CHAPTER 8

ABBY POV.

“You know what the strange thing was when I met him?” I asked Audrey as the two of us sat outside on the patio and sipped hot chocolate. “I trusted him, from the moment he approached me, I never felt afraid. I don’t know how to explain it but for some reason, I felt safe with him. I wasn't nervous at all when he took me to his house but then again it could have been all the alcohol that I drank that relaxed me.” I said and Audrey looked at me dreamily.

We had a nice late lunch with my parents and we all chatted up a storm and laughed over drinks and my mother’s fantastic cooking. The evening was quite enjoyable, apart from the small interrogation that I had to undergo about Marcus. I didn’t tell them a lot because I didn’t know him all that well and we quickly sprang to other topics. The only thing that was weird was that my mother was giving me strange looks and I swear that she was looking at my covered neck at some period but the evening went on without a hitch and Audrey, James and I wished them a very happy anniversary.

And now it was starting to get late as my parents had already retired to their bedroom and with the glint in my father’s eye, we thought it best to take our after drinks to my brother’s little home and that was where Audrey and I found ourselves on his little porch. James was busy getting us a few snacks together as he was always hungry, while Audrey and I chatted.

“But it was amazing. The sex was so much better than anything with Josh." I said and Audrey giggled. The memory of Marcus towering over me tingled my skin and I subconsciously rubbed over the covered love bite on my neck. “His father invited me to join them for breakfast with Kate this morning but I refused. Luckily, I told Marcus my whole story last night and he remembered because he declined for me. He invited me for dinner instead then.” I said and Audrey sat there and soaked up every word.

“Well, that is good.” She said just as James came out with a bowl of chips in one hand and a beer in the other and came to sit in between us. The chips balanced on his lap as he wrapped an arm around Audrey. I smiled. They made the cutest couple with Audrey’s temper; she could keep James in line.

"I hope he used a condom," James said as he munched on chips and looked at me seriously. My brain paused for a moment as I tried to think but I couldn’t remember him putting on any. “No, I don’t think he did but I went on birth control when Josh and I started sleeping together." I said but Audrey looked concerned. "You don’t think he would have any deceases or anything like that, do you?” Audrey asks and her eyes widen. “We can take you to the doctor tomorrow and have you checked out." She said and I shook my head. “That’s not necessary, I’m sure there is nothing to worry about.” I said but James shook his head. “Look, little sis. I’m glad you had a romp in the night with some guy to get over Josh but I’ll feel better to have you checked out just to be sure.” He said and I sighed. "Fine, I’ll go, but I am sure that there is nothing to worry about." I said and smiled reassuringly at them.

Audrey and I stayed up late. We just talked. That was the thing about my brother’s girlfriend, she was so easy to talk to and she was the perfect match for James. He is completely crazy about her she about him. I always used to think that I was just as lucky as them to have my perfect match with Joshua... that was until I caught him thrusting into Kate in OUR bedroom. That was the first thing I got rid of when Josh moved out.

“I’m going to bed.” Audrey said with a yawn. Her eyes traveled over to my brother who had already dozed off on the patio lounge chair next to her. She smiled lovingly at him before dropping a kiss on his nose. He scrunched up his nose before he stirred and opened a tired eye and smiled back at Audrey. “Come on, time for bed.” She said and patted his arm. “You’ll be staying over, right?” Audrey asked and James nodded his agreement. “Yeah, it is late, but she’s not getting the bed.” He said as he got to his feet and stretched lazily and grinned at me. I rolled my eyes and looked at the time. It was almost one in the morning. It didn’t seem worth it to go home so I greed before getting to my feet. “That is fine. You can keep your bed; the couch is more comfortable anyway. Just close your door this time, will you?” I said humouredly and Audrey blushed. “What? And let you miss out on so many tips you could learn?” James said, mock offended and grinning jokily at me and I closed my eyes and shuddered. “That is disturbing on so many levels that I am not even going to respond to that.” I said and my brother laughed. We headed inside. They to the bedroom, closing the door firmly behind them and I headed to the closet and took extra blankets and a pillow. I have slept over a few times over the last month that I knew where everything was. I made my bed and got in and stared at the ceiling. A pair of brown eyes swam on the edge of my mind. Eyes that belonged to a man who swept my feet out from under me the moment my eyes landed on his. The love bite on my neck tingled, bringing a smile to my face and my eyes drifted closed as sleep came for me. For the first time in a while, except for last night, of course, I fell asleep without tossing around restlessly.

MARCUS POV.

After I dropped her off at her home, which was at an apartment building, I had to hurry back to attend breakfast. Kate bitched about me coming late and said that it was disrespectful and when on and on and on until my father reminded her of why she called us there. Imagine my shock when she told everyone that she was pregnant and that she would like to have an official mating ceremony to which I laughed out loud too. My uncle looked at me in disapproval before he pinned a glare on my father. My laughter died down just as my father addressed the gathered table in front of us. Kate glared at me furiously as the twig of a human mate sat next to her. It was clear that she had told him of what we were and it was clear that he was scared. I could smell it and I had no doubt the others could too. He briefly met my eyes and they widened when he realized that I was looking directly at him. Strange little man… and to think that this was the man to cause Abby so much heartbreak? Well, I’ll be changing that very soon, if not already. I smirked at the memory of Abby moaning under me as I thrusted into her. My eyes traveled to his neck and I realized that I couldn’t see a mark. He wore a shirt that covered most of the area, but I was sure there was no bite.

”I am afraid your request cannot be granted, my dear.” My father spoke in his business voice, but I could see the satisfying glint in his eyes as Kate leaped up from her chair in anger. Her father, my father’s brother, Peter Moonlock, stood slowly and looked challengingly at my father. I didn’t like it at all. “And why not, Marius? She is my daughter and has found her mate. Your son has no mate and no heir whilst my daughter is the first to carry the next generation that will lead this pack.” Peter said and he brought his fist down onto the wooden table in front of us.

“But that is where you are wrong my dear brother.” My father said and he looked smug as he stared his brother down. Marcus has found his mate.” He announced and the immediate buzzing of chatter filled the air.