Chapter 38

"Where is Marcus? Is he alright?" I asked Devon frantically. We were on the road now, leaving Darren back at Aunt Julia's house. It was actually awkward because Darren clearly did not want me to leave, but Aunt Julia went to us to greet her son so we were able to leave as Darren did not do anything with Devon's mother around. Devon found it hilarious, so he was laughing while he drove, but I pestered him to tell me what he knew about my husband.

"He's fine," he replied, still smiling from laughing too much. "He called me three hours ago, asking me to search for you."

I sighed out of relief. "Thank goodness. Is he back at Gloverstone?"

"No, Milena. Your husband is at the hospital. Gil took him there. He was injured for some reason."

"What? I already healed him! Does that mean he got into another fight after we got separated?"

"I don't know, Milena," Devon replied, glancing at me with a confused look on his face. "In fact I wanted to ask you about that. What on earth happened to you two? Marcus told me over the phone that you two were together somewhere in the south but then got separated. It's weird because he was in St. Pio. Marcus said he woke up at the public park there, but he couldn't find you! But then Mother called telling me you were there back home! How did you manage that? Can you teleport now too?"

"So Marcus was sent back to that park where we got captured."

"Captured? By whom?"

"By those top rogue bosses who call themselves the Blackholes."

Devon cursed. "I know them! One of them terrorizes our pack almost every month! He's called Randy the Rascal and he's that big dude with big muscles but I heard that's all he got because he's dumb. He hates Marcus though and wants to kill him so it's almost like he's a karma incarnate sent by the gods to punish Darren for everything that he did to you."

I chuckled despite myself. "I did meet Randy earlier. He really looks dumb, to be honest."

"Yeah, but he's crazy strong, so he's a headache for our pack. And you're saying you escaped from the other Blackholes? You really are strong, Milena! I always knew that you'd be a great fighter if you were just allowed to train with us back then!"

"Oh no. It was Lilith's doing." Seeing his still confused face, I told him who exactly was Lilith and how she saved us from those Blackhole people. I actually told Devon everything, including why we were there at St. Pio, the city where we first met Exodus... who later turned out to be Darren.

"That's one wild story, Milena," said Devon, his eyes glinting with interest at my story. "I think I need beer while listening to your adventures."

"Don't act surprised. I already told you that we went to the north in search of other witches."

"I know, but it's just hard to fathom that other witches really exist, you know? I mean, they never show themselves, right? Especially to werewolves. Your mother was an eccentric witch, showing herself to our kind and then marrying your father. But no offense meant Milena."

I nodded. "She was indeed eccentric. But I'm glad that she was. Otherwise, I wouldn't even be born."

"That's true. And I would rather have an eccentric mother than Madam Dolores. The nerve of that old hag to act friendly to you? Doesn't she feel ashamed even just one bit? I was surprised she wasn't there trying to stop you from leaving now that she knew that you're a big shot. She'll want you for your name! I'll bet you my life she already spread the word around that the Purple-Eyed Werewolf is from our pack!"

"I don't care anymore. I already prepared myself for the time that everyone will find out that I'm the Purple-Eyed Werewolf. I don't care about Darren or his mother. What I'm curious about though is who told them those things about Marcus and Zenith? I didn't even tell you those things."

"Huh? What didn't you tell me?"

"Oh, nothing. Just some specific details that no one should have found out about my husband and son." But it actually wasn't 'nothing' because it now worried me a lot. Marcus and I had kept it a secret. No one else knew that Zenith wasn't our biological son, except Gil, Dionne, and Dex. And all of them are loyal to Marcus, so I couldn't see any of them ratting out our secret to Madam Dolores. So how did she find out about it?

***

It was past midnight when we arrived at the hospital at St. Pio where Marcus got admitted. Gil was waiting for us at the entrance, then he told me Marcus' room number before Devon asked Gil to accompany him to buy food and water because he was starving from driving all the way here.

I ran like crazy to Marcus's room, worried that he might be in bad shape. When I got into his private room I was already crying. I saw him sitting on his hospital bed, talking with someone over the phone but when he saw me come in he just dropped his phone and went to hug me. I cried on his shoulder as relief washed over me. "Marcus!” I cried, kissing him then we hugged again. “I was scared... I didn't know what to do when I woke up and I couldn't find you..."

"Me too, babe. I almost went back to the Blackholes just to look for you..."

"There's so many things that I wanted to tell you," I told him dramatically. "All the things that happened after we got separated. But to be honest I just want to say that I want to break my mating bond with Darren. As soon as possible, because I can't stay like this, Marcus."

He looked very happy at what I said. "That's also what I want, Milena. When I heard from Devon that you were back at your pack, fear enveloped my being in a way I had never experienced before. I wanted to go there but I was injured and Gil wouldn't let me get out of this room."

"Marcus, my wolf is not listening to me and I'm afraid Darren will fight for his right as my mate. If I'm not careful my wolf may just go into a frenzy and Darren can take advantage of that..."

"I know, babe, I know," he whispered in my ear, his head caressing my hair. "We have to get rid of your bond as soon as possible."

"Y-Yeah... Because... Because I might actually die, Marcus. If my wolf still yearns for Darren, and I continue on denying my wolf what it wants... It might actually die of starvation, and I'll die too..."

"That won't happen, Milena. I had already talked to someone about your mating bond. I was talking to her when you entered the room."

"Her? Who are you talking to?"

He smiled. "Why the voice? Are you jealous?"

That made my cheeks red. "Of course not! I just want to know who you were talking to!"

He chuckled and the sound of him happy erased all of my worries. "There's this shaman woman from Asia called Lady Xinxia who is popular among the supernatural beings. She's said to perform magical rituals and I just asked her a while ago if she can remove the mating bonds of werewolves. And she said yes."