Please tell me I heard that wrong. Mate? Georgia is Manus's mate? Does that even make sense? Their age difference is almost twenty years.

Manus speaks up, "not that it matters to me Georgia. Being mates doesn't affect my feelings toward Sophia."

My heart drops. "Me? I thought you loved my mother?"

He laughs, "I thought I loved her, but little did I realize that when I met you, you were everything I wanted. You had your mother's drop dead gorgeous looks, that cute button nose, and you were submissive unlike your mother. She never listened to me, but you? There wasn't an order you turned down."

My stomach twists, remembering the sickening touches and kisses that he use to force upon me. I was only submissive because my mom told me not to disobey him. Not this time. This time I won't be that girl again. Not when I have Jayden. I could never forgive myself if I lost hope like I did last time I was with Manus.

"That girl is gone." I announce angrily. "I won't listen to you Manus. No matter what, I will never stop fighting you."

He laughs and steps toward me. "I don't believe that's true. You can't change who you are Sophia."

I growl as he get closer. "Don't come near me."

He smirks and continues his trek toward me despite my warning. "You don't scare me little kitten." Hairs raise on the back of my neck at the new nick name. "Release her." He tells Georgia as he grabs onto my free arm.

I struggle against his grip but then I realize something. He seems stronger than he was before. I can't even budge under his grip. Before I could at least move my arm, but now I'm can't at all.

He laughs at my struggle, "have you lost your strength? You seem to be weaker than before." He comments.

"Let me go," I hiss as I continue to struggle under his grip. Still no budge. I'm completely powerless. How the heck did this happen? Oh right. The artifact. "You have it. The artifact that boosts your power." I comment, looking into his eyes angrily.

"Oh this little thing?" He comments and reaches up to his ear where he has an earring with a large gem. His earring? But I swear he has always had that on. Why is it that I'm weaker now?

"You've been wearing it this whole time?" I ask, flabbergasted. Why is he stronger to me now? It makes no sense.

He laughs, "of course. I mean don't get me wrong, I'm strong without it, but with it, I'm unstoppable."

I shake under his stares. I can't give in to him, or he wins. "Why do you want me when you have Georgia?" I ask, stalling so I can think of a way to get out of here.

"Because Georgia is nothing to me." I look over his shoulder in enough time to catch Georgia's hurt expression. She quickly covers it up though.

"But you must feel something for her, she is your mate." I comment.

He growls, "I said she was nothing to me."

"But your wolf must disagree with you, right?"

He lets out a vicious snarl and backs me up to a tree forcefully. My back hits with a thud and I let out a breath of air as I make contact. His force was enough to shake the tree and my head starts to spin a bit.

"I said she is nothing to me, do you understand? Nothing to me, and nothing to my wolf. She is just a stupid girl who is part of my pack. Do you get it?" He asks me furiously. I can feel the rage rolling off his body.

Honestly though, I don't think it's me he is made at. I think he and his wolf are having a conflict right now. Manus has been fighting his wolf the whole time he has been with me. That why he never went too far with me. He only touched me and kissed me but never did he do anything more than that. His wolf has been telling him to do the opposite of what he wanted to do.

"You are what is important to me." He whispers in a gentle tone, his voice and persona changing completely as he leans down toward me.

I flinch and turn my head to the side to avoid his lips on my own. This action causes him to growl aggressively, but I'm not letting up. I won't let him kiss me again.

"Let her go!" A high pitched and familiar voice yells from the trees where Georgia and I originally came from.

Both Manus and I turn our heads simultaneously to see Lexi standing between two trees. Her hands are clenched angrily by her side and her eyes are pitch black, clearly her wolf has taken over. Manus growls and turns to Georgia.

"I thought you said no one knew where you were going."

Her eyes are shocked, matching my own. "No one did... I don't know how she found us."

Lexi growls, "let go of my best friend before I come over there and beat the living daylights out of you."

Manus angrily squint his eyes at her, "Go ahead and try."

Lexi growls as she runs and jumps. Mid air she shifts and hits the ground running at us with full speed. Oh no, she is actually going to try to beat him.

I'm about to call out to her, to tell her to stop, when another wolf collides with her. A loud whimper echoes through the trees and I feel my heart drop to the floor in fear. The two wolves roll. They fit viciously on the ground but neither let's up. I've never seen the other wolf before but I'm smart enough to put together the fact that it is Georgia. As much as he doesn't want her, Georgia will do anything to make Manus happy. Another yelp cries out from Lexi's wolf. Georgia must be playing dirty. My heart races with worry.

"Lexi!" I struggle in Manus's grip to go help her but he doesn't let up. I glare at him, "let me go. Don't you realize that I don't love you? I have a mate, now let me go!" I shout angrily at him. Rage filling my body.

"I also have a mate, but that doesn't stop my feelings for you."

I growl, "I thought you hated half breeds."

"I realized that I can accept that part of you."

"Well I can't accept you, now let me go!"

He smirks a malicious and evil smirk, "you know, the more you struggle the sexier you become."

"You sicken me." I spit.

His hand tightens angrily around my arm and I whimper in pain as my bones struggle to keep their form under his strong grip. I feel a tear linger in my eyes due to the pain, but I hold them back. I will not cry. I will not let him win.

"You better watch that cute little mouth of yours."

I growl, "I will never stop disobeying you because I will never like you."

He loosens his grip and raises his hand to my face. I glare into his eyes as he looks down at me with a gentle stare. His fingers gently connect with my face and trail down my face to my mouth. He traces his thumb over my bottom lip and licks his own hungrily. My stomach turns in disgust.

He leans down to my level slowly. I struggle and turn my head to the side but he grabs my jaw in his hand and turns me to face him. His face is so close to mine. I feel sick to my stomach. He inches closer.

I'm about to open my mouth yell at him when suddenly, "Get your disgusting paws off of her."

Before I can look, Manus is jerked off of me and thrown back a bit. I take advantage of the moment and scoot out of Manus's reach. I look up to see Manus glaring at someone I didn't expect to see. Jayden.

Oh no, what the hell is he doing here? Manus has the artifact, he doesn't stand a chance.

Jayden looks my way, his eyes filled with worry, "are you okay?" He asks.

I nod, "I'm fine, what are you doing here?"

"I came to get you-"

"Who the hell are you?" Manus growls at Jayden.

Jayden's attention turns back to Manus and he growls right back, "my names Jayden, Sophia's mate."

Manus laughs, "oh how pathetic. And you're here to protect her I take it? You think you can take me kid? Do you have a death wish?"

"The only person with a death wish here is you." Jayden snarls.

"Bring it kid."

Jayden doesn't waste any time. He shifts into his wolf and attacks Manus. Manus goes to deflect him with his right arm but Jayden over powers him and bites his arm forcefully. A cracks sounds and Manus grunts and kneels to the floor as Jayden let's go and jumps back. Manus's arm drips in blood and my eyes go wide in surprise. Did Jayden just land an attack on Manus? Is that even possible?

"What the hell?" Manus grunts in pain as he holds his arm and looks up at Jayden. "How did you..." He pauses and then something must have clicked in his head. "Shit, you have an artifact too, don't you?"

Jayden gives him a questioning look and then it hits me. That's why my mom told me to put the bracelet on Jayden, because another artifact has no power over someone in possession of another artifact. That's why Manus was stronger today, because I didn't have the bracelet on so his artifact boosted his power and it affected me this time.

"Jayden, the bracelet I gave you is an artifact. It negates the power of Manus's artifact, so now you have a chance to win!" I shout quickly, voicing my realization. Jayden's wolf perks up at my words. He looks down at his front leg to find the bracelet still on his arm.

Manus turns to me angrily, "you gave him the artifact?"

I smirk, "scared?"

He growls, "not in the least."

Jayden charges at Manus again. Manus doesn't waste his time as his shifts into his giant wolf as well. The two duke it out. Manus lunges at Jayden, who appears to have the upper hand in the speed department. Jayden dodges quickly and kicks him with his back paws. Manus skids a bit on the floor, but now that he knows Jayden has an artifact, he is actually trying to fight. His front leg is still dripping with blood, but he ignores it as he tries to win the fight with brute force.

A yelp flows though the air and my head remembers Lexi. Oh no.

I turn and run toward where I last saw Lexi's and Georgia's wolf. I stop in my tracks as I find the two. I release a relieved breath as I realize the yelp came from Georgia who lies panting and belly up under Lexi. I should have know Lexi would be okay. She is one of the best fighters in the pack after all .

Lexi turns her large wolf head my way. Our eyes meet and I see all the worry wash away as she notices I'm fine. I smile gently at her.

Just then, a loud howl echoes through the woods, bouncing off the trees and traveling all around us. It's a powerful howl, causing my body to shake a bit at the sound. A thunder of paws slamming against the ground booms through the woods, following the loud howl.

A moment later a dark cloud of wolves charges through the trees, they are jumping over logs and landing gracefully in front of me. Three wolves meet Lexi and the rest run past me, toward Jayden and Manus. I follow them and hop onto a rock to get a better view of the fight. I wish I could join but I can't shift due to that stupid wolf's bane. I would just be a burden at this point.

The wolves surround Jayden and Manus who are rolling around. When they stop, they separate and Manus looks around him. He tries to hide his frightened expression but fails. He is surrounded. Jayden raises his head, standing proud as Manus lowers his slightly in defense. A large black wolf, similar to Jayden's but closer in size to Manus steps out into the circle. That must be the Alpha.

I notice something sparkle in the sunlight around the Alpha's neck. I look closer and notice a necklace. Not just any necklace, the artifact that Ashley was in possession of. The Alpha must have known that if he wore it, then Manus's artifact would have not affect on him. Mom must have taught him that after Jayden and I went to bed last night.

The Alpha stops next to Jayden's side and growls at Manus loudly. I notice Manus shake a bit along with everyone else in the circle. I even find myself shaking at his booming growl. He takes a step toward Manus then suddenly, Manus attacks.

He heads straight for the Alpha's throat. Jayden interjects. He jumps and grabs Manus by the scruff and slams him to the floor. Manus quickly finds his feet and slams Jayden to the floor aggressively.

"No!" I shout, about to jump off the rock when a pair of teeth grab onto my shirt and stop me. I turn around to see Lexi behind me. She shakes her head and my eyes water.

I turn back to the fight to see that things have turned around in the short time that I was distracted. The Alpha and Jayden have pinned Manus to the ground. I sigh in relief.

The Alpha barks an order and I see a few wolves exit from the circle. They have silver chains in their mouths. They clamp one on each leg and one around his neck. Manus grunts angrily. The Alpha barks another order and the pack surrounds Manus. They grab onto the chains and start to drag him back into the woods. I watch as they go. The Alpha leads them. I turn to Lexi and squat down. Her head is a tad bit above my eye level now. I pet her giant fluffy head and she snorts at my action. Then I reach out and hug her neck. She embraces me back by putting her head on my back and wraps one of her front paws around me.

"Thank you so much Lexi. I'm sorry I can't communicate with you through mind link. I accidentally drank a solution with Wolf's Bain." I mention. She whimpers and doesn't let go of the hug.

"It really does mean so much to me that you came, I'm so thankful, I don't know how to make it up to you." She nuzzles my back and we finally let go.

I smile grateful and pet her head one last time. She licks my hand and then winks at me. I giggle and she starts to walk away. I start to stand, to follow her, when teeth grab onto my sweatpants and gently tug me off the rock backwards. I fall back and land on something soft.

"Oof." I grunt as up my butt slides off the soft thing and onto the forest floor.

I turn my head to my left to find Jayden's huge wolf head smiling at me goofily. I look at how we are sitting. He is lying down in a crescent shape, and I am sitting in the middle with my back on his stomach. His stomach must have been what I fell on but I know I didn't hurt him because he's so strong and plus he is wearing the artifact that protects you from physical harm.

I smile at him. I contort my body so that way I can hug his giant neck. I nuzzle my face into his fur. "I love you." I mumble into his fur.

My face blushes. Oops. Well I just let that cat out of the bag.

I keep my face in his neck due to embarrassment. I don't know if I can face him after that one...

Just then, his heavy head lands on my back and he embraces me in a hug just like Lexi did, only his is different. I don't know how to explain it, but I can feel the love in this hug, it's almost like this gesture is him returning my feelings. An urge passes over me just then. I want to express my love for him, but it's not something I can just express through words.

I slowly release his neck and look into his eyes. They are bright and emerald. First things first, I need him to change back.

"Since we are near Will's mansion... How about we go back there and get you some clothes?" I ask quietly, scared that he will read through my actions and know my thoughts.

He looks off into the woods where everyone vanished, then he turns back to me. His eyes filled with relief that Manus is gone. He nods his head and he stands to his feet. I join him, and use his back as a support to stand. As we walk toward the mansion I feel my heart begin to sputter out of control. Being around Jayden right now is all I want, so I'm glad he agreed to come back to the mansion with me.

When we get to the familiar back yard, I lead him to the back door. I open it and let him into the house. We walk up the stairs and I pet him on the head as we get to my room.

"You can find a pair of Will's clothes in his room. I will be in here." I motion towards my door and he nods and trots off to Will's room.

He has gotten a pair of Will's clothes before so I know he will find it easily this time.

I walk into my room and leave the door open. I leave the light off as I feel my cheeks blush. I told Jayden I love him but I don't know if he loves me back. He has never told me he loves me before. Not that it changes the fact that I love him.

I mean I know he cares about me a lot, but love might be too much for him at this moment. I hope I didn't scare him away when I said that, but I really do love him.

As my thought race through my head, I hear the door to my room shut. A little bit of light peaks in from the sides of the closed blinds. A pair of arms wrap around me and my back is pressed up against a hard and broad chest. My eyes close as his breath skims against my bare neck, sending desirable shivers throughout my whole body.

"It feels nice to have you back in my arms and to know you're safe." He whispers in my ear.

I lean my head back to rest it in Jayden's chest.

"It's nice to be in your arms too. How did you know where to find me? I couldn't mind link after I drank this weird thing called wolf's bane."

"You drank wolf's bane?" I nod, "and you couldn't smell it?"

I roll my eye but laugh, "uh no. My mind was a little busy figuring out how I was going to get out of the situation."

"Lexi mind linked me. She knew something was wrong, and when you didn't answer her, she informed me and I took off. Then I consulted my dad as I was on my way. We agreed that Manus must have tricked us and we all went straight for your location."

I sigh, I'm just glad it's over. I close my eyes and enjoy having Jayden hold me. Just having him around me makes me feel comfortable yet excited at the same time. His hands grab onto my left arm and a few seconds later, I feel cool medal clasp onto my wrist. My eyes snap open and I look down to find the artifact on my wrist.

Jayden's breath tickles my ear as he talks. "I want to know that you will be safe. So don't go around giving this to people just to stop them from being manipulated by a crazy ex." He says, referring to Ashley.

I giggle. "I'm glad I gave it to you. You mean a lot to me." I say seriously. I turn in his arms and grab his shirt, near his chest, nervously in my hands, "I mean it Jayden. You mean the world to me." I feel my cheeks heat up with the confession.

With one arm still around my waist, he uses his free hand to gently lift my chin. Our eyes meet and I feel my cheeks blaze even brighter red. His emerald eyes look deep into my soul as he gazes down at me with admiration.

"About what you said in the woods-"

I shoot my hands up to cover my eyes in embarrassment and interrupt him, "you don't have to respond, it was an in the moment thing and I get that it was sudden and unexpected, so please don't acknowledge it."

He laughs and gently pulls my hands from my eyes. I look up at his handsome face to see his gentle smile, one that I've only ever seen him give me. My heart flutters at the thought of that smile being something special and just for me.

"Sophia, I love you too. Actually I've loved you for a while now. I just didn't know the best time to tell you and well I guess you beat me to the punch."

My jaw drops slightly. Did I just hear Jayden Renalds tell me he loves me, and that he has loved me for a while now? "You love me too?"

He rolls his eyes in a loving manor, "of course you goofball. I wouldn't go through all this trouble to be with you if I didn't."

A smile creeps up my cheeks as tingles spread throughout my body. I quickly reach up onto my tippy toes and give him a quick but sweet kiss on the lips. My cheeks now permanently stained pink but I don't care. I love this boy and he surprisingly love me back.

He smiles at that. And I watch him as an urge to be with him flows through me. The same urge I had in the woods. I bite my lip as we stare into each others eyes. His eyes drift down to my lips and I see his eyes darken. Oh yeah, I forgot that he likes it when I do this. His eye return to mine, they are dark, almost black.

His breath is hard as he adds, "you know I told you not to do that anymore."

"I know," I breath quickly as I grab his shirt and pull him close to me, "but what are you going to do about it?" I whisper, surprising myself.

He growls and crushes his lips to mine. I moan at the feel of his lips on my own. Tingles flow from my lips throughout my whole body and I shiver in joy. His hand slide into my hips and gently scrape the skin at the hem of my shirt. The urge bursts through my body again. I moan and break the kiss for a moment.

Our eyes meet and I grab his hand and lead him over to my bed. I push him onto it lightly, so that way he is sitting on the edge. I watch him carefully as I lean closer to his lips. Our eyes close simultaneously as I kiss him softly and slowly. My hands rest on his shoulders. He pulls me in closer and I automatically straddle his waist one leg at a time. The kiss is slow and passionate, sharing the love we have for one another. His tongue slips into my mouth and I let out a small moan at the pleasure.

His fingers slip under my shirt and trace sensual lines up and down my back. I moan and run my fingers up his neck and into his hair. His soft locks feel nice against my fingers and I pull gently. He growls a slight pleasurable growl and intensifies the kiss. I gladly comply with the new pace of our kiss and follow his lead. Our lips move quickly but passionately. His fingers grab onto the bottom of my shirt and slowly he lifts it up. My heart quickens but I break the kiss for the short amount of time it takes for him to get my shirt up and over my head then quickly reconnects our lips.

My heart beats nervously but a desire runs through me. I want to take his shirt off too and feel his chest and his defined muscles. So I follow his actions. My fingers trail down his neck, chest, and then his stomach. I feel every defined muscle but it's not enough. I grab onto the hem of his shirt and tug it up slowly. I break the kiss again but this time getting his shirt off. I toss it to the end of the bed.

Jayden takes this moment to flip us onto the bed. He lays me on my back and he straddles my waist and leans over me. His eyes skim my body and tingles fly through me as my cheeks grow beet red. His eyes reach mine again and he leans down and kisses me. His pace is fast and sweet. I moan as his fingers skim my bra line. I trace my fingers up his chest and over onto his defined arms. He breaks the kiss to trail his mouth over my cheek and slowly but sensually down my neck. I moan as he reaches the point where my shoulder and neck meet. His teeth gently scrape the area and this amazing feeling washes over me. I moan and gently squeeze his arm tighter as a sensation flushes through my body as he starts sucking on the spot as well.

"Jayden." I whisper-moan as the good feeling continues to pass over me. I never want this feeling to end.

To my dismay, he freezes. His breath is hot and fast as he lingers near my neck. The steamy air causes more sensual feelings and I find myself panting with pleasure.

"Sorry Sophia I should stop." He whispers to me.

My breaths are still rough when I push his chest up a bit so that way he can't avoid looking into my eyes anymore. To my surprise, his eyes don't appear to be taken over by his wolf, but they are still slightly darker than normal.

"Why do you want to stop?" I ask him seriously.

He stares into my eyes, "because I don't trust myself Soph. I don't know what point I won't be able to stop if you asked me to, and I don't want to do that to you."

"First off Jayden, I trust you. I know you nor your wolf would do anything to hurt me. But to be honest I don't want you to stop until your satisfied...because frankly, I won't be satisfied until you are..." I admit to him.

He sighs, "Soph I'm satisfied just being with you. Just having you in my arms is satisfying enough."

My cheek blush frustratedly, "but what if I told you I didn't want you to stop? And that I wanted us to keep going and that I won't tell you to stop at all because I don't want you to?"

He eyes turn confused, "do you know what you're saying right now?"

My cheeks get even more red but I frown to cover it up, "yes I know what I'm saying right now."

"Are you sure you know what you're saying?" He asks.

I grunt and push him up. He complies with my wishes and I angrily scoot to the edge of the bed and face away from him.

"You know Jayden if you don't want to go that far with me then that's all you have to say. You don't need to go and make me all embarrass-"

Before I can finish my sentence, Jayden pulls me back over to him and plant a kiss on my lips. He is sweet but quick. He breaks the kiss and I'm already out of breath from it.

"Don't jump to conclusions, I just know this is your first time and I don't want you to regret it." He mumbles as a blush forms on his cheeks. Aw, he is so cute when he blushes!

"And I told you that this is what I want. No more hesitations with me, okay?" I tell him.

He looks into my eyes and gives me his sexy smirk, "okay,"

He crushes his lips to mine and we finally finish what we started.

---------

****Author's Note

Hey guys! Only one more chapter left! I really hope you enjoyed the story so far. If you have any comments, feel free to let me know how you feel about the story! Thanks, you guys are the best!