing "I'm sorry" he whimpered, and I knew Nate had ordered him to stay silent. I guess he was the one to give in.

"Please" I begged him desperately only for an arm to lace around my core and pull me back. My backside pressed fully up against Nate as he lifted me off the ground slightly preparing to manhandle me once more. "Nate no" I continued to plead staring at Brody as I pushed roughly on his forearm using all my strength with the hope that he would release me. I dug my nails into his flesh slicing his skin open to which he grunted but did not drop me. As he made his way up to his set of stairs, I began flailing my arms and legs, throwing punches and kicks but nothing seemed to affect him.

"Stop fighting me" he demanded jerking my body upward as he wrapped his tree trunk arm tighter around my hips to get a better hold on me. "Why can't you just accept it?" He huffed with annoyance as I wiggled my body more to break free though he just squeezed tighter and tighter making it nearly impossible to breathe.

'Help me!' I yelled to my wolf who ignored me to obey her new mate. Nate opened his bedroom door allowing it to smack against the wall behind it. "Why are you doing this to me?" I cried out as he finally released me in his room tossing my body until I fell on the floor. "Why are you locking me away and keeping me away from Carter?!" I shrilled ignoring the warm tears that were escaping my eyes and burning my cheeks as they continued to fall. In response, he just stared at me with a blank expression unsure of how to react. After a moment of silence, I locked my eyes on him needing to understand him "Why did you mark me?" I whimpered softly with defeat when he did not answer my other questions. I diverted my gaze downward and focused on my bare legs instead of his tortured face.

"I'm not trying to hurt you" Nate promised as he stepped closer to my body that was now slumped on the floor cowering against his bed frame. I tucked my legs up, using them as blockage between him and me.

"Then let me go" I suggested peering up through my wet eyelashes at his strong tightly clenched jaw as he shook his head killing my hope. Fighting Nate would not work. Reasoning with Nate would not work. What would?

"Why should Carter get everything, and I have nothing?" He proposed weakly causing me to lift my head higher to see him fully. Inside his wolf was torn, he was bitter and filled with pain. Outside his jaw began to unhinge as his cheekbones fell from their high state. His shoulders began to fall back too as he lost his confidence and began to slump next to me. For a moment I wondered if Nate was not evil and vicious but hurt and alone.

Mustering up my courage I shifted closer to his collapsed frame. Reaching out I placed my hand against his knee wanting him to trust me and open to me. "What do you want?" I asked him quietly as he sighed lightly to himself as though he was not exactly sure of what he wanted or how to get it.

He shifted his jaw, small cracking sounds meeting my ears as he rolled his lips inward unsure if he could tell me his desires. "I want a family, and a mate...I want happiness" Nate murmured genuinely making me see a softer side that I did not know existed. His long fingers dragged across his face in an attempt to conceal the vulnerable look etched across it but that didn't help I could feel the sadness grow inside of him as he opened up and let me in.

"Why did you deny her?" I whispered back knowing I was crossing the line but needing to understand what happened between him and Heather and why he would target Carter. Something did not add up.

Instantly I felt the atmosphere change as he dropped himself further and gripped my chin roughly forcing my head forward, so I was looking into his hateful dark pools. "It's none of your business" he growled dangerously and defensively as I yanked myself from his tight hold. All signs of his gentle side from a moment ago were long gone as he tossed his guard back up.

"I deserve to know!" I shrieked using all my strength to shove his chest though he barely budged. "You know I do" I wailed crawling on my knees until I was planted firmly in front of him, forcing him to face me.

Roughly Nate wiped his hands against the cotton boxers that adorned his waist. "Trust me, Jamie, I did you a favor. Carter doesn't care about anybody but himself" he vowed expecting me to take his word for it and shut up, but I couldn't do that. Carter has proven already that he was capable of compassion whereas Nate mostly showed anger and pain with a hint of care every now and then.

Instead, I challenged him glaring deeply into his cold emotionless orbs. Inhaling deeply, I prepared myself to take him on alone, without even my wolf to back me up. "And you do?! You marked your Beta's mate for goodness sakes, Nate! What kind of a sick freak does that?" I continued to fight him back wanting to hurt him as he had done to Carter and me. My previous tears had ceased as I instead went at him from an offensive standpoint.

"You want to know so badly?" Nate laughed lowly a sickening snicker escaping his perfectly plump pink lips as he scooted in closer to me, his nose nearly brushing mine. "How about this..." he cocked his head to the side in a creepy fashion "the day I found my mate she was sneaking out of Carter's room after he fucked her" he informed me honestly through gritted teeth. The turquoise color returning to his eyes for a millisecond as he spoke of his true mate. He watched me intently his orbs blazing into mine as if waiting for me to object to his story. I could feel my heart stop momentarily as I pictured if the roles were reversed and I was in his position. I could see and feel that Nate's mental state was on the rocks as he awaited my rebuttal, but I could not believe that Carter could be heartless.

"He wouldn't do that" I defended my chosen mate which caused Nate's head to snap up straight cracking loudly in the process like he was shocked I would stand by Carter. His nostrils were flaring sporadically as he attempted to keep his wolf at bay though he looked like he may lose that battle any second.

"So, I'm lying?" He yelled his voice deafening as he leaned against his fists, cracking them on contact. "This entire pack has a deal do not sleep with any wolf other than your mate and he broke his vow. Unfortunately, the wolf he couldn't keep his hands off was my mate!" Nate roared and I could see the pain in his eyes and hear the devastation in his voice. I knew he was not lying as the heartbreak he felt was pushed into my body. An overwhelming feeling of loss dominated my stomach as I experienced the same pain he had felt. The emotions were unbearable and even though they were not my own I felt like I could break down and cry at any moment.

"He didn't know" I continued to defend Carter, desperately needing to see the good in him. I attempted to reason with him though I now had an inkling as to why he felt the need to punish Carter. I do not think Nate handled the situation perfectly in some sick way I understood. As his feeling overtook my body, I understood why he wanted to strike back. His heartbreak felt so real to me that my bottom lip began to quake, and my arms shook slightly.

"Does it matter? How could I ever look at the woman who is supposed to be my Luna the same knowing she slept with my Beta? Carter forced me to deny her" he uttered his hands forming tight powerful fists as he pushed them into the floor. Angry soon consumed his wolf, taking over his body and slowly his features. It seemed as if Nate did not know how to channel his feelings in a healthy way. Instead no matter how he felt he reacted with anger.

"So, you needed payback" I murmured as everything began to click. The one word repeating over and over in my brain, as clear as the night Nate said it. Payback. Payback. Payback. Shaking my head, I attempted to sober up knowing if I was going to get him to understand my point, I needed to do it now. "But you're hurting me too Nate, not just him." It was as if he realized for the first time that I was affected as well as his eyes softened and return to their natural blue state. The lightness of them making my wolf flip with joy and my stomach to become overcrowded with butterflies. His wolf was taking in my emotions, letting my feelings set in with Nate as he watched me adoringly. "That same heartbreak you felt you're doing to me" I added reaching up I placed my hand delicately on his chest where his heart and tattoo laid, feeling the slow steady beat of it which was a sound my wolf enjoyed very much. In the back of my mind, I could not help but think wow he has a heart.

His body instantly relaxed under my touch as his knees trembled and his large being completely let go and met me on the floor. His knee sat up against mine, skin on skin, and bringing us both of unknown peace. "I'm sorry" he admitted for the first time as I felt the sincerity running through his body.

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* Carter Stone *

'She doesn't love him' my dad spoke through our mind link abruptly pulling me from my own devious thoughts. Instantly I knew who he was talking about I just did not know how he knew.

'Dad, I felt it when they kissed' I whimpered back not even able to come to terms with what was happening. Jamie was my mate and no marking done by my Alpha could change the facts to me. She was meant for me, not for him. But to her and her wolf, he was slowly taking my place, becoming her number one.

'Think what you want Carter, but I just saw them, and she wanted nothing to do with Nathaniel' he voiced seriously making my wolf perk up from hearing the news. 'Now stop being a pansy and get back here and fight for her' my father ordered as I quickly spun and allowed my wolf to take control.