Chapter 203 Chapter 203

Chapter 203 Chapter 203
I attempt to hide the involuntary flinch of my body as Damon asks the one question I was hoping he never would because I was terrified of telling him what I had realized days before. Not wanting to cause more pain than he was already feeling, I refuse to lie when asked a direct question, so I swallow my fear and look him in the eye.
"If you had marked me underage," I explain softly, "the council would have come after you without mercy, which would have led to one of two things but the same overall outcomes: one, the council kills you making my wolf crazy or two, the council chases you to the end of the earth making my wolf crazy and unfit to lead. My mom planted herself in the cell to come across as Tiberius' victim instead of the master manipulator behind this whole thing. In the perfect position to take over Silver Run when I was deemed too mentally unstable to take over- if your absence/ murder didn't weaken me to death."
"And my mom just went along with it," he sighs, sadness returning to his words as he stares away at the shed filled with her belongings.
"My mom was manipulative, Damon," I remind him, grabbing his hand and giving him a gentle squeeze of reassurance, "and she had no problem using people's feelings about her to get them to do her bidding; Olivia is included in that. I don't know if she truly knew my moms' whole plan or was too trusting of a childhood friend."
"I guess it doesn't matter now," he says, down the rest of his whiskey in one fell drink before popping the bottle and pouring himself another glass to take a drink. Opening the lid again, Damon reveals the two buttons. Raising his glass, I follow his lead while placing our other hands on the buttons.
"May you both rot in hell!" we sing together as our glasses clink in celebration as our hands push the buttons in front of us. After a ten- second delay, the first detonator blows, followed by several more in a glorious fireworks show as the building collapses in a mass of fire and smoke.
We sit quietly for a few moments, watching the building burn freely while the firefighters are still on standby in case anything happens, as Damon tugs my chin to look him in the eyes. "I want to have our ceremony on the next full moon. I am tired of waiting, and I am tired of living in this chapter of our lives. It's time to start the next one- together."
"But-" I try to say but fail as his lips connect with mine in a breathtaking kiss. His tongue still tastes like alcohol as it mingles with mine. Once he knows I am dazed and slightly breathless, he pulls away, rubbing his nose along mine.
"No, buts," he whispers, as his warm breath fans my face, "we can figure out the rest later. Let's have our ceremonies first." He doesn't allow me to argue or protest as his lips find mine again, leaning against the pillows as he lays me back while the ashes of our mothers' demise float around us like forgotten snowflakes.
ANDREW POV
I don't know how long I have been pacing in the forest where Theo told me to meet him, but it feels like it's been hours. I hear a twig snap to my right as a pissed off Beta comes storming at me, his eyes pitch black as he glares daggers. Despite how angry he is, or the negative energy rolling off his body I cannot help the the relief surging through my veins knowing he is alive and unhurt. Memories from my childhood have been coming in drips and drabs, hidden tidbits changing my perception on things I thought I knew. "What the hell, Andrew?!" Theo roars, pulling me from my thoughts I shouldn't be having as I watch him yell at me. I don't respond as he veins pulse in his neck, and his arms fly about as he continues scolding me but I stay silent. "You couldn't call me and tell me my dad's in a wheelchair?"
Grappling with my distractions I find the words to speak, "I am sorry, your dad-" I explain but he cuts me off storming forward, a power in his steps that makes me shut my mouth. Have his eyes always been that honey brown? Or am I seeing things differently because of the sunlight peaking through the clouds?
"I don't care what my dad said or told you to do," he continues ranting as he steps closer, his scent filling my nose. I take a cautious step back overwhelmed by his closeness, and presence in my personal space. Afraid of what I might do, of how I might ruin one of the best friendships in my entire life by being a stupid idiot. "YOU should have told me! Out of all the people in my life I was expecting more from you."
I don't think I had ever heard him so disappointed in me before, "I am sorry, I wanted to tell you!" I try making my case but I know him well enough to know that he doesn't believe my words.
"Wanting and doing are totally different, Drew, you and I both know that!" Theo's words hold a double edged meaning forcing me to blink and look away while he scoffs with a shake of the head. "I thought....you know what it doesn't matter what I thought, we aren't friends right now. Go back to New Moon, Drew!" He orders trying to storm away while I grab for his hand a warmth spreading from my fingertips up the rest of my arm.
"Theo...please.." but he shoves my hand off, turning around before disappearing into the trees, "go home Andrew, today." I don't move a muscle, staring helplessly after him, defeat starting to creep in. Before I can head back to my car an herbal scent I recognize from human parties wafts into my nose. Whoever is at the other end is practically coughing up a lung forcing me to check it out. Walking outside the territory and behind the tree I find Xander and Fletcher passing a joint back and forth, when it dawns on me that they might have heard my entire conversation. "How much did you hear?" I demand. as Fletcher says nothing blowing his smoke above his head.
"Enough to know you're in love with Theo," Xander comments, leaning against the tree, while he stares at his names looking bored like always. What is it about these two that Elle and Damon keep around? Because they drive the rest of us up the wall.
"I am not gay!" I growl, glaring between the perpetual nuisances we are supposedly stuck with, my eyes flicking to the joint they keep passing between themselves.
"Love doesn't really care if you identify as gay or not," Fletcher scoffs, shaking his head like he was sorry he needed to explain the concept further.
"You shouldn't have that on pack lands," I remind them glancing at the joint they have been blatantly waving in my face.
"That's why we are on this side of the border," Xander comments, with a noncommittal shrug before sauntering deeper into the woods with Fletcher, leaving me all alone to stare after them before making the journey back to my car.