📎A/N. Hello my lovelies! I can't believe we are almost half way through the year. Eek! 

The new cover to Masked has come back from the designer and I absolutely LOVE it. I will be doing a cover reveal in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out. In addition, if you are interested in being part of the Masked launch team, make sure you follow me so you'll get updates on where you can sign up.

Don't forget to vote if you like this chapter.

Take care, and thanks for your continued support.

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Kaitlyn was pissed. She'd repressed her rage the entire time it took to calm Joshua down and confine him to the pack house. It was now ready to spill out, and she knew just who to vent her anger at. Each time she'd recalled snippets of conversations over the past week, her blood pressure raised that little bit higher.

Murphy had some explaining to do. Everyone seemed to be under the assumption that they were mates. That didn't make sense. How could that be? Mates were the immigrant term for husband and wife. Wasn't it? However, with Joshua's declaration, and Daniel's strange throwaway comment, she wasn't as sure any more. All she knew was that Murphy was about to get what was coming to him. There was no way he didn't know what they were thinking and clearly did nothing to set them straight.

Not wanting to look any more stupid than she already felt, Kaitlyn forced herself not to break into a run as she headed back down to the infirmary.

I will make that shithead pay for this.

By the time she stormed into the infirmary she had devised so many possible ways to maim him, it would take a week of Sundays for him to recover.

Not bothering to announce her arrival, she burst into the lab situated at the back of the building. Alice and Petra's heads looked up in surprise. Murphy was sitting on the medical practice table with his back to her. Without saying anything, Kaitlyn reached for her taser, which she had stashed in the waistband of her jeans, and aimed it at Murphy.

Alice let out a squeal when Kaitlyn pulled the trigger, and the weapon ejected two probes. In an instant, it embedded in Murphy's shoulders, and he arched his back as the 50,000 volts rushed through every nerve ending. Angry veins popped in his neck and each individual muscle in his torso, and arms, stood out, further emphasising his extraordinary physique. Murphy's stiff limbs fought against the current. With a grunt, he reached behind and pulled the probes from his skin. The strain at the effort was evident on his face as he shot off the table and glared at her. His shirtless torso rose and fell rapidly with the additional effort to breath after that amount of juice surged through his body.

She didn't know who was more surprised, Alice and the CDC doctor at her sudden and violent appearance, or her when Murphy managed to shake off the taser so easily.

Wonder if I can get one with double the charge?

"Leave us," said Murphy.

Kaitlyn froze. She was expecting Murphy to be angry. That, she could work with. However, his ice cold demeanour, devoid of any emotion made her rethink her rash decision. The way his voice cut through the room sent chills down her spine.

Shit.

"I think it's time for a break," said Alice as she pulled Petra towards the door.

"But she just attacked him," said Petra, "shouldn't we call the authorities or something?"

"They are the authorities," said Alice as she bundled Petra out the door. She then poked her head back in the room. "If you break anything you need to replace it; and on a government salary, I don't think you can afford to wreck anything."

Once the door clicked closed, they were left in a silent room facing each other off.

Murphy continued his statue pose. However, with each passing moment, his icy exterior had turned to thunder, and she flinched under his unwavering stare. The seconds ticked with neither of them moving.

A low growl reverberated from somewhere deep within Murphy's throat. "Just what the hell was that all about?" he said through gritted teeth.

"Communication is a wonderful thing. You should try it sometime."

"Have you completely taken leave of your senses?"

Kaitlyn threw the taser on the nearest bench. "I have been going around for the past few days thinking everyone here was a little touched. Do you know the number of conversations I've had where everyone seemed to be speaking in tongues?" Kaitlyn threw her hands on her hips. "Silly me, I just put that down to immigrant weirdness."

She took a shaky breath. It was now or never. "What if I told you I don't think this is working?"

"What isn't?"

She pointed between the two of them. "Us. I think that what we have right now is temporary. We've been so pumped up on adrenaline that we are living in a fantasy. We need to stop this before one of us gets hurt." Kaitlyn took a deep breath. "I've decided I need to walk away while I still can and retain some measure of dignity."

Kaitlyn hauled in a breath as a rumble from somewhere deep in Murphy's chest set the hairs on the back of her neck on end. She glanced towards the door as he stalked towards her, intent on what, she shuddered to think. While she knew better, ever fibre in her body screamed danger. There was no doubt in this situation he was the hunter, and she was the prey.

Kaitlyn, realising she may have gone a little too far with her anger, hedged towards the door. She'd taken two half steps when a gust of air brushed past her. She looked up to discover Murphy had cut off her access to freedom.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

She took a step back, and Murphy moved with her. Another step and Murphy was inches away. Unable to tear her eyes away from his hypnotic gaze, Kaitlyn stopped, knowing there was no way she could best him. They had sparred enough times for her to realise she was not match for him.

With agonising slowness, Murphy lowered his head. Kaitlyn hauled in a sharp breath as the heat from his, fanned across her neck as he dipped lower. Goosebumps erupted across her skin, and every nerve ending flared with desire the moment his lips made contact with the nape of her neck. The moment his teeth nibbled at her tender skin she was ready to melt.

Kaitlyn gathered as much strength as she could and pushed him away. "Stop. You can't do this, you're making it difficult to remain angry with you."

She managed to take a half step back and regroup her thoughts. His intense stare, however, wasn't helping matters and she knew he still held the upper hand.

"There is nothing temporary about our bond." Murphy's husky timbre further set her off, and she was positive she had nearly lost all ability to hold herself up.

"How can you be so sure?"

"How can you not?"

"I'm the one asking questions here."

Murphy let out a frustrated breath. "Kaitlyn, you are my mate. There is nothing temporary about that." He cupped her cheek and searched her face. "I am in love with you and have no intention of ever letting you go."

A surge of warmth rushed through her at his admission. This was what everyone, but her had known. However, she was still confused. Kaitlyn frowned and shook her head. "But I don't understand. I'm not an immigrant. How could I be?"

Murphy's lips tugged upwards a fraction, and he let out a chuckle. "For a woman with a high IQ, you can be quite dense sometimes. I think you'd better take off those blinkers you have on about us 'immigrants'. Especially as you are going to be one."

Kaitlyn froze. "Wait. What?"

"Once this mess is over, we need to sit down to talk about it. Until then, I suggest you get used to having me around for a very long time."

Murphy hauled her up against his body and crushed his lips against hers. It was a punishing kiss that made her toes curl and let her know exactly what he would prefer to be doing at this moment.

Maybe I should pick an argument more often.

Visions of her grandfather's pained expression swam into view, and she groaned. "Shit."

"What is it now?"

"How do immigrants fall in love?"

Murphy cocked his head and his brows knitted together. "Fall in love or recognise our mate? They are two separate things. We can fall in love with people, not our mate, but we have an instant connection to our mates."

Kaitlyn considered his answer. There was something about it that didn't ring true. "But you didn't."

Murphy rubbed his jaw and let out a deep sigh. "I wasn't ready to face the truth. My wolf, however, knew who you were the moment we met." He paused. "Is this about Joshua?"

"How do you know?" she asked in surprise.

"Daniel. He wanted to make sure if Joshua go through them, I would keep him away from Petra." Murphy reached for his shirt and tugged it over his head. "He couldn't risk Joshua trying to immediately mark her. It was too much of a risk to let him meet her under the circumstances."

"Does that mean he won't ever be allowed near her? That doesn't seem fair."

"Joshua's going to have to control his instincts. The bigger issue is she's too high profile in the human world. To add that, I would say that she's our only chance of finding a vaccine, or even something to counteract the poison."

This was news to her. While she knew of Petra's position within the CDC, she hadn't appreciated just how much the immigrants were relying on her to find a solution. "See you're speaking in tongues again. Why do you all assume I know what you are talking about? She may not end up liking him, problem solved. He can then move on."

"It's not as simple as that. We only get one mate; or in my case, two."

Kaitlyn recalled a similar conversation she'd had with her grandfather. It had completely slipped her mind. "So, what are we going to do?"

"We are going to do nothing. It is none of our business. However, I can see that perhaps I should have been a little more forthcoming with our future and what that entails."

Kaitlyn arched and eyebrow. "You think?"

Murphy reached over and picked up the taser. "Let's get this recharged, and we'll go somewhere quiet and talk."

"Then what?"

"Then we won't talk. When we've finished not talking, we'll go and see Joshua."

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📎A/N. Hmmmm... wonder what they are going to do after they finished talking??? ;-)

....At least the poor girl finally knows and Murphy has admitted who she is to him.

Much to my horror, I've hit a little bit of a writers block. This means I'm not sure when I will get out the next chapter.  Rest assured, I will endeavor to get through it sooner, rather than later, but can't promise or commit to a time frame. *hides behind a wall*

Take care, *runs off before the pitchforks comes out*

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