The Change (Fated Series: book1)
Chapter 11 - Weakeness

Marcus

(His office in Bloodwood’s Pack House)

Marcus gritted his teeth. It was clear as day, Nessa was trying to distance herself from him. It made him anxious. How was he supposed to protect her if she would not be in the same room as him. He could not lose someone as special as Ness. She denied him her company, hiding in her apartment.

Marcus missed her. Who would have thought he’d get so attached to her naughty remarks and her adorable little aggression against him? He smiled remembering how she was always slapping, tapping, tugging, nudging or just about plain old assaulting him. It was their excuse for skin to skin contact with each other. And he liked her touches. All of them.

Nessa ignored his calls, and Marcus left voice message after voice message. He knew she listened to them as her voicemail box was never full even after a dozen or so messages. Any sane wolf would get the hint she considered him a one-night stand and move on. But not Marcus. She was his Chosen and there was no way he could rest without her in his arms.

The silent treatment was working. Marcus all but drove up to her place to demand her attention in person. Nessa was the type of person who would be stubborn enough to refuse to see him or not even come home if she suspected a visit was in order. While he could put up with a lot of things, not knowing where she spent her nights was certainly not going to be one of them.

He would give her space; but that didn’t mean he would not tighten the security. She was his priority. His cheerful partner in crime. Goddess, how he longed to touch her again. But her needs always came first. If she wanted space, space he would give her. He could see how the omission of his rank hurt her. She was independent and educated, which only meant his rank wounded her pride as she never saw it coming. Had it been any other girl, his rank would have dropped the panties and worn down any resistance. But not Nessa. She had a backbone and would definitely punish for such a transgression.

He would be in the dog house, all pun intended, but he would eventually end up back in her good graces. Marcus reminded himself, trying to calm down. She would get over it, right? She would steam, fume, shout and then shop for a ridiculous amount of time. Then she’d be fine. That was what she-wolves did, right?

He scratched his head. That wasn’t the problem. The issue was he did not know how long that whole process would take. A week? A month? A year? He definitely hoped it wouldn’t be that long. She had quickly become his preferred drug of choice and he was going through withdrawals as soon as he stepped out of her little apartment. It was impossible to feel this strong connection to someone so soon. Marcus had no illusions this wasn’t the slow-growing but ever consuming love he had experienced with his fated. No. Whatever he had with Nessa was new, vivid and so charged with understanding, it quickly soaked through the cracks of his broken heart, gluing it back together. He never expected nor searched for a connection like this, but once it was there, he would be a certifiable fool if he let her slip away from his arms.

‘She can’t stay mad at me forever’, Marcus reminded himself.

Could she?

No, she was his mate.

True, he hadn’t gotten to the part of sharing that specific information with her yet. It just didn’t seem right to share it with Cameron as their witness. Afterwards, it was too late. She was hell-bent on wasting her energy and time fretting over his title. It was difficult not to dismiss her feelings about his Alpha-rank in the grand scheme of things, especially when he knew how happy they could be together.

It wasn’t just the sex. Sure it was great, but more importantly they had a spark. The deep love and companionship only humans could create by themselves. Those lucky bastards! They never felt powerless in front of Fate, nor experienced true devastation as they heart always longed for love. Werewolves had to blindly trust their happiness in the hands of the Fates.

Marcus wondered when life got so complicated. He knew if he didn’t tell her soon, she would blame him for keeping their bond a secret. If he shared too soon, he would not be able to hold his wolf if she decided to run. Looking back at their short encounter, Marcus recognized their connection was slowly growing only to transform into something much grander after last night.

Could she feel their connection? Or perhaps because he has been mated before he recognized the bond first? There were so many unknowns but Marcus had never been so determined to figure things out. Because it was all worth it. She was worth it.

He smiled as he remembered all the little pouty faces she made when she had asked for his rank. Her bubbly persona had been on the way of figuring it all out, had Marcus’ body not been a distraction.

Truth be told, he missed her. Even if she was there to insult, beat or shout at him. He would let her have her time, only if she was near. He just couldn’t stay away from her sweet curves.

Had he not tightened the security around her apartment, he would have thought the murderous thoughts he sensed though the mindlink were really attempts on her life. Marcus knew she was safe, but not as safe as she would be in his arms.

A small smile played on his lips. Vanessa was surely something. His mind wondered if he would see her at the party. It was the social event of the season. He doubted Nessa would care. She had managed to keep even her rejection a secret, and Marcus had no doubt she would try to ignore him into oblivion if he allowed it.

His attempt to meet her on neutral territory - her work - had miserably failed as Nessa did not show up for work a second consecutive day. She was either still mad at him and the world, or she was ill. Either way, it constituted enough reason to necessitate a home-well-check visit.

Cameron interrupted his thoughts as he opened the heavy wooden door frame, bringing a folder. His Beta had been also avoiding him for the last day and a half. Cameron was giving him space as he was no fool and had managed to put together the obvious. Marcus was whipped, and for once the thought did not phase Alpha Ned.

“You okay?” Cameron asked instead of an apology.

Was he?

Marcus nodded but they both knew he was lying.

“Boss, the paperwork can wait,” Cameron hinted.

Marcus opened the folder, his eyes scanning the words but his brain not comprehending anything other than there was no movement in the rogue champ-site up to the north-west. In situations like this, no news was still considered good news. Knowing your opponent was half the battle.

Now he could prepare.

Nessa

(Her apartment In Blackwood)

Nessa opened her door only to attempt to close it in Marcus’ face. He gently but firmly pushed passed her. His firm hold showed his determination and Nessa accepted defeat with pride. She shut the darn door shut, enjoying a little too much his backside as he bent down to take off his shoes, a gesture that warmed her heart. He wasn’t that bad. He could be domesticated. Nessa suppressed her smile, keeping her face void of the excitement she felt at seeing him again. It wouldn’t do him any good to discover he could charm his way out of the hole he dug himself into. Not that she was angry at him anymore. She had written it off as a rather peculiar misunderstanding. If anyone was to blame it was Brandon for leaving her so broken. She did not recognize the Alpha-aura around her green eyed devil, and thought of it as a side-effect of her insecurities.

Marcus looked weary, but downright sexy, muscular and hard in all the right places. She followed him into the living area, longing to run her hands down his board back and swat at his ass. The tension in him needed to disappear. The smile crept on her lips as her mind reminded her just how mouth watering he looked underneath all of his clothes. She swallowed hard and tried to focus. Yes, where was she? Oh, yeah, he thought she was angry at him.

As he turned around, she calmly met his eyes. One eyebrow shot up as her chin rose up in a challenge for him to say his peace. He smiled not taking the bait. Nessa sighed then moved around his burly frame to sit on the sofa. He stayed silent for a few long minutes then casually made his way to her side.

“I happen to like my carpet,” Nessa informed him seeing how he kept on walking back and forth. He looked at her confused and she had to steady her breathing. He looked vulnerable and so delicious she couldn’t wait for them to be done talking.

It wasn’t his woodsy aftershave, nor his cologne that had her knees turn jelly. It was simply him. Masculinity reincarnate. Nessa found it harder to keep up her act of indifference the longer his scent engulfed her.

“If you make a hole in my carpet, I’d be pissed off.”

“More than you are right now?”

“What do you want, Marcus?” Nessa questioned him instead of answering.

His green eyes lit as soon as he heard his name. Nessa wished she had called him Alpha instead, but such pettiness was beneath her. Besides her wolf respected the Alpha enough not allow Nessa to pretend he was a stranger.

Marcus sat on her coffee table in front of her. for a second Nessa thought the table will break under his weight but it didn’t. His knees brushed hers and Nessa knew she was fighting a losing battle.

“We need to talk,” Marcus locked his eyes on her.

The intensity of those green eyes conveyed much more than he led on. He was nervous.

Worried, Nessa corrected herself.

“I wish I could apologize for omitting my title when we met. Was it immature? Probably. But I would do it again for the chance to be around someone who did not judge me based on my past.”

“I can relate to that,” Nessa surprised him.

“Thank you,” Marcus replied his eyes intently watching her. Whether he found something he was searching for or not, Nessa wasn’t sure. “I’ve grown attached to you. I understand you had different expectations from your badass Alpha Ned. I screwed those up.”

“Yes, you did a number on Alpha Ned,” Nessa agreed.

“Am I forgiven?”

“I thought you weren’t apologizing,” Nessa told him. His lips curved upward, while his eyes stayed on her lips then moved tad bit south to her chest. “Eyes up here,” Nessa snapped her fingers catching him ogling her chest. His attention immediately moved to her face and a red tint colored his cheeks. She knew how difficult it was for Alphas to apologize, and his reasoning was all she would hope for.

“Busted. In my defense, it’s your fault,” his husky voice made her insides melt. “You are gorgeous.”

Nessa felt her cheeks heating.

“I know I should work to gain your trust and believe me there are a lot of things we need to talk about. But right now make it easy for me, and do as your Alpha say and pack a bag.”

“Marcus, I would strongly suggest you reconsider using the Alpha card on me,” Nessa warned him, which only made him smile wider.

“Or else you’d spank me,” Marcus offered, looking hopeful.

Nessa threw a decorative pillow at him. It distracted him enough to not see the blush that crept up her cheeks as spanking him was something she had thought about. Marcus effortlessly caught the pillow.

“I know I have it coming and frankly I’m looking forward to it. But I need you to pack a bag right now. You are coming with me to the pack house.”

“Wait. We what?... Why?”

“Time is of an essence, Nessa. I’ll explain everything, but the short version is, you are not safe here. The border territories while protected aren’t the safest. I need to know you are taken care of. Since I doubt you would let me stay over, I need you in the pack house.”

“And I want a Maserati, but both are equally not happening,” Nessa bit and try to stare him down.

“I’ll buy you a Maserati, just listen to me.”

“I’ll pretend you just did not proposition me like a random hooker…”

“Firstly, you have my utmost respect despite what you might think. Secondly, where do you come up with these ideas of yours? And thirdly, if you should know, I have never paid for sex. But if I did need to, wouldn’t you think a Maserati is quite an expensive payment for a random hooker?” Marcus quickly handled her outburst.

“But…”

“We are wasting daytime. I can’t command you, but I will gladly carry you if I need to. So tell me, are you going to be a good girl and pack your things, or do you want to be naughty and let me to do that for you?” Marcus shrugged his shoulders. There was something beyond sexy in the way he took charge of the situation. His explanation was up to the point and once it was done, he was in full Alpha mode. He was solving a problem, outlining the plan and entertaining no arguments. It wasn’t what he said, but what his body showed. He was tired and whether it was because of a tortured existence after their one night stand or something else transpired Nessa could only speculate. Marcus waited for her to finish her little observation, prepared for scrutiny but Nessa couldn’t be more proud of him. He was a good Alpha, cocky - true, but good nonetheless.

“If you ask me, I hope I’d be the one packing your things. I can’t wait to go through your lingerie drawer.”

“Wouldn’t you like that,” Nessa mumbled.

“I would, but the choice is yours,” Marcus replied.

“Are you serious?”

“Deadly,” Marcus responded flatly.

Nessa stood up and headed for her bedroom. One way or another, it was decided. The knucklehead was just itching to go through her undies. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction even if she was pretty sure even an Alpha Command wouldn’t be able to stir her wolf. S

Nessa pulled out a travel bag from under her bed, only to notice Marcus leaning against the door frame and keeping a close watch over her. She rolled her eyes. Was he really expecting her to bolt? From the third story? She shook her head, she had no plans of getting hurt.

“How long?”

“Couple of days for sure. A week at most.”

“That bad?”

“Hm,” Marcus agreed then surprised her as he filled her in on the situation. “There is a large group of rogues likely to pass by here. I don’t want to take any chances.”

He didn’t need to say more. There was a hint of caution in his words. Ths was the Alpha Ned everybody respected.

“It is important to me to keep you safe. You’ve grown on me,” Marcus continued. Nessa tensed up at his words as they revealed more than she expected from him. “So you see, Love, my main motive here is not to seduce you. I am taking care of my pack.”

“And how many house calls have you made so far?” Nessa questioned him. As silence answered her, she smiled. “I thought so, too. So what makes me the exception?”

“I didn’t think anyone else would be successful in convincing you to move,” Marcus confessed. “If I manage to pull off seducing you in the meantime, all for the better.”

“Still hoping to pack my bag for me,” Nessa teased him. He tried not to smile, but the corners of his lips curved upwards and his eyes glowed, golden freckles showing his wolf was coming to the surface at the provocation.

“See, you know me so well, Love,” Marcus replied.

There it was for the second time today - “Love”. Did he really mean it? Ness wanted to feel special, but did not want to lie to herself - this could be his way of talking to females.

Before he knew how much he affected her, went in her bathroom.

“You need to hurry,” he told her as she passed by him.

“Who twisted your panties?” Nessa wondered, packing her make-up, not that she had too much stuff to pack. Still a week was a long time.

When she looked at him again, she caught his eyes staring at her ass. Nessa rolled her eyes at his childish behavior but chose to ignore it.

“Who is that suicidal to willingly trespass on your territory?” She asked once she returned to her bedroom.

“Your trust in Alpha Ned’s abilities brings me comfort. If only you could transfer some of that unconditional trust to me,” Marcus did not complete the sentence.

“You know, speaking about yourself in third person is a serious sign for mental troubles,” Nessa told him, zipping the travel bag. She was about to pick it up when a strong muscular chest pressed against her back, his arm reached for her bag, just under her outstretched hand. She was painfully aware of his presence and if that wasn’t enough, his biceps brushed against her breast. She immediately pressed her legs together to prevent him from smelling her arousal. The idea was well thought out, but the execution only brought her butt into his groin, allowing her to feel his desire for her. She could feel his warmth breathe against her nape and how he froze at the contact.

“I’ll take that,” his husky voice made her aware just how much power this shifter had over her body. His proximity was enough to turn her knees into jello, yet his words were what ignited her imagination of him taking her from behind. “I agree. I need you close by to keep an eye on me,” Marcus offered, brushing his nose in her hair, taking her scent in. It was a very intimate gesture. She knew she should stop him, but she felt weak. She wanted his touch.

No.

She craved him.