CHAPTER THREE

I run out into the night.

I am supposed to wait until the solstice to see Lucas.

But now the secret is out, I decide to waste no more time.

I cannot go back to Dean's.

I cannot stay at mother's.

The alpha will certainly disapprove.

That leaves me just one choice.

To run to the next village where my lover lives.

The moon is bright above me.

I try not to think of the battle that killed my father and brother in these very hillsides.

I think instead of Lucas.

I make it to his village.

And I find his cabin.

He is sitting on the front steps.

He looks up at me.

"Marla," he says, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

He stands and gives me a hug.

I melt into his arms.

"I was not expecting to see you until solstice."

"I missed you too much," I say.

"I missed you, too."

I move out of his embrace.

I look behind me.

"I have to warn you about something," I say.

He nods. "Go on."

"I told Dean about you. And my mother."

He shakes his head. "Marla, this is not good."

"I know," I say. "But I couldn't hold it in any longer."

"So what will happen now?" he asks.

"I don't know," I admit.

"Will Dean challenge me?"

"I don't think so," I say. "It is mother we should worry about."

"Oh?"

"She forbade me from seeing you."

"Forbade?" he asks.

I nod. "She said if I leave the pack she will come and punish me."

"What kind of punishment is she talking about?" he asks.

I shrug. "I don't know. It scared me."

"I understand," he says.

"Do you though?" I ask. "Do you understand what I have been going through? My mother was so angry with me. It was like I was talking to someone else. Someone who wasn't my mother."

He nods. "I understand, Marla. I know this is hard for you. It has been hard for me, too. Do you know how it feels to be the other man?"

I bite my lip.

"You're right. I am sorry. It's been hard for us both."

I fall silent.

I think of those I have hurt.

Dean.

Mother.

My pack.

"Is something wrong?" he asks.

I stare off into the trees.

"Why does it have to be this hard?" I ask.

"What do you mean?" he asks.

"I love you. You love me. That should be all that matters."

"It should. But it is not. There are always pack rules."

I nod.

"Do you want to come inside?" he asks.

I look up at his cabin.

"Sure," I say.

"I warn you, it is small."

I shrug. "I don't care."

"All right," he says.

He leads me inside.

I take in my surroundings.

It is small.

There is only one bed.

And the walls are a sickly yellow.

I try not to make a face.

It is definitely less than I am used to.

"Are you hungry?" he asks.

"Yes. I couldn't eat earlier."

"Why?" he asks.

"I was too stressed. Because of our secret."

"I can only imagine," he says. "Come and sit down. I will fetch you a plate."

I sit down at the small table.

Lucas goes to the pantry and returns with some meat.

He sets it on the counter and starts to carve.

There comes a knock at the cabin door.

"Are you expecting company?"

"No."

He goes over and answers it.

There is a woman there.

She peers straight past him.

Straight at me.

"I thought I saw you talking to someone outside," she says to Lucas.

She barges past him into the cabin.

"Who is she?" she demands.

I stand and face her.

"I am Marla," I say.

"Marla?" she asks. "There is no Marla in our pack."

"I am not from your pack."

She gives me a cold stare.

Her eyes bore into me.

She looks me up and down.

She is much shorter than me.

She is pale and thin.

She has black hair and dark eyes.

"Who are you?" I ask.

"Christine."

"Are you Lucas' wife?" I ask.

"No! I am his sister. And I would appreciate it if you stopped sleeping with my brother."

I gasp.

"Oh, don't pretend you don't know what I mean!"

"You must be mistaken."

"I'm not stupid."

I glare at her.

I am not in the mood for his sassy little sister.

I am tired and stressed.

She turns to Lucas. "The leaders will through a fit when they find out she's here. Not to mention Selena."

"Selena?" I ask.

Christine looks at me with a nasty smirk. "Lucas didn't tell you? He has a mate."

"What?" I cry.

"It's not like that," Lucas begins.

"Yes, it is!" she says.

"No, it's not!" he cries.

She laughs. "Marla. I have known Lucas longer than you have known him. You are not his mate. She is. It's been known ever since we were children."

"That's enough, Christine," Lucas says.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask Christine.

"I won't let my brother be made a fool of," Christine says. "You need to leave now."

"You may want to watch your tone with me, young lady," I say.

"Marla," Lucas says. "Please, let's not get into a fight."

He takes my arm and leads me outside.

Then ushers me up the steps.

"What is her problem?" I say.

"She sees you as the enemy."

"Why?"

"Because of where you're from."

"What does that mean?"

"She doesn't like that I am seeing a girl from the pack that killed my father."

I swallow.

"Oh. Is that what people think?"

He nods.

I shake my head.

"It's not fair!"

He sighs.

"It's not. But that is the way of things."

I bury my head in my hands.

I don't know how to make things better.

I don't know how to fix this.

Not without leaving him.

And I can't do that.

Not after all we've been through.