Chapter 463: Just in case

Chapter 463: Marcus

It is getting exhausting.

Sometimes I just want to spend time with my mate, and there are all these others. It was better when the twin was gone. I had more than enough time with her and my son.

Goddess, was this really the right decision?

I stand at the window, watching the forest. The house is quiet. Seraphina is in the other room, pacing, muttering to herself. She has been like this for weeks—restless, angry, unstable.

I should go to her.

I should comfort her.

I should be the mate she needs.

But I am tired.

I am so tired.

Ethan is with his grandfather tonight. I am glad. He does not need to see his mother like this. He does not need to see any of this.

She is so stressed and bothered that she is forgetting to be a mother. It is affecting Ethan now.

As much as I love my mate, I am also a father. This cannot go on.

I walk inside. She is pacing.

She looks at me, and her eyes light up. Theron looks at me with a look of relief before he escapes.

When did spending time with her become such a chore?

My mate is my soul. My heart. She always will be. It is how mate bonds work.

On certain days, the bond feels less like a blessing and more like chains.

She walks toward me.

"Marcus," she says.

"Sera."

"I need you to talk to Rylan," she says. "He has been distant. He has been hiding something. I can feel it."

I look at her.

"Maybe he just needs time," I say.

"No." She shakes her head. "Something is wrong. I know it."

I take a breath.

"What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to talk to him. Make him tell me the truth."

I look at her.She will not be calm until I agree.

"I will talk to him," I say.

"Yes, please. I do not know what is going on, but—"

"Sera." I cut her off.

She looks at me.

"I am here in front of you, mate of mine," I say, "but your thoughts are full of another."

She looks guilty, at least.

"He is my mate too," she says in a low voice. "It is only natural that I am restless."

"I understand, Sera." I step closer. "But what about me?"

"There is nothing wrong with us," she says.

I do not mean to, but I scoff.

"Does that mean I do not deserve to spend time with my mate, then?" I ask.

"No, of course not."

"Then at least look at me," I say. "For a few hours. Not another."

"I am sorry, I just—"

I walk closer to her and wrap her in my arms.

"I understand." I hold her close. "But my beloved, this is taking a toll on you. On your other mate bonds. Even Ethan. When was the last time you spent time with our pup, huh?"

She is quiet.

"That is what I thought," I say.

She looks down.

"I have been... distracted," she admits.

"I know."

"I am sorry."

"Do not apologize to me," I say. "Apologize to him. He misses you."

She nods.

I hold her for a moment. And like every wolf in existence, I am but a fool for my mate. I do not want to see her so sad.

She looks up at me through her gray eyes. I run my fingers through her strands and think of the first time I saw her—in tears under the moon, her hair reflecting the moonlight. She looked ethereal. I thought my mate was a gift from the goddess herself.

I still do.

I kiss the strands.

"I will always love you," I say.

She smiles. It reaches her eyes.

When she is like this, her beauty shines even more.

"I love you too, Marcus," she says.

***

Daphne

I continue licking the fur of the red wolf sleeping in front of me.

"Yuck."

Lyra is standing there with a disgusted expression on her face. I snort and continue, ignoring her. Unfortunately, just because I ignore her does not mean she is ignoring me. She climbs onto my back.

I flinch at the painful grip she has on my fur. I am pretty sure she has pulled out some strands. I swat her with my tail.

Mistake. Her fingers grip onto me with a death grip. I ignore her and continue, with the sun shining on us.

She settles on my back, her small legs gripping my sides like she is riding a horse.

"This is weird," she says.

I snort.

"Your fur is soft, though."

I make a sound of agreement.

"Can we go for a run?"

I ignore her and continue having an intimate moment with my wife, licking her fur. I cannot believe I am doing this. And it is not bad. Am I still human? I do not think I have been human for a long time, though.

"Please, for a ride," Lyra says again.

I pause, but ignore her again.

"Pleaeeeeeessseee."

Elara swats me with her tail and snorts. I sigh; it comes out as a huff. I stand onto all fours.

"Yes!" she whispers triumphantly.

I make a sound that is almost a laugh.

Elara lifts her head, her green eyes half-lidded with amusement. I growl at her, but she curls into herself, continuing to sleep in the sun.

I purposely step on her tail when walking away.

She yelps.

Before she can eat me alive, I take off.

Lyra’s laughter echoes through the forest.

"She is catching up!!!" she shrieks.

I pick up my pace, running faster. Definitely not because I’m scared.

Behind me, I hear Elara’s growl. Then her paws pounding against the earth.

I jump over a bush, going faster. Lyra shrieks and wraps her hands around my neck. I am definitely not scared—I am just having fun with my daughter, that’s all. But I shouldn’t let her catch me just in case.