A couple of weeks later Ashley and I moved into our own place. A three bedroom apartment. That gives each of us our own room and the kids can share. I am just starting to get used to our routine. I go to work. Ashley goes to her appointments. She is going to start at the restaurant in a couple more weeks. We worked it out with the boss that we will do opposite shifts so we don’t have to find someone to take care of Sam. At this point there is more breast milk in our fridge than actual food. Sam eats a lot. He is a wolf though, so what do you expect?
Ashley had an appointment today when there was a knock at the door. I am not really expecting anyone. Sometimes Daniel comes to check on us. He’s a nice enough guy. Actually probably too nice. But when I open the door, I am greeted by a sight that stops my breath. Markus stands at my door leaning against the frame. He looks as dashing as ever.
“I told you I would find you.” He smiles as he comes in.
I am still too shocked to say anything as I step back. Markus doesn’t give me much of a choice, he pulls me into his arms and kisses me like he hasn’t seen me in years. Sam crying in the other room pulls us out of it.
“What is that?”
I moved away from him. “My roommates baby.” I leave Markus standing there shocked as I go pick up Sam. I bounce Sam around as I start warming his milk. “What are you doing here Markus?”
“I told you that I would find you.” He looks so confident. Pleased with himself.
“Yeah, and I told you that I am not going back.” I kind of glare at him. Not that I am not happy to see him, but I don’t want to go back.
“Actually you didn’t. You can’t hide forever. I need you to come back with me.”
I turn and look at him. “Why? It’s not like I can even really be with you. I belong to Darius. Someone who thinks I am nothing.” I test the milk and start feeding Sam. “Did he start the treatments?”
“He told us everything. About Sasha, all of it. Dad was pissed. Told him that he needed to make it right. He started taking some meds. They make him sick. He won’t do the surgery without you.” He comes closer. “He told us about you being pregnant too. He wants to be better. Please help him.”
I sigh, “I can’t leave Ashley.”
“She’s a human.” I don’t like his tone when he says that.
I roll my eyes. “Doesn’t make her less of a person. Plus her son isn’t.”
“I’m sorry that came out wrong. I just meant that she isn’t pack. What do you mean her son isn’t?” He looks at me confused.
I smile down at Sam. “His father is a wolf. He’s half blood. His father tried to kill the baby while she was pregnant with him. Almost killed them both. Besides last I checked I wasn’t pack either.”
“I don’t care what you think, you are not a rogue.”
Ashley comes into the apartment. “You would not believe what a pain in the ass that was.” She sheds her coat before realizing that someone else is here. “Oh, hi. I’m Ashley. You must be a friend of Sophia’s.”
“You could say that.” Markus is curt. He’s never like that.
“This is Markus.”
Ashley gets a look of recognition. “Oh, you are alone right?”
“I didn’t bring my brother if that is what you are asking.” Again it’s like he is aggressive and mean.
“Markus, why are you acting like that?” I give Sam to Ashley. Then turn back to him. “What is your problem? You never act like this.”
“She is lying to you.”
I look at Ashley. “What is he talking about?”
“I am not human. I am a witch. That is what he is referring to. Isn’t it?” She turns to him with her last question.
“That and that the father of the baby didn’t abuse you. He has been looking all over for you and that baby.”
“Alright I embellished a little, but he didn’t want him. We fought about it. I got hit by a car after the fight and was in the hospital for months. He didn’t come find me. I took it as a sign that I was nothing to him. So I came to the same place that she did. It’s lucky that we met each other. She really is a great woman. Too bad your brother snatched her from you.”
“He’s been looking for you for a year. Since you left. Not a bunch of people were willing to help him look for a witch. I was too busy looking for Sophia to help.”
She looked embarrassed. “Was he really looking for me?”
“He’s contacted me multiple times. The last time was a couple of days ago. What do you want me to tell him?” Markus is stiff.
She bit her bottom lip. “I don’t know.” She left the room with Sam.
“See, I can’t leave her. What does Darius need me for anyway. Obviously he can find girls to warm his bed. He doesn’t need me. He told me I was nothing.”
“Did he do it again?”
I shake my head. “No, not since the day I left. I don’t even want to know who it was with.”
“I don’t know. I punched him. I didn’t ask. I just made sure that he felt some pain for what he did to you. He’s in a bad way. He just asks for you every day. He doesn’t leave his room. We don’t know what else to do.”
“What about Sasha? She is supposed to be his mate. Can’t she help him?”
“We tried. She won’t be anywhere near him. Said he is weak and she wouldn’t want him for a mate anyway. She is a real piece of work. I swear if she wasn’t a girl. Dad even talked about using the Alpha voice on her, but we decided that Darius might just chase her out anyway.”
I sigh and plop down on the couch. “I guess since you found me I have to do something. I want Ashley to come with me though. I don’t want to leave her here alone. I have to tell my boss something.”
Markus sits on the couch and pulls me into his arms. “Come back for me. I need you.”
I curl into his chest. “I missed you.”
He kisses the top of my head. “I missed you too. When I wasn’t looking for you I was in our spot. I slept there. I just wanted to be close to you. Everyone knows that you are my mate now. Dad is trying to find a way to fix things. They haven’t found anything yet but they are still trying.”
“Is Darius really that bad?”
“I sugar coated it. He is really bad.”
“Let me go talk to Ashley and call my boss. I’ll pack a bag and head back with you.” I stand getting out of his arms.
Ashley is in the baby’s room, she looks like she is crying. “Ashley.”
“You probably hate me right now.”
“No, I want you to come with me. I want you to come back to my pack with me.”
“But I lied.”
“I understand that things don’t always go as planned. I am not going to hold it against you. I will hold it against you if you don’t go talk to him.”
“I will go with Markus. But you shouldn’t. You really were treated badly by him. You shouldn’t have to go back to someone like that.”
“I am not going to let the father of my child die, just because he refuses to do the treatment without me there. It’s just not in me.”
“Still you deserve better.”
I laugh. “Don’t I know it. Now get a bag packed. We are leaving soon.”