Stepping from the shower, I wrapped a towel around my body, fixing it securely. Wiping the mirror, I looked at my fading mate mark, tracing the outline.

The grin stretching across my face expressed more than words could ever convey.

This bond that now tied us together was powerful and all-consuming.

My wolf whimpered in agreement and then drifted back to sleep. I'd never sensed her this happy and content.

Now, only if my brother could feel the same.

Some air escaped my happy bubble. He had made it clear what he thought about Hunter.

"You're not that stupid, Sage!" I muttered his cruel words.

"Stupid. Is that what Sylar said?"

Hunter appeared behind me wrapping his arms around my waist and growled.

Just his touch had a fire kindling between my legs.

Not now!

His pupils darkened, expanding, swallowing the brown I loved so much. His wolf was peeking, protective of me. "Is that what he said to you?" He repeated and then continued. "He might be your brother, but I won't stand by and let him disrespect you. He can have issues with me—I get it. And I hope his opinion of me will change in time. But I'm not happy with the way he spoke to you. I've ended lives for much less."

It had upset me but I remembered what Misha had said. "He's worried he's going to lose me when he's only just found me."

Hunter nodded and then sucked at my mark. I noticed it seemed to calm him and his wolf.

"Fine, but if he talks to you like shit again, I will put him straight, yeah?"

"Okay," I hummed, my mind plotting ways to help him accept Hunter and be happy for me.

I felt another growl of frustration rumble through Hunter's chest. "You need to get dressed Sage, before I drag you back to bed, or I could fuck you here."

I clenched. "Deviant."

He shrugged no denying it. "Will it always be like this, wanting each other?" My sex drive had gone through the roof. Even a simple brush of fingers had me seeking out more, hungry for his touch.

"Where you're concerned, yeah." He smirked unashamedly.

Sadly though, now was not the time. But this led to a different issue. "I have nothing to wear, and you destroyed my underwear." A blush bleed onto my cheeks.

"Meh. I like the idea of you walking around naked, only wearing my scent." He reached his hand down, slipping underneath my towel to cup between my legs, his middle finger probed my swollen lips; eliciting a shiver. "So wet for me. Perfect."

"Oh, so you wouldn't mind your brother or Gunner—seeing me naked? How very liberal of you Mr Stone."

His head kicked up. "Fuck! No, you're right. Nobody ever gets to see you naked. You're mine and only mine." He nipped my shoulder to emphasize his point. "But we won't have that problem. Someone left you some clothes outside the door, I put them on the bed. No sign of any underwear though." He winked.

"Fantastique!"

"Fuck, you have French..." he muttered and groaned. "I like hearing you scream out in French...ealier was fucking hot."

I grinned then my smile dropped. "Mon Dieu... do you think everyone heard us earlier?

"I don't care if they did," he answered with no shame.

My embarrassment was pushed aside when his erection nudged by butt.

'Christ, you don't know what you do me, Sage.' he said through our link.

My cheeks burned hotter than a firepit—and I had a pretty good idea. It was the same for me.

He spun me around and kissed me, 'So sexy and all mine!'

He abruptly stopped and I asked. "Everything okay?"

His eyes closed briefly. "I'm sorry baby, I can't put this off any longer. I need to head downstairs. Zander's been trying to link with me for the past ten minutes and a simple Fuck off doesn't appear to be working."

He reluctantly pulled back and ran his finger down my cheek. "I love you, you know that right?"

I nodded, not doubting his feelings.

>>>

Dressed I headed downstairs and headed in the direction of the raised voices.

Not wanting my mood to drop I put up my blockers so any negativity didn't affect me.

My stomach then rumbled, desperately in need of some food and caffeine.

Everyone ceased talking as I walked in. Tensions were definitely on edge, apart from Pearl who was smiling at me, almost wearing identical clothes to myself. Misha must have lots of plain white tee shirts and leggings.

Tilting her head, her coy smile spoke volumes, not needing to get inside her head to hear her thoughts.

"Can I get you a drink, Sage?" asked Gavin, breaking the silence before standing, walking towards a cupboard and retrieving a cup.

"Don't trouble yourself, Gavin—I can get it." I took the cup from him. From the corner of my eye, I could see Sylar glaring at me. His expression spoke volumes too.

'Have a told you, you look fucking hot today?'

Hunter's thoughts had my eyes cutting in his direction. He was hiding his smirk behind his mug.

'I'm not sure,' I responded cheekily.

′Well you are and I like the fact you're wearing no knickers right now. I'm hard as fucking stone over here.'

Mon Dieu, he was relentless!

"Can you two focus, quit the gooey eyes shit and give me all your attention please?" Zander's voice cut through our thoughts.

"Jeez Zander," said Pearl with an eye roll. "Cut them some slack. They're newly mated for Christ's sake! Only one thing is on their mind right now!"

My cheeks exploded; all eyes were on me - apart from my brothers.

I carried my coffee to the table and sat down next to him. He stiffened, refusing to look at me.

"I've contacted John's pack and Frank Holloway's pack in Yorkshire and Sam Duncan from Northumberland. They're all heading this way," said Zander.

"Don't you think it's a little early for that?" asked Hunter, his tone switching to irritated.

"Are you serious? Du-Ponte started this shit-show rolling and it isn't stopping until he removes us from Wolfe. We can't let that happen and if that means we take this fight to him, then so be it."

Hunter growled. "I'll talk to the packs here in London. I will make them listen. I'll sort it, yeah?"

"That ain't gonna wash, Hunter. They believe you had something to do with the deaths. You saw the control he had over them. There's no talking to them...any of them. You're enemy number one. Might as well paint a fucking bulls-eye to your forehead."

My heart began racing. I couldn't let Hunter take the blame for something which I might be responsible for. He didn't deserve that.

'No Sage!' I heard Hunter's voice cut clear through my thoughts.

I silenced him, cutting our link. "I think I'm responsible for the pack deaths. If anyone speaks with the packs, it should be me. I will tell them, Hunter..." I cast my eyes towards him, and a small smile formed, hoping he could sense I was doing this for him. "And Wolfe had nothing to do with it. They will believe me. I can get inside their heads and make them see the truth."

"NO!" Hunter slammed his fist on the table.

"Let her speak," said Zander. Glaring at Hunter. "I want to hear what Sage has to say. There is more at risk here than just you and me Hunter."

I took a deep breath, keeping my eyes fixed firmly on Hunters. ′I can't let you take the blame.′

Hunter's protectiveness and clear distress echoed through our bond.

"My grandfather played me a video before he made the announcement. In this video." I swallowed. "I was hurting a wolf."

"How—how were you hurting him?" asked Zander, his full attention on me.

Shaking my head, I tried to extract the memory... any memory of the incident. "I don't honestly remember, but if I did that to one wolf, then I'm sure I could be responsible for the rest. I just don't know how or why. Those memories have been blocked somehow, removed."

"The Dream-Walker!" said Pearl. "We know he can get inside your head and mess with it."

"I think that's a definite possibility, especially after the marquee incident

"I can help," said Sylar.

"How?" asked Hunter, but I already knew how. I would need to give him access to my mind.

"We have a connection; she's my sister. I can get inside her head. It's strong when we're asleep. So I'm guessing it will be stronger if we are both conscious and you allow me—"

I felt Hunter's jealousy from where I was sitting. His face also did little to hide his emotions as his jaw clenched tightly.

Sylar reached for my hand. "You feel it too, our connection." He released my hand.

I didn't like the idea of anyone being in my head ever again. Well, apart from Hunter. I liked the connection we shared. Which made me resistant to Sylar's offer of help. He would see my memories of me and Hunter.

They were private. But what other choice did I have? I had to know what happened, why I killed these wolves.

"Let me help you, Sage."

"Will it be easy?"

He briefly looked towards Misha before looking back towards me. "I've had some training with our gift... abilities. There isn't just one Dream-Walker Sage. His kind has been around since forever... but not so many of them left now. The Dream-walker you know, he has been an outcast of his kind for many years."

No wonder he was stronger than me... mentally. If I'd had training I would no doubt be as good.

"Is it dangerous?" asked Hunter.

Sylar growled and I could feel both his wolf and Hunter's wolf react aggressively towards one another.

"No. You honestly think I would hurt my sister?"

I could feel Sylar's outrage, barely keeping a lid on his anger.

"She means more than you'll ever realise, and I won't let anything happen to her or anyone hurt her."

Sylar's statement held weight, and it was clear he was talking about Hunter as he shot an icy glare in his direction.

Misha stretched her hand across the table and squeezed his and I felt him relax

"So you all have these powers... abilities?" asked Zander, looking at everyone around the table.

"Not me," said Gavin. "Only me and my wolf sat here."

Zander ran his hand over his chin.

"What you thinking?" asked Hunter out loud, which was strange as he could easily have mind-linked his brother.

"This dream-Walker guy - thing, or whatever the fuck he is. Can he be taken down?"

I shrugged. "Maybe I-"

"You're not going anywhere near him, Sage. Me and Zander will sort this, yeah?"

Zander nodded his head. "Hunter's right Sage, you might just add to our problems if he can control you."

"He doesn't control me. I can take him on," said Sylar.

"No Sylar!" said Misha panicked.

"He won't find out Misha."

"Find out what... you being alive?" I asked.

"About—nothing, it doesn't matter." Sylar turned his gaze away from me, back to Misha.

Gavin took hold of Misha's hand. "This needs to end; we can't keep running from him. We need to take that monster and DuPont down. I want my family back together."

Misha smiled, but her eyes remained fixed with fear. I was sure they were talking privately as Gavin nodded his head.

Was I missing something? I was about to take a quick peek inside their heads when Hunter interrupted me.

'You okay Sage?' I heard him ask.

I could sense his concern and anger towards the Dream-Walker and my grandfather. 'I know you didn't want me to tell Zander about the pack deaths, but I'm not letting you take the blame... or Zander.'

'Baby, I'm gonna sort this. I don't believe for one second you could hurt a fly, let alone a wolf. Something's not right, and I just wanted to figure that out before I told Zander. But it's out there now and I don't want you to worry. OR do anything else without talking to me first. Yeah?'

His eyes held mine, his brows furrowed tightly. 'It's you and me Sage, I'm not gonna let anything happen to you. I'm not losing you.'

I sent reassuring calming thoughts through our bond. 'Okay, before I do anything else rash, I'll let you know first.' I smiled suggestively to lighten the mood.

'You're asking for it, baby.' He cheekily sent me an image of what I looked like in mid-orgasm bliss.

Oh boy, and my body went up in flames.

'I can't wait to get you naked.' He curled his lip between his bottom teeth.

'Is that a promise, Mr Stone?'

'What do you think?'

I almost laughed out loud but was vaguely aware Zander was speaking with Sylar.

"So, if you get inside Sage's head, you can see what went down?" asked Zander.

"Yes, I stand by my idea; it will work."

It was worth a try. I made my decision. "Okay, so I guess there's no time like the present—Let's do it."

Sylar smiled. "I think we should get ourselves comfortable, so we can relax."

"The front room, the sofa in there is huge," said Misha as we all rose from our seats and followed her through.

Hunter took my hand, rubbing his thumb over mine as we followed everyone. I almost bumped into him when he halted. "We'll meet you there in a sec, yeah?" They all turned as Pearl offered me a knowing smirk.

"Take your time cousin."

Hunter pulled me around the corner and pushed me up against the wall. His lips came crashing down on mine. 'Missed you,' he said as he stole my breath.

I loved this sweet side of him. I ran my hands up his arms and around his neck, deepening our kiss. 'Missed you too.' I responded as the electrical sensation passed between us again. It felt stronger—deeper as I let myself drown in him.