Missy

I sat in the kitchen, helping prepare dinner. Maddox was at training, so I didn't expect to see him until dinnertime.

"What's on your mind?" Miss Marci asked.

I looked up from the potatoes I was peeling. "Oh, um, nothing really," I said. Earlier, my heat flared up again. Luckily, I was able to lock myself in my room while Maddox was away.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. But I'm always here," she said with a warm smile.

"Did you ever find your mate?" I asked.

She chuckled. "Ah, so this is about young Maddox," she said. I nodded. "No, I never had the pleasure of finding a mate."

"Oh, I'm sorry," I said.

"There's nothing to apologize for. I'm thrilled you found yours. Just because I didn't find my mate doesn't mean I didn't experience love."

"Really?"

"Oh yes. Although it usually works out for the better, having a mate doesn't always mean being in love. Some resist the soulmate the Moon Goddess gives them and cannot accept the love it brings."

"So what happened?"

"We were young and in love, and we spent years together. But one day, the Moon Goddess brought him his mate, and we parted ways."

"That's so sad," I said.

"Maybe a little, but I was also happy for his happiness. But I don't think that's a problem for you and Maddox. You two seem very smitten," she said.

"We are!" I said quickly. "That's not it."

"Is this about mating?" she asked with a knowing look.

"How did you know?"

"Well, you aren't marked yet, dear girl. It was only a matter of time before your biology kicked in. I'm guessing you're experiencing your heat?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it started the other night. But I'm not sure if I'm ready for all that."

"What are you afraid of?" she asked.

I paused, thinking. I wasn't sure there was anything to be afraid of. Maddox loved me, and I loved him. I knew he would never hurt me. "Nothing, I guess."

"Then what's holding you back?"

"I-I don't know. Nothing, I guess," I answered. Miss Marci just smiled.

"Maybe you should talk to your mate. Making sure you're on the same page is probably the best first step," she advised. She turned and retrieved the dinner rolls from the oven.

"Busy?" Maddox linked me as we finished dinner.

"Dinner's almost ready," I said.

"Come upstairs," he said.

"Give me a minute," I agreed. I left Miss Marci to finish setting the table and headed upstairs. I assumed he was in my room, having showered after training. He sat shirtless on the bed when I walked in, drying his wet hair with a towel.

"There you are," he said, tossing the towel aside. "Come here." He opened his arms, and I went straight into them. He pulled me onto his lap. "I missed you," he said, nuzzling my nose.

"I missed you, too," I said, kissing him lightly. No matter what was on my mind, I always felt better in his arms.

"I think we should talk about the elephant in the room," he said.

I swallowed. "My heat?"

"Yeah," he said. His hand traced circles on my back. "We haven't mated, and obviously, this will continue until we do."

I nodded. "I know."

"I want you to know that if you aren't ready, we can wait. But if you are, I'd like to mate and mark you, Missy." I gazed into his chocolate eyes. When I didn't respond, he continued. "We've had other things getting in the way, but now that your parents are back, we can spend more time together. I've been ready since our birthday, but I would never want to rush you, heat or not." He cupped my cheek. "What do you think?"

"I'm ready," I said quietly.

His eyes lit up. "Really?" he asked. I nodded. He kissed me, making me laugh. When we pulled apart, he grinned.

"Not tonight," he said. "Tomorrow. There's something I need to take care of first."

"Okay," I said. "Tomorrow." He kissed me again.

"I love you, Missy," he whispered.

"I love you, too, Maddox."

Maddox

I was thrilled she said yes. It had been weeks since I discovered she was my mate, and I'd wanted to mark her ever since. Everything with the vampire situation had put a hold on our lives, though.

Luckily, Luna had already helped me get started. She'd given me the house key, and some wolves had gone over to unboard the windows and clean. When I went by that afternoon, they had cleared most of the dust, and one she-wolf was hanging linens to dry.

They agreed to help me get everything arranged, so I'd undoubtedly be ready by tomorrow night. My mood could only be soured by one thing.

"Hey, M, you should know that Vlad is asking for Missy again," Austin linked me as we went to dinner.

"You've got to be kidding me," I replied. "Why can't he leave my mate alone?"

"He's adamant about speaking with her. We're only allowing his father to visit him, but Vlad has requested he not come," Austin said.

"Missy isn't going to talk to him," I said.

"I can understand how you feel—" Austin started.

"No, you can't. Vlad almost got her killed. He fed Warwick information for almost two years," I interrupted.

"Okay, okay," he said. "I just thought you should know. Eventually, it will get to Liam, then Lea, and she may contact Missy since she's her daughter."

"Let me talk to him," I said quickly.

Austin hesitated. "I don't know if that's such a good idea…"

"Please. Let me talk to him. I just want to stop his insistence," I pleaded.

"Fine, but it has to be now. If Liam finds out I let you down there, he might get mad. Better to ask forgiveness than permission, I guess…"

"Fine. Yes. Okay, I'll be there in a minute," I said.

Missy looked up as we entered the dining room. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I said. "But I need to do something. I'll see you after dinner, okay?" I kissed her forehead, and she raised an eyebrow.

"Okay…" she said as I left.

I sped out of the packhouse and across the lawn toward the prison entrance. Austin was waiting. "You got here fast," I commented.

"I was already here; I was about to have dinner with my mate. I'm only giving you ten minutes, then you're done," he said flatly. I nodded. "And if your mate finds out, I wasn't involved."

"That isn't very fair," I said.

"She had a crush on me first," he grinned. I rolled my eyes. "No, but you better be prepared for her to get mad if she finds out."

"It'll be fine. Let's go," I said. I needed Vlad to know that Missy was mine, and after tomorrow, she would bear my mark forever. He needed to leave her alone.

"Alright," he said. "Your funeral." The guard let us in, and Austin led us to Vlad's cell. The cells were closed rooms with barred doors. The prison was substantial, but not many people were held there.

Austin stopped and pointed to the last cell on the left; I nodded. "Ten minutes," he reminded me as he left. I approached Vlad's cell.

He sat on the bed, staring at nothing. I cleared my throat. His head snapped up. "Where's Missy?" he asked.

"She's busy," I said.

"Why are you here?"

"Because you insist on speaking to my mate," I said, controlling my temper. "Why?"

"Does she know you're here?"

"What she knows doesn't concern you. Answer my questions."

"Why should I?"

"Because while you wait to see daylight again, I decide if you ever see her again."

Vlad raised an eyebrow. "And she's okay with that?" he asked cockily.

I growled. "Why do you want to speak to my mate?" I repeated.

"Like you said, I may never see daylight again…" he said, turning back to the wall. "I'd at least like to apologize to her before they kill me."

"What if you don't deserve that courtesy?"

Vlad sighed. "I probably don't. But you don't get to judge that. You weren't in my shoes."

"I've got a few," I said, crossing my arms. His attitude fueled my rage.

"That's it, though. You don't. I'm not saying I deserve forgiveness. I just want to talk to her. The last time I saw her was in Warwick's cell, and I just…" He clenched his fists and closed his eyes. Pain was evident in his expression.

Tension hung in the air. After a minute, he relaxed. "I thought I could keep her safe. I thought he only wanted Alpha Liam." His voice was quiet, remorseful.

"Tomorrow, she'll be mated and marked. If I have any say, you'll never see her again," I said coldly. His head whipped back to me, eyes wide. I turned and left, reveling in his pained cry.

After a short run to relieve my frustrations, I headed back to the packhouse. I went straight to Missy's room.

She was putting away clothes. I sat on the bed; she looked at me. "So, where did you need to go?" she asked.

"Nowhere important," I said, evasively.

"You wouldn't have gone to the prison and spoken with Vlad, by chance?" she accused, turning to face me. My eyes widened. "Did you really think I wouldn't find out?"

"No, I—"

"Why did you go if you were so adamant that I wasn't going to talk to him?" she yelled.

"I'm sorry!" I tried to interject. I stood, taking a step toward her.

"Seriously? What were you even doing? Marking your territory, laying your claim?" Her words stopped me. I threw my hands up.

"Missy, please—"

"Gah, Maddox, you can be so dumb sometimes! I tell you I want you to mark me, then you run off to taunt Vlad!" She was furious. She threw her hands up and turned away.

"Missy, I'm sorry, but it needs to stop. He shouldn't be asking to see you. How are we supposed to move on when he keeps pushing back in?"

"We agreed. You don't make unilateral decisions. We talk about things," she said quietly.

"I know," I told her. "But, darling, he almost got you killed. You still cry in your sleep! How am I supposed to be okay with you going near him or him thinking he has any right to speak to you?"

Missy was quiet. Silence stretched between us.

Finally, she spoke. "Maddox…" she said hoarsely. Then I smelled it. Her scent hit me like a wave, but it was so much more intense. "Maddox…" she said, almost whining. She bent over, clutching her stomach.

I swallowed as Tom fought for control.

"Mate! Mate! Mate!" he chanted.

"No. No. No." I fought back, doing everything to maintain control.

"Maddox, it hurts…" Missy cried.

"It's not time yet," I told my wolf. Missy was in pain, and I needed to help her. I rushed forward, grabbing her. Her skin was burning, and she groaned, clutching her stomach.

"What do you need, darling?" I asked.

"Hot… It's hot…" she mumbled. Without hesitation, I rushed into the bathroom and turned on the shower. I didn't undress either of us; it was probably safer to leave her clothed.

Cold water poured over us. I held her under the stream as she groaned. I breathed slowly, avoiding her scent as I focused on controlling myself.

Missy was still burning. "What do I do?" I asked.

"Touch," she moaned. "Mate touch…" Her eyes were squeezed shut. Had it been this bad the other night? I remembered something about a mate's touch easing the pain. I slid to the floor, keeping her in the water. I balanced her in my lap and began running my hands over her, touching her skin.

Tom pushed harder, but I resisted. I wouldn't hurt her, and I certainly wouldn't mate with her while she was like this. When we mated, it would be slow, special; she would enjoy it.

Missy's body began to relax. Her head slumped against my chest, and she breathed heavily. Slowly her temperature began to drop. I ran my hands up and down her arms as her heat subsided.

When she began to shiver, I went to move us out of the water. Her hand clutched my arm. "Not yet," she whispered.

"Okay," I said. She laid against me, shivering, and I held her, waiting for her to feel better.

After another 15 minutes, Missy said, "I'm okay now." I stood, keeping her in my arms. I turned off the water and stepped out. I set her down and grabbed a towel to wrap around her.

I dried her off. "Thanks," she whispered. I cupped her cheeks.

"I'm sorry I went to talk to Vlad," I said softly. "I can't stand him having anything to do with you."

"Maddox…" she sighed.

"Missy, I'm sorry, but it's a hard line for me. I almost lost you before I even really had you because he was a scared, weak boy. Please, just don't entertain him."

She nodded. I leaned my forehead against hers, and we stood there for a minute.

"Thank you for resisting," she said.

"I'd do anything for you; you know that," I told her.

This revised version improves grammar, punctuation, and flow, making the story easier to read. I've also removed the asterisks from the words, as they were unnecessary and potentially confusing. The context makes the meaning clear.