ROTTEN LOVE - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

"Where is it?" she asks alarmed.
I contemplate what to tell her. Do I say, oh I took it off and by the way, Zain is my perfect match.
Perhaps, I should tell her it broke. But those responses are lies. She is my best friend. She will understand.
"I took it off." My voice is even.
"Why would you do that? Your mother said it will keep you safe. I guess, we know how," she remarks.
"What do you mean?"
"She mixed our blood to make the necklace. It obviously controls our bond. Made it more manageable. Put it back on," she suggests.
I bite my lip. I should want to put it on. I don't want Marisa to feel everything I do, especially if it brings her blood lust. Those around us could be in danger if she goes into a frenzy.
Zain looks displeased. Will my feelings vanish? They might diminish.
It could be for the best. My mother must have known that lust would cloud my judgment. I reach for my pocket, and Zain places his hand on my shoulder. I squint my eyes at him.
He says, "Don't."
"I must. It is affecting her. If she goes into a frenzy, your pack will for sure not trust them," I inform him.
"Can't you undo it," he asks.
"The bond," I raise my eyebrows.
It never occurred to me, and it never will. If I do, then what's to say he will honor our promise or protect them as ferociously as he would me? It's not fair, but I care about Marisa and Maddox.
If her life being bonded to me is a fail-safe, then I am willing to be tied to her.
"No, I can't. I would have to know the exact spell to reverse it. Even if I knew, I wouldn't. There is a reason it is in place," I respond.
"I give you my word, they will be protected," he answers.
"I can't risk it."
"You don't trust me despite what we have learned."
"Trust is earned. I feel like I understand why my parents wanted to hide us. They wanted us to make decisions based on logical reasonings, not irrational feelings."
He looks at me in disbelief, "Your parents hid you from me. There is not a good enough reason for it. If their kids were mated with wolves and their children bonded to vampires, there was no reason to hide you or the Malfattos. I would have protected you and subsequently, Marisa. This is far greater, and we need to investigate it, but you will not be hidden from me again."
Marisa eyes both of us. I forgot she is here.
"You mated with the dog...the necklace hides you from," she eyes Zain, trailing off.
Her eyes widen in disbelief.
I grab her hand, "Keep this between us. I am not sure what it means."
"I think it means you will need to buy a leash."
I bury down a laugh. I hug her. I knew she would keep the secret.
"Wait, what about Jason and Maddox," she asks.
"Not until I find out more information."
"Even from family you want to keep this a secret," she reprimands.
It sounds so harsh when she says it.
"I don't want to overwhelm them with something we do not know what it means. It would be temporary."
"Jason seemed pretty taken by that she-wolf," she counters.
She is right. My brother was acting weird. What if he sensed something in her like I did with Zain? That would mean we were both mated to werewolves from the blood moon pack.
The odds can't be so common.
I look at Zain, "What are the odds we both are mated to someone from this pack?"
Zain looks serious, "it's super rare to be mated with someone who is not of our species. Even rarer to have two members of the same family be mated with the alpha family. If I were to perish, then my sister is next in line, given I have no kids. This does not sit well with me."
Zain is the alpha, and I am his mate. If my assumptions are correct, Jason could be mated to Maddie, a potential alpha. That does seem too good to be true.
Another thought comes to mind, what if we aren't their mates? What if the bonds were made by my parents?
I feel slightly uneasy with Zain now. I will get to digging. But for now, it is best to have the least amount of people know.
"Right, well, as I said, we will keep it between the three. We will not tell Jason or Maddox," I declare.
Zain crosses his arms, displeased, "That does not seem fair. You want me to willingly hide my sister's mate from her."
"They are speculations. I am merely saying we should not voice them."
"If you refuse to put on your necklace, it won't take long for Jason and Maddox to figure something is up," Marisa interjects.
She is right, again.
"I will put it on," I reach for my pocket.
Zain growls, "No."
Marisa rolls her eyes, "If the only reason you want Helena is that she smells good without the necklace, then she is not yours to keep, wolf."
"It's more than that bloodsucker. Helena intrigued me before she took off her necklace. She will intrigue me even if she puts it back on. However, our feelings are subdued thanks to that trinket. Why should she and I deny ourselves the true extent of our feelings," Zain grits.
"Still sounds to me like your feelings for her are not real," Marisa counters.
"You listen here. I will like Helena WITH the necklace. I liked her before she took it off. But that pendant is doing something to our bodies. It subdues my body's reactions to her and vice versa. Do you know how dangerous that can be for her too? If I can't truly sense her, smell her, or feel her one hundred percent, I will not be able to know when she is in trouble. It is bigger than finding her attractive. I already do. Smell for us is crucial," he argues.
I understand what Zain is saying. It's not fair that we must live dulled knowing we can experience fireworks each time we are near. Yet, if we are meant to be, we should still feel those sparks without the necklace. If it's true... true love...true mates.
"I am going to put it on. Zain, I am not hiding anymore. I am right here next to you. Now, we know the truth. But we must figure things out before we come out with it. I will not leave you. I promise. Do you trust me," I ask innocently.
It's not fair to put him on the spot, but to my surprise, he agrees. The necklace that once brought comfort to me feels heavy in my hands. I take a deep breath and put my head around it.
Its cold surface burned my skin with the thought of its true purpose, to hide me from my other half and to hurt him. I look down at it, then up at Zain.
I am afraid he won't feel anything. He won't be as interested. When I catch his eyes, they are clear, without lust. But, if you look at them close enough, there is tenderness in them as he takes me in.
So, he won't want to jump my bones anymore.
I, for instance, look at him and still see his attractiveness, but I can function and focus on other things than the need to touch him. My heart does calm down. The instant tingles in having him near are subdued.
Yet, the knowledge of knowing he is mine is there, and that brings a level of appreciation and fondness. It saddens me that the necklace I saw as pure protection and unconditional love from my parents is a tool with ulterior motives.
I shove all those negative thoughts down as I feel Zain approach me. I eye him cautiously. He grabs my face, and the heat he radiates to me counters the coldness brought upon this once precious gift.
He brings his forehead to mine and breathes me in. I thought I heard a silent disapproving growl. It makes me unconscious.
"Your scent is gone," he begins.
Meaning, he does not feel the same. I try to move away.
He does not allow it. He tilts my head up in his hands. I look into his eyes, and my breath catches down my throat. They are different.
"It is not there anymore, but you are still mine Helena. I want you now as much as I did a few minutes ago. You were right. It does not matter whether you have it on or off because we know the truth. That truth is stronger than us or any spell, that truth will have me tied to you for the rest of my life, and that is unmistakable," he says to me.
I am so distracted by his closeness, his warmth, and attention that I almost miss his words.
"And what truth is that," I ask, my voice coming out not any louder than a whisper.
"That we are mates. You are undoubtfully made for me and I for you," he says into me, getting predatory closer to my lips.
I want to answer him yes. I agree. He is mine. I want to ensure him that it is mutual and voice it but there is this dark thought at the back of my head; that this was all orchestrated by my parents or outside forces.
So, I keep it in. I simply close the distance and allow my lips to touch his softly. His lips glide over mine, nice and sweetly. It is short but remarkable.
I hear a cough to my side, follow by an "eww gross. Get a room."
I smile at Zain, while he sighs dramatically at the interruption. I give him one last peck before moving out of his grasp. He lets go of my face but keeps one of his arms at my lower back.
"Maddox would want to know how I am doing. He knows I came here to get you and your help," Marisa reminds me.
"Right, let's not keep him waiting."
I turn to look at Zain. He does not look happy, but he stays quiet.
"I'll see you later. I must check in and take care of my crew," I say to him as I walk toward Marisa backward.
He keeps quiet.
"Plus, we have a competition to prepare for. The stakes are high," I say, stopping. I finally get to her side.
"You can't be serious. We are still doing that," he asks.
"You didn't think I would just remove the mark," I tease.
"Yeah, I did. We both know you don't need it anymore."
"On the contrary, alpha Zain, I think I need it now more than ever. How else would I control your bad behavior," he likes me calling him by his title.
His lips tilt to the side, gracing his face with a smirk. My heart races at that.
"You don't have to control it, only abide by it," he answers as a matter of fact.
"And give you what you want so easily. There is no fun in that," I try not to blush.
"Oh, my Helena, we would have all the fun in the world. I can assure you that," his voice lowers, and his eyes cloud.
Marisa snorts, "Smooth."
I roll my eyes, and she pulls me to continue walking away. I hesitantly comply but look back and wave at Zain.
We walk, and there is silence between us two for a minute.
"So what's the plan," Marisa asks.
"Plan?"
"You can't be head over heels Maddox one minute then be head over heels for another the next. This is Maddox we are talking about. He knows you, perhaps, more than I do."
I keep walking. I stay quiet until I could not keep it in any longer.
"Maddox does not like me. He never did. I was simply available."
"And you know this with certainty."
"I think his booty call from last night would agree with me," I scoff.
Marisa stops walking, and looks at me, "Look, Maddox is my brother, and you are you to me. You are special to us. All I ask is that you take things slow and cautious with this wolf. We don't know him despite the feelings you are experiencing. Your parents were wise. They must have had a reason for yours and Jason's pendant."
"Reason or not, we should have been told."
"You were like four when your mom gave it to you. Not exactly a conversation you would understand at the time."
"They could have found a way to share the information later. Left it with someone in the coven but didn't," I argue.
"Please, Helena, for me be careful," she pleas.
I take her hand, "I always am."
She resumes walking and does not look at me as she says, "As for Maddox, he is complicated. There is no future for you two."
I continue walking at her side, "Exactly."
"But I know my brother. You weren't just an option to him. It's one of the things I hated about you two. I know his feelings all too well. It's not fun wanting something and knowing you can't have it. You will never have it," she says softly.
I look at her. I forget sometimes. I walk faster to catch up to her and grab her hand. She stops again.
I put a strand of her beautiful white hair behind her ear, "I have been insensitive. I forget."
She shakes her head no, "You have always been clear to me Helena. All I am saying is that things are not as simple as they seem, that includes my annoying brother. Your unrelenting love for him of years went out the window when the pendant came off. So, who was insincere here, him or you?"
If words could kill, then I would be dead. Those words were harsh to hear, yet true. Before Maddie tried to fight me, I was trying to tell Maddox we should keep our distance.
I was going to end us after a few hours of talking to Zain, after one night of buildup tension with Zain. It's for sure over between us, after only the removal of a necklace. If anyone is insincere, it would be me.
I sigh, "Come on, your brother should be antsy by now."
I do not respond to her, but she knows she has made her point across. When we get to the cabin, I see Adam sprawled on the couch.
I walk toward him and crouch to his level. I put my hand on his forehead.
"He is fine, only drained," Maddox says leaning against a door frame. His arms crossed.
Before, I would quiver under his gaze. I stare at him quizzically and nod.
"Shouldn't he be up by now," Marisa says with slight irritation in her voice.
She walks toward Adam and lifts his head from the couch to place it on her lap. She is caressing his face. If he was awake, he would have died at this moment.
Maddox snaps, "No, he shouldn't. Probably, will be out the whole day. That's what happens when you act like you are a greedy child. What the hell were you thinking?! You practically sucked him dry."
Marisa looks at Adam with regret. She does not try to defend herself, simply takes Maddox's words.
I intervene, "It's my fault. My necklace fell while I was with Zain. Marisa could not have helped it. It seems the necklace helps regulate our bond."
At that, Maddox walks toward me and man handles me up from my position. I stare up at him. I decide to tell him some truth. Maddox is clever and it is only a matter of time before he began the questioning.
"And what exactly were you doing that made the necklace come off," he eyes me down.
"Do not ask questions you truly do not want to be answered," I give him the same intensity.
He snarls and lets go. He paces in front of us.
"So that's what yours and Jason's pendant does," he asks.
"Like you didn't know," I retort without meaning to.
"It's not like your mother gave me an instruction manual," he argues.
I hold my words in. I am being unfair. I can't help but think in Zain's words.
It truly is convenient that Maddox would not know, but I believe in Maddox. I can't start questioning that. I need a constant.
"Like I said it's not Marisa's fault. It was out of her control. She feels bad about it," I look at her as she caresses Adam's face.
He has been her favorite feeder for quite some time. He has been smitten with her for years, but she never gives him the time of day. I wish she would.
I have talked to her about him before. At first, I thought it was because she simply was attracted to only women. She shared with me that is not important. Gender is not a factor. She likes what she likes. Sex does not come into play.
She simply has not found someone worth her time. Of course, the invisible message was there; she has not found someone better than me.
I wish she gave Adam a chance but then again, it would be pointless. She is destined for another pureblood.
"Next time, you play with your mutt, I suggest you be careful. Marisa could have hurt others."
"You don't have to worry about a next time."
He looks at me.
His features softening, "Oh is the wolf not to your liking," he teases.
I bite my lip, "that's not the problem. Simply, I take my responsibilities seriously. I will not have anything happen to Marisa, again."
"Good, I was starting to worry."
"That I would play with Zain," I mock.
His eyes scrunch, "No, Amica mea, that you will forget where your loyalties are and who you serve?"
Amica mea means my love in the ancient language. He only uses it when he is trying to make a point or strike a nerve with me. He never allowed himself to use it much in my presence and I denied myself enjoying hearing it.
The wall. It always had to be up.
"I would never forget. Could never forget," I say the last part with some resentment.
Maddox sees the distress. He moves one of his hands to my face. His fingers touch my eyebrows, gliding over them, releasing the tension instantly. A move I am very familiar with him.
I look at him with ease. His eyes are a constant light. Always helping me, when need be, guiding me to safety.
"It's mutual. Never forget. I will serve you till the end of my days. No harm will come to my family," he says the words with no malice, only sincerity.
The realization is overwhelming. If anyone has betrayed someone, it has been me. Between the two, I am the fakest.
I decide not to tiptoe around him. He does not deserve it. I lean into his touch as I would always do. He does not smile but he is satisfied.
It's the wall he is putting up. The wall that never comes down between us.
Good. He will act the same as before. I take comfort in that. He lowers his hands.
He sits across Marisa and Adam. I remain standing.
He brings matters back to attention, "we must share this new piece of information with Jason. The last thing we need is for me to lose control. I can guarantee you there will be more than one drained vamp if that occurs."
"I will tell him," I say.
He gets up suddenly, "right, so what's next?"
Me and Marisa eye him suspiciously.
"What do you mean?"
"This was not my plan. Marisa, you traded your spot with her. Helena, you accepted. You guys did not trust my plan and questioned me. Fine, I give up. I will let you two take over. It will be your responsibility this alliance goes as planned. I trust you two," he says.
Me and Marisa exchange looks. That's a first for Maddox, to hand over control.
"The plan is in motion. Zain agreed to marry me and has already staked his claim. There is no more fighting it. I will complete the process with him," I eye Maddox.
I see him trying to feign indifference hard, "Shouldn't be hard. We all know how compliant you are, for the sake of the mission."
I roll my eyes, and continue, "but not until we win over his pack. They must accept me."
He scoffs, "Considering you threw down with his sister, I say we are off to a marvelous start."
"You could help," I retort.
"I think we know I have already started working on that," he replies.
I am confused at first then it hits me. A pair of legs come to mind.
"Your despicable!"
"I'm doing my part. One by one unless I feel adventurous. Then, I can muster up more votes at a time."
"Your gross. These wolves seem territorial. I would not mess with their ladies," I try not to sound annoyed.
"I am not stupid. I only indulge in the unmarked ones. Plus, they look for me. You will be surprised how many little she-wolves seem to be intrigued by the prospect," he says cockily.
He knows what he is doing. I ignore him.
"I'm sure. Anyway, get everyone in here. We have a competition to prepare for," I say.