The Alpha’s Contract
Chapter 0367

"She didn't say and I'm not waking her until she is ready. Samara escaped. Neah thinks Blair was purposely released. It's possible Cooper wanted her to come back here so she could show us what he is capable of." I look over my shoulder at him. "I will make him suffer. I

will rip him to shreds."

"I don't doubt it." Silence settles between us.

"You don't have to blame me." I mutter after several minutes, "I already blame myself. She is my mate and I didn't protect her. I failed because I couldn't decide whether I wanted to mark her. I couldn't decide if I should just accept her. She is the first person to truly make me question my thoughts. Do you know what that's like?"

"Not the questioning, but I failed Raven." He takes the seat by the door. "I couldn't keep her safe from her own mind or her twin. I didn't see what was right in front of me."

"You haven't spoken about her since the incident."

"Because I haven't been able to." He sighs and leans back while shaking his head. "Every single person in that packhouse loved her. Her brother was there, her friend, her nephews, Dottie."

"Exactly! People who loved her. People that are waiting for you to talk about her."

"None of them understand losing a mate. None of them understand how close I came to killing my own mate, not really."

I nod and look at Madison. I had considered putting a bullet in her brain when she first arrived, but I never could bring myself to do it. Just like Damien only managed to shoot her in the collarbone rather than her head. "That's why Neah shot her right, so you wouldn't have to kill your own mate."

"Yes."

"And it wasn't Raven in the end."

"It still looked like her." He frowns, "I've killed a lot of people. When I was Human and when I turned. But watching her die has been the hardest thing I have dealt with."

"Losing a mate isn't the same as losing others to death. And you know, Damien. You know deep down that it wasn't her."

"Why didn't I see that she had given up?" He asks me

"You told me her mind was in chaos. That wasn't because of her, that was because of him. But take it from someone who has lost a mate and a child. Let yourself accept it. Don't block it out. It will kill you otherwise."

He scowls at me. "Do you see something, is that what you are trying to tell me?"

"You don't strike me as the type that would actually want to know."

"You are right. I don't." He rises to his feet. "Dane is linking me. Let us know when she wakes."

"You took the oath?" I ask, surprised. I was fully expecting him to back out. Maybe he was stronger than I thought.

"And I became a Black."

Maybe that would be the very thing he needed. Time will tell.

I pace the corridor. Klaus is with Madison, checking her vitals and I had to leave. I couldn't stand seeing another man's hands on her, even if he was only helping her and if I hadn't left the room, Madison wouldn't be getting the help she needs. The door to her room opens and Klaus cautiously steps out. "Are you going to hit me?"

"No."

"Good. Because I will fight back."

I stare at him. I had never seen him at training, yet somehow he keeps a very muscled and toned physique. He had to be doing something. ""How is she?"

"Still out. I've changed her IV, and did some x-rays. Nothing is broken. Whatever happened to her, it looks like she had a lucky escape."

"Does she need anything? Anything that you might not have here, you know, because she is ultimately Human now? I can go and pick up some things."

"I have everything. Raven kept the place fully stocked because of Neah and she has done since, just in case."

"She was always prepared."