MARILYNN
With my mouth hanging open, I gazed in awe at the godly figure advancing toward me. My heart raced, and I couldn’t help but drool slightly. This werewolf was, without a doubt, the most breathtaking I had ever encountered. His eyes emanated an aura of danger, and his physique exuded sheer magnificence—every facet of his being exuded perfection.“I want him,” I whispered, instantly forgetting any plans of leaving the foundation.At that moment, his gaze locked onto mine. My cheeks flamed crimson, and I blinked rapidly, attempting to hide my embarrassment by turning away.“He’s looking at me,” I mused excitedly, a surge of anticipation flooding through me. “Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea if he became my owner.” My excitement was an understatement; I felt positively joyful. I was eager to follow a werewolf home for the first time since my capture.“I should be on my best behavior,” I resolved, my determination fueled by the prospect of being chosen by him. However, Alphonso appeared to have other plans.“My lord, as you can see, Marilyn is miserable and repulsive. She’s irritating and unsuitable for you. Allow me to re-select a more suitable and captivating mermaid for you,” Alphonso proposed, bowing.My glare bore into him instantly. “He’s mine,” I protested internally, but no sound emerged. My voice had been stolen, I was mute.Still, I stared at the alluring wolf, praying that he would disregard Alphonso’s words.“Indeed, Marilyn has proven to be quite the reckless mermaid. She has been returned four times; I do not believe she qualifies to be purchased by you, Alpha. Might I suggest a mermaid who is pure and noble, boasting the royal blood of the sea clan coursing through her veins.” one of the senior managers chimed in.“You must be referring to Naia. Her voice has been blessed by the gods—her celestial singing is coupled with a unique healing quality, rendering her even more valuable and cherished,” another senior manager added.I strongly wanted to sew their mouths shut for spewing such ridiculous notions.When I glanced at the handsome wolf, I discovered him scrutinizing me intently. His brow was raised as if assessing me.My cheeks flushed once more, and I met his gaze.“Hey, don’t look straight at the Alpha, you foolish mermaid,” the annoying guy interjected.In response, I lowered my head swiftly—not because of him, but because I hoped the hot wolf would perceive me as well-behaved and take me with him. The annoying guy’s attention shifted, allowing me to focus back on my Alpha.“What’s your decision, boss? Shall we reconsider or move on?” he inquired.“Oh, this fool is his Beta. No wonder he acts so arrogant,” I thought, casting a disdainful look at the Beta before refocusing on my Alpha.After scrutinizing me a moment longer, the attractive Alpha finally averted his gaze.“I will take the mermaid on the dirty…” he began, anticipation welled inside me.But then, his tone changed abruptly. “I’ll just choose another one,” he declared unexpectedly.My heart plummeted.“Huh?”Staring at him in shock, I watched as he raised his foot and began to turn away.“No, no! You can’t leave me,” I chanted internally, desperation consuming my thoughts.Summoning all my strength, I swam toward him, fearlessly driven. In the blink of an eye, I clutched onto his sleeve, and in an unprecedented moment, I cried out loudly—a sound I hadn’t produced since my capture. It was undoubtedly the most unattractive cry anyone had ever heard, but I couldn’t have cared less at that moment. I continued to cry out loud and unreservedly.“What do you think you’re doing?” Alphonso shrieked, evidently startled by my sudden outburst.“How dare you touch the most esteemed Alpha of our realm?” one of the senior managers exclaimed, clearly alarmed.“Release him, you foolish mermaid!” another demanded.“Move her away from him, now!” Alphonso commanded the guards.Three guards swiftly advanced toward me, their intentions clear. My heart raced with terror; the thought of him leaving without choosing me was a fate I could scarcely bear.“If he leaves, Alphonso will probably kill me since I’m of no further use to him,” I mused, my eyes welling with tears. “Is my escape plan about to transform into my death plan?” I pondered, a solitary tear streaming down my cheek and dropping into the pool.The Alpha’s gaze followed the tear’s path, his expression hardening. Unexpectedly, a power surge rippled through the surroundings, an undeniable force that shook the ground beneath us. The guards, who had been poised to apprehend me, fell to the ground, writhing in pain.“Alpha?” the Beta stammered, his shock evident in his gaping expression.“What is happening? Remove her immediately!” Alphonso ordered, his determination closing his eyes to the fact that the power surge originated from the Alpha himself.The Alpha leveled a steely gaze at Alphonso. “Did you not comprehend my warning?” he growled, his eyes igniting with a fiery red hue.Then, with a resounding thud, Alphonso’s lifeless body crumpled to the ground. The crunching sound reverberated through the air as his skull shattered upon impact.The Alpha had killed him!Everyone, except for me, watched in stunned horror. Strangely, I found myself feeling elated.“Freedom, here I come!” I rejoiced inwardly, performing a joyous dance in my thoughts.One of the senior managers let out a blood-curdling scream. In an instant, he joined Alphonso in death on the floor.A satisfied smile graced my lips as I recalled the day these two, now lifeless, individuals had captured me from the sea.“I suppose karma has finally caught up with you both,” I reflected, a sense of justice permeating my thoughts.The Alpha approached me with deliberate steps, each movement filled with purpose. My heart raced with anticipation as he drew closer, his presence electrifying the atmosphere. Upon reaching the pool’s edge, he extended his hand toward me.“Come with me,” his deep voice resonated, enveloping me in its command. A silence as profound as a graveyard settled over the area.With excitement and trepidation, I placed my hands within his open palm. A smile curved my lips, my eyes sparkling with anticipation.In one gentle motion, he lifted me from the pool and enfolded me in his arms.MARILYNIt had been two days already since I had that talk with Aylin and following after, I had a discussion with Balin. I felt like we couldn't be walking on eggshells anymore and we needed to address the issue and we did.Which was namely the reason why the celebration in the pack house had started but I was still standing in my room, my gaze locked on the vanity mirror, staring at my reflection. I looked different. And it was in a good way.The slight knock on my door made me jolt back to reality and quickly grab my lipstick knowing that it was probably Aylin.The door pushed open and Aylin shambled in, her green maxi dress accentuating her curves while her hair was tied up in a bun and adorned with flowers.That was the event of today. We had faced devastation not long ago but tonight…It was the celebration of summer and apparently flowers were a big part of the night which is why everyone had a flower on their person tonight.My hair was still casually dropped down as I was still
MARILYNIt has been two days and Balin was out of bed already and already resumed his duties in the pack while I still hung around.I don't even know what I was still doing here, I should leave but I was in no hurry, everyone was nice to me and kept thanking me for saving them.Even though I wanted to be angry at them, I knew how they must feel at this point. They didn't even know what to believe. Alicia had turned out to be a demon, I turned out to be not as weak as they knew, Dmitri finally attacked, they lost people. Things must be hard for them.So because of that, I was nice to them and accepted their every apology while listening to them and getting to know them on a more personal level.I think something that earned me more respect was the fact that everyone now knew that I was a Maren. Occasionally my mind would drift back to the mermaid foundation and I wondered if they were okay.Yes, the mermaids there hurt me and mae life a living hell for me. But I couldn’t stop myself from
MARILYNThe cool stone of the fountain stood in sharp contrast to the warmth of my own stormy feelings. I sat by myself, the soothing splashing of water providing background for the recurring scenes in my head.Balin intertwined with another woman, the vision of that night came back agonizingly clearly. It had been the reason for my leaving and the reason I was still madI felt doubt biting at me. Should I have judged more quickly? Had I let wrath distort my view?Aylin joined me beside the fountain, a consoling presence among my swirling thoughts."Marilyn," she asked softly, "are you okay?"Though it felt empty and stupid, I forced a grin. “Aylin, I'm good. Just... contemplating.”She sat next to me, staring across my field of vision. "Regarding Balin?"Not sure I could meet her eyes, I nodded."I know you're hurting," she said gently. “Still, I know Balin as well from the short time I spent here. And I would never think he would act in such a manner."Her remarks caught me off guard
BALIN"I'm awake." I blinked, my eyesight fuzzy, the world around me a hazy swirl of forms and hues. My body felt heavy, as though I had been asleep for a thousand years and my head throbbed with a dull agony.Marilyn's face came into focus as I tried to squint, her lovely features marked with a mixture of relief and... something else. Fury? Indifference?"Marilyn," I said, my voice hoarse from neglect. “You're here.”She showed a look of warmth, but it was fleeting and soon she was wearing a guarded look.I reached out to her, my hand shaking just a little. "I'm so glad you're safe," I said, heart aching with a love that refused to die.Her eyes hardening, she withdrew from my touch. "Don't," she murmured, her voice hard. "Just... do not."I felt confusion sweep over me. Why was she pulling away? She had not disappeared. She had stayed and she had been here. I could faintly still feel her lips on my head when I was coming back to consciousness even though I didn't hear what she had
"I'm sure," I replied, my voice firm. "I need to make sure everyone is getting back on their feet."Jarek nodded, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "You've done a remarkable job, Marilyn. The pack... they respect you now. You're doing an amazing job even I'm not sure that I could have done."I scoffed, a bitter taste in my mouth. "Their respect is a fickle thing, Jarek. Earned through bloodshed and fear. It's not the kind of respect I wanted but it's what I got."He sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I know it's not ideal, but it's a start. You've given them hope, Marilyn. We underestimated you, you're clearly one of the best things that have happened to the pack."I sighed. “It's fine. You know I always wanted revenge and now I'm helping rebuild. Ironic”Jarek cleared his throat, drawing my attention back to him. "I have the casualty report, Marilyn," he said, his voice a whisper "We lost twenty-three pack members. Another fifteen are severely injured, but the healer is hopeful they'l
MarilynI didn't move for a good 5 seconds, my eyes fixed on nothing and the sounds of the battle ravaging around me faded Into nothing. All I could see was Balin, his lifeless body slumped against mine, his words—his final words—ringing in my ears."I love you, Marilyn."A sob tore through me as I realized he was still slumped against me, unmoving, I had been harsh on him, I never got the chance to tell him that I didn't hate him, and now he was gone. Because of me.A weird feeling engulfed me. Was this grief? Pain? Regret? Whatever it was, it hurt like hell.My body refused to move, paralyzed by a grief so profound it threatened to consume me whole. I slowly pushed him off me and fell to the ground, my face staring up at the sky, the sound of the demon's laughter echoing around me and the sound of the battle around me. I wouldn't mind death at this point. It was a part of me that had been torn away.Aylin, her face streaked with tears, rushed to my side, her voice a desperate plea."