Eight o’clock comes faster than I expected. I want it over with but at the same time I am scared that it won’t work. I had the kitchen prepare a picnic basket for my surprise for Markus. I want him to think of this as a date and to bring his guard down. I arrived a little before eight and called mom. I hid the phone in my pocket and tried to act as natural as possible. A lot harder than I thought. I am so nervous.
It only takes a couple more minutes, which seem to feel like hours, when Markus shows up. He sees the basket and smiles. “You packed a picnic for us?”
“Well, actually I had the kitchens pack it for us. But I thought of it.” I smile and show him the basket.
“Well, let’s get down there. I picked a cell that was relatively clean. I want you to be comfortable. Besides, we don’t want anyone to see us.” He takes my hand and leads me towards the cells.
Once we pass into the underground tunnel that leads to the cells. I realize the flaw in my plan. What if my cell loses service down here? I pray to the goddess that it doesn’t. I sent a quick link to the Luna to check if she is still connected. She quickly replies that she is. Prayers can be answered. He takes me to the last cell. It is cleaner than the others and it looks like he put a clean blanket on the cot.
“I know it isn’t much or very romantic even, but it will have to do.” He brings me into the cell.
“It’s fine. We will have better later.”
He pulls me into his arms. “That’s right. My mate. You will be with me for a long time. We will have many good times together.”
“That we will. After all this mess with Darius is sorted out.”
“I am thinking, why wait? Everyone knows. We could just break the bond with him now.”
“But Markus,” I pull back a little. “You said that could hurt him really bad.”
“Well, yeah it could. But it hurts me to be apart from you. He looks better now. I know he isn’t all better, but he doesn’t look like he is ready to die at any moment.” He takes the basket from me and sets it on the cot. “Why should we wait anymore? He made this mess. Is it so bad that he feels a little pain?”
“I think we should wait until after the surgery.”
Markus cornered me in the cell. “You are so beautiful. I can’t hold off anymore. I need you.” He lifted me up wrapping my legs around him.
“Markus, we can’t. It will hurt Darius.”
“I don’t fucking care.” He breathes into my skin. “You’re my mate, not his. You were always mine.”
I push him back getting on my feet again. “I know what it feels like. I can’t do that to anyone.” I push him back so that I can get distance between us.
“Why are you pushing me away? You should feel the same as me.”
I have to think fast. “I know the pain Markus. I can’t do it.” I retreat back to the door. I have to be quicker than him. Pretending to lean against the door, I act like I am giving us space. “Why did you want me alone?”
He smirks. “I figured that was obvious. I want my mate. I don’t care if he’s hurt anymore.”
Quickly I push the door open and rush out slamming it behind me. Locking him inside. “Only I’m not your mate, am I?”
He slowly stalks towards the bars. Anger evident in his features. “You lied. You spoke to the goddess. Somehow I knew you would find out. You are too damn smart for your own good.”
“Why Markus? Why do all this?”
“First off, when we met ten years ago. I didn’t plan this. I fell in love with you on that mountain. I didn’t even know what it was then. You were so pretty. Laying among the flowers. I knew I needed you for my mate. When I was twelve I met this witch. She was a weird woman. She said I had an ancient spirit inside me. Not sure what the hell that meant. She wanted to see where it would take me. I asked her if she would tell me who my mate was. She said it was an easy enough spell for her.” He is pacing as he recounts the story. “Only she would show me in visions. One I asked for and one I didn’t. I agreed only to see your face again. She performed the spell. The first vision was of your cousin. She was older, laying in bed with another wolf. I felt sick. Then my second vision came and it made me sicker. You were embracing my pathetic brother. You were both happy. Darius would never have you. I tried to come back after that. The stupid Alpha in charge said I hadn’t completed my training and wouldn’t let me. So, I came to the witch again. I begged her to switch mate bonds. Give my brother the no good slut. I wanted you. She warned me it was stronger magic and it could have some dire consequences. I told her I could care less. I just wanted you. The next full moon she performed the spell. This was before Darius even met you. I hoped it would prevent any attraction on his part. Only it seemed to make him obsessed. The drawback was that every time he touched you, I felt it. Every push or shove. I felt your pain. That only enraged me more. I returned to the witch. She needed to make him stop. That’s when she planted the tumor. At that point I felt no remorse. He couldn’t have you. You were always mine. Even now you are still mine. Surgery isn’t going to help Darius. It’s only going to grow back. Eventually he will die.”