“You-!” Vivienne let out a strangled noise and then marched ahead, muttering under her breath about how he was so much nicer yesterday while Marcus easily kept pace without breaking a sweat. He was a little surprised at himself as well to be honest. Obviously being home, away from the watching eyes of the city and the Blackmoon pack, was relaxing but it seemed that tenseness had caused him to unconsciously put up walls between him and Vivienne. There was a twinge in his chest, and Marcus called out roughly, "Do you dislike it?" "Hm?" Vivienne stopped walking and turned to look him over quizzically. Then she shook her head, sending curly tresses tumbling over one shoulder and back again. "Well, it's not like you're a completely different person. I like you just fine." To Marcus's surprise and amusement, as soon as the words were out of her mouth, Vivienne suddenly whipped back around and resumed her speedwalking, keeping her back to him so that he wouldn't see

For a moment, both remained still, caught in the net of unspoken yet burning want. Vivienne's fingers clutched at Marcus's shirt, painted nails digging into the fabric as her breath came faster, while Marcus hesitated, his gaze flickering between her parted lips and her eyes. The woman’s breath caught in her throat as Marcus's intense hazel eyes bore into her. She could feel her heart pounding like a drum, her eyes fluttering shut in anticipation as one of his hands slowly made its way up her thigh – his rough hands gently squeezing the back of her smooth thighs, bare and exposed by her denim shorts – while his other hand gently cupped her cheek. The chemistry between the two of them built in intensity as Marcus slowly caressed the side of her face with featherlight fingers. Such a gentle and innocent touch contrasting hard with the direction of his other hand, and yet it was that which made Vivienne’s legs feel like they were about to buckle under the weight of the man’s ma

Outside, Marcus opened the car door for her, and Vivienne slipped in, her heartbeat ratcheting higher as he climbed into the driver’s seat and revved the engine to a start. Soon they were exiting the forest path and cruising along the familiar main road, not in the direction of the city but further down. To Vivienne’s surprise, the car turned down a nearly invisible street and past a barely visible signpost that read Now Entering Sixset Town! Welcome! There was no time to consider the strangeness of the name before the line of trees broke into a small town, the scenery shifting from the lush greenery of the forest to the more open space surrounding the aforementioned settlement. So this must be where the farmer’s market takes place, though Vivienne wasn’t sure who was supposed to be attending it. The woman wound down the glass to peer out of the car window, taking in the sight of a town that seemed like it had been emptied of people and then

anyway. We do have business to discuss, after all." Pressed so close to him, Vivienne felt the subtle loosening of muscle, the release of tightly wound tension as Marcus relaxed imperceptibly, though his face remained an impassive wall of stoicism as he stared Damien down. He slightly raised his eyebrow at the man's response, "What 'business' do you have to discuss with me?" With a quick glance at Vivienne, who was doing her best to keep her head down and appear as uninterested as possible while still very much eavesdropping on the conversation, Damien began to explain. "The family is currently planning a rather delicate negotiation with the Apollyon Organization. I’m sure you’ve heard of them.” Marcus grunted in affirmative, though Vivienne had to think a little to recall the name. She had heard of them on the news, a human-only group that just skirted the line of legality. A lot of articles labelled them as heavily anti-shifter, if not straight up human supremacists. Still, if the

The tension had escalated until Marcus, unable to bear the strain any longer, made a decision that surprised even himself. In a sudden, sharp motion, he jerked the car to a halt on the side of the deserted road. The black tires screeched against the asphalt, and the vehicle shuddered to a stop. Vivienne's eyes, still glowing with rage, went wide. Her body, briefly airborne and cradled safely by the seatbelts, came down hard on the leather cushions. There was no time for her to recover as she was immediately pressed back against the car door with Marcus looming over her. The abrupt stop had caught her off guard, and now her pulse raced with a mixture of fear and defiance that he could smell rising off her skin. Mingled with the scent of his clothes and the racing of her pulse, it was an intoxicating combination. “Marcus?” The man towered over her with his broad muscular chest. He stares down at you sternly with his deep brown eyes, his solid arms stretched acr