TROUBLE 

Chapter 2

Present time 

Markus pov

"I'll take two slot cards for the game, please," I said to Melissa, who was managing the game cards.

Melissa raised an eyebrow, eyeing me with concern. "You're here without 

Scarlett? Are you sure everything is okay? Did you two have another fight?"

She rummaged through her worn leather bag, tied around her waist, as she spoke.

The mention of Scarlett's name brought up memories of our past, and I felt a low growl rising in my throat. It had been months since I last saw her, but the wound still felt raw.

"Can I have my slot card, Melissa? I don't want to miss out on any of the games," I said.

Melissa's expression turned hostile. "Fine, take it! You're desperate to break free from your shackles. I can't stand sluggish men like you," she snapped, tossing the card at me with force.

Her words cut deep, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as she added, "Poor fucking werewolf."

My eyes locked onto hers, and I nodded curtly. "How did you know I'm a werewolf? Have you been stalking me?" I growled, my tone low and menacing.

"I don't need to stalk a werewolf like you, especially not a sluggish, intoxicated one like you," Melissa sneered, tossing another card at me before quickly snatching it back. I stared at her, confused, as my chair scraped against the floor, the noise echoing through the room.

As I stumbled forward, someone pushed me to the ground. A feminist voice boomed, "Hey, watch it, asshole!" and I felt a kick from her boots connect with my legs.

I glared up at her, my eyes narrowing. "What? Do you want to fight me?" I growled, my vision almost blurring with anger.

As I glared up at the feminist, I could feel my body beginning to shift. My senses grew sharper, my muscles tensed, and my nails lengthened into claws. I was on the verge of transforming into a werewolf.

The feminist, seemingly unaware of the danger, took another step closer to me. "You're a mess, you know that? A drunken, sloppy mess," she spat.

Her saliva smeared my face, and I couldn't comprehend why she was being so self-destructive. I abhorred it when humans behaved like animals, and it ignited a fierce rage within me. "Sloppy jerk!" I snarled in disgust.

Suddenly, a hulking figure dropped to his knee beside me, his massive hand gently caressing my hair before unleashing a devastating punch that sent blood flying from my mouth.

"Markus is a formidable opponent, and you kids don't want to risk losing your lives, do you?" Melissa's voice pierced the air, sending a jolt of adrenaline coursing through my veins.

As I struggled to my feet, wiping the blood from my mouth, I gaze at the lady standing over me, her eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity. Melissa's voice echoed in my mind, a warning to calm down, but I couldn't help myself. I charged at the lady, my fists flying.

She laughed, a deep, rumbling sound, and swung at me with a massive fist. I dodged, but she was too fast, too strong. She caught me with a blow that sent me crashing to the ground.

As I struggled to get up, Melissa rushing towards us, her eyes blazing with anger. "Markus, stop!" she shouted, but I just laughed again.

I tried to approach the lady again, but she was already prepared to strike, her fist clenched and ready to send me crashing to the ground once more. This time, I landed on the counter top with a thud. "Ouch! That was brutal," I groaned, still reeling from the pain of hitting my head on the counter. "You've been training, kid? Your blows are like a professional boxer's!"

Just then, Melissa intervened, using a long rod to strike me with force. "Get down, you animal!" she shouted.

"Markus, get out of my sight!" she added, her voice firm and commanding. "Something is wrong with you."

As I struggled to get up, Melissa's words echoed in my mind. "Something is wrong with you." I knew she was right. I could feel it. The transformations, the rage, the loss of control... it was all getting worse.

Melissa approached me, her eyes filled with a mix of concern and wariness. "Markus, what's happening to you?" she asked, her voice soft.

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog. "I don't know," I admitted, feeling a sense of defeat. "I just can't seem to control it anymore."

Melissa stepped forward, her expression firm. "We need to get you out of here, now. Before you hurt someone else."

"No, I need Scarlett. Please, tell her I'm sorry. Maybe we can work things out for our son's sake."

But before I could continue, Melissa's expression changed from concern to shock. "Markus, did you cheat on her again?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Her eyes widened in disgust as she took in my condition. "Oh, shit! You're better off living in the underworld! Your dick should be replaced with a mic, since you can't control yourself!"

"Please, Scarlett," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'll do anything to make it right. I'll go to the underworld, I'll do whatever it takes."

"Oh my goodness, Markus! I'm not Scarlett, don't get too drunk and out of control again!"

You'll be spending the night in Room 356, Melissa said, as she still reel from the earlier incident. "I just had to kick out the last customer and the lady he brought in because they couldn't pay," she muttered to myself.

As we entered the room, I felt a sudden push on my chest, and before I knew it, I was landing on a soft, comfortable surface. I sniffed the air, and the familiar scent of pineapple filled my nostrils.

"You smell like Scarlett," I saidcalmly, but before I could continue, the door slammed shut behind me.

You've fucking missed me, Markus," a voice cut through the tense air, followed by a soft kiss on my lips.