Chapter 138 Angry Marcus II

Chapter 138: Chapter 138 Angry Marcus II

Before Noah could even lean properly against Eugene, they heard a loud crack. It sounded horribly similar to the snap of a spine. Everyone turned at once. To their horror, Marcus’s hand was twisted at an unnatural angle, his fingers trembling as Lysander held his wrist with terrifying ease.

Before anyone could react, Lysander struck him directly across the jaw. Marcus was thrown backward and crashed onto the floor, his head landing dangerously close to the plate of dessert that had been left behind.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Lysander calmly released his wrist and looked down at him. "Don’t disrespect me like that." His voice was dangerously calm. "We are not even close to being in the same caliber. I could break you into pieces and take your soul, and you would be completely powerless to stop me."

Marcus stared at him from the floor, breathing heavily.

Lysander didn’t look even slightly guilty. "I killed him. And so what?" His red eyes narrowed. "The boy’s death was predestined. If killing him was what it took to bring Noah here, then I would do it again." He paused. "Again and again."

Lysander casually wiped the mark left by Marcus’s punch from the corner of his mouth before walking back toward the seat he had occupied earlier. He looked completely unbothered.

Meanwhile, Marcus remained on the floor, staring into empty space with his mouth slightly open. He looked like someone who had just been dropped into another dimension and had no idea what to do next.

Damian immediately crouched beside him. "It’s okay, Marcus." He tried to keep his voice gentle. "It’s not the end of the world. Ashton never even acknowledged us properly back then. You shouldn’t let this affect you so badly."

Marcus didn’t answer. He slowly turned his face away from the gathering and looked toward the door. Then he pushed himself up. "I’m going straight to bed." His voice was hoarse. "No one should come looking for me."

He walked away without waiting for anyone to respond. The door closed behind him.

Noah covered his mouth as he watched Marcus disappear. His heart hurt. "He really is angry with me." Noah’s voice trembled. "I didn’t mean to keep it from you guys. I was afraid. I was scared, and I didn’t know how any of you would react if you found out."

Damian moved closer. "Noah..."

"I didn’t know it would hurt one of you this badly." His eyes began to water.

Damian immediately pulled him into a hug. Killian joined them a second later, followed by Eugene. Before Noah knew it, the three Alphas had surrounded him.

Lysander watched from the side with an expression of complete disinterest. "No." Everyone looked at him. "I don’t do group hugs." He folded his arms. "It stains my reputation."

Noah didn’t even allow him to finish. He reached out, grabbed Lysander by the arm, and dragged him into the group. "You’re part of the group too."

Lysander looked personally offended. But once he was pulled into the embrace, Noah felt the demon relax.

The warmth of the four Alphas surrounding him made Noah’s chest loosen slightly. They were all different. They had all hurt him in different ways. But somehow, they had become his.

Noah sniffled. Their scents surrounded him, and he couldn’t help noticing that his own scent seemed stronger than before.

Eugene seemed to notice it too. "Your scent has become stronger." He lowered his face slightly, breathing in around Noah’s cheek and neck. "It wasn’t this intense before." His lips brushed dangerously close to Noah’s skin.

Noah immediately pushed his face away. "Eugene!"

The Alpha chuckled. "What?"

"You were about to lick my face!"

"I was appreciating your scent."

"That is not how you appreciate someone’s scent!"

Killian laughed. Damian shook his head. Even Lysander’s lips twitched. For a brief moment, the tension surrounding Marcus seemed to disappear.

But Noah quickly remembered why they were all gathered together. "We aren’t done with the game." Everyone looked at him. "I want us to finish it." Noah’s expression became serious. "I don’t want any more secrets between us. If there’s something that could cause problems later, I want it out now. This is probably our last chance to get everything out in the open."

Lysander immediately shook his head. "No."

Noah blinked.

"We can leave it."

"We can’t."

Lysander stood and moved toward him. "We’ve said enough." His hand settled around Noah’s waist. "Besides, we decided we’d wait until after the ceremony." His fingers brushed over Noah’s side, making him shiver. "We shouldn’t break that rule now."

Lysander’s gaze darkened as he leaned closer. Noah’s breath caught.

The others noticed immediately.

Killian sighed. "We made that rule ourselves." He stepped forward, a playful smile appearing on his face. "And rules made by us can be changed by us." He winked. "Why don’t we just move to that part now?"

Damian’s expression changed instantly. His excitement was obvious.

Noah stared at them. "I don’t want to—"

He barely got the words out before Killian captured his lips in a soft kiss. Noah’s eyes widened. The kiss quickly became deeper, stealing away the rest of his sentence.

Damian laughed softly. "You were saying?"

Noah glared at him, but his expression was already betraying him.

Eugene stepped closer and kissed him next, slower this time, making Noah’s thoughts scatter. Lysander came up behind him, his hands settling around Noah’s waist.

The garden’s moonlight washed over them, and for a moment Noah forgot about everything. It all disappeared beneath the warmth surrounding him.

Then—"Sorry for disturbing this."

Rose’s voice came from the entrance. Everyone froze. Noah immediately pulled away.

Rose stood there with Lamia, both looking like they had walked into something they definitely hadn’t expected to see. Their faces were flushed.

Rose cleared her throat. "We saw Marcus packing."

Lamia nodded. "He was crying."

Rose continued, "And he looked like he was planning to leave."

Every bit of warmth disappeared from Noah’s body.

"What?" He immediately stood. "He’s leaving?"

He quickly straightened his clothes. The moon was already high in the sky, illuminating the magical garden. The glowing flowers swayed gently in the night breeze, but Noah barely noticed them.

Lysander’s expression turned sour. Killian’s did the same. Their little moment had been interrupted. Again. And this time, it was because of Marcus.

Lysander sat back down, chewing angrily on a strawberry. "Why is it always him?" he muttered. "Why can’t he just be a good boy and let the damn issue go?"

Noah looked at the others. "I’m sorry, guys." He took a breath. "But I’m not participating anymore."

Killian’s expression fell.

"I can’t let Marcus leave." Noah’s voice softened. "Just like you guys, I love him too. And it would crush me to know he’s leaving because I was the reason he was hurt."

Without waiting for an answer, Noah hurried toward the cottage. Rose and Lamia followed.

Lysander watched him disappear. His jaw clenched. "Noah doesn’t understand." He picked up another strawberry. "He’s the one hurting himself. That selfish idiot is making Noah feel guilty, and I’m getting pissed."

He bit into the strawberry. His mind, however, wasn’t on Marcus anymore. It went straight back to Noah—the warmth of his body, the scent that had become intoxicating, the way Noah had looked moments earlier beneath the moonlight.

Lysander’s eyes darkened. He had been this close to having Noah all to himself for a while. And then Marcus had ruined everything. He wanted to complain. He wanted to tell Noah that they needed to finish what they had started. He wanted to reveal more about their past, about the strange connection between them, and about the things Noah still didn’t remember.

But he never got the chance.

"I am going to see what the commotion is." Damian suddenly stood. "I’m not comfortable sitting here while all that is happening."

He hurried toward the cottage. Killian followed. Eugene followed right behind him.

Lysander stared at them. "Idiots." Then he stood too. "Fine."

They rushed toward the cottage. By the time they reached it, they could already hear raised voices.

Noah and Marcus were standing opposite each other. Marcus’s eyes were red from crying. Noah looked equally emotional.

"So you really want to leave?" Noah demanded. "You really want to leave because you’re angry that I’m not Ashton?"

Marcus opened his mouth. Noah didn’t give him the chance.

"Where is all that love you claimed to have for me?" His voice cracked. "What about everything you told me before? The way you said you wanted what your parents had? The way you confessed your feelings?"

Marcus’s face twisted.

"Was all of that a lie?" Noah’s tears finally slipped free. "Did you never love me, Marcus?"

Marcus stared at him.

"You don’t love me, do you?" His voice became weaker. "You never did."

He wiped his face roughly. "And maybe Ashton wasn’t even the real problem."

Marcus’s lips trembled. "I..." He swallowed. "It’s not..." "Noah, I—"

His knees suddenly buckled. Marcus collapsed.

Noah’s eyes widened. "Marcus!" He rushed forward and caught him before his head could strike the floor. "Marcus?"

There was no response. Noah shook him gently. "Marcus, wake up."

Nothing. His heart began pounding. "Marcus?"

He pressed his fingers against Marcus’s neck. Nothing. Noah’s face went pale. "No..." He placed his ear closer. There was no breath.

Noah’s hands began trembling violently. "Someone help!" The others rushed forward. Noah’s voice suddenly broke into a scream. "Archhhhhhh!" He held Marcus tightly. "He’s not breathing!"

The entire room fell into chaos. Eugene immediately dropped beside them. Damian froze for half a second before moving. Killian’s face drained of color. Even Lysander’s expression changed.

Noah looked around desperately. "Help him!" His voice cracked. "Please!" He shook Marcus again. "Marcus, wake up!"