I look down and turn away from him, “He wasn’t always like that. I don’t know what changed, but he was sweet at first.” I tell him, not willing to look at him. He doesn’t say anything, and I finally look up at him, “He said he wanted me to remember. Which clearly, he was lying, but he said I might remember if we did what we did. I still said no, but he didn’t listen that time, and he didn’t give me a choice when he marked me either. It was like something was driving him to insanity. He always stopped when I told him to before that day.” I finish, and I can tell he’s barely holding himself back from shifting.He takes a deep breath, “Let’s get to the bar.” Is all he can say. I can tell he wants to say more, but he’s holding himself back.We walk most of the way to the bar in silence, with Jordan and Cole, so I was told, walking close behind us. I finally can’t take the silence anymore and look up at Issac, “I shouldn’t have said anything.” I tell him and he grimaces looking down at me.
I don’t know who the fuck I am at this point. Apparently, I have sixty different names, and I want to scream. And now Bert is telling me he’s my father, and I’m even more confused.“You’re lying. Her dad’s King Evan.” Gunner accuses, and that brings on a whole new world of confusion. Bert shakes his head, “He’s not. I am. How else do you think this lasted so long. Belle trusted us, because we are her family.” He says, pointing between him, Cora and Rick.My eyes widen as I look at Rick, he swallows. “I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you.” He says quietly, silently begging me to forgive him with his eyes.I bite into my lower lip and start pulling his jacket off. I’m done. I don’t want to hear anymore. I’m fucking done.I shake my head and throw his jacket on the bar. “I’m done.”I turn around and walk out, refusing to look back.I walk home, not that it’s really my home, right? Then I walk to the roof and lay down on a makeshift couch I made from blankets and pillows, then stare at the sky
‘Shut up.’ I tell him and he growls, ‘If you want to help me get out of here, I’ll take care of it. Make you feel better.’I close my eyes and look down shaking my head. “What’s going on? Are you hurting?” I look up to see one of Gunner’s brothers, looking at me closely. My eyes scrunch, but I ignore him. “What are you lying to me about?” I say looking at Uncle Bert and waiting.He sighs, “Come on. Sit down.” He tells me, pulling out a chair from the bar.I slowly walk over to it and take the seat. Everybody gathers around me. I glance over at Gunner’s brothers. I guess if Gunner feels familiar, it makes sense they would too.I feel the same way about them, like they’re safe, like I should trust them, but I don’t know them.‘You belong to me!’ Asher growls in my head, and I close my eyes and start scratching the mark on my neck. Trying to rip it out of my neck.Bert looks at me, “You didn’t come from here. I found you, in the water that day.” He tells me. ‘I’ll kill whoever’s upsettin
He knows me… From before the accident? But how? No one has said anything about it. I’ve been with Asher for forever according to everyone here. How did I even meet this guy? He doesn’t live here.I ignore the nickname and focus on the other part, “We?” I whisper and he nods.I take a step back, taking my hand from his cheek, his face falls trying to follow it, like he can’t stand to lose my touch.“I don’t understand.” I whisper. His jaw ticks, and he sighs. “I can explain as much as I can, but I think Bert can explain more than I can.” He tells me, and I take another step back as a thought crosses my mind.Was I running from him? That would explain why no one knew where I was going or what I was doing. Was I doing something in secret with him, and it went bad?But that doesn’t explain why I feel so comfortable around him. From the second I saw him, I felt like I was safe, like the hole in my chest wasn’t as big.He looks at me confused, as I take another step back. “I should go.” I t
No. No. No. No. This isn’t possible. Who marked her?I turn glaring at the bartender, I swear to the Goddess I’m about to kill someone right now. My body shakes, with the need to control myself. If he’s the one that marked her, hurting him will hurt her and if he’s not, then I guess he doesn’t deserve it.Jordan grabs my shoulder, and I feel him put his strength into keeping me there. The bartender watches suspiciously, “What’s your problem?” He asks me. “Who marked her?” I growl, not able to hold myself back.His eyes narrow on me, “Who the fuck are you?” He asks, and I crack my neck, “Her mate.” I tell him and I hear Jordan curse behind me. I’m far from caring though.“Her mate? She has a mate?” He asks, his eyes wide as he looks over at the door where she left, then back to me. I growl, “She has three. Who marked her?”His eyes grow even wider, then he takes a deep breath, shaking his head and looking back at me. “Someone forced themselves on her. He marked her without her consent.
I… We haven’t been the same since we lost Grace. Dean’s gone completely into work mode as soon as the trail ran dry. Issac’s been lost inside libraries across the globe, looking for anything that might help become a beacon or some shit to her, and I… Well, I’ve let my anger take control.The blood is still drying on my hands from my latest victim. It doesn’t matter if they had anything to do with her disappearance, it only matters that they have blood to spill.I’ve been working my way through the packs, trying to find anything, but everywhere I go it’s just… Nothing.I barely sleep, or eat, I just wait until I find someone worth kicking in their teeth and go at it. At this point I’m mostly blood and alcohol. I won’t go home until I find her.I get into the shower, and slowly clean all the blood off my body, then lean my forehead against the tile. I know she’s out there, somewhere. I know we would have felt it if she were dead. Bond or not, I just know it.I step out of the shower, wr