When I re-emerge from the bathroom again, I am feeling much better and lighter. I am ready to cuddle on the couch.Brandon owns a small cottage, which makes meeting him so much easier than if he had an apartment in the packhouse.
He doesn’t mind that I took my time and instead has prepared some popcorn for us. “We can start anytime,” he says.
I fling myself on the sofa. “I am ready.”
Brandon stretches out next to me, starting the movie. He has a couple of drinks prepared for us, which I secretly decide to ignore. I don’t drink, mainly because I need to have all my senses working, for Faye and Marina. Brandon sometimes thinks that I am missing out, but I don’t feel that way. Marina was my friend when no one else was, and now that she needs me, I would rather go to hell than to give up on her.
The movie is a fun, action flick that Brandon chose, since I don’t mind, and I know he doesn’t really like any other genre. He holds my hand throughout the movie and makes sure I have plenty to eat, which is kind of cute. He can be that way, and it’s what I appreciate about him.
Once the movie is wrapped up, it’s time for me to leave. “You really can’t stay the night?” Brandon asks.
I take his face between my hands and kiss him. “Sorry. You know, Marina is at home.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know how you do it at your age. You should be out enjoying life.”
“I don’t think about it that way,” I say honestly. “It’s notwork,to me. Sometimes I do feel like I miss out, especially when you want to meet me, but most of the time I don’t question it. I love Marina and Faye.”
Brandon looks at me, a little surprised. There is something in his eyes I can’t quite put a finger on, but soon he smiles again, rubbing his nose against mine. “If you are okay with how things are, that's all that matters.”
With my small bag, and clad in my extra set of clothes which I always take along when I meet him – I hate getting backinto the same clothes after sex, I find my way back through the pack grounds. I know the perfect path from Brandon’s cottage to mine, leading me along the forest line and helping me stay invisible from the other pack members, unless they make an effort to sniff me out or look for me. When Brandon and I started dating, he would sometimes accompany me home, but he barely does anymore since I know the way now.
When my cottage comes into view, I see a familiar person leaving it. It’s Jacob, Evelyn’s mate. “Jacob!” I make a run for it, waving at him.
He smiles and waits for me to reach him. “You are back early. I thought you’d stay the night.”
“Is that why you dropped by?”
“Evelyn sent me to make sure Marina is okay,” he explains, patting my head. From anyone else, it might have been a condescending gesture, but Jacob gets a free pass. He and Evelyn are the sweetest. They have always treated me well, and they help with Marina and Faye whenever I need it. Jacob dropped by to check on Marina, and it makes me so happy that he did.
“Thank you,” I say. “Your help means so much to me.”
“We love doing it,” he assures me. “So, you didn’t stay the night?”
“Nah, I rarely do that. Usually, either Faye or Marina is waiting, and I don’t want to leave them.”
Jacob tilts his head. “You have a good heart,” he says, “and a good head on your shoulders. I am convinced the goddess has a plan for you.”
I blink in confusion. “Why? I am just a human.”
“No, you are not,” he says, but doesn’t push it further. We’ve had the same discussion over and over again, and no matter what he says, I just can’t believe it.
“Did Marina go to sleep?” I ask instead.
“Yes, she was already in her bed when I checked on her. Her inner clock really seems to work well.”
“Yeah, she knows when she has to do things and then goes through the motions, fortunately. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to leave her alone.” I sigh. “I hope one day she returns to how she was.”
A dark expression passes over Jacob’s face. “Whoever did that to her… I hope for the worst for them.”
I do, too. I don’t know what happened, I just know that she was with her mate for a while and then returned like this. When she was gone, I never heard from her. I didn’t even know where she was staying or the name of her mate. And once she returned, she wasn’t in the state to tell me. My own alpha couldn’t care less, though I do think the luna reached out once to see what happened. They gave some bullshit excuse about how she cheated or something, and her mate rejected her.
I don’t believe a word.
It was the only time I sought out my alpha and luna myself, going to their office and asking for details, but they wouldn’t give me any.
Someone destroyed Marina. One day, I will find out who her mate was, and then I will make sure he pays.
After Jacob has left, I first check on Marina myself, noting how she is asleep. When she is in her bed like this, she almost looks like before she left. It’s these moments that make me cling to the hope that one day she will return to me, and especially to Faye.
