A glance at my phone screen tells me it’s time to meet up with Aryanna, so I head out. I don’t want to go back in the club anyways. The fresh air helps me sober up quickly while I reminisce about the evening’s events. What was I thinking? Why did I have to make a move towards Celine like that, after everything I’ve done to her?
I know I’m not a saint, but I’m not that bad of a person, normally.
I take a deep breath. It’s not important now, it doesn’t change anything. So, what… I tried to kiss her. I probably still felt confused because of Cyrus’s previous actions. I was not being myself, definitely not.
“Marius,” Aryanna calls out as she approaches me. She looks like she’s had a pretty good evening, judging by the smile on her face, at least one of us has. She halts when she sees my face. “Goddess, Marius, are you alright?”
“Sure,” I nod. “It’s nothing. It’s nothing. Someone took offense, is all.”
“You? Offensive? I don’t believe it,” she smirks. “Was it worth it? Did you get some information?”
She probably thinks I got this in my search for information. She doesn’t need to know what really happened. Thankfully, I managed to do one thing right this evening and indeed heard something. “Rumor has it there is a small coven missing one of their witches lately and no one knows what happened to her.”
“Great,” she beams. “I heard something similar. Do you know which coven?”
I smile and pull a card out of my pants pocket. One of the flirty girls handed it to me.
Aryanna grins. “Helps to be pretty, it seems.”
*CELINE*
When I return to the club, I feel… disoriented. Normally, encounters with Marius leave me hurt or angry, but this time I’m mostly freaking confused. I didn’t mind his wolf seeking contact with me, and he didn’t try to push it too far. And if I’m honest with myself, part of me wanted to allow the contact so that Danica could have some peace of mind too. I never realized before just how much my bond with Marius messes her and Marius’ wolf up too.
Danica told me how sweet his wolf is. His wolf wants us but can’t have us, and that’s kinda… sad.
As for Marius suddenly kissing me, I don’t get it. Was it because he felt dizzy from his wolf taking over? The contact felt good, so good it makes my heart ache painfully from the loss even more. Why can’t we have this together? He repeats himself, over and over again, how he doesn’t want me, and part of me wonders if he does so to convince himself and his wolf more than me.
I hit him pretty hard, I think with a hint of guilt. Admittedly, part of me was paying him back for the weeks of heartache he’s put me through, but I hate resorting to violence when there are other ways to solve a problem.
“Are you guys alright?” I ask once I reach my group again.
Marcel looks pretty spent, and Garret’s even worse. Just Harmony and I still seem to be somewhat okay. Elias must have returned from his trip to the restaurant while I was outside and looks immensely annoyed… at Garret.
“Let’s go,” I say in a matter-of-fact tone. It’s enough drama for an evening.
Thankfully, no one argues with me. In fact, Elias looks at me like I’m the second coming, for finally ending this catastrophic evening. Harmony and I grab our bags while Elias shoves Marcel forward and throws one of Garret’s arms around his shoulder to support his weight. He still looks pissed, probably because Garret got a tad more wasted than he promised he would. “I really want to slap him,” he grunts when we’re outside, “But I’m afraid he won’t remember it tomorrow.”
Harmony nudges him with her elbows. “Don’t be so grumpy all the time.”
“I’m not grumpy,” he mutters. “Well, now I am. But normally…”
Marcel opens his arms to the sky and beams a smile at the moon. “You will get more sex if you are less grumpy.”
Harmony snorts while Elias throws Marcel a glare. “I’m getting more than enough sex, don’t worry.”
“Moon Goddess,” Marcel yells. “Provide Elias with lots of steamy sex and—”
“Okay,” I grab his arm and pull him along. “That’s enough, or you’ll be the one getting hit by Elias.”
“Thank you, Alpha,” he beams at me dotingly. “You’re so cool. My alpha from my previous pack was a dunce, but you’re smart, and tough, and strong, and pretty. I’m so happy.”
Harmony giggles at my flustered face. I’m embarrassed, yet feeling a bit touched by the sentiment too. Everyone wants to be loved, I think, and as alpha, I obviously want my people to follow me, but I also want them to like me and respect me because I’m good at what I’m doing and not because I’m scary.
Elias shoves Garret into his car before freeing me from Marcel. Harmony takes the back seat as well leaving me with the front passenger seat.
“The first one to vomit gets kicked out,” Elias huffs. “Unless it’s the Alpha or Beta.”
“I don’t think the chances are high for me or Celine getting sick,” Harmony says, amused.