Chapter 37

I was stunned when I heard that from Madam Dolores. "Who told you that?"

"So it's really true," she replied with a smile, but to me her smile only made her look nastier. I guess I'll never get used to her trying to be friendly to me. "It doesn't matter who told me, Milena. But now that the family you left back at Gloverstone is out of the way..."

"What do you mean 'out of the way?' What are you even talking about? I didn't agree with you on anything!" I said, almost yelling because I was enraged with what she said. I also saw Aunt Julia's head peering at the door, possibly checking if we were arguing because of my raised voice.

Madam Dolores looked hilarious as she tried to calm herself. I knew deep down that she wanted to talk back to me too, but as she was trying to make me stay she stopped herself and her contorted facial expression made her look like a clown. "M-Milena, I only meant that your mating bond with my son hasn't been cut off yet. Your wolf still recognizes Darren as your mate, and that means you have no choice but to stay here. You can't run away from your mating bond forever."

"But I can, Madam Dolores. I'm sorry to disappoint you but I already talked to your son about this. I'm going back home to my husband and my son."

"But Milena, if you do that, you will be in danger."

"I don't care, and you shouldn't either," I replied angrily and we stared at each other with such intensity that my ears went hot with all these pent up emotions for this woman in front of me. I did not look away because I wanted to show her that I already decided and I wouldn't be swayed by anything they'll say. "I’m sorry to say this but this is none of your concern anymore."

"Milena, please reconsider this. Yes, Darren made a mistake but he was a victim too. Do you know how much he suffered after he found out that he was tricked by that devil woman?"

I wanted to laugh in her face so badly right now, but I controlled myself because I wanted to show her that I am the bigger person here. “That’s sad,” I replied sarcastically.

“You can snap at me all you want, Milena. But that doesn’t change the fact that Darren was tricked. He did not want to reject you back then. Did you know that he searched for you for years?”

"And? Should I feel bad about that? What about me? Do you know what I went through after I left this town?" I asked back and that shut her up. She looked away, knowing what I was going to say next. "Just as I thought. Please listen, Madam Dolores. I no longer have feelings for your son. Yes, my wolf still treats him as my mate, but I survived five years without him and I'm telling you this right now. I'll find a way to break the mating bond that should've been broken five years ago."

"Milena, you can't break the mating bond. Only death can break it."

"Then I'd rather die," I told her bravely. "I mean it. And please, stop acting kind to me. It's weird. I'm not stupid, Madam Dolores. We both know you still don't like me. You're just trying to make me stay because you found out that I'm the Purple-Eyed Werewolf."

She shook her head. "That's not true. I'm just trying to do what my son wanted me to do, and that's to make up with you."

"I don't need to make up with any of you. Now if you may, I have to change my clothes because I have to leave."

Madam Dolores did not reply anymore. She just walked out of the room and out of the house. I heard the sound of an engine starting from outside the house, and then Aunt Julia came to my room, her face full with worry. "Milena, are you really leaving even if you still have the mating bond with Alpha Darren?"

"Yes, Aunt Julia. Marcus needs me, and so does my son, Zenith. I can't imagine my life without them anymore."

"But you know what will happen to you if the bond doesn't break, right?" she asked softly.

I nodded. "That's still up in the air, since I'm a half-breed. Who knows, maybe my witch blood will be the answer."

Aunt Julia sighed. "I'm just worried about you. But if you really want to leave, then I can't stop you, Milena. You really are your father's daughter. He too never listened to anyone. Everybody was against him marrying your mother, but he did not care."

That reminded me of something I had been wondering about for years now. "Aunt Julia, I wanted to ask you a question. My mother... Did she come from the north too? Up the Rockies?"

"She was born there, but your father met her in the south. She was with a pack where she was a part of."

"And that's Marcus' pack," I whispered to myself.

"What was that?"

"Oh, nothing. Thank you for everything, Aunt Julia. Devon didn't have to come all the way here to fetch me, but thank you for telling him." Aunt Julia smiled tearily and hugged me and I got a little bit emotional as well as we waited for Devon. While I was asleep Aunt Julia called her son to say that I was there and I wanted to go back to Gloverstone. And now Devon was on the way to get me. We waited for Devon quietly but someone knocked on the main door, and from the couch I could already smell Darren's familiar scent outside the house which alerted my whole body.

"I'm not going to talk to you, Darren, if that's why you came here," I said loudly so that he could hear me from outside the door. I knew he was standing outside the door waiting for someone to open it. "Please, don't make me hate you more than I already do." I stood up, ready to lock myself in my old room in case he forced his way in because I didn't want to trigger my wolf anymore.

"Then let's talk like this if it's okay with you, and with Aunt Julia," Darren said, loud enough for me to hear.

"I'll be in my room," said a rather nervous Aunt Julia before she went to the stairs and up to their room.

"What do you want?" I asked Darren irritably. "I already told you that I'm going back to my family."

"I know..." He already sounded defeated. "And I can't blame you for feeling that way. You must really love them."

"Then what do you really want to say if you already knew that you can no longer change my mind?"

"I just want to make it up to you, Milena. You still want those rare werewolf eyes, right? I can still help you and Marcus retrieve them. Just let me help you."

"I'm sorry Darren, but I have to decline you again. My priority is to search for Marcus."

"Then let me help you find him."

I finally snapped. "Can't you understand that I'm avoiding you because of my wolf? Why won't you just leave me alone?"

"Because I'm worried about you, Milena!" he insisted. "You're the Purple-Eyed Werewolf! The Blackholes will be after you for killing Franco and Tyrone! What if they find out who you are? They'll hurt you and your family! Gloverstone will be in danger."

That caught me off guard. "Thank you for the concern, but I can manage."

"But can you? Nightshade, Malcolm, Randy... These people are strong, Milena. We barely escaped from Nightshade’s sleeping gas. You defeated the weaker ones, but you don't even know what the remaining Blackholes are capable of. You clearly need my help."

"Thanks, but no thanks," I told him, even though he has a point. We then heard a car honking outside, and Devon's panicky voice calling me.

"Milena? Are you there?" Devon said as he opened the door. "Thank God you're here. Come on. We have to go! I already know where your husband is!"