The song for this chapter is " a video is attached. It's perfect I hope you check it out. :)

This chapter is dedicated to !

Enjoy!

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I was anxiously awaiting Chloe and Jamie's return to the house. On one hand I promised Jamie the truth, and I knew she deserved it. Yet on the other hand I was hiding those same facts from my own sister. Actually, I was rethinking my vow at this very moment.

The front door opened causing Brett and I both to jump up possessing the same inner terror. The two girls were smiling at one another, enjoying the bonding time that they were having. Slowly Jamie's deep eyes met mine causing her lips to stretch even farther across her face. Though once Chloe turned in our direction, her nostrils flared as she took in our mothers scent. "She was here?" My sister muttered appearing almost terrified as she stared at her mate.

"She was but she didn't get pass the gates" Brett caved easily rushing over to comfort her in the process. With his words he let her know that the smell she was catching on to was in fact from us and not our mom's presence in our home. I didn't want her in here, this was our safe haven. A place where we knew we belonged and were loved. A place where traitors weren't allowed. Chloe's features instantly turned down as Brett rubbed her arms encouragingly. I could see the confusion swirling within her light eyes as she tried to piece together the messy puzzle.

'Who?' Jamie asked my wolf hesitantly from the door. She chomped down on her bottom lip, her face holding a nervous expression and I knew where her mind was. She was thinking Heather was here. Though at the same time she knew the scent was of a stranger and not the she devil herself.

'Our mother' I whispered back pathetically. As soon as her wolf registered my words she crossed the room, barreling over the small threshold of the office until she was latched to my side. In an attempt to soothe me she ran her petite fingers along my back and waist line slowly, not bothering to pry or ask questions but instead assure me that she was here for me. Without realizing it my eyes scrunched closed as I leaned down and buried my face into the crook of her neck, tangling my nose in her hair as I devoured her deliciously sweet scent.

"I don't want her here" Chloe announced only a moment later pulling me from my blissful somber. I let out a small uncontrollable sigh directly into Jamie's ear causing her entire body to shutter from the near contact of my lips on her flesh. Focusing more on the task at hand I ignored the loving desire building throughout my body and over taking my wolf effortless.

"I'll never force you to see her" I stated simply taking on my role of protective big brother. Though I have to admit her distant feeling would help me to keep my past where it belongs...in the past.

Sensing the intimacy of the situation Jamie's hands stopped their soothing rub as they rested on my shoulder. "We can talk later" she offered with a small polite smile. 'I'll go out for a bit this way you guys can talk.' To this I nodded gratefully. There was a lot that I had to talk to her about but at this moment, I had more that needed to be said to Chloe. And that selfless offer is exactly what she's the perfect Luna.

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To be honest I feel like I'm on cloud nine. I can practically see the little angels floating around in my perhiphal vision and hear harps playing softly in my ears. Okay I'm just kidding. It's not that intense yet my head did feel pretty fuzzy after hearing the truth about Jamie's feelings for me. I knew their was no way she could just forget about me. Nate and his stupid 'claim' just messed up her thought process it didn't actually change anything. Ha. Take that Alpha.

Heather and Austin sat on the edge of the bed discussing our tactic to wedge ourselves in between Nate and Jamie. Though I wasn't a part of their scheme, instead I laid back with my arms tucked securely behind my head lost in a land of day dreams. In all actuality I didn't think I needed a plan to talk to Jamie. If she missed me I could just walk right up to her, take a hold of her waist, and kiss her softly against her lips. That's how I'd get her back.

"It's Jamie" Austin murmured pulling me from my mental rant. My body jerked up causing me to realize he meant Jamie was calling him and not actually at the door. Well there goes another fantasy down the drain. "Hello" he called out before looking me dead in the eyes. Slowly he placed his finger to his lips doing the universal kindergarten sign to say be quiet.

Even though I wasn't saying anything the curiosity got the better of me as I crawled my body to the end of the bed in the hopes of eavesdropping more clearly. My plan was a fail when I couldn't hear her even when I got within inches of the phone. All that I could hear was Austin mumbling 'yup' and 'mhm'. "What is it?" I whispered lowly only for Heather to smack my chest roughly causing a loud smacking sound to echo through the room.

Angrily I pushed her hand away so she couldn't abuse me again. "Sure I'll meet you there" he agreed to something before shutting his phone. I pushed myself to my knees wrestling with Heather to be closer to Austin when he reveled what him and Jamie spoke of.

"Well" she sighed rudely with another hard shove that officially pushed me from the bed. She is so lucky she's a girl. I returned her glare briefly before looking back to Austin who was running his hands over his face repeatedly. Seriously dude spit it out!

"Okay" he huffed before digging his hands deeply into his pockets. "Jamie wants me to meet her at the mall because Nate and his sister have to have some special talk" he used air quotes and rolled his eyes. "So you" he shifted in my direction "will casually show up" at this I grinned. "But, you're not going to admit to anything that we have discussed here" Austin demanded as I nodded. Taking orders from a human, what has happened to me?

"And I'll go see Nate" Heather blurted, her eyes lighting up brightly as she cheeks turned a light shade of pink. For some reason her excitement to see Nate disgusted me. Why can't she see that he's never going to want her? Not like Jamie who was forced to have feelings for Nate. He deliberately hurt her and doesn't bat an eyelash at her pain. Oh well, not my problem anymore.

"Let's go!" Austin hollered as I peered down at my outfit. Even though I was dressed in my normal casual clothes of jeans and a navy blue shirt, it wasn't enough. I unzipped my bag at an unhuman pace as I began to dig around rapidly looking for something nicer to wear.

"You're hopeless" Heather chuckled peeking into my bag as she pulled out a black sweater that had gray and white argile print on it. So pretty much the ugliest thing I owned. I would have tossed it in the trash but it was a present from Jamie's mom besides, Heather knows I hated it. Oh, I see where she is going with this.

Without thought I yanked my shirt over my head and tossed the sweaty ball back into my bag before covering my chest with a plain white t-shirt and the festive sweater. Heather's hands quickly found their way to my hair as she began pulling it upwards in order to spike it messily. "Good luck" I whispered peering down into her warm newly pleasant looking pools. Her fingers froze in my dark hair as her loving orbs met mine for probably the last time.

"You too, Carter" she retorted softly, the two of us nearly sharing a moment as we prepared to separate and follow fate blindly.

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This sweater was a terrible idea. My arms are itchy, I'm sweating like a mule, and to top it off I'm pretty sure a group of teenage girls called me a metrosexual. Following Austin's plan I ignored my completely uncomfortable being as I walked aimlessly around the crowded mall. I pulled out my phones for the twenty seventh time yes, I kept track.

Counting down the seconds, I waited for it to flash to five o'clock on the dot and then I would work my way into the food court where I would just so happen to bump into Jamie and Austin enjoying their ice cream. Conveniently Heather would arrive at Paquete de Lune de Sangre and occupy the all mighty Alpha . This plan was perfect.

As four fifty nine flipped to five on my phone my feet shuffled quickly toward my mate. I kept replaying the pep talk my wolf and I had over and over in my head as I grew closer to her. Within a minute her deep brown hair came into view and though I could only see her from behind I knew she looked flawless. Austin sat across from her at the table giving me 'the look' we had rehersed to make my move. This is it. It's now or never.

Sensing I was near, Jamie spun back around slowly, her face tilted up slightly as she took in my scent. Though the joy filled smile I expected to see on her face wasn't there. Instead her lips lay in a straight line as they corners turned down slightly forming an unwelcoming pout. "Umm" I muttered nervously as I reached her "Hey."

"What are you doing here, Carter?" She questioned a hateful tone filling her voice as she stared at me with a hard emotionless expression.

"I just..." I trailed turning my attention to Austin for moral support. Though as soon as I looked at him I knew he wouldn't back me up. As far as Jamie knows him and I were not friendly, which wasn't far from the truth. Mustering up some much needed courage I let out a small chuckle. "I'm just shopping" I explained though the lack of shopping bags adorning my hands slightly killed my lie.

"Maybe I should let you guys talk..." Austin offered pushing himself from the table with his palms only to be stopped by Jamie's death grip on his wrists. With a warning look he stood but stayed planted firmly at the table, watching the two of us in aww as if this plan wasn't his to begin with.

"Listen Jamie," I began again trying to look like I was confident even when I had sweat dripping in places I didn't know were possible. "I know we have had a rocky past but we have both moved on. Can't we at least be friends?" I pushed through a genuine smile. Even as she was pulling away from me I couldn't deny the fact that I wanted her, I needed her.

I could see her facade falling down as she listened to me. She wanted to talk to me, to see how I was and her thinking I was with Heather made her not feel threatened. "Okay" she agreed very quitely. Austin's head snapped in her direction as though he didn't expect her to want to talk to me which didn't make any sense considering he said that she told him she missed me.

Reluctantly Austin gripped the small paper cup that held his vanilla ice cream before moving down a few tables. I didn't hesitate to take his seat across from Jamie loving every second of seeing her nearly perfectly being. There was only two things standing in the way of her being perfection. Nate's mark against her long neck and the scar he caused against the bridge of her nose. "So how are you?" I couldn't help but pry as she glanced down at her ice cream cup and swirled her snack with a pink plastic spoon.

"I'm good" Jamie admitted seeming genuine in her response. "How are you?" She then asked our conversation taking on an awkward almost robotic feel.

"I've been better" I admitted sheepishly only to gain a sympathetic look. "I mean I've been worse too" I joked in an attempt to lighten the mood. It worked as her lips parted slightly revealing only the tiniest bit of her teeth.

"And Heather" she pushed casually taking a bite of her ice cream which held random candies such as gummy bears and milk duds. If I didn't know any better I would have assumed Jamie was jealous as she spoke of Heather in fact I was pretty sure I sensed jealousy brewing. However, I wasn't sure if the cause was from Nate or I.

To keep up the persona I nodded lightly "she's good" I announced unable to really give an example due to the fact that forty percent of the time we were together we were talking about Jamie and Nate. The other forty we spent pretending we were a happy couple and in love and the last twenty we spent whining about our sorrows.

"I'm happy for you" Jamie promised reaching out and placing her hand against my forearm lightly. Even though I was certain that she did so in a friendly manor to show me she really was happy for me, my wolf and I couldn't help but read the situation differently. Where her fingers laid caused my skin to burn but not with irritation but more with a special warmth. God, I sound like such a bitch.

As if reading my mind she pulled back knowing she had crossed the line by talking with me but I couldn't let her leave and walk away. Gulping she began to stand up until my hands darted out quickly and grabbed hers. She gasped from the shock as she pulled to break free from my hold. "Jamie please" I begged scooting forward to pull her back down and she did sit but only because we were causing a scene.

"I told you Carter I'm with Nate and that's-" she huffed stubbornly only to be cut off. Hearing his name again caused my entire chest to shatter as the familiar loneliness crept through it once again.

"Nate?" I laughed dangerously. "Nate!" I hissed. "Do you know what your lover boy is doing right now?" I spat harshly as she tugged herself back and from my hold. She jerked up leaving her garbage on the table just to make a quick escape from me. "He's with Heather" I blurted without realizing it. Jamie froze, her legs began shaking as she turned back to me with wide, sad eyes that pained me to even look at.

"How do you know that?" She asked through a whisper, her bottom lip quivering as if her worst nightmare had come true.

Stepping forward I placed my hand delicately on her shoulder. "Because she never wanted me, she just wanted to get Nate back" I admitted officially opening up to her, letting her see the raw truth behind what was going on.

"And you knew?! What was this your way of getting back at me for hurting you? You had to get even?!" Jamie accused bitterly as she pulled back knocking my hand to my side as she shook her head in disbelief not even for a second doubting my story or feeling that Nate wouldn't leave her. No, she believed me wholeheartedly and believed Nate wanted Heather just as badly as she wanted him.

"No" I lied again unable to control my first nature. "I wasn't helping her. Remember all that time ago when I told you I couldn't be that good guy and tell you to follow your heart?" I asked lifting my hand and wiping away the salty tears that were beginning to fall from her eyes. She nodded slowly as she watched me carefully taking in what I had to say. "I was wrong Jamie. You made it clear you wanted Nate and I would have to deal with that but I didn't want to hurt you anymore. That's why when Heather formed this ridiculous plan to get Nate back I stepped in. I thought if I would make her fall in love with me then she would leave you alone and perhaps her and I could have that happy ending after all" I lied once more. I know it was wrong and lying was what got us into this mess in the first place but, I couldn't admit the truth. I would lose all of my chances if I did.

"If you didn't want to hurt me why did you sleep with Lynn? Why didn't you stop Heather?" She pried stumping me but only for a second. On instinct she wrapped her arms over her her, hugging herself in the hopes of feeling more secure as she thought her life was crashing down around her.

"Sleeping with Lynn was a mistake" I admitted harshly having little regard for Lynn's feelings. "I was heart broken Jamie, I mean you left me for my Alpha" I seethed as she brought her eyes to mine briefly, seeing every ounce of pain that laid in them. "I tried to stop Heather but she wouldn't listen but I came to you, I had to tell you."

Once my confession was over Jamie didn't speak. Instead her features twisted quickly as her nose scrunched up. Her hand shot to her chest holding over her heart in a position I knew all too well. Holy shit Heather actually did it. She actually got Nate back.

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"But what did she want?" Chloe questioned for the tenth time as Brett and I stood across from her in my office. We were trying to explain to her why our mother had come here and what her intentions were but without shocking her too much. Chloe has been through enough and I didn't spend years protecting her just for people like our mom and Brody to blow it up.

"The truth is" I started off pausing to take a deep sigh before letting out the secret I kept guarded deep within me. "Mom didn't just leave because she didn't want us anymore, or just because dad died" now her eyes were locked on mine as I was about to crush everything she thought she knew about me, and our family.

"What are you talking about, Nate?" She laughed nervously as Brett now rounded the desk to stand near her. He to was about to be blindsided by my confession.

"She left because of me" I admitted my heart immediately pounding at an un normal speed, it felt as though it was going to pop from my chest at any second. "Because of what I did" I gulped gripping the rim of the desk for support. Please Moon Goddess I am begging you don't let this end badly. "The truth is Chloe" I reached across the table and grabbed her hand. "I was the one-"

"You have a visitor" Brody called opening the office door without bothering to knock first.

"Well we are kind of in the middle of something" I sneered rudely gesturing my head toward his son and future daughter in law.

"It's Heather and she's got some news you might like to hear" he offered as bait but I wasn't buying it. Nothing Heather Clark would have to say would ever be of any importance to me. "About Jamie" he added knowing that would perk my interest.

Turning to Chloe I gave her an apologetic look as she groaned annoyingly. "Five minutes Nate" she grunted before pushing away from the table. As she was exiting the room Heather was walking in causing my sister to give her a dealthy stare down. I guess I wasn't the only Ryder sibling with a protective streak.

Once everyone was out of the room she spun back slowly and closed the door causing it to lock shut. Heather didn't look any different from the last few times I've seen her. She still had on her typical not enough clothes attire with short denim shorts, and a yellow top that was a size too small. "I really don't have time for this" I huffed as I crossed my arms over my chest stubbornly.

"Nate, I wouldn't be here unless it was important. Trust me the mere thought of running into your replacement Luna disturbs me beyond belief" she voiced out as if she was reading a script. "The thing is Nate, we have a problem."

"Being?" I spat in the most unfriendly way possible though she didn't seem to notice as she slowly crept her way closer and closer to me ignoring my closed off body language.

"Jamie and Carter" yeah right. There is no Jamie and Carter, their barely ever was. Jamie practically hates his guts and I don't blame her.