Chapter 69

Amanda’s heart fluttered as she felt Hudson’s lips upon hers. Her head was screaming something else, that this was wrong. Her tears burned as they ran down her cheeks. “No!” she yelled as she pulled back from him. She was tired of crying over him. He had hurt her one too many times and didn’t want him to see her cry. She wiped her face on the side of each of her arms and refused to look at him.

Hudson put his hands up in surrender showing that he meant her no harm.

“Amanda, just hear me out. Please,” he pleaded.

Amanda was stuck; it was not like she had any place that she could go. She was still bounded by the manacles. Amanda continued to look away from Hudson. She didn’t want to give him a chance to weaken her with those blue eyes.

Amanda internally groaned.

Hudson took a deep breath before he started. “Ophelia, kept repeating to just say I reject Amanda Stevens. What she didn’t know was that you were adopted and your true birth name is Jenkins. She spelled the bracelet with the wrong name. I had an opportunity to get rid of the bracelet without having to reject you, I knew that you would think that I rejected you because you still don’t know all the rules to be a wolf. I had to take the risk, even if it meant you never forgiving me for making you feel rejected for a moment. Amanda, you have to believe me. I would rather die than ever reject you.”

Amanda still didn’t look at him. Her heart was confused; a part of her wanted to believe that he was telling her the truth, but her head didn’t want to consider anything he was saying was true. Her head was trying to protect her heart and not allow Hudson to hurt her any more than he already had.

He’s telling you the truth, Willow confirmed. He didn’t reject us.

The tears continued to race down her cheeks. Hudson brought up his fingers and started to wipe the tears away, gently touching her cheek. His fingers warmed her skin with his touch. Hudson reached up and yanked the manacles off the wall allowing her arms to drop down to her side, never once letting his eyes look anywhere else but into hers.

“I love you, Amanda Jenkins. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and only you. Will you do me the honor of being my true mate for life?” Hudson asked as he got down on one knee in front of her.

Amanda looked down at Hudson. The flutters were racing up and down her body, and her heart was beating frantically.

Willow was screaming YES in her head.

It was time for her to choose whether she was going to complete the bond and mate for life with Hudson, or say the rejection herself and release them from all of this torture and constant battle they always seemed to be in.

Amanda gulped. She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin, never letting her eyes shift from staring into Hudson’s.

“I, Amanda Jenkins…” She paused as she watched Hudson’s face. His eyes filled with concern but he stayed silent.

Amanda smirked.

“Yes, Hudson. I choose you, to be my mate for life.”

Hudson let out a breath he didn’t realize he'd been holding. He stood up and picked Amanda up into his arms and kissed her, deeply and passionately. Amanda wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with just as much passion and love.

Hudson slowly pulled back and leaned his forehead against hers. He opened his eyes and stared into hers.

“May I?” he asked.

A sly smile slowly came across her lips as she lifted her eyebrow and nodded her head.

Hudson smiled devilishly and Amanda’s heart raced as Hudson tilted her neck and slowly kissed down it until he was in the crook of her neck. He tightened his hold on her as he tilted his head back and his fangs started to grow. Amanda tried to control her breathing while waiting for his teeth to tear into her skin. The pain was quick and it was then replaced with a tingling sensation that rushed throughout her entire body. Amanda started to shake as if something inside her had been awakened. A sensation of her magic flowed with her as she and her wolf connected on another level. The manacles that were still bound to her wrist shook violently and then broke away.

Hudson pulled back as he watched Amanda shake within his hold.

“Amanda, Amanda. What’s wrong? Are you okay?” he asked as he continued to hold her, not knowing what else to do.

Amanda’s eyes flew open and felt she was seeing things in a new light. She lifted her head and looked at Hudson, her love, her mate, and smiled.

“Never felt better,” she told him.

Hudson immediately felt the change in his mate. “Are you and Willow...?”

Amanda nodded with excitement. “Yes, I can feel her all through me. It’s exhilarating.”

Amanda lifted her nose to the air as her eyes turned violet. She had some unfinished business with a certain she/wolf.

Amanda started to make her way to the door.

“Wait, we need to make a plan,” Hudson told her.

Amanda could hear voices in her head, the members of the pack. “Pack’s here,” she told him.

Hudson smiled, it was true. Amanda had finally connected with her wolf. His brows furrowed for a moment. Wait… how could she hear?

Amanda looked at him and pointed to her head. “That’s the witch in me. Now come on, let’s go find Tabitha and Marco.”

Hudson pulled her behind him as he yanked on the door, pulling it off its hinges and slammed the guard with the door. Hudson stepped over the guard, then turned back to Amanda and extended his hand for her to take. She smiled as she took his hand and walked over the mess he had just made.

***

Tabitha was still pissed at her friend and Alpha. She couldn’t believe that he would take the easy way out and reject Amanda. It just didn’t make sense to her.

There were sounds of fighting coming from down the hall as Marco and Tabitha both looked up, and wondered what was happening. Guards rushed into the hall only to be flung back. Hudson walked through first, followed by Amanda.

Tabitha jumped up with excitement and surprise.

Amanda rushed over and melted the binds that were holding Tabitha and Marco. Tabitha pulled Amanda into a hug.

“I thought the rejection was real,” she whispered.

“I did too until I was reminded that I was born a Jenkins,” Amanda said with a smile.

Tabitha's eyes widened when she realized the loophole and then noticed a new mark on Amanda’s neck.

Tabitha sucked in a breath as she pointed to Amanda’s neck. “Did you…are you...?”

Marco walked up behind his mate. “Maybe this discussion should be saved until a later time,” he suggested as they followed Hudson through the exit.