Chapter 75

Amanda shifted in the bed she was lying in. She stretched out her arm and felt the bed was cold next to her. Amanda opened her eyes and saw the bed was empty next to her. Amanda’s eyebrows furrowed. Where was Hudson? Amanda got up and started to get ready. She walked down the stairs in the Pack House. Everything seemed quiet in the house, too quiet. She walked into the kitchen to find no one in the kitchen. Odd? Martha was always doing something in the kitchen. But the room was empty. The stove and oven were off, and the room was left dark. Amanda turned to head outside.

The front door was left ajar. She reached for the handle and pulled the door open. When she stepped out onto the steps, her heart nearly stopped. There was a ceremony set up on the front lawn. Everyone in the pack was seated in the chairs. She continued to walk toward the ceremony. Two people were standing at the front. Amanda grabbed for her chest when she saw Hudson standing at the front, promising his love to someone else. Amanda started to walk down the aisle, but something blocked her from moving closer, she lifted her hand and pounded on the invisible shield, but there was no sound, she tried to scream, but no one could hear her. Amanda watched as Hudson lifted the veil to reveal who was under there. Amanda’s eyes widened when she saw Ophelia.

Ophelia turned and looked at her. “He’s mine now.”

Hudson leaned down and bit Ophelia on the neck. Amanda reached up and felt the pain from the bite he gave her, but now there was only blood. No, this isn’t real.

Hudson turned to Amanda. His eyes were filled with anger and hate as he looked at her. “I, Hudson Harlow, reject you, Amanda Jenkins as my true mate.”

“NOOOOOOO!” Amanda screamed as she bolted upright in the bed and cried. Hudson pulled her into his arms.

“Shh, shh. Everything is okay. It was just a bad dream,” he told her as he tried to calm her down with his voice. He rubbed her arms and back as he continued to murmur into her ear.

Amanda just sat there, focused on her breathing, and felt Hudson’s touch. She was starting to calm down.

Hudson placed his finger under Amanda’s chin and lifted her face to look at him. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Amanda sighed as she pulled her chin away and rested her head against his chest.

Hudson slowly leaned back in the bed, so his back was resting on the headboard. He patiently waited for Amanda to talk.

“It felt real,” Amanda started. She told Hudson about the nightmare. “You looked at me with so much hate, like you did back in high school, and you rejected me. You rejected me with my real name.”

Hudson leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “It was just a dream.”

Amanda looked up at him. “Please tell me the ceremony won’t be held on the front lawn?”

Hudson chuckled as he pulled Amanda closer to him. “The ceremony will not be held on the front lawn,” he confirmed.

Amanda breathed out a sigh of relief. “Thank Goddess.”

Hudson started to stroke Amanda’s hair, “Why don’t you leave where the ceremony will take place to me? I have an idea of where I want the ceremony to be. You just have fun planning everything else with the girls.”

Amanda looked up at Hudson and smiled. He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and kissed her forehead. Willow purred with excitement.

Hudson leaned over and whispered into her ear, “We could finish what we started and complete the bond before the ceremony.”

Amanda giggled as she pushed Hudson away. “The ceremony is just a few days from now. You can wait until then,” she teased before heading into the bathroom to get ready.

Hudson groaned before getting out of bed and doing the same.

***

Tabitha and Marco walked down the broken steps that led to the jails where they kept their prisoners.

“Well, if it isn’t the two lovebirds,” Tristan mocked.

Marco slid open the latch to pass through the tray he held. “Breakfast time,” he said to Tristan.

“Dang! I should have marked that I’m a vegetarian on the breakfast card they passed around this morning when the maid came to clean my cell,” Tristan said with sarcasm.

Marco closed the latch and pulled Tabitha back behind him as Tristan walked closer to the front of the cell.

“Thanks, beautiful,” Tristan said as he stared at Tabitha.

Marco growled, “Don’t talk to her.”

Tristan chuckled. He enjoyed pissing the wolf off. “So when can I request an audience with the soon-to-be new luna?” Tristan asked.

“She doesn’t want to talk to you,” Tabitha answered.

Marco looked at his mate. “Don’t engage with him.”

Tabitha narrowed her eyes at her mate; she didn’t like Marco bossing her around. Marco knew she could take care of herself. Deep down, she knew Marco was only trying to protect her. She nodded her head.

“I’m sure your mate can care for herself, can’t you, beautiful?” Tristan continued to taunt the wolf.

Marco stepped forward, but Tabitha wrapped her hand around his arm and pulled him back. “Don’t engage, remember?”

Marco still stood there tense. He didn’t like that Tristan was messing with his girl, but he knew this guy dealt in magic. Strong magic. Something he didn’t want to mess with. Marco turned to look at Tabitha. He wrapped his arm around her, and they headed for the stairs.

“Beautiful, can you do me just one favor?” Tristan asked.

They both stopped and turned to look at Tristan.

“Can you ask Amanda how she’s been sleeping?” je asked with a devilish smile lurking on his face.

Marco and Tabitha continued up the stairs. Tabitha frowned. Why would he want to know how Amanda was sleeping?

Marco pulled Tabitha into the kitchen, where they found Amanda and Hudson finished eating their breakfast.

“Perfect timing,” Amanda said as she got up. “Want to come with me to find a dress for the ceremony?”

Tabitha wasn’t entirely in the conversation but heard bits of it. “Yeah, sounds great,” she answered.

Marco looked at Tabitha. He mind-linked her.

Marco: Let it go, Tabitha. He’s only trying to start trouble.

Tabitha looked at Marco. She knew he was right, but she couldn’t leave it alone.

Amanda walked over and jumped up for Hudson to catch her. She leaned over and gave him a deep kiss.

“I’ll miss you,” she told him.

“Mmmm. I think I’ll miss you more. Now go and have some fun,” he told her as he put her back down and smacked her on the backside. Amanda yipped at the hit but smiled at her mate before she left the room.