BALIN Damien was speaking to Kabal in the corner with a frown on his face while his beta attended to me. “Tea or coffee?” The beta asked in a monotone. I slowly dragged my gaze over the man's slender build. “aren't you tired?” I asked in a frustrated tone. His eyes furrowed slightly in confusion. “What is that supposed to mean, Alpha Chris?” “It means that you've asked me that question 9 times in a minute” I said throwing my hands up exasperatedly. His head tilted and his lips parted slightly. “Oh” I rolled my eyes, not bothering to hide the frustration in my voice. “Yeah, I counted,” I sneered. He straightened up. “Oh well you didn't answer either way” he also said. “Wasn't that supposed to be your cue to know what that meant?” I snapped at him. He took a step back and sighed. “Very well” I looked back at Damien who was now talking to an elder in his pack but Kabal was no where to be found. Probably gone as usual. Damien looked really pissed off at something as he spoke to
MARILYNKeiran spared me a few glances as we walked past some other employees who stopped to gape at me.“Seems everyone is happy to see you,” he said, his hand crossed behind him as he glanced at another employee, a silent message passed between them “They cannot be trusted,” Ophelia said in my head.“I know,” I whispered to her as though he could hear my thoughts.She muttered something and suddenly she felt distant.“What's happening?” I asked in alarm as she slowly disappeared from my mind.“I'm out. I think I'm done with my job and you're no fun. I'll let Aylin know that you're good. Stay safe, Marilyn. If you need me, you know where to find me,” she said, laughter in her tone until she was gone. I couldn't feel her presence anymore.Pity. I thought I was going to get used to her but alas she has a life of her own and it didn't include being in my head all the time.“Thank you,” I whispered to no one.Jolting back to reality, I noticed we were now near the pool where the other me
MARILYNI couldn't believe it, I was staring at the exiled Alpha and he… he was also staring at me.Shit.He must have noticed someone's unwavering gaze on him because he slowly turned his head and his eyes landed on me and he frowned, looked me over.I should have looked away but I couldn't and we were just having a staring competition until Keiran got to him bowing before the man removed his gaze from mine and focused on keiran.Dmitri was here to buy a mermaid. weird.Keiran was talking exaggeratedly and I was getting tired of just standing In the same spot so I sighed. Why was I waiting for keiran? I knew the way to the poolIgnoring anyone who looked at me, I strode towards the pool eager to get things over with and leave this placeThe pool looked fairly the same. Nothing much hand changed yet not even the stares that I was given.“Marilyn?!” My name was whispered in shock by several of the mermaids who were clustered around talking before I entered I took a deep breath. Their g
MARILYNHe was still staring at me with that wolfish grin in his eyes.Keiran pinched the bridge of his nose and turned his attention back to the man.“She's been bought” I heard him whisper to the man.There was a scowl on the man's face at that.“Is her master here?” He asked, his voice loud as though he didn't care that I was there.He was rude but for some reason, this wasn't how I envisioned the exiled Alpha to be. Maybe I was mistaken and he just had the same name as the exiled Alpha however Keiran had referred to him as Alpha, no one did that anymore if someone was exiled. They were stripped of their position so it wouldn't make sense if Keiran was doing it “You know I'm right here,” I said lazily.The man let out a smile. “My apologies, sweetheart. I was just going through the necessary details”I sighed and crossed my arms. “I'm not on the list, sir,” I said with an eye raised.A look of surprise flashed in his eyes as though Keiran had not just told him that.“I see. Howeve
BALINThe sun had dipped beyond the horizon and there was a terrible storm brewing outside. I was sitting to dinner with Damien. It was ironic. I couldn't bear to sit with this man a while ago yet here we were. Not like we were making any conversation as he seemed rather distant, cutting the piece of vegetable almost robotically.I was in no mood to even know what was wrong with him. I already had my shit to take care of.The sound of his fork clattering to his plate brought me back to reality.He looked at me with dead eyes. “Your room had been prepared for you. You'll be shown there after dinner. You can have a look around or do whatever suits you best,” he muttered.“Oh I think I know,” I said nonchalantly expecting a witty response but all I got was a hum.Feeling a bit weird, I looked up at him. “Thank you for your kindness,” I said.It was kind of a big deal for him to let us stay over since we couldn't return to the pack.“It's no problem. If I had visited you, I'm sure you w
MARILYN"Maren?" I questioned, a wave of surprise washing over me. How did he know that word?Not many people knew of it and my bet was that Ophelia only knew that because she was a witch who had lived for long and seen things so It didn't make sense that this man knew about what I was. Even I just found out.He merely smirked, his eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger. "A mermaid royal," he clarified as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.I felt a chill crawl down my spine. His knowledge made my skin tingle and I had so many questions that I didn't dare to ask him. He wasn't a friend. He was a foe."How do you know about Marens?" I pressed, my voice laced with curiosity despite me trying to hide it.He remained silent for a moment, his gaze unwavering. Then, with a dismissive wave of his hand, he said."That's not important right now, sweetheart. What matters is that you're special. Very special. And I intend to make sure you're well taken care of... if you help me."Ther
BALINThe room that had been allocated to me was spacious and was well suited to my taste but the air was suffocating and I was just sitting by the edge of the goddamn bed, contemplating my next move while Marilyn was somewhere on her way back to my pack to seek revenge because she thinks I cheated on her.I was still baffled by my conversation with Damien. I would have expected that he shut up about it and let her kill me if she could but he just said that she's driven by anger and he doesn't want her to do anything that she'd regret which was why he was telling me so that I could contain her.A surge of frustration coursed through me. How could she think I was capable of such a thing? I would never cheat on her. Never. The mere thought of it sickened me.I couldn't let this misunderstanding go on for long. I had to reach out to her, to explain, to clear my name.This wasn't the first time I tried and it sure as well wouldn't be the last, I closed my eyes and reached out to her with m
AYLINI think it was safe to say that I hadn't slept a wink all night, the storm had kept me up. It wasn't the rain but the storm in my head, my head was a jumbled mess as I sat on the edge of my bed, thinking.The pack was quiet and I enjoyed the serenity. It gave me more time to think about what Marilyn had said. It was almost ironic that when we finally got to speak, she just gave a short message and blocked me out again."I'm coming back to the pack."I knew she would eventually but why did she tell me? Oh god, this was terrible. Dmitri was rumored to be near, I wasn't sure if I wanted her to be caught in the crossfire. She didn't know what this pack was going through and I feared for her.I was to find a way to reach her, to deter her, wait for it to blow over before she came for her own revenge from Balin but I was impressed by the shield she had put up.Honestly, I missed the times I spent with her, when Ophelia had told me to care for Marilyn, I was apprehensive but as I got to
MARILYNIt had been two days already since I had that talk with Aylin and following after, I had a discussion with Balin. I felt like we couldn't be walking on eggshells anymore and we needed to address the issue and we did.Which was namely the reason why the celebration in the pack house had started but I was still standing in my room, my gaze locked on the vanity mirror, staring at my reflection. I looked different. And it was in a good way.The slight knock on my door made me jolt back to reality and quickly grab my lipstick knowing that it was probably Aylin.The door pushed open and Aylin shambled in, her green maxi dress accentuating her curves while her hair was tied up in a bun and adorned with flowers.That was the event of today. We had faced devastation not long ago but tonight…It was the celebration of summer and apparently flowers were a big part of the night which is why everyone had a flower on their person tonight.My hair was still casually dropped down as I was still
MARILYNIt has been two days and Balin was out of bed already and already resumed his duties in the pack while I still hung around.I don't even know what I was still doing here, I should leave but I was in no hurry, everyone was nice to me and kept thanking me for saving them.Even though I wanted to be angry at them, I knew how they must feel at this point. They didn't even know what to believe. Alicia had turned out to be a demon, I turned out to be not as weak as they knew, Dmitri finally attacked, they lost people. Things must be hard for them.So because of that, I was nice to them and accepted their every apology while listening to them and getting to know them on a more personal level.I think something that earned me more respect was the fact that everyone now knew that I was a Maren. Occasionally my mind would drift back to the mermaid foundation and I wondered if they were okay.Yes, the mermaids there hurt me and mae life a living hell for me. But I couldn’t stop myself from
MARILYNThe cool stone of the fountain stood in sharp contrast to the warmth of my own stormy feelings. I sat by myself, the soothing splashing of water providing background for the recurring scenes in my head.Balin intertwined with another woman, the vision of that night came back agonizingly clearly. It had been the reason for my leaving and the reason I was still madI felt doubt biting at me. Should I have judged more quickly? Had I let wrath distort my view?Aylin joined me beside the fountain, a consoling presence among my swirling thoughts."Marilyn," she asked softly, "are you okay?"Though it felt empty and stupid, I forced a grin. “Aylin, I'm good. Just... contemplating.”She sat next to me, staring across my field of vision. "Regarding Balin?"Not sure I could meet her eyes, I nodded."I know you're hurting," she said gently. “Still, I know Balin as well from the short time I spent here. And I would never think he would act in such a manner."Her remarks caught me off guard
BALIN"I'm awake." I blinked, my eyesight fuzzy, the world around me a hazy swirl of forms and hues. My body felt heavy, as though I had been asleep for a thousand years and my head throbbed with a dull agony.Marilyn's face came into focus as I tried to squint, her lovely features marked with a mixture of relief and... something else. Fury? Indifference?"Marilyn," I said, my voice hoarse from neglect. “You're here.”She showed a look of warmth, but it was fleeting and soon she was wearing a guarded look.I reached out to her, my hand shaking just a little. "I'm so glad you're safe," I said, heart aching with a love that refused to die.Her eyes hardening, she withdrew from my touch. "Don't," she murmured, her voice hard. "Just... do not."I felt confusion sweep over me. Why was she pulling away? She had not disappeared. She had stayed and she had been here. I could faintly still feel her lips on my head when I was coming back to consciousness even though I didn't hear what she had
"I'm sure," I replied, my voice firm. "I need to make sure everyone is getting back on their feet."Jarek nodded, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "You've done a remarkable job, Marilyn. The pack... they respect you now. You're doing an amazing job even I'm not sure that I could have done."I scoffed, a bitter taste in my mouth. "Their respect is a fickle thing, Jarek. Earned through bloodshed and fear. It's not the kind of respect I wanted but it's what I got."He sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I know it's not ideal, but it's a start. You've given them hope, Marilyn. We underestimated you, you're clearly one of the best things that have happened to the pack."I sighed. “It's fine. You know I always wanted revenge and now I'm helping rebuild. Ironic”Jarek cleared his throat, drawing my attention back to him. "I have the casualty report, Marilyn," he said, his voice a whisper "We lost twenty-three pack members. Another fifteen are severely injured, but the healer is hopeful they'l
MarilynI didn't move for a good 5 seconds, my eyes fixed on nothing and the sounds of the battle ravaging around me faded Into nothing. All I could see was Balin, his lifeless body slumped against mine, his words—his final words—ringing in my ears."I love you, Marilyn."A sob tore through me as I realized he was still slumped against me, unmoving, I had been harsh on him, I never got the chance to tell him that I didn't hate him, and now he was gone. Because of me.A weird feeling engulfed me. Was this grief? Pain? Regret? Whatever it was, it hurt like hell.My body refused to move, paralyzed by a grief so profound it threatened to consume me whole. I slowly pushed him off me and fell to the ground, my face staring up at the sky, the sound of the demon's laughter echoing around me and the sound of the battle around me. I wouldn't mind death at this point. It was a part of me that had been torn away.Aylin, her face streaked with tears, rushed to my side, her voice a desperate plea."
MARILYNAlmost as terrible as the battle, Alicia's fall had been the cause of the silence that followed. The expressions of the people revealed confusion, incredulity, and a growing fear.Ever the protector, Balin responded first, his focus on the slumped figure of Alicia. He hurried toward Alicia's almost lifeless figure, crouching next to her, his hand extending to feel for a pulse."Alicia?" he asked, his voice full of a desperate hope that made me angry for some reason. "Alicia, can you hear me?"Many pack members, startled, gathered around Alicia, their voices a cacophony of worried questions.“Someone got the healer!”“Is she breathing?”"What happened with her?"Her face was white and her eyes were wide with panic, Aylin grabbed my arm firmly.She said, "Marilyn," her voice shaking, "What's happening? There's a weird energy"I shook my head, confused yet my gaze fixed on Balin who was worried. "Aylin, not sure. But something doesn't seem right.""She's the demon!" Aylin yelled
MarilynAfter my shout, the stillness that followed was dense and weighted with a mix of amazement, terror, and incredulity. Once a site of wild violence, the battlefield was now terribly quiet.Rushing to my side with a look of mixed concern and shock in his eyes, Balin broke the quiet first.I staggered back unconsciously as he neared me, my heart aching in my chest. He didn't deserve to be this close to me. What was stopping me from speaking to him? Everyone said I should hear him out but what they didn't understand was that the sight I met that day was not something that I could recover from. Ever.He said, "Marilyn," his voice strained, "Are you alright?"I scowled at him, my wrath blazing with every once-over I gave him. I pushed him away quickly, my senses heightened and wary."Don't touch me," I growled, hatred tinging my voice. "You have no rights."He staggered back, his face a mixture of pain and bewilderment.Elder Oakwood, with his pale and drawn-in face, came gently up to
MARILYN"Game on," I echoed, my voice calm and my fingertips flexing as I cracked my neck. I was certain that I could kill Dmitri after practicing for a while.Dmitri unsheathed his dagger and cocked his head at me. “I think it's only fit that we face off against each other” he suggested.Balin immediately opened his mouth to protest but I beat him to it.“Deal.”“No weapons? Is that how confident you are, Maren?” Dmitri asked with a smirk.My hands swirled and a blade materialized on my hand, shining with a blue unearthly glow. Dmitri's eyes flickered to the knife and I knew it unnerved him by the way his smirk wavered but he kept his ground.“Since we're playing dirty,” He muttered, tucking his blade back in his sheath.Ah, he was going to be using his wolf to attack me instead. More the challenge for me."You think you can defeat me with that?" he scoffed, his voice laced with disbelief.I merely smirked. "This is just the beginning, Dmitri," I said, my voice laced with a newfound