MADISON

By M.B. Forester-Smythe
Published by M.B. Forester-Smythe at Smashwords
Copyright 2010 M.B. Forester-Smythe

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~~~

A cold breeze swept up off the water and over the bridge, stirring the leaves and debris around
them. Their voices were low as they talked but they paused when they heard approaching
footsteps. Looking up, they saw a woman approaching, hands shoved into her coat pockets, the
hood up to keep her head warm.
She smiled politely as she passed by and he caught the flash of light in her gray eyes. As he
watched her walk away, a breeze kicked up again, bringing the smell of autumn and –
His head swung back towards her departing figure, his blue eyes narrowing in on her back. His
companion watched with interest; he knew what he smelled. It was more than just the smells of
the season. It was the smell of her.

She hung her coat in the office, grabbing up her black apron and order pad on her way to the
kitchen. She greeted her boss like always, with a kiss on the cheek. “Hi, Gabe!” she said
cheerfully to the grouchy man. She looked around. “Where’s Debbie?”
“Damned if I know,” he muttered heatedly. “She didn’t call in so I’m assuming she’s just gonna
be late again. Marie’s covering Deb’s tables but I need you to relieve her of some of them.”
“No problem, boss.”
She greeted a frazzled Marie with a cheerful hug and took several tables from her, smoothly
working through her sections, chatting animatedly with her customers. Her shift today would
take her well into the evening and with it being Friday it would be busy. She didn’t mind.
The door jingled and two men walked in, taking a seat in a corner booth. She smiled at them as
she walked by. “I’ll be right with you,” she said and left them menus on her way to the kitchen.
When she came back she was chuckling at something but composed herself enough to say, “I’m
Madison and I’ll be your server tonight. What can I start you off with?”
As they placed their orders, Madison couldn’t help but feel strangely on edge with them,
particularly the one with the blue eyes and dark hair. He would catch her gaze every now and
then as she waited their table and each time it felt like he was looking into her, not at her. They’d
removed their coats when she returned with their orders. She served out their plates and drinks
then stooped and tucked his coat sleeve into his coat pocket.
He smiled faintly when she straightened. “Thank you.”
“No problem. It’s better than it getting dirty or someone slipping on it. Let me know if you need
anything else,” she smiled.
The diner was finally winding down and the crowd thinning out when she returned with their
credit card and receipt. “Enjoy the rest of your night,” she said with a smile.
She and Gabe clocked out at eleven and he took her home. “You’re not walking home at this
hour,” he groused. “It’s too dark and it’s probably gonna rain.”
She smiled over at him. “Worried I’ll get my pretty little head wet?”
That made him smile. “Nope I know you don’t melt, sweetheart, but I don’t want you sick or
kidnapped.” He pulled up in front of a huge red barn and kissed her cheek. “Get some sleep.
Need a lift tomorrow?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “I’ll be fine, I promise.” She gave him a big hug and climbed
out, waving goodbye from inside the barn.
By the time his taillights had disappeared, she was in the master suite, stripping out of her
clothes and turning on the shower. The hot water felt good against her cool skin and when she
got dressed for bed her stomach rumbled. She pinned her hair up haphazardly and padded into
the kitchen.
She looked around the house as she munched on her bowl of cereal. Remodeling of the barn had
been completed a month ago and she was happy with the results. The bottom floor was open and
spacious, the kitchen looking out over the dining room and living room. An archway to the left
of the kitchen opened to a small hallway that led to the master suite, office and bathroom. Stairs
against the left barn wall led upstairs to five spacious bedrooms and three bathrooms.
She’d followed the design like her grandfather, a man she’d never met, had specified. He’d
bequeathed her dad a large sum of money, the barn, a small cottage, and the name of the
contractor to renovate both buildings. Unfortunately, her dad hadn’t been able to start this project
before his untimely death on her eighteenth birthday and she chose to wait two years before
starting. Now, just shy of her twenty-second birthday the barn and cottage were completed.
She finished her cereal and turned out the lights. Her weary body relaxed with gratitude into the
softness of the king sized bed and she was asleep a few minutes later.

She got a call during her shift that her truck was ready so she took an early lunch and walked to
Ruben’s to pick it up. “Hey, Ruben!”
The older man slid out from beneath a sedan, his teeth flashing against the dirty skin of his face.
“Hey, doll! You look beautiful as always!”
She laughed. “I’m pretty sure I look a little worn for wear, Ruben,” she giggled, “but thank you.
You’re not looking too bad yourself! How’s Maryanne?”
“Aw, the wife’s doing great. She just left to get us some dinner.” He stood and wiped his hands
on a somewhat clean rag. “Your truck should run smooth, sweet thang.”
“It always does after I bring it in to you, Ruben,” she assured him and took her keys. She paid
her bill and hopped inside. The rumble of the engine made her sigh.
He chuckled at her. “If a truck makes you that happy then it’s time for you to get a man!”
She made a face but smiled. “If you find one you think’s good enough for me then you know
where to find me. Thanks again, Ruben!”
The dinner crowd melted into the late Saturday crowd. At Gabe’s request, she moved from the
dining room to the kitchen, helping him make meals while trying to keep him in a good mood. A
night like this one could definitely wear on a person’s nerve and she was always happy to help
out in the kitchen.
It was after midnight when she saw them walk in, the two men from last night. Ellen and Harper
were busy with a group of high school kids on one side of the diner while Abby was taking care
of a large group in the middle. Ray, the second cook, walked into the kitchen and shooed her out
with a quick shove and a tug on her apron strings. “Get out there and show them how it’s done,
Maddie!” he ordered.
She stuck her tongue out at him, changed aprons, smoothed back her hair and walked into the
dining room. Abby rushed over and gave her a hug. “Thank you thank you thank you! I think
Ellen and Harper are too busy flirting with the guys over there!”
Madison chuckled. “It shouldn’t surprise us, Abby! I’ll take three to five.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh my god, yes! Six to eight are full so I should be ok now. Can I
come over tonight?”
“Sure thing. We’ll talk in a bit,” she said with a wave of her hand.
She cleared her section fairly quickly, rapidly taking orders and reappearing with drinks first.
Once again she found herself at their tableside, smiling brightly as she served them water and
coffee. “If you need anything just let me know,” she said and started to walk away when the one
with green eyes spoke.
“Are you guys always open this late?”
She turned back. “Just every Saturday.”
“When do you close?”
“At three. Most of the crowd will be gone then anyway.”
He chuckled. “No offense but you look young enough to be part of this crowd.”
She grinned. “None taken. I know most of the people in the center of the floor but the crowd on
the other side are all high school kids, a few years too young for me.”
He leaned back in his chair. “Do you work every night?”
“Usually Tuesdays to Saturdays. Gabe likes me to be around for this crowd.”
“Gabe?”
“He’s the main cook, owner and my boss.”
“The older man.” He stated it with faint familiarity. “You’ve been here a while tonight?”
“He started me early today so yeah it’s been a long evening, or night, already,” she smiled. “I
have another three hours to go then I’m going home to sleep the morning away.”
“No she won’t,” a woman corrected as she came up beside her. “She’ll go home, sleep for a few
hours, then be up around seven or eight. Girl doesn’t know how to sleep.”
Madison laughed. “This is Abby my fellow server and good friend.”
Abby nodded a greeting. “I hate to drag you away but Ray needs you in the kitchen. Most of my
section’s taken care of so I’ll serve out orders to yours.”
Madison’s smile faded and she quickly excused herself. It was one thing when Gabe wanted her
in the kitchen, but when Ray did it wasn’t usually good. “What happened?”
Ray was standing worriedly over Gabe. He looked at her and she saw the phone to his ear. “I
don’t know! He complained of a headache and sat down but now he’s sweatin’ bullets and-“ He
held up a finger. “Yes, I’m still here.”
Madison knelt beside her boss. “Gabe?” She took his hand, frowning at how clammy it felt.
“Gabe?”
“No, no, he’s still breathing. It’s shallow but-“ Ray looked close to tears. “Let me have you talk
to Madison.” He held out the phone.
She took the phone from his shaking fingers and calmly replied to the operator. When she hung
up she said, “I’ll take him, Ray. Can you help me get him to my truck? The hospital’s just down
the street.”
He was shaking as he helped Gabe to his feet and the sheen of tears shone bright in his eyes
when he buckled him into her truck. “You better not die, old man,” he said fiercely.
Madison gave him a hard hug. “I’ll call you later. Have Abby call me when she’s ready to
leave.”
Without waiting for an answer she drove to the hospital, holding tightly to Gabe’s hand, silently
hoping he held on just a little longer.

She picked up Abby who drove her back to the hospital, promising to come back for her later
that day. Ray came by shortly after and stayed with her for a bit before his nervousness made her
send him home. “I promise I’ll call you when I hear from the doctors but you need to go home,
Ray.”
Left alone in the waiting room she called Gabe’s attorney. “Hi, Mr. Nealand, it’s Madison
Parker. We’re at CE Emergency. He was admitted a little after one. Ok, see you in a bit.”
Because Gabe didn’t have any living relatives, the only person who could make any medical
decisions for him was his attorney in conjunction with Madison. So, as Gabe had instructed her a
few years ago, she called his attorney and waited.
Mr. Nealand arrived as the doctors emerged from the OR. Gabe was fine and in stable condition.
He’d suffered a mild heart attack but it could’ve been worse. He was on bed rest for the next
month and then he could ease back into work. He would remain in ICU overnight for observation
but should be up in his own room by Monday.
Mr. Nealand sat next to Madison. Gabe had talked about her a lot but this was the first time he’d
seen her face to face. They made small talk and when he offered her a ride home she politely
declined. “My friend’s coming back with my truck,” she explained with a tired half-smile.
“Thanks for coming, Mr. Nealand.”
He smiled. “My pleasure, dear. I’ll come by tomorrow to check on him. Are you heading back to
the diner?”
“I’m not scheduled to work today but Ray might need some help. I think only Debbie’s
scheduled for the afternoon shift.”
“I think you should get some rest first, my dear,” he said firmly. “You’ll be asleep on your feet if
you go back to work.”
She smiled at how funny that would look. “I will,” she promised, “then I’ll check on Ray later
today.”
Abby arrived a short while later and took her to her apartment for some much needed rest. A few
hours later, Abby came back with fresh clothes and an air of urgency about her. As she showered
Abby talked to her through the slightly open bathroom door. “I’m glad he’s ok, Maddie, I really
am. God that would’ve been horrible!”
“Yes, it would’ve.”
“Ray said he should be ok for a while but might need your help in the kitchen later today. I’m
starting at one and Debbie’s off at three. Ellen starts at three and Harper’s off today. We should
be able to cover the dining room ok.”
“Sundays are pretty light,” Madison said and toweled off. She got dressed and smiled at Abby’s
worried face when she opened the door. “Thanks, Abby.”
Her worry melted into a smile. “You’re welcome. I know you’ll want to check on Gabe so you
can stay here for a while if you need to.”
Madison hugged her friend. “You’re the best,” she said. “Recovery’s gonna be interesting for
Gabe. If there’s one thing he’s not it’s patient!”

Two weeks into recovery and Madison wanted to kill Gabe. His stubbornness and flat out refusal
to accept help wore even on her nerves to the point where she finally yelled, “Look, Gabe, the
last thing I want is for you to die but if that’s what you want then don’t listen to the doctor!”
Gabe couldn’t remember if he’d ever seen Madison so angry and he finally caved and started
listening. Therapy and checkups went so much better and he found that he felt better and
stronger with each passing day. He knew from Ray that Madison was commanding the diner and
a month after his trip to the hospital he stepped into his beloved restaurant.
He watched her work in the kitchen alongside Ray, turning out orders faster than his second
cook. She was still smiling, still laughing when there was a lull in orders and Ray sent her away
on a break. She grabbed a cup of coffee and sank into a corner booth, her head resting against the
back, her eyes focused on some faraway point outside. He left her there and took the time to talk
to his staff.
Madison lingered in that corner booth for over an hour, closing her eyes and listening to the hum
of conversation as the dinner crowd came in. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes and saw
Gabe sitting in front of her. He smiled. “You ok?” he asked.
She nodded, the first hint of fatigue evident in her eyes. “A little tired but fine otherwise.”
“Good. Take these tables. Ray said he can handle the kitchen. I’ll be here and won’t do anything
stupid,” he promised.
She chuckled and climbed to her feet. “Good to know.” She kissed his cheek. “It’s good to have
you back, boss. Can I get you anything?”
He laughed. “Let’s start with a cup of coffee and a BLT, light on the mayo.”
“Yes, sir!”
He watched her shake the tiredness from her overworked body and smile sunnily at each
customer, chat amicably with them, then serve them with the same amount of energy. When she
came by his table with a glass of water he grabbed her hand and said softly, “Thank you,
Madison, for taking care of this place.”
She smiled and he saw tears pool in her eyes. “You’re welcome, Gabe,” she murmured and
dabbed at the tears that escaped. “We all pitched in so it wasn’t just me.”
“I know but you didn’t have to.” He stood and wrapped her in a huge bear hug. “Thank you.”
Madison returned his embrace. He’d been like a father since her own had passed away and she
couldn’t imagine losing him. She didn’t want to lose him. “I love you, Gabe,” she whispered.
“Don’t scare me like that again.”
He chuckled. “I’ll try not to, love,” he said tenderly and spied two men who walked in and sat in
the booth across from his. “See to your customers, honey. We’ll have time for this later.”
She kissed his cheek one more time, giving herself time to gain her composure once again. With
a smile, she turned to the booth and stopped when she saw the two men watching her with
interest. The one with green eyes smiled with slight amusement, while the one with blue eyes
seemed to be glowering at her.
She took their orders, noting blue eyes’ foul mood and glares, and when they’d paid their check
green eyes asked for a moment of her time. He gestured to the seat vacated by his friend. He
didn’t say anything at first and he seemed to be sizing her up, so she waited. At last he said,
“Your friend Abby mentioned you just renovated a barn a few miles east of here.”
The statement wasn’t what she was expecting and it took her a moment to shake off the surprise.
“Yes. It was completed two months ago.”
“Are you living in it?”
“There’s a cottage a few yards away. I live there.”
“Hmm.” He regarded her thoughtfully. “Would you be interested in renting out the barn?”
She hesitated. A stipulation in her grandfather’s will was that the barn could be rented out but no
money, rent or utilities, was to be collected from the tenants. “I’m not sure if this will make
sense. I can rent it out but I can’t collect money if I do.”
His blond eyebrows furrowed together. “Then how do you pay for it?”
“There’s money set aside for it.”
“I see. Well, we wouldn’t expect to stay there pro bono. We would be willing to pay for it.”
“I still can’t accept money for it. A contractual clause that prevents me from doing that.”
“Madison,” he said, “we will not-“
“I understand, sir, but you’re asking me to accept something I can’t willingly accept. I’ll gladly
let you use the barn but without payment.”
He leaned forward so he was just a few inches from her. “There are eleven of us who would be
living there, all men. Can your barn accommodate us?”
“Yes.”
“We’d like to see it first.”
“Of course but on the promise that if you take it you will not, under any circumstance, pay me
for it, sir.”
He smiled at the insistence in her voice. “My name’s Troy Redding.”
She blinked then continued. “Please, Mr. Redding, you have to promise me.”
“The decision isn’t mine so therefore I can’t make that promise.”
She frowned. “Then why-“
“You’ll need to speak to him.” He gestured behind her and a quick glance showed her blue eyes
was strolling over. “This is Damien Stone.”
She rose but he stopped her with a quick glance. Swallowing, she lowered back into the booth as
he grabbed a nearby chair. “Madison Parker.”
“Pleasure,” he murmured. Troy brought him up to speed and though Damien frowned at the
stipulation he nodded to Madison. “We’ll pay for any utilities and food.”
“Food’s fine but utilities isn’t.” His frown deepened into a scowl and she could sense his
patience dissipating. “I’m not trying to be difficult, Mr. Stone, Mr. Redding, but that’s the
agreement I’m bound to.”
“Surely you could make an exception,” Damien argued. “Who would know?”
Her cheeks reddened because even though her grandfather was dead and he would never know,
she would. “I would,” she said quietly, her eyes on the tabletop.
Troy glanced at Damien and in the few silent moments between them they came to an
agreement. Damien cleared his throat. “Ms. Parker-“
“Madison or Maddie.”
“Very well, Madison. Since you’re very adamant about keeping your word we’ll honor that.
When can we see it?”
She glanced at Gabe who was reading the paper. “Any morning should be fine. I usually work
the late afternoon shift so as long as it’s before one I’ll be home.”
“Very well. We’ll see you Wednesday morning. Is there a way I can reach you in case I need to
cancel?” She jotted her number and directions on her order pad and slid the paper over. “Thank
you.”
She rose. “You’re welcome. Nice meeting you both,” she said and with a wave disappeared.
Without turning around Damien directed his question to Gabe. “How much does she know about
you?”
“Only what I’ve told her. No wife, no children, no living family.” He flipped the page of his
paper.
“What does she know of herself?”
“Nothing. Tim never told her anything.” He looked over the rim of his glasses at an article. “He
kept his word to Xavier.”
Troy glanced at Damien and said, “It’s important she doesn’t know anything yet.”
“I gave you my word that I’d help make everything go smoothly. I intend to keep my word.”
“What do you know about her place?” Damien asked.
He turned the page. “Nothing. That was given to her before I arrived. Anything you want to
know about that you’ll have to ask her.”
The corner of Damien’s mouth lifted into a slight smile. “She’s willing to keep her promise
without revealing the source of her agreement.”
The smile was in Gabe’s voice. “Madison’s always been good at keeping her word.”
Troy smiled into his folded hands. “We need to get going. We’ll see her Wednesday morning.
Any chance you can give her the rest of this week off?”
He chuckled softly into his paper. “I can try. I’ll let you know how successful I am.”

Wednesday morning was bitterly cold. Harsh winds moved over the land surrounding her
property, whispering promises of an icy winter ahead. She emerged from the western side of her
property, her breath puffing out in clouds as she finished her run. It’d been a while since she’d
run outdoors and she’d welcomed this chance to be free like this again.
She took a deep breath, smiling through the wrap around her face protecting her nose and lips.
Unless it rained tomorrow she planned on doing this again. She saw an SUV parked in front of
the barn, could hear the low voice of one of the occupants even from this distance. She frowned.
How am I hearing this? she wondered as she drew nearer. The doors to the vehicle opened and
she could make out the tall, broad frames of men stepping out. Her potential renters, she
remembered.
She removed her knit cap and wrap as she came to a stop by them. Damien glanced her over, a
disapproving frown on his face. “G’morning,” she cheerfully greeted. “I hope you haven’t been
waiting long.”
“Not at all,” he said, his blue eyes studying her intently.
She opened the front door to the barn and turned on the lights. “That’s good. I wasn’t sure what
time you’d be by.” She peeled off her gloves and set them on the back of a chair along with her
other outer garments. “Give me a minute.”
She disappeared through the archway, reemerging a short time later in a comfortable sweatshirt
and jeans. She quickly tied her hair back and smiled. “So this is the barn,” she began. “Kitchen,
dining and living rooms are here.” She walked back to the archway and gestured for them to
follow. “Here’s the office, bathroom, and the master suite.”
They stepped into the master suite and looked around. “What’s through here?” Troy asked
indicating a closed set of double doors.
She pulled them open to reveal a bathroom as big as the room. The bath was separate from the
shower and a double vanity adorned one wall. A small door to the left of the vanity revealed
storage and extra towels.
“This is really nice,” he smiled approvingly.
“Glad you think so,” she smiled back and led them back to the main floor. They climbed the
stairs to the second floor. “There’s five bedrooms and three bathrooms up here,” she explained,
opening the doors as the walked along. She gestured over the railing to the view of the living
room below. “I didn’t understand it but the floor plans were designed so this floor was open to
the one below.”
Troy glanced from the floor below to the vaulted ceiling above. “It must’ve taken a lot of work
to build this place.”
She shrugged. “I don’t really know. This place was left to my dad by his father.”
“Your grandfather?”
She nodded. “He left instructions for this place along with money to cover its renovation and the
name of the contractor. “
“Did you know your grandfather?”
“I never met him and my dad died before he could start on this place. The family attorney was
pretty adamant at that point that this place get done but I waited two years to start it. Now,” she
smiled, “it’s done.”
Damien looked at her. “Troy mentioned a cottage.”
“Oh yeah that’s where I stay. It’s a single story replica of the first floor.”
They followed her through the living room and she pulled back the drapes to reveal an attached
sunroom. They walked inside and she pointed out the washer and dryer against the left wall
before pointing to a small red building maybe twenty yards away. “I stay there.” She pointed to a
structure on their right that was half the size of the barn. “That’s the garage. There’s a cellar in
there for storage or emergencies.”
Damien frowned. “Seems inconvenient for it to be so far from the house.”
She shrugged. “I guess so. I never understood my grandfather’s plans but the cellar also leads
into the house.” She strode into the house and pulled open a door beneath the stairs. A light
flickered on and she stepped back for them to see. “We can go down if you want.”
They both nodded. “I’d like to see it,” Damien said.
She led them down two short flights of stairs and a long steel braced corridor. She opened the
steel door at the end and they ducked to enter the cellar. “There’s blankets, pillows and
emergency items already here and the door up those stairs leads into the garage.”
She climbed the few stairs at the other end and pushed up with both hands but the door only
opened a few inches. A pair of hands appeared next to her own and she glanced over her
shoulder into a pair of stunning blue eyes.
“Ready?” he asked.
She nodded and they shoved the door up. “Thank you. He requested a heavy wood door and I
guess he wasn’t kidding.”
He smiled wryly and followed her through.
The garage, they found out, was large enough to hold at least a dozen various sized vehicles, was
very well lit, and even had a entire wall of tools. Troy chuckled. “He thought of everything.”
She led them past her two trucks and opened the garage door. “It’s big enough for two cars to
come through at the same time. I’ll move mine to beside the cottage if you need the extra room.”
Back in the main house, she made coffee as they sat at the dining table. “Have you eaten?”
Damien shook his head. “I can make us something to eat unless you need to leave.”
“That sounds nice, thank you,” he said.
“Feel free to do whatever you want. I’ll let you know when the food’s ready.”
Damien watched her from his seat in the living room. She seemed oblivious to everything else
except whatever she was making. After a few minutes of silent observation, he flicked his gaze
towards the TV screen.
She set out a feast of French toast, bacon, vegetable omelets, juice and coffee then let them know
the food was done. They sat in companionable silence, most of the food disappearing pretty
rapidly to her amusement. She’d guessed right – they could eat!
Troy smiled and pushed his plate away. “You make a mean omelet, Madison. Thank you for
breakfast.”
“You’re welcome!” she said with a bright smile and cleared the table.
Damien waited until she was done then said, “We’d like to stay here.”
“That’s fine. When will you be moving in?”
“Since it’s fully furnished, we’ll be here by Saturday.” She frowned slightly. “That doesn’t work
for you?”
She shook her head. “It’s not that. I’m leaving Friday morning to visit a friend and won’t be back
until Sunday morning. I don’t have duplicate keys yet and I don’t want you to wait around until I
get home.”
“We can-“ Damien started to say but she wasn’t listening.
She was on her phone. “Hi, Gabe. Yeah, I’m ok.” She laughed. “No, I’m not coming in. Uh-huh,
that’s good. I need a favor. I’m letting a group use the barn, they’ll be arriving Saturday but I’m
leaving Friday to visit Kane. Can I leave the keys at the diner with you? Damien Stone and Troy
Redding. Right. Ah, thanks, Gabe, you’re sweet. I’ll drop them off on my way out Friday. Ok.
Thank you so much. Love you, too.”
She hung up and smiled. “I’ll have keys made tomorrow and they’ll be at the diner Friday
morning. Do you need keys for everyone or just a main set?”
“Maybe three or four sets,” Damien suggested.
She nodded. “Did you guys need to know anything else about this place?” They shook their
heads. “I’ll leave the keys to my truck and to the cottage in case you need either of them. Feel
free to hang around if you’d like. I have some errands to run. Just lock the bottom when you
leave.”
They nodded and she shrugged into her coat. “I’ll see you Sunday,” she said and smiled her
goodbye.
Troy waited until she was gone then turned on Damien who was already glowering. “She doesn’t
know what she is so don’t scare her yet,” he warned. “Don’t go all protective over her.” Damien
glared at him but Troy shook his head. “No, man, I’m serious. If you intend to claim her, you
need to relax and calm down.”
But even as he said it he knew there was nothing worse than a man who knew who his mate was
and couldn’t claim her just yet.

Damien rolled his shoulders back, climbed out of the truck and went inside. Gabe met him with
an envelope and a frown. “The friend you asked about is Kane Rifter. They’ve been friends since
childhood.”
Damien scowled, a growl rumbling in his chest.
Gabe shook his head. “Damien, don’t go chasing after her like that. You’ll just scare her. Tim
protected her from all male weres because of his promise to Xavier. She has no clue that we even
exist. If you go chasing after her like that, she’ll never be your mate and you’ll regret it.”
He grumbled, “He won’t have her.”
“He doesn’t intend to, Damien,” Gabe assured him. “Kane’s a friend, one she’s always been able
to count on. Ease into a relationship with her but don’t act like that around her or you’ll get
nothing.” He shoved the envelope into Damien’s hand. “She’ll be back tomorrow. I suggest you
make the most of your time on her property.”
Troy didn’t even dare ask what happened when they started on their way again. A glance at his
leader told him he didn’t want to talk about it, that he’d rather rip someone’s head off.
The men settled into the house quickly, their playful banter and sarcasm echoing off the vaulted
ceiling. Damien was sitting at the desk in the master suite when Troy entered and he closed the
door. Silence ticked away between them until Damien muttered, “Everything smells like her.”
Troy smiled sympathetically. He knew Damien was having a hard time. “She’ll be back
tomorrow.”
Damien shook his head. “It’s not enough.”
“I know. What time is Xavier coming?”
“Ten tomorrow morning.”
“Get some rest then. You’ll need it because she’ll be home tomorrow too.”
But he couldn’t rest. Sleep was damned elusive tonight and driving him crazy. He prowled the
first floor restlessly and just after four he heard a car approaching. A glance out the window and
he relaxed. She was home. She parked in the garage, emerging with her suitcase in tow. She
paused, glancing at the big house and he could sense her hesitation but at what he didn’t know.
She eventually made her way to the cottage and let herself in. Lights went on and twenty minutes
later she locked the door behind her, dressed warm for a run.
Madison glanced at the house. Someone was awake inside but she didn’t know who. She could
almost hear someone’s heartbeat from inside. She tugged on her knit cap and decided to see who
was awake. It was early still and if no one answered she’d chalk it off as an overactive
imagination.
Damien heard the soft knock on the front door and swung it open to let her in. “How was your
trip?” he asked quietly.
“Um, interesting,” she replied but didn’t elaborate. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”
He shook his head, his blue eyes sweeping over her attire. “Going for a run?”
“The sun’ll be up by the time I get back.”
He frowned, opened his mouth to say something then thought better of it. Instead he asked, “Can
I come with you? You can show me your property.”
She hesitated but nodded. He came back dressed comfortably but when they started out the door
he asked, “Do you need a light?”
She didn’t look at him as she tugged on her gloves. “I don’t need one. There’s one in the kitchen
if you need it.”
He frowned. “It’s still dark, Madison.” She nodded but refused to look at him. “Madison?”
Damien grabbed her arm to keep her from starting her run but she turned her head to keep from
looking at him.
She didn’t want him to see what was wrong with her, what she was trying to hide. The first time
it’d happened her dad had explained that she simply had good night vision. After he’d died it
happened more frequently and when she’d once caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror after an
early morning run she had freaked out. With no one to ask she’d kept it to herself.
“We won’t get hurt,” she said. “The land’s mostly flat and the tree line doesn’t start for several
miles.” He didn’t say anything and she risked a side glance at him, regretting it when she saw his
expression of surprise.
She squared her shoulders, lifted her chin and stiffened her spine. She wasn’t going to explain to
a stranger what was wrong with her. If he wanted to stay behind she wasn’t going to say
otherwise. But Damien caught up to her and they ran in silence.
Damien let her take the lead over the flatlands of her property. They jumped a small stream and
balanced over a fallen tree. They were rapidly approaching the tree line and he glanced at her, a
question in his gaze. She smiled and nodded.
It was darker in these woods but she ran with absolute assurance. Her stride was strong and
steady, her breath puffing out in tiny clouds. She loved being here. It awakened something in her,
a desire to just keep running, to breath in deep and let exhilaration take her wherever it pleased.
A deep growl ground her to a halt and she looked around with wide eyes. It was coming from her
left and she backed away from it. “I think we should go back,” she whispered fearfully.
Damien glared through the darkness. The scent he caught was male, not one of his pack either.
He could feel Madison’s fear, hear the rapid staccato of her heartbeat. This was his mate and he
would protect her no matter the cost.
“Damien.” She sounded uncertain and moved back against him. “Damien, we need to-“
A flurry of leaves gave way to a snarl and snapping of teeth. She yelped and shrank away from
it, edging around Damien. She flicked a glance to her left and took a step there but a low growl
made her stop. Her body shook with fear and she nervously licked her lips. She could see the
wolf circling them, saw the flash in its eyes as it regarded her. “Oh god,” she whispered.
Damien stepped in front of her, his eyes steady on the circling wolf. “Run.”
She stared at him. “Are you crazy? That thing-“
“Run, Madison. I won’t be too far behind you.”
“But-“
He growled low in his chest. “Run.”
She took one last look at him, at the wolf then ran. She heard it snarl and snap but she didn’t look
back. She cleared the woods and kept going. She was halfway over the clearing when she
slowed. Damien was nowhere in sight and her heart clenched when she strained to hear and only
got silence. She waited nervously but when she caught the sound of something crashing through
the woods she took off again.
Whatever it was was gaining fast and tears clouded her view and her breath caught as she fought
forward. Someone shouted at her but she couldn’t tell if it was coming from behind or in front of
her. She didn’t care either.
Damien could see her in front of him, could feel her fear even from such a great distance. He
shouted her name but it propelled her forward and he pushed to catch up to her. He knew she was
scared and the need to let her know he was ok overwhelmed him.
“Madison!” Her name echoed across the empty flatlands but she didn’t slow down. “Madison!”
Damien launched into her, capturing her in his arms, cushioning her fall as best he could. She
struggled against him, clawing at his arms and he gritted his teeth against the pain. “Madison!”
he shouted harshly. “Stop!”
She stopped struggling and went limp against him. Her chest heaved with each breath she took
and after a bit she shoved away from him and wiped at her face. “I’m sorry. I can’t- I’m going
home,” she said as calmly as possible.
He reached for her but she was gone, her legs quickly carrying her away. He took after her,
pulling her to a stop. “Madison, we’re ok.”
She trembled under his touch and nodded. “I’m sorry, that freaked me out a bit.” She scrubbed a
gloved hand over her face. “I want to go home.”
He nodded but didn’t let go. “Ok, that’s fine but wait for me.”
They walked back to her cottage and she looked up at him in the doorway. “Thank you for-“ She
gestured helplessly towards where they’d come from. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. You gonna be ok?”
“I’ll live,” she said as lightly as possible.
“Come by later on. We’ll introduce you to the guys and our boss.” He knew she was going to say
no and said, “It might help so you’re not nervous after what happened.”
She glanced down at her fingers then up into his eyes. She forgot about the weird thing her eyes
did in the dark, forgot about what had just happened, forgot about that damned wolf. All she
could see was the blue of his eyes and felt strangely drawn to him. She turned towards him, her
feet seeming to move on their own, holding her breath as her hand rested over his heart. When
she released it she could hear it beating in her ears.
“Do you hear it?”
Her gaze snapped up to his. “Yes.” She licked her lips. “I think I heard it this morning when I got
home.”
He frowned. “You could hear it from outside?”
She nodded. “I don’t know how to explain it.” She pulled away but he caught her hand.
“Do you hear anyone else’s?”
She looked away from him and listened but shook her head. “I don’t but I hear yours perfectly.
It’s just as weird as the whole eye thing.” She shrugged and stepped back. “I’ll come by later,
Damien. Thanks again.”
She leaned her forehead against the door, listening as he walked away but still hearing, loud and
clear, his heartbeat. She breathed a heavy sigh and looked up at the ceiling. “I wish you were
here, dad,” she whispered.
But no amount of wishing would bring her dad back and tears blurred her vision as she stumbled
into the living room to cry out the loneliness that engulfed her. I wish you were here, her heart
sobbed and she let it.

Xavier arrived a few minutes before ten and though he greeted them warmly and with smiles and
handshakes he sensed an underlying feeling of anxiety. Of course, it came from his son.
Damien met Xavier’s eyes and knew he knew at the most or could sense him at the least. He
couldn’t shake the feelings of sadness that had engulfed him after this morning. They weren’t
his, he knew that, but he didn’t know how to get rid of them either.
Xavier pulled him into the office. “What’s wrong? You’re anxious about something.”
Damien shoved a hand through his dark hair. “I found her.”
For a moment Xavier’s face brightened with joy but it faded when he saw his son’s expression
didn’t change. “So what’s the problem?”
“She’s Tim’s daughter.”
Tim Parker was a name Xavier hadn’t heard in a long time. He’d chosen, to Xavier’s chagrin, a
human as his mate and she’d died birthing their half-blood daughter. Tim was forbidden from
speaking of his true nature to his wife and child, but when he’d promised the council and elders
he’d remain silent he’d left the safety of their commune. Xavier’s eyes narrowed. “A half-
blood?”
Damien met his stare head on. “Yes, a half-blood.”
“Then you’re mistaken.”
“No, I’m not. It’s more than wanting to bed a pretty woman. My soul knows her and wants her
and only her. You know that feeling, dad.”
Xavier scowled. He did. “She’s not a pureblood.”
“Neither was Tim’s wife.”
A human for a mate wasn’t an uncommon practice, but few weres took a half-blood for a mate.
Not for lack of knowledge of their existence. Half-bloods usually had no knowledge of who and
what they were. Their enhanced abilities – sight, smell, hearing – were usually dismissed by the
human world as over sensitiveness.
“She’s my mate whether you agree or not. And if you choose to cast me aside because of her
then so be it.”
Xavier inhaled sharply. “You think I’d do that to my own flesh and blood?”
“You did it to Tim who followed you unwaveringly and trusted you completely.”
“He was not my son.”
“You’re right but he was still one of us. You knew him since childhood but when you told him
not to say anything about what he was to his family you drove him away. You knew they
couldn’t stay in the commune. Your move was deliberate.”
“It was meant to protect us. A human in our midst would endanger all of us and you know it.”
“And a half-blood would do the same thing?” Xavier said nothing. “She’s my mate and I won’t
back down from that. I’ll protect her no matter what. I’ll have her no matter what.”
“You’ll claim a mate who doesn’t know what she is? Will you explain to her what she really is?
Will you be able to handle her rejection of you and herself?” Xavier challenged.
Damien wasn’t going to let his questions deter him from what was his. “Yes, I’ll explain it to
her. If she won’t listen to me then there are others she trusts more who can explain it to her. She
can’t deny that she’s different. She sees and hears better than a human and she doesn’t know
why. Yes, I’ll be happy to explain it to her if she gives me that chance.”
“You’re setting yourself up for disappointment,” Xavier warned.
But Damien shook his head. “I know she’s my mate, half-blood or not, she’s mine. You can
accept that or not but you won’t change my mind.”
A knock at the office door irritated them both but when Troy stuck his head inside they realized
something was amiss. “We have company.”
Damien took the lead, following him to the front door. A man stood outside, a frown on his face.
Damien felt the hairs rise on the back of his neck, felt a snarl of protection erupt from his throat.
The other stepped back, hands raised in a truce. “Who are you?”
He regarded him with his midnight eyes and ignored his question. “You have your work cut out
for you. She won’t believe you.”
Damien clamped down on the urge to tear into the man’s throat. “Who are you?”
“Kane Rifter. I’m here to see Xavier.”

Kane regarded the man from across the room. He was practically telling him he was going to kill
him if he went anywhere near Madison. He frowned and tried to listen to Xavier. As a
councilmember of his pack he’d been sent to attend this meeting about a rogue pack that had
taken up residence not far from Madison’s home.
Her home was the ideal location for this meeting. The property, passed down from her pureblood
grandfather, was independent of any one pack. It was neutral territory for all of them, a safe
place where they could meet amicably to discuss the best course of action.
Most who were coming to this meeting, save himself and apparently Damien, were unaware their
hostess was a half-blood who was becoming more aware that she was different. Kane had
noticed it the first night she’d visited. Her eyes had glowed ethereally, catching him off guard.
She was instantly embarrassed and tried to hide it from him but he knew she was changing.
He knew she would need someone’s protection against what could happen at this meeting. Since
everyone would be purebloods, they wouldn’t understand her and some packs still shunned half-
bloods, forcing them to live on the fringes of their society, treating them like outcasts instead of
kin.
He sighed wearily and rubbed a hand across his face. According to Xavier they were waiting for
one more councilmember from another pack and he would be here by nightfall. He was asking
them to be patient until then and to accept the graciousness of their hostess, who, Kane ruefully
noticed, hadn’t shown up yet. Meeting adjourned for now, he retreated to the outdoors for a
quick walk.
“Kane?”
He stopped when she called his name and he turned to see her running straight at him. At the
same time Damien emerged and froze in time to see Madison wrap her arms around his waist in
a bear hug. Rage flared in Damien’s eyes and Kan quickly returned Madison’s hug to extract
himself as quickly as possible.
“What’re you doing here?”
“I’m part of the meeting inside the barn.”
“I didn’t realize you knew-“ She spied Damien over his shoulder and smiled, her cheeks flushing
pink and her heart beating faster at the sight of him. Her reaction wasn’t even reasonable; she
didn’t even know him that well.
Kane saw the smile on her lips and breathed a silent sigh of relief. “Do you like him?”
She looked at him, her cheeks a deep shade of red now. “I do. I can’t explain why but I do.” She
glanced at Damien. “You don’t mind if I-“
Kane grinned. “Not at all.” He pecked her cheek lovingly. “We’ll catch up some other time.”
She gave him a hug. “Thanks, Kane,” she said softly and he watched her hurry to where Damien
was standing. She said something and though he flicked a hard gaze in his direction, he smiled
down at her and followed her around the house.
Though she didn’t understand it, the reason behind her reaction to Damien was the same as
Damien’s reaction to seeing her with him: they belonged to each other and no one else.

They spent the afternoon walking her property though they steered clear of the tree line. She
glanced nervously in that direction and Damien moved to walk between her and the trees.
Madison talked freely about herself but said little about her family, or lack thereof. Damien
mentioned both of his parents and his three brothers to which Madison chuckled and teased, “I
feel sorry for your mom!”
He decided to broach the subject of Kane. “How do you know him?”
“We’ve been friends forever,” she smiled. “We grew up together but he’s a few years older than
me. He’s really the only person left that knew my dad.”
“Did you know Kane’s family?” He bristled at even asking the question but felt he needed to.
“Kind of. I’d met his parents maybe a handful of times but most of the time it was just me and
Kane hanging out.”
“Has he been here before?”
“Once or twice at the most but before the barn was renovated. He used to visit every few months
or so. Life got busy for both of us so he comes around when he can or I go visit him if it’s more
convenient that way.”
He didn’t want to hear that and bit back the urge to tear into something. “He seems like a …
decent guy,” he said trying not to sound harsh.
She stopped and looked up at him. “He is but he’s just a good friend, Damien. I saw the way you
looked at him and you don’t have anything to worry about. Kane’s been there for me for a lot of
my life. Stop looking at him like you want to kill him.”
To hear those words from another male was one thing. To hear it from the her was another. “I’m
sorry. I didn’t realize you saw that.”
Silence stretched between them filled only by his heartbeat. “Damien?”
“Yes?”
“Do you hear my heart?”
He closed his eyes and listened. It took a split second to find it. “Yes.”
“What does it say to you?”
His eyes flew open. He didn’t want to answer. The other blanks needed to be filled first.
He was yanked down by firm hands and soft lips moved heatedly over his, her low growl
surprising them both. Her eyes were ablaze with heat and she closed them against his probing
gaze. His hands found her waist and he pulled her closer, her hands finding their way to his neck,
her grip tightening.
She tore away gasping for breath, her eyes burning into him. Her gaze softened and when she
pulled him down the kiss was softer, more tender. He breathed in her scent and cradled her to
him, enjoying her softness through the barriers of their clothing. He pulled away, gazing into the
beautiful eyes of his mate.
But realization dawned on her and her eyes widened with horror. “Oh my god, Damien, I’m so
sorry!” She backed away.
“Madison, wait, please!”
She shook her head. “I-I’m really sorry, Damien. I don’t know what-“
And she was gone.

Damien stood in the sun room staring at the cottage. She was moving around inside but every
now and then he could feel her anxiety level skyrocket and it would make him frown. After
twenty minutes of frowning and wondering he silently exited the sun room and knocked on her
door.
She peered up at him then let him in but didn’t say anything as she led him into the kitchen. And
then they just stood there, him looking at her looking at her hands.
“Madison,” he said, “I came to see if-“
Heavy tension snapped up between them and she growled, her eyes lit with fierce want. She
launched towards him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace, connecting her lips to
his in a kiss that stole his breath away. Her growl lessened to a purr that vibrated through her
entire body and into his. The heat in her kiss didn’t lessen even as the pressure softened, her lips
gentle and searching.
Damien held her to him, sweeping his tongue over her lips, silently asking for entrance. She gave
it and he groaned when he tasted her. “You taste sweet,” he murmured against her jaw.
“Mmm,” she murmured when he nibbled her earlobe then sighed when he rained kisses onto her
cheeks.
Heat welled up in her core when he nipped along her throat but a sudden pain in her mouth made
her pull away. He pulled back, eyes widening when he saw the cause of her pain. “Oh shit!” he
hissed and backed away.
“Damn it!” she groaned, clapping a hand over her mouth. The pain was mind-numbing and she
felt like she was going to pass out.
The only thing he knew to do he didn’t want to do but when her fangs were fully extended he
didn’t have a choice. Grabbing her face in his hands he whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Baring his own canines, he sank into the curve of her neck. She cried out at the brief moment of
pain then went completely limp when he took a long draw from her. Tears stung his eyes,
catching him by surprise as he removed his teeth from her and carried her into her room. “I’m so
sorry,” he murmured over her cheek and left.
The last pack councilmember had finally arrived and he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw
who it was. “Cortan,” he greeted and embraced the gray haired man warmly.
“Damien, it’s always good to-“ He stopped, his smile fading when he saw the red in his mouth.
“You’re bleeding.”
“It’s not mine. I need your advice, Cortan.”
“Of course.”
“This way.” Damien led him to Madison’s cottage. “This is Madison Parker.”
Cortan gazed at the sleeping woman, noting the fresh marks on her skin, then at Damien. “She’s
yours?”
“Yes.”
He frowned when he didn’t see anything on his flesh. “The joining wasn’t completed.”
“It never started. I bit her to calm her. She’s a half-blood, Cortan, the daughter of Tim Parker and
his human mate.”
Understanding dawned on the older man and he nodded with sympathy. “She’s exhibiting her
father’s traits.”
“Yes. She can see in the dark, she hears exceptionally well, and now these.” He carefully drew
Madison’s upper lip back. “Did I mention she started growling like she’s in heat?”
Despite the circumstances, Cortan chuckled. “The growling is probably because some part of her
recognizes you as her mate. The others are normal traits for a half-blood.” He peered into
Madison’s mouth. “Except these. To be completely truthful, Damien, it means she’s more than a
half-blood.”
“What?”
Cortan stroked a slow gentle hand over Madison’s brow. “She’s more than a half-blood.”
“What is she?”
He lifted Madison’s hand and pressed a kiss to her fingertips. Taking one of Damien’s, he joined
their hands and said, “Damien, meet your mate, Madison Parker, a half-blood were and a
recessive gene vampire.”

Madison woke with a splitting headache and she rolled onto her side with a groan.
“Are you ok?” The male voice was soothing and she looked up into a pair of concerned blue
eyes.
“Damien?” she croaked. He produced a glass of water and she sipped. “Thank you.” She glanced
at the clock and frowned. She wanted to say something but her head hurt too much. I thought he
had a meeting tonight.
Damien jerked away. “Do you need anything?”
She shook her head avoiding his gaze. “I’m ok, just a headache.” She played with the edge of the
mattress when tears of frustration started to fall. She wiped them away then swung out of bed
before Damien could stop her.
“Where-“
She shook her head, kept her gaze away from him and yanked open her closet. “Don’t come near
me, Damien. Please.” She took off her shirt and reached for a sweatshirt. “Whenever you come
near me I don’t know what happens.” She kicked aside the shorts she had on and yanked on a
pair of jeans. “I get hot all over and I feel like-like-“ She broke off and jerked on a knit cap. “I
need you right then and there but then all these crazy things start happening inside of me and I
feel like I’m gonna burn up from the inside out.”
She grabbed a jacket and skirted around him. “You should go to your meeting.” She looked at
the house, the lower level lit up. “Looks like they’ve started.”
“They started about an hour ago,” he said and grabbed her arm.
She stiffened and tried to pull away but his grip tightened. “Please, Damien.”
She was begging and he hated it. Yanking her around he glimpsed her glowing eyes and crashed
his lips into hers. She cried out at the intimate assault and pushed against his chest with all her
strength. She managed to tear her mouth from his and sobbed into his shoulder. “Don’t do this to
me!” she begged. “Please, don’t do this to me.” She groaned harshly and Damien could feel her
body trembling. “Oh crap!”
Damien grabbed her face. “Look at me!” he demanded and though she tried not to she eventually
did. “It’s ok, Madison. Let it happen.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t, I swear you won’t. Let it happen.” His thumbs gently stroked along her cheeks.
“Just let go.”
She sobbed brokenly. The pain in her mouth increased and her body burned from the inside. She
gasped against both pains. “I’m sorry, Damien, I really am.”
“It’s ok,” he murmured and steeled himself for what would probably happen next.
She emitted a growl, her lips pulled back into a snarl, her fangs bared for just a brief second
before they sank into his throat. He hissed through his teeth at the pull of her lips and though he
wanted to drink from her as well he resisted. She finally pulled away and her eyes rolled back as
she slipped into unconsciousness.

Damien kicked the front door open and strode inside with Madison in his arms. Uncaring of the
stares he received he took her to the master suite and when he returned he took up a spot against
the kitchen counter. Troy went to his side and quietly brought him up to speed, but Damien’s
hardened expression never changed.
Xavier quickly called the meeting to an end then silently followed Damien into the master suite.
Troy and council members from other packs followed. Kane caught Damien’s cold gaze and the
barely noticeable nod before he went to the bedside.
He touched Madison’s forehead and frowned at the coolness of her skin. He pulled back her
eyelids to reveal eyes that were no longer steel gray but an impossibly pale gray so close to clear.
He lifted her upper lip and stared in surprise. “Oh shit,” he whispered hoarsely. “Damien, she’s-“
“I know.”
He spun on him. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She fed then passed out.”
Xavier glared at his son. “Fed on what?”
Damien glared right back. “What do you think? Would you rather she fed on someone else?”
Xavier trembled with anger but before he could say anything Cortan interceded. “She needed to
feed, Xavier,” he said calmly. “It was best she fed on her mate than on someone or something
else.”
“You suggested that she feed on him? You suggested that he let that thing feed on him?”
Cortan’s wizened brown eyes narrowed. “That thing is still kin, Xavier, and your son’s mate.
You would do best to acknowledge her existence.”
“She’s not even completely were!” he argued. “She’s a half-blood with vampire genes. And she
will not be my son’s mate!”
Damien growled and took a menacing step towards Xavier. “You touch one hair on her head and
I swear you’ll regret it. Kin or not you will not touch my mate!”
“Stupid boy, you would breed a half-blood and risk tainting your family’s name?”
“I ruin nothing by claiming her as mine!” Damien roared. “It isn’t my problem that you can’t
accept humans as potential mates for us!”
“She’s not completely human! She’s not even a half-blood!”
“She is still mine!”
Cortan stepped between them with a firm glare. “Xavier, you will not touch the girl. Damien,
she’s yours to protect but you both need to put this aside long enough to do what we’ve come
here for.”
Damien glared at his father but didn’t say anything.
“We have work to do,” Cortan said. “I suggest we get-“
“Damien?” Madison’s voice shook and she rolled over, grabbing onto the warm body sitting
beside her on the bed. “Oh god,” she moaned.
Before Kane could pull away she’d bared her fangs, the tips just pressing into his skin. Damien
yanked her head back and she growled and glared at him, angry that he’d taken away what she
wanted. He thrust his arm at her and she hungrily sank her teeth into him.
The others watched as she fed, watched as Damien gritted his teeth against each pull of her
mouth, watched when she pulled away and lovingly licked the wounds she’d created until they
closed. Her head fell forward onto his chest as he shook feeling back into his arm. “Thank you,”
she mumbled.
When she’d fallen asleep Cortan said softly, “She feeds because she’s weak. She’ll need to feed
more often for the next day or so but each feeding will make her stronger until she feels normal.”
He sat at her side and placed a loving hand on her cool cheek. “She won’t sleep this much after
each feeding but she deserves an explanation. Can you give her that, Damien?”
He shook his head. “I can’t.” His expression brightened grimly. “But I know who can.”

When Troy checked on Damien the following afternoon, Madison was just pulling away. She
looked better than yesterday though the color of her eyes hadn’t returned. She frowned at the
intrusion but Damien put a comforting arm around her shoulders and motioned for him to enter.
“Sorry to interrupt.”
“It’s ok,” Damien assured him and gestured for him to sit at the end of the bed. “What’s going
on?”
The past fourteen hours had been brutal. Scouts from the three packs had picked up the scent of a
rogue wolf, but they lost trail after a few miles of tracking. In the meantime pack members were
warned to steer clear of the area until the pack could be found. “This area is neutral to all of us
and some of the elders think their interest is purely for settlement purposes. Since members of
each pack reside within this area, particularly in town, they’re still trying to figure out how
settling this region is going to work.”
Madison’s interest in their conversation piqued and she asked, “What’re you guys talking
about?”
“Business,” Damien said.
“I got that much but Troy keeps referring to packs and a wolf. I’ve never seen any except the one
from our run.”
Troy glanced at Damien who took this as his cue. “There’s a rogue pack in this area,” he
explained. “We’re trying to determine what they want before someone gets hurt.”
“Ah, I see. Good luck with that. You’re more than welcome to stay as long as you need. I need to
get to town though. I think I’m scheduled to work today.”
“Actually, you’re not. Gabe’s coming out to see you and should be here in a little bit.”
The statement confused her but she shrugged. “That’ll be nice, I suppose, but I should probably-“
She stopped when she spotted the red marks on Damien’s arm. “What happened?”
She reached out to touch his arm but he brushed her hand aside. “It’s nothing, Madison.”
She stared at him, her brow furrowed. “Nothing? What happened, Damien?” She gripped his arm
then noticed the same marks elsewhere. “Oh my god! Damien, what-“
A knock at the door sent a relieved Troy away but he returned grim faced with Gabe. The door
closed behind them and Gabe offered Madison a tight smile and nothing else. She glanced
nervously from one face to the other and licked her lips. She had a feeling the news wasn’t going
to be good.

Timothy Parker, councilmember to Xavier Stone, was thirty-seven when he saw her. One look
was all it took and he knew she was his. She was beautiful, dirty blond waves, dark gray eyes,
fair skin marred only by the freckles across her cheeks.
Marjorie Ellison was twenty-four when she met Timothy and he was everything her dreams were
made of. Tall, dark hair, dark eyes, tanned skin bearing scars from his past. Yes, he was much
older than her, thirteen years, but she didn’t care.
They met in Cave’s End’s police station. He was there chatting with one of the officers and she
was there to deliver lunch from Evie’s Parlor, a restaurant a few blocks away. He caught her
eye just as she did his and was smitten, for lack of a better word.
He tracked her down at Evie’s and asked her out a week later. Of course she said yes and after
just a few months he proposed. Before she turned twenty-five they were married.
Marjorie didn’t know much about her husband’s family, just that he was recently estranged from
them. Timothy knew she had no family, that her parents had died under mysterious
circumstances shortly after her twentieth birthday.
Marjorie was pregnant when she turned twenty-six and died birthing their daughter, Madison
Marjorie Parker. Timothy, while celebrating the birth of their daughter, mourned the loss of his
beloved Marjorie.
“She was my life and my love, the only woman I dared to claim,” he wept at her funeral.
The years that went by introduced Madison to a father who was loving and attentive, stern and
disciplinary. He was a tender menace to the boys who would have pursued her and though it
annoyed her at first she never denied him his protective presence in her life. The exception was
Kane Rifter, a boy from school that, for whatever reason, Timothy had taken a liking to and
allowed near his daughter.
She would ask about her mom and he would tell her stories of their brief time together. And
every year they visited her grave to place flowers and leave handwritten cards. Madison learned
to love her mother through her father, learned that she was a lot like her.
She would ask about his family. Sometimes he would shrug off her questions, other times he
would answer with tearful, choked out words. He did mention his own father, a man she never
met, saw what he looked like from a photo he had sent.
And fell in love with him then.
He looked just like her dad and the words he wrote in his letters were full of love and concern
for his son and his daughter. In one particular letter, he included a copy of his will. It stated the
property he was leaving for Timothy and instructions for the barn and cottage that came with it.
“Look, honey,” Timothy said, pointing to a clause in the will. “It says the property goes to you if
anything happens to me.”
She didn’t like to talk about death, he knew that, but asked, “What does that mean?”
Timothy smiled. His smiles always warmed her heart and drew her in. “It means you’ll have a
place of your own.”
At one time, Madison had asked why they lived in Cave’s End if they didn’t have any family
there, but Timothy said he never had a reason to leave. It was good enough for her and they
spent their time celebrating birthday and holidays together, creating a home of love and
memories.
Timothy introduced her to Gabe Wright shortly after her fifteenth birthday. “He’s a friend from
way back when,” he chuckled as the two men traded stories of growing up.
He was the first and only friend Madison ever knew her father to visit or have over. And Gabe
because a second father to her, someone she could count on. He became, like Kane, a constant
presence in her life and took up the role of protector on her eighteenth birthday.
It was the birthday Timothy never celebrated and the birthday she didn’t care to remember.
He’d been run down crossing the street to the diner to visit Gabe. The driver, a teen, had
stopped but the damage was done. With little fanfare, she buried him next to her mother and
locked away any memories of that day.
Gabe had done what he could to comfort her but she didn’t want it. She carried on like before,
stopping only to take on the daunting task of renovating the barn and cottage at her
grandfather’s request in his will. She did it without complaining, without losing her pleasant
disposition.
Madison stared out her bedroom window, the cup of tea forgotten on the nightstand as she
replayed the monologue of her life over and over in her brain. It had echoed in her brain for more
than a week and for more than week she hadn’t been able to leave her cottage. It wasn’t shame,
she’d realized, that was keeping her locked away. It was accepting who and what she was.
She looked in the mirror and frowned at her reflection. Aside from the color of her eyes she
appeared to be the same. The dull ache in her jaw was still annoying but she could tolerate it
better now. The unmistakable hunger that followed that ache wasn’t easily tolerated or ignored
and once she’d found herself ready to tear the house apart from her craving.
She looked away, back out the window, the frown disappearing as she watched several men walk
by. Kane and Gabe were among them and she watched forlornly as they laughed and talked with
the others. The urge to join them bubbled up inside of her chest but she pushed it down.
She saw a woman walk by and pressed her hands to the glass. The woman’s head swung in her
direction and she smiled and waved then gestured for her to join them. She backed away from
the window with a shake of her head. She couldn’t go out there, not like this.
But Gabe had explained that everyone she knew, save for Damien and Troy, had been
handpicked by himself and her father.
“Every person you know in Cave’s End was picked to watch over you,” Gabe explained. “Abby
and Kane aren’t your friends by coincidence. They are your friends by choice.”
“But not mine.”
“Not at first, no. They are like you but not. They are called purebloods while you are a half-
blood.”
She frowned. “I’m not a half-blood,” she said flatly. “I heard as much.”
Damien was startled by her revelation but she chose to ignore him.
Gabe smiled sadly. “It’s true, you’re not. There was more to your mother than even your father
knew, but maybe he didn’t know because she didn’t know.”
She looked at the people in the room – Xavier, Cortan, Gabe, Ray, Abby, Kane, Damien and
Troy – and panicked welled up inside of her. “So what am I?”
Cortan answered, “You are a half-blood, my dear child, but you carry a recessive vampire
gene.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning you’ll need to feed like one.”
She grimaced. “But am I one?”
He shook his head. “You’re not. You only carry the traits but you will not become one, just like
you’ll never become a full werewolf like your father.”
She bit her lip. “So what you’re saying, essentially, is that I’m a freak with no real place in this
world.”
Cortan’s face hardened. “Children of weres and vampires are not freaks,” he said coldly. “They
are still children. Your father was denied the chance to give you a place to belong-“
“I wouldn’t have belonged there even if he was given the chance,” she interrupted. “At some
point, the recessive genes would’ve shown up and then what?”
“Your recessive genes are only present because of him.” He gestured towards Damien.
She frowned. “What does he have to do with anything?”
“Weres and vampires are destined to only have one mate, one person that they are committed to
for life,” Cortan explained. “You are his mate and he is yours.”
She stared at Damien, jaw hanging open. “Wait a minute! That means- You’re the reason-
Shit!” She scrambled out of bed and away from them.
Abby stepped forward. “Maddie, please, just listen. It’ll make sense-“
“No!” she yelled. “If-if he’s my mate then-then-“ Realization dawned and she felt sick. “You-
you let me-“ She glanced at his arm. “Why would you- You knew what I was but you-“ She
threw up on the floor.
Damien came around the bed but she shrank away from him. “Madison, it was necessary.”
Tears clouded her eyes and she held up a hand to keep him back. “Necessary?” she echoed.
“Necessary? Necessary for what, Damien?”
He dragged a blanket onto the floor to soak up her vomit. “It was necessary to keep you healthy
and sane. If you didn’t feed you would’ve gone crazy and hurt yourself and someone else.”
She wiped madly at her cheeks and backed away as he stepped closer. “Don’t-don’t come any
closer,” she pleaded. “Please! I don’t want-“
“And I’ve told you before that it’s ok,” he said firmly. “It’s better me than anyone else,
Madison.”
“Eventually you’ll hunger less but you shouldn’t ignore the need right now,” Cortan cautioned.
“You’re both crazy,” she whispered and dove over the bed away from him. “I won’t do this. I
can’t do this!”
Damien smiled tenderly as he came around to stand in front of her. “You can, Madison.” He
grabbed her arms before she could run. “It’s a necessity that I understand.” His hands went to
frame her face. “You won’t hurt me.”
She vehemently shook her head. “Please don’t make me do this! Please!”
“I have to because you’ll go mad if you don’t.” His patience was amazing as he waited for her
act and it didn’t take long.
The hunger broke through and with a growling sob she sank into his throat. He stumbled back
from the force of her bite. She’d only fed once before from his neck and it hurt now like it did
then. He closed his eyes against the pain – this was necessary.
Madison had to admit she felt better after that moment but undeniable guilt had crept over her
and she’d fled to her cottage. She’d managed to ignore everyone for the first few days but when
Damien had come by a few days ago she’d reluctantly let him in. He wanted to make sure she
was ok and to let her know what was going on.
“The scouts located the wolf and his pack,” he said. “They’re about four miles northeast of
here.”
She mentally drew a map of the location and frowned. “There’s a plateau in that direction. It’s
surrounded by trees, keeps it pretty well hidden. No roads.”
He was surprised. “Could you show us how to get there?”
“No.”
He frowned. “Madison, we need to know who they are.”
“Then you can find them on your own. I won’t go out there. I don’t need to-“ She stopped but
the implied thought hung heavy between them.
“Madison, you wouldn’t go alone. We’d be with you. I would be with you.”
She looked at him with uncertainty. “Damien, you can’t keep offering yourself to me when I’m
hungry. That’s stupid and insane.”
He smiled. “Maybe but not to me. I’m obligated to protect you, to see to your comfort.”
“Even if it means giving up yours.”
“Yes, even if it means giving up mine.” He took her hand, her flesh cool against hi. “Show us,
Madison, please.”
She couldn’t be talked into leaving but she drew them a detailed map with precise directions and
they’d gone on their search. Like today, they left in groups. Unlike today, they hadn’t been
smiling or laughing as they walked away. Today was a celebration, a welcoming for the new
pack. They were forty-eight strong, men, women and children, some purebloods, some half-
bloods, some human. They’d banded together, Damien had proudly reported, because of their
interest in welcoming all weres into their community.
“Their alpha feels its necessary for all weres to know they have a place to belong,” he explained
last night. “He knows about you and wants to meet you. He’s never meet a were with a vampire
gene, Madison.”
She frowned warily. “Neither have you.”
“That’s true,” he conceded, “but now that I have I want you to meet him. His name’s Peter
Foreman. His mate is Harmony. They have five kids, all boys.”
Despite how she felt she couldn’t help but chuckle. “I feel sorry for her!”
Damien chuckled too. “So do I!” His amusement faded and quietly added, “He also apologizes
for attacking us that day we ran together.”
She looked at him with surprise. “That was him?”
He nodded. “Yes. He thought we were intruders, hunters, looking to kill his pack. He recognized
what I was after you’d left but was confused by you.”
“I would be too.”
“Well, he’s not anymore. He figures you’re the best example to some of his pack of what a
hybrid-were looks like.” He studied her with appreciation. “You’re more than a half-blood
were, Madison, more than a half-blood vampire. You’re special and powerful and stronger than
you realize. You’ll never fully be one or the other but the combination of what you are sets you
apart, makes you a force to be reckoned with.”
He drew her into his arms and held her gently against him. “I’m honored to be your mate,
Madison,” he said softly. “I’m honored that my mate is what she is and I can’t wait to claim you
like I should.”
Damien’s acceptance of her was still a little mind-boggling even though his unspoken promise of
claiming her made her shiver with anticipation. But she still couldn’t be talked into going so she
watched from the solitude of her cottage as they walked by, bearing gifts for their new friends.
Damien came into view with Troy, Cortan and Ray and her heart lurched at the sight of his
powerful form. He must’ve felt it because he glanced over at her. He didn’t smile, didn’t wave,
simply stood and stared. He said something to the others and they moved a bit off then stopped.
She watched as he came to her window and pressed his hands to it.
Come with me. His voice beckoned in her head and she could hear the anticipatory beating of his
heart as he waited.
“Damien, what if-“
I’ll be right there if you need to.
“But-“
Madison, you can’t hide forever. Come with me.
She chewed on her lower lip and minutes of silence ticked between them until she finally
nodded. He broke into a wide grin and disappeared only to knock on the front door a second
later. She swung it open and was instantly swept into his arms as he feathered kisses over her
upturned face.
A low rumble vibrated in his chest and she recognized the moment the kisses turned from joyful
to passionate. Her heart thumped loudly in her ears and her blood roared through her veins as his
lips hungrily found hers. She didn’t care if people were waiting, didn’t care if they knew either.
She returned his passion kiss for kiss, stroke for stoke, moan for moan, heat for heat.
Damien trailed his mouth over her jaw and cheeks, down the column of her throat and up the
other side. His heart raced as he kicked the door shut. He pushed her backwards into the
bedroom, closing the door before breaking contact to close the drapes. He found her in the
darkness, waiting for him.
Time was forgotten as they came together, found their release in each other. They sank their
teeth into each other, drinking long and deep on their final release. In the darkness and silence of
her room she could hear him whisper into her mind, You’re mine. I will love, honor, cherish,
provide for and protect you for all time.

Someone was knocking on the front door and Madison heard it first. She pushed Damien’s arm
away, tugging on clothes as she went to answer it. Through the peephole she saw it was Gabe.
“Hey,” she said and let him in.
He smiled. “Feeling ok?”
She smiled back. “Better than before.”
Damien emerged from the bedroom in just his jeans. “Hey, Gabe.”
Gabe chuckled. “Morning. Since you’re up, I won’t prolong this. Cortan is calling for the mating
ceremony for you both to happen tonight.”
“Mating ceremony?” she repeated.
“It’s the equivalent of a marriage ceremony. It’s as binding as a marriage ceremony, completely
legal, but we just call it a mating ceremony.”
She glanced at Damien, suddenly nervous. “Oh. But why?”
Gabe laughed. “You need a reason besides the obvious?”
She blushed and Damien chuckled. “I guess that makes sense.”
Damien looped an arm around her waist. “I have no objections. You?” She shook her head.
“Then we’ll have it tonight.”
“Good. We’ll prepare everything in the barn. There will be more people tonight than there are
right now. The other council members and elders should be arriving in a few hours. Be ready by
eight.” He kissed Madison’s cheek and shook Damien’s hand. “Don’t be late.”
When he’d gone Madison looked at Damien. “What happens after the ceremony?”
“We settle down, have some kids, enjoy life.”
He said it so easily. “But where do we live? Do we live with your pack? Do we stay here?’
“We can live wherever is comfortable for you,” he answered. “If you’d like to stay here just say
so. If you’d like to move, just let me know.”
“But what about your dad?”
“What about him? We’d still be under the protection of the pack even from here.”
“And our kids? When we have kids do we explain to them what they are from the beginning? I
don’t want to hide this from them, Damien. It wasn’t fair that I had to live without knowing.”
“Then we tell them.”
“Just like that?”
“Yes, just like that. The decisions aren’t hard for me to make, Madison. You’re my mate and I
want your life with me to be comfortable. If it means going out of my way to accommodate you
on certain things then I’ll do it.”
She nodded. “What if our kids are more like me and need to… you know?”
“Then we provide them the means to feed. It just can’t be from one of us.”
She studied him in silence. It was all still so much to take in but right there, in that moment,
when he returned her steady gaze she knew he would be there every new discovery she made,
good or bad. She closed her eyes and turned into his embrace. There it was, that sense of
belonging to someone who accepted her as she was.

In the master suite, Madison settled into Damien’s side, listening to his deep breathing as he
slept. The mating ceremony had taken place a few hours ago and the celebration was still in full
swing. She smiled as the low hum of conversation wafted down the hall, stopping at the bedroom
door.
She’d met Peter and Harmony Foreman who promptly invited her to their commune for a visit.
“Once the honeymoon’s over of course,” Peter chuckled, a knowing gleam in his making
Madison blush.
They’d mingled with their guests before quietly retreating to the sanctuary of their room. As his
hands slowly undressed her he said softly, “I love you, Madison. I promise to always love you.”
She’d watched his eyes soften as she helped him out of his shirt. “I love you, Damien. Thank
you.”
She hadn’t had to explain her gratitude; his smile told her he understood. Their loving was gentle
and slow, passionate and smoldering and now he lay asleep beside her like he would for the rest
of their lives.
The dark ring on her finger bore the Stone family crest, three vertical lines crossed over three
diagonal lines, a sign of protection over the wearer. Her fingers ran over the sapphires embedded
in the cool metal, the color symbolizing the eye color of all males born into the Stone family, the
gem a seal of belonging.
Closing her eyes she wove her fingers with Damien’s, felt them tighten around her own and
smiled. Beneath her ear and in her mind she could hear the steady beating of his heart and
could’ve sworn she heard it speak to her: You have my heart like I have yours.
 ###
About the Author:
M.B. Forester-Smythe’s hope is to publish stories that formed in her head, were given life in her
heart, and penned to relieve the need to make it more real. Each story isn’t simply a fantasy; each
story is about a character that has plagued her enough to be written about.

Books by M.B. Forester-Smythe:

Gracelynn
Edith
Brenin