My Alpha's Mark

152 Tick

“What?” I asked.

“It’s not my place to say this, but I can’t stay silent about this. Nyx, Jade, and I don’t have anyone. We don’t have someone to call our own and so of course, we don’t have anyone waiting for us. I shouldn’t be so peeved by this but I am. You’ve got not only one but two men who love and adore you. You’ve got one of them going home to wait for you and you’re taking him for granted. I know he’ll be waiting for you… and I think you shouldn’t take that lightly,” Clara said. Before I could say anything she continued. “If I had someone waiting for me I wouldn’t think twice about going home to him. I know you have two of them but you shouldn’t … I wouldn’t… I don’t want to be the reason you keep a man like that waiting.”

I swallowed and felt a tinge of guilt at her words. I am lucky. I’m blessed beyond words to have two men who love me. I don’t think I was being cruel to Jake and I don’t see anything wrong with me trying to have some girl time. It’s not something I usually got to do. Clara hasn’t said anything wrong so I can’t really be upset with her. She also wasn’t coming at me like I’d done something wrong, she was just trying to help. Maybe I was privileged to have the two men that I do. No, I was blessed.

When I first came here I never could have imagined how happy I would be here. Have I taken them for granted? With everything that’s happened in the last week I’ve been overwhelmed. Jake’s reaction and actions today do need to be addressed. I have questions for him and I know I can’t ignore what I saw. As much as a small part of me wants to pretend I didn’t see something. I know that I did.

“What my sister means,” Nyx said, stepping forward, “is that she’s jealous and wants you to treat them nicely because not all of us are as lucky as you. Some of us will never know the love that you experience everyday.”

Nyx’s smooth bronze skin practically glowed as the sun’s rays danced across her features. I looked into her eyes and even though I stared into milky white I knew she was staring back at me. She was speaking to me, attempting to bridge the gap between me and Clara. I was touched knowing that she wanted to bring peace between the two of us. I turned to Clara.

Her light blue eyes stared at me and for once I could put a name to what was swimming in her eyes. Want. She wanted what I had. Half of me wanted to stand my ground and growl at her. That part wanted to remind her that she was wanting what wasn’t hers. The need to remind her who they belonged to coarsed through my veins. The other half, the witch half, broke for her.

Being able to identify that part of me that could never really hate Clara was a breath of fresh air. It made sense to me why I felt for her and why I could understand why she acted the way she did. Her one chance at a happy ever after, we could even get those, was gone. She would never have that because he was mine.

Why had the Goddess been so cruel? Did my Goddess also govern over the witches? I shook my head. No, I already know she didn’t. The Moon Goddess loved and looked after her children, the wolves. Witches didn’t fall under that. What watched over the witches? Who guided them? Could anything be done about Clara? Even if something could be done, it’s not my place to figure that out. It’s not my place to do something about it. There’s too many things going on right now. I’m supposed to be focusing on training, not Clara… not my sister’s mate issue.

“I’ll take care of my men,” I said. I was careful to keep the bite out of my tone as I spoke to Clara. I didn’t want to come across rude or mean but I also didn’t want her to think she could give me advice when it came to my men. A line needed to be drawn and this was the time to do it. “I’ve heard you and your advice. While I appreciate the thought I’ll take care of what’s mine.”

Clara’s transparent eyes held my gaze before she dipped her chin and nodded. When she looked back up at me a small smile pulled at her lips. She stepped closer to me and looped her arm with mine.

“I can’t be mad at you when you stand your ground and show me you’re more than your gift,” Clara said. “My sister’s got balls.” I throw my head back and laugh. Goddess it feels good to have friends.

“I sure do. They’re getting a bit hard to carry. I think I need another drink. You’re starting to sober up,” I tease. I look at Nyx. “I like her tipsy.”

“I do too,” Nyx agreed. “I like seeing her smile.” A pang in my heart told me not to stay on this topic.

“Well, let’s move onto the next club and get a drink in her hand.”

“Lucky Jade,” Clara sighed. “She always gets all the fun. You see how fast she found someone?”

“I did,” I laugh. “Everyone was freaking about about the guy bleeding all over the floor and Jade was focused on getting some.”

“Eyes on the prize,” Clara giggled.

“Jade isn’t squirmish when it comes to blood and death. It doesn’t bother her as much as it should,” Nyx said. “Besides, Clara is more selective. Which is good.”

As Nyx spoke I couldn’t help but wonder about her. She was always focused on her sisters and everyone else. Was she looking for her destined too? What made her tick? What was her gift? What could she do?