Chris POV
(You love him don't lie!)

I couldn't believe my eyes when Jess showed up to the ball. I had left her safely at home in sweats for a quiet night. Yet there she stood in front of me in a sexy low cut green corset dress with black lace and matching mask.

Derek had a shit eating grin on his face as he displayed my mate like a prize. She was all mine, and she played the part perfectly.

Part of me was disappointed when she said she didn't want to come. I understood, but I was excited to show off Still Water's Luna, even if she hadn't formally accepted it yet.

It was clear throughout the conference that she is my Luna. From her friendship with Willow, and how she handled those Alpha's in the meeting, there was no doubt. I may not have approved of it, but the way she handled Dimitri for Jude, I couldn't have been prouder.

That ring's been burning a hole in my pocket for well over a month now, trying to find the right time and place to give it to her. When I saw her by the fountain in the moonlight it just felt right.

I thought she may take it as a promise for the future, never in a million years did I expect her to say yes! My heart skipped a beat as I waited for her to say something, anything.

She's bare except for the necklace with my ring. I can't take my eyes off of it as it bounces on the chain between her breasts as I thrust deep.

Every touch, smell and sensation is more intense tonight. Cyrus has been pushing right at the surface all night, it's been hard to keep control.

I can feel her nearing her peak as her fingers dig into my back. She drops her head to the side baring her neck to me as she comes undone, clenching down on me.

Smirking, I bring my lips to her neck grazing my canines against it causing her to shiver. I'm nearly there so I go to retract before I bite down but feel the snap as Cyrus takes over.

In an instant he bites down hard, sinking our fangs into her soft flesh. She tenses in pain clawing at my back before the pleasure takes over as she moans deeply. I'm drunk on the euphoric bliss as my own powerful orgasm takes me.

I sink them in deeper earning additional moans of pleasure as I growl in satisfaction. The bond snaps firmly into place making her mine forever, binding our souls together.

Her whimper pulls me out of my euphoric state as I realize what has happened. I seal the wound but the damage is done.

'What the fuck were you thinking!?' I snap at Cyrus.

'She's ours,' he whimpers weakly.

'No fuck, but why?! You know this could kill her,' I seethed

'Our mate is strong,' he offers.

'And if you've just killed her?' I can barely finish. He retreats to the back of my mind knowing he's fucked up, leaving me to pick up the pieces.

"Baby! Fuck what have I done," I cried. "Shit I don't know what to do!"

I could feel her heating up in my arms as she began to tremble. Her brows furrowed in pain as she squeezed her eyes tightly shut. Desperation gripped me as I watched her helplessly.

She whimpered in pain and started fighting, pushing against me blindly as she twisted, her skin felt like it was on fire. Panic swallowed me, tears started to fall as she cried out, the anguish clear on her face.

"Please don't leave me," I begged, the desperation and regret clear. In this moment I would give my life to take it back.

My heart broke to watch her pant and gasp against the pain, fingers clawing wildly. Her whole body tensed as her back arched, throwing her head back she screamed.

It sent cold chills down my spine to hear her blood curdling scream, never once has she screamed like that when hurt. She only stopped long enough to catch her breath before screaming again.

I did this. The guilt and shame threatened to drown me as I watched her frozen. I'm supposed to protect her and I may very well have killed her.

The door smashed open as Jace burst in, no doubt drawn in by her screams. He looked around confused, searching for an attacker.

Jess passed out slumping against the bed as Xavier and Claire came in.

"What the fuck did you do Chris?" Jace snapped seeing my mark on Jess.

"Cyrus-" I start, "I lost control. I don't know what to do."

"Fuck, now what?!" Jace asks.

"I don't know," I snap in frustration. She's burning up, sweat glistening as she begins to whimper again. Her cries tear at my heart.

"Bring her to the Guardians, the healer will meet us, Macks there," Claire says, hanging up the phone.

As fast as I can, I threw on sweatpants and scooped up her trembling form wrapped in a blanket and took off at a run.

"Stay with me baby, please stay with me," I beg as she fights, crying out in pain.

"Mack," Derek calls as she runs over. She grabs her wrist but locks eyes with Derek before shaking her head.

"Bring her inside, we'll see what the healer can do," he said, clasping my shoulder.

"What happened?" Kane asks, holding Willow close.

"It was an accident," I mumbled, stroking her hair. "I lost control." I growl as Willow walks up to her, but she's oblivious to me.

"Can you do anything?" Derek asks Willow, confusing everyone.

"No. Change is painful sometimes, but time makes everything easier," she replies.

"The fuck, does that mean?" I snap. "And where the fuck is the healer!?" So many people around and no one is actually helping Jess!

"Here Alpha, let me take a look," the middle aged woman says as she gets to work after shooing me back, checking the mark and her vitals.

"I'm sorry Alpha, there's nothing we can do other than sedate her and make her comfortable. The mark itself is sound, her body hasn't rejected it, there's something else going on." She rummaged through her bag drawing a syringe, Derek nodded.

"Isn't there anything we can do?" I whisper. I brush the hair back from her face, at least she has relaxed with sedation.

"Just stay with her, it's up to the goddess now," she replies sadly. "Have faith Alpha, she's no doubt a strong woman."

The room slowly emptied leaving us alone. She looked so small on the bed, so helpless, I was supposed to protect her but instead, I put her here. This isn't the first time I've sat at her bedside, but it doesn't make it any easier.

'She always comes back to us though,' Cyrus piped up.

'I can't handle you right now,' I snap back. 'Why Cyrus? Is it really worth losing her to complete the bond?'

'We can't lose her,' he whispers back.

'Finally, something we agree on.'

-----

I feel her stirring against my chest causing me to freeze. I'd slipped into bed and pulled her close last night, savouring the sparks dancing between our skin.

"No," she complains. Jude is on his feet in an instant, I didn't even know he was there.

"Baby?" I call, brushing her hair back from her face. She snuggles in tighter against me. "Baby, can you hear me?" My heart is hammering in my chest as I pray for an answer.

"Chris it's too early," she mumbles into my chest.

"Baby, I know it's early but please open your eyes," I beg. My heart leaps as her honey brown eyes flutter open. Suddenly she looked concerned as her hand caressed my cheek.

"What's wrong Chris?" She asked, worried.

"Nothing now baby, I thought I lost you," I whisper. My heart could burst at this moment, never have I been so relieved.

"I'm not going anywhere," she whispered, laying her head back down. "My head is splitting."

"Here," Jude said slightly startling her as he offered her meds and water. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

"Where are we and why?" She asked, suddenly very confused.

"At the Guardian house, there was an accident, we came here to get help," I said not knowing how to proceed. "What do you remember?"

"The ball?" She questions scrunching up her face in confusion. "I remember coming back and," she trailed off blushing, before her eyes snapped wide. I could hear her heart race as she brought her hand to my mark, a breathy moan slipped past her lips as she traced it.

"You marked me," she whispered in disbelief.

"I'm so sorry baby, I lost control-"

"I'm ok?" She asked, cutting me off.

"You had a rough night, but you look like your back to your normal self," Jude offered with a shrug. "The healer's here to check on you."

A soft knock on the door proceeded the middle aged woman from last night as she entered the room. Her eyes lit up as she saw Jess awake on the bed, she was as relieved as the rest of us.

"Good to see you alert and awake Luna, you gave us quite a scare," she admits. After a quick exam she can find nothing wrong with Jess and gives her a clean bill of health.

"Plenty of rest Luna, you're freshly marked, conference isn't the best place for it but it's nearly over," she says, chiding me.

"What does that mean?" She asks.

"We never talked about this, with her being human it wasn't safe to mark her," I admit.

"Hmm," the healer questions, raising a brow at my mark, before side eyeing me. "I have no idea how it affects a human but with wolves newly marked mates tend to be more emotional, a bit needy or clingy, territorial and shorter tempered."

"Great," Jess says frowning. "My temper's already out of control lately."

"It will pass eventually, just takes some time," the healer reassured. "Call me if you need me, otherwise, congratulations." She smiled and left, leaving us all a little stunned.

"Are you ok baby?" I ask, searching her eyes for any clues.

"Yeah, I'm just tired and have a headache," she admits. "Can we go home and go to bed?"

"Of course baby," I say as I wrap her in the blanket and carry her home. She's curled tightly against me and has nodded off by the time I get her to bed.

I can't help but let out a sigh of relief, to see her curled up and sleeping peacefully is everything. She snuggles up next to me. I can feel how content she is, that must be the mark at work through the bond.

I can't help but grin as I spot my mark on her neck. I have dreamt of it many times, but never thought I'd see the day. It's better than I'd ever imagined. Mine, for all to see.

-----

'I swear to god Jace,' I snap as he wakes me up.

'Sorry Chris, I tried to send them away, they won't go.'

'I can't decide who has the bigger death wish, what do they want?' I relent.

'Apparently you're late for some meeting? They won't go till you're going with them,' he replies apologetically.

"What is it?" Jess asks, rubbing her eyes.

"Don't worry baby, I just need to get rid of some people," I grumble. "I'll be right back."

"Don't you have meetings or something today?" She asked, confused.

"Not after last night," I replied. I'm not leaving her side, not after what I did.

"Chris," she chides. "Conference is almost done, I'm fine."

"But I-"

"Chris go, I'm good, I promise, even my headache's mostly gone. I promise to have a quiet day, but if you fight them on this, that will draw a lot of attention." She raises a brow in victory. She knows she's right, and as much as I hate to admit it I know she is too.

"Fine, but take it easy and keep Jude with you at all times, no games today Jess," I command. At least he can link me the second anything goes off.

"Fine Chris, I promise, now go," she says before kissing me and pushing me away. This is gonna be a long fucking day.