Page 51 of The Twelve Knots of Christmas
I saluted her and brought the coffees to set on the table as Lyla practically flew out of the room. She had a crazy amount of energy and a ridiculous Christmas sweater to match. She was a pretty girl if one liked the leggy model types, but Mariska didn’t have anything to worry about. She was the perfect woman on all levels for me.
Plus, I could barely smell Lyla’s Omega scent which was kind of fruity. The antiseptic smell of the hospital was stronger, and Mariska’s delicious creamy vanilla perfume was there every time I inhaled.
I held back approaching Eloise’s bed, giving Mariska and her time to talk. I only came to stand beside Mariska when her housemother beckoned to me. “Hello, Lucian. So nice to see you again. Thank you for taking such good care of my Mari.”
“My pleasure.” Myimmensepleasure. I smiled trying not to think about how Mariska looked when she came earlier today. “How are you doing? I see a bit of color in your cheeks.”
Eloise chuckled and waved my comment off. “I’m tired and weak, but I’m all here. I’m going to put all my energy into working my doctor over so he’ll let me go home for Christmas. And if he doesn’t, I’ll have my girls sneak me out.”
Mariska snickered, but shook her head. “No way. If the doctor says you need to stay here, you’re staying. We’ll bring Christmas to you.”
“And trust you and Lyla to cook Christmas dinner?” Eloise raised a brow, barely containing her smile.
“We can follow your recipes.” Mariska protested, and I chuckled, giving her shoulder a squeeze.
“We would be more than happy to help. Liz and Jasper always make enough to feed a small army. I think this year’s turkey is over thirty pounds.” I laughed as Mariska gasped.
“With all the Alphas there, you need that much food.” Eloise closed her eyes for a few seconds and sighed as she leaned her head back on the pillow. “I get tired so quickly. Mari, please be a dear and fetch some fresh ice water for my jug down the hall near the nurse’s station. I don’t want to have to bother them as they’re so busy.”
“Of course.” Mariska picked up the near empty jug on the bedside table and rushed to the door. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Once Mariska was gone from the room, Eloise reached for my hand. “Lucian, how’s my girl doing with her heat? I saw her there with Lyla being…” She frowned, searching for the right words. “There with Lyla…”
Linguistic troubles were effects of the stroke. My heart went out to her as I hoped it was only temporary as she healed.
“We’re taking good care of her. Don’t worry. Save your energy for getting well and battling your doctor.” I tenderly squeezed her hand.
“She told me…” Eloise paused again and wet her dry lips, her voice getting a little raspier. “She told me she wanted to stay here to help me through my rehabilitation instead of going to California.”
Everything in me lit up. Mariska was going to stay? I couldn’t hide my grin, but Eloise’s panicked expression vanquished it.
“Don’t let her.” There was urgency in her voice. “She can’t give up her dream job for me. I know she loves me and wants to do what she thinks is best, but an opportunity like this doesn’t come around often. There’s only one reason that will make her stay that I’ll accept, and I’m not that reason. Promise me you won’t let her give up her dream for me.”
Yet if Mariska stayed to help Eloise, we’d have more time to convince her she was meant to be with our pack. I didn’t want to dissuade Mariska from chasing after her dreams, but this could be a game changer.
Eloise gripped my hand tighter. “Please promise me, Lucian.”
I swallowed, not liking it at all, but it was the right thing. Eloise had tons of support and would be fine. Mariska loved what she did. Her passion for her work was one of the things that drew me to her. I couldn’t tell her not to take her dream job either.
“I promise.” The words felt thick in my mouth, almost too heavy for my tongue to form. Yet not as much of load that pressed down on my soul.
Mariska returned with Lyla who had changed into another Christmas sweater. This one with working blinking lights on a bushy tree.
Eloise weakly motioned to the girls. “Water, please. Then I need a little nap.”
Mariska and Lyla fussed over their housemother as I stood back with my coffee. My pack had plans to get Mariska to stay, but it would have helped if we had more time. Balthazar was convinced she was ours already, and while Jasper had fallen just as fast for her, he wasn’t sure we could find something for her that would be as great as her job in California.
My stomach tightened and trembled as I tried to think of a life without Mariska. I wouldn’t go back on my promise to Eloise though. No matter how tempting it was to gain us more time.
I wanted Mariska to stay because she wanted to be with me, with the pack, as much as we wanted her. The only thing I could do was to continue to give her all of me and hope she’d fall as hard as I had, while encouraging her to live her best life.
Even if that life was in California.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - Mariska
By the end of visiting hours, my heat pangs had started to claw up from a dull throbbing to frenzied tiger. I was ready to drag Lucian out to his truck and test the integrity of its shocks. There was nothing I could think about other than his big cock locked inside of me with his knot and his mouth on my neck.
Fucking me, biting me,claiming me.
