Chapter 8 - Marcus

2 minutes later Marcus was at the door in similar loungewear to the sweatpants and cropped tank Aurora had thrown on.

“Your suite is nice too! Bloodmoon’s Luna knows what she’s doing!”

“I have a feeling this is the work of Beta Althea.” Aurora said, watching Marcus’ face for what she knew she would find, as the microwave beeped.

“I knew it!” She exclaimed daring him to argue as she got the water out.

“She’s beautiful and perfect and I would have her in a minute if I thought she’d let me.” Marcus said with an almost sad smile as he put the popcorn in.

“What makes you think she wouldn’t? You’re a well-respected Gamma with an important role in the community. You are strong and intelligent. What’s not to like?” She asked with a shrug as she stirred cocoa powder into two mugs.

She looked up as Marcus’ face changed from one emotion to another. “Marcus, it’s been 3 years. Illiana made her choice and respected you making yours. Althea will not hold that against you. No one in their right mind would.”

3 year's ago Marcus found his mate - Illiana, however, it was truly never meant to be since his mate was destined to die during their mission. His mate was part of a group of scientists testing human DNA convergence with werewolf DNA and the Council of Elders had determined the whole group was to be eliminated and their findings die with them.

Marcus unfortunately learned of his mate when he was undercover and it was too late to save her. He came clean to her in the end to try and get her to flip and see if the council would spare her - but Illiana believed in her project and felt it was a key to helping human’s recover from horrible disease and live longer lives.

The whole group saw how hard it was on Marcus. It went against their nature to harm one’s mate. Everything in you made you want to keep them safe and happy. But Marcus’ sense of duty and responsibility was also strong.

Knowledge like what Illiana and her colleagues were uncovering would bring the werewolf world out into the spotlight. Possibly the entire supernatural world as a whole. They would be hunted and tested on by humans. This was bigger than his mate bond.

At the time, Aurora had only been a part of the order for a year or so. At the time, neither was particularly fond of the other. Aurora found Marcus to be annoyingly in tune to others. You couldn’t hide anything from him - and at the time, all Aurora wanted to do was hide.

She had been singled out by the Council of Elders at the young age of 17. That was nearly unheard of. And while she was excited that her pack Alpha and Luna allowed her to go - she felt almost alone and abandoned. A feeling she didn’t really understand the origin of, but felt the strong sadness that came with it.

21 year old Marcus was not only handsome, but always making jokes. He found humor and light in everything. And all 17 year old Aurora wanted to do was learn how to hide and be ignored.

It wasn’t until a year later when Marcus had to deal with the reality of loosing his mate, that Aurora and him became close. She understood loosing someone you never really knew.

Marcus did his duty helping with the mission, remaining undercover gathering intel. When it came to actually killing his mate, Aurora spaired Marcus from having to take make the blow and handled it herself - sealing their friendship forever.

“Ehh, maybe.” He conceded, still looking doubtful as he removed the popcorn from the microwave.

“Alright change of topic - what’d you do to annoy Alpha Mikhail?”

“Ahh, you caught that, did you?” He looked almost unsure of how to respond.

“Pack business?” Aurora asked as she stole some popcorn from the bowl.

“Sort of.” He said, but Aurora wasn’t buying it glares at him. “I thought we promised never to lie to each other dear.” She said sarcastically.

Marcus chuckled, taking a sip of his cocoa. “It was about you actually.” Aurora rose her eyebrows at that. “Mikhail insisted on coming on this mission and I got the strong feeling it had to do with you. When I questioned him about it, he wasn’t very forthcoming and said he just felt like he should be there for this one - to help you.” Marcus continued carefully, hesitating as he continued. “I-it almost seemed like he cared for your safety beyond what he does for Maya and Kira..” side eyeing her to see her reaction to his insinuation.

Aurora frowned, taking a sip of her cocoa as well. Hmm. Mikhail was around 12 years older than her. A 12 year old age gap wasn’t unheard of between mates - but she wasn’t his mate. She would have noticed when she turned 21 a few months ago.

“I don’t think Mikhail has a romantic interest. He’s always seemed like the father-figure of the group. I think it’s something else.” Aurora said, with a slight frown between her eyebrows.

“I hope you’re right. Because awkward!!” He said dramatically, getting a laugh out of Aurora.

“You know what, we should test it! We shouldn’t just assume with something as serious as this,” Marcus exclaimed with a mischievous glint in his eye. “Next time he’s acting all fatherly call him Papa Bear. See his reaction.”

Aurora started laughing picturing his bewildered expression at her calling the wolf papa bear. He wasn’t that much older after all!

“You’re on!” Aurora agreed.

***

After Marcus left, Aurora went to take a hot shower, letting the stress of the day melt off her with the hot steam and water from the rain shower head.

“I really need this shower head back home.” She thought to herself.

As she showered she pondered everything from Vincent to the evil feelings outside to Marcus’s words.

“I really need to sleep” she said out loud as she turned the water off.