For a second he imagined calling Alec back and telling him everything, asking him to help. If he tried hard enough, he could remember how Alec smelled the last time they were together. His scent mixed with Mark’s, wrapping around them both in the cocoon of Alec’s sheets.
Achingly familiar.
Safe.
A door closed on the stairwell above, and the illusion slipped away like smoke, leaving Mark all alone in the hallway.
Alec couldn’t help him now.
No one could.
But at least he knew someone who understood what he was going through.
No one answered when he knocked on Will’s door. Could he be out? Unlikely with everything that was going on. He’d be in no fit state to work, and no doubt Wes had given Will the same warning about leaving. He knocked again to no avail, then pulled out his phone.
Not bothering with a phone call, he sent a text.
I’m not going away until you answer.
Nothing.
Come on, let me in. We need to talk about this.
Nothing.
Fuck it. He hadn’t wanted to tell him like this, but Will left him no choice. He needed to get in there. He typed,Jason is deadand waited.
Two seconds later the door flew open, and Will dragged him inside, bolting it shut behind him. “That’s a fucked-up thing to say just to get me to open the door.” Mark met his gaze, expression sombre, and Will’s face crumpled.
“Ahh shit, you’re not lying, are you?”
“No.” Mark’s breath caught and he squeezed Will’s shoulder.” I’m pretty sure Wes killed him or had him killed on Newell’s orders.”
Will stared at him, mouth open, then shut it with a snap of teeth. “Fucking bastards.” He rubbed his eyes, and Mark noticed how tired he looked.
“You look like shit.”
“Funnily enough, I feel like shit.” Will raised an eyebrow and deadpanned, “Having one’s sister kidnapped and lying to the alpha council will do that to a guy. Who knew?” He sighed, all the air leaving him in a rush, and his shoulders slumped. “Let’s go sit down.” He led Mark through to the living area, then veered off into the kitchen. “I think I need a drink.” Glancing over his shoulder, he gestured at the fridge. “You?”
“Yeah, go on then.” Mark could do with a shot of something.
Retrieving a bottle of vodka from the freezer, Will held it up between them—three-quarters full. “Think that’ll be enough?”
“For starters.”
Will took a long swig and then passed it over to Mark, who did the same. He welcomed the burn, closing his eyes and savouring the brief buzz it gave him. They traded the bottle back and forth until only a quarter was left. For a short while it would take the edge off, and Mark needed that right now. They both did.
After setting the vodka on the worktop, Will bit his lip and met Mark’s gaze. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about my sister or warn you that you were next, but they said they’d kill her if I did, and I just couldn’t take that chance—
“It’s okay. I understand.” Yeah, he’d been angry at first, but they were in an impossible situation.
“Do you think they’re still alive?”
“Yes.” Mark refused to think otherwise.
Will looked less than certain. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because we haven’t lied to the alpha council and risked our lives for nothing. If we believe they’re already dead, then there’s no point to any of this.”
