Chapter 8 Fate
eight
Fate
*MARCELLUS*
Idon’t have it in me to leave without saying goodbye.
Mom has supported me so much and has always tried to have my back, so she deserves at least some words of goodbye.
I write her the longest letter, making sure to emphasize I am going to be okay and that this is the path I need to take, and that I love her. I also write one for Dad, much shorter.
As for my brother… I debated with myself for hours, but then decided I didn’t have the heart not to leave him a line. I might not have it in me to forgive him, but I want him to do well for the pack. It’s only a short note I leave him, about how I want him to do his best.
I put all the letters away for now, before grabbing the book that’s lying there, deciding to kill some more time.
It’s the one I’ve been reading recently.
Eugene must have brought it here during his last visit before I asked that he not come anymore.
He is the only one who knows what I’m reading, and also the only one I admitted to that, while I joined the book club just to piss off Dad, I actually I enjoyed books.
The realization that I won’t be able to share my secrets and my innermost worries with him anymore makes my heart break all over again.
The minutes drip by slowly. I do as Floyd ordered me to, and am a very obedient and good patient, telling the nurses I tripped and ripped the IV out by accident.
Fortunately, they decide to believe me, or probably think I had a nervous breakdown or something.
Whatever they believe, they don’t question me.
I keep wondering what kind of clue Floyd is going to give me for me to leave, when there is a subtle knock on my window. Opening it, I stare right into the face of one of my friends.
“Flo!” I whisper.
The doctor strictly prohibited anyone from visiting me aside from my parents, to keep my stress levels low, and I was relieved about that. But now, face to face with Flo, I realize how happy I am to see someone from my life, with whom I don’t share a strained bond.
She climbs into the room and pulls me into a hug, her hands clinging to me.
“Are you crying?” I ask.
“You idiot, how could you worry me like that?” she asks, pulling away to look at me. “Goddess, Marc, you look horrible.”
“Well, thank you,” I try to lighten the mood by joking. “Quite the catch, huh?”
Flo just looks sad. “It’s all my fault,” she mutters. “I sent you the photo. I… I should have thought of something better, but it felt wrong not to tell you. I am so sorry.”
“No, I won’t accept any apology from you,” I say sharply. “Flo, you were the only one showing me some respect. I am eternally grateful to your honesty.”
“Listen, Marc,” she says quietly. “When you joined the book club and flirted with me, I used to have a crush on Eugene. You know that. Because he is that nice, popular high school heartthrob, but it was just a crush. Nothing more. I don’t feel anything for him anymore, and I haven’t for a long while.
Truth is, had you asked me out again later, I would have said yes to you.
I just want you to know that not everyone prefers Eugene over you.
As a matter of fact, you are my best friend now, and I prefer you miles over your brother. ”
I swallow thickly at her words. “Thanks for telling me, Flo, that means a lot to me.”
She hands me a backpack. “Everything you need is inside, including your phone, money, a charger and your documents. There are also some clothes, a second pair of shoes, and I made sure to put a book inside. Can’t let you ditch the book club completely.
Don’t ask me how I got everything. It’s a secret I obviously can’t talk about. ”
“You… you are the cue.”
She nods
“Is this truly okay? Aren’t you in danger?”
“It is okay. Beta Floyd will protect me in case something happens. But I doubt it will. They will suspect Elliot or one of the other guys, but not me.”
“Just pretend you are crushing on Eugene when they do, and they won’t question you further,” I say. “They don’t want any more drama surrounding his love life.”
“I will.”
“Flo, I don’t know when I can contact you again,” I admit. “When everything has calmed down, tell Elliot I am sorry, and that I would have loved to have him as my beta.”
“I will tell him, but he knows what happened-“
“He does?” I ask, surprised. I only told him the basics, and that was before the battle even happened.
“Of course, you are his best friend. He instantly knew and was pissed that no one had told him anything. You should have seen the way he talked to Eugene yesterday.”
“I really don’t know if I can contact you any time soon,” I say once more.
Flo just nods sadly. “I know, take your time.”
I peek into the backpack. Flo was right, it’s packed to the brim with everything I need and some more. “Thank you, Flo.”
“I hate to see you go,” she states. “Marc, remember, this is your home. You can always return.”
I hug her once more. “Thank you,” I say.
I can’t give any promises. I don’t know where my path will lead me, or how long it will take to pick myself up again.
Maybe one day I will have moved on in a way that I can pick up the pieces of the past again.
For now, just thinking of my family makes me sad, disappointed, hurt and angry.
Flo diffuses her scent with something I assume Floyd gave her, then climbs out of the window first. I wait for her to disappear, placing the letters neatly on the table, before I quietly make it out of the window.
My wounds still hurt, and I probably shouldn’t put my body through this, but it feels right.
I know the schedules of the guards by heart, and Floyd obviously made sure no one is guarding me right now.
I easily find my way through the pack grounds without being spotted.
Only when I have passed the border do I finally take a break to catch my breath.
I made it. Turning around, I gaze one last time at the pack that now lies behind me.
This was my home and safe haven for so long.
There is a sad, nostalgic feeling attached to it now, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t imagine myself stepping foot onto the pack grounds again.
I, Marcellus Wagner, reject Blue River as my pack.
For the following couple of months, I lay low, making sure to stay off-road.
My parents certainly sent warriors looking for me, and I don’t want to take the risk of being spotted.
As an alpha’s son, I was used to luxury and to being treated as if I were special.
Now, however, I’m just a simple lone wolf, with a past but no real present.
It would have been so much easier if Mom had just let me leave Blue River on my terms. I could have traveled safely then, but it doesn’t help holding a grudge about the past.
“What’s the plan for today, boss?” Micah asks me. He is a seventeen-year-old omega boy who was cast out of his pack for something he didn’t do. I saved him when he was attacked by a bear. Micah is an orphan who took the blame for some fucked up shit his alpha’s son did.
Poor guy was completely lost and in shock.
“Could you stop calling me boss?” I ask while studying my map. My phone is still working, but in this area, we barely have a signal.
“But you are the boss,” Sheila says with a smile. “And you throw a fit when we call you alpha, so boss it is.”
She is another stray wolf I picked up on the way, shortly after Micah joined me. Her alpha assaulted her, and her luna, instead of protecting her, blamed her and cast her out of the pack.
“We should make sure to find a place for the night,” I say. “It’s going to be dark in an hour or so.”
They both nod, following me to find a safe place where we’ll be protected from the weather and other dangers.
Dad loved camping and spending time in nature, so I picked up some of his tricks.
However, I know I can’t continue like this for long.
The only reason I stayed away from other packs for this long is because I didn’t want my parents to find me. It was a mere tactical decision.
But now it’s probably time to reach out to the contact Floyd had provided me with.
“Marcellus,” Micah calls out to me. “I found a cave. Do you think it will do for the night?”
“Let me see,” I say, following his voice until I bump into him and Sheila. The cave Micah found is surprisingly big, dry and has soft ground. “That’s actually perfect. Well done, Micah!”
Micah beams at me. “I will collect some wood for a small fire,” he says.
Sheila chuckles while she watches him dash off. “He looks up to you so much,” she says.
“I don’t know what for,” I say.
“You saved his life,” she says. “And treat him with respect. And we both know you are an alpha by blood. It’s obvious.”
“Maybe I am a criminal,” I suggest.
“You have too many protective instincts to be a shady person,” she says bluntly. “Why did you run?”
“Because I had to or I would have turned bitter and crazy,” I say. “Let’s leave it at that.”
“Alright,” she agrees.
I leave her behind to set up camp for the night while I help Micah, and we put together a nice little fire. I hunted earlier this evening, so we have something to eat. As night approaches, I gaze up at the sky, seeing it illuminated by stars.
It’s so quiet. Just the wind rustling the leaves can be heard, and the cracking of some branches.
Wait! I’m on alert instantly.
Amos, did you hear that?
Loud and clear, he says. He is beginning to recover his strength again.
Putting my finger on my lips, I gesture for Micah and Sheila to be quiet. They both sniff the air slightly. Sheila frowns. “What’s the weird scent?” she whispers.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “Stay quiet and hidden. I will check it out.”
She is right, it’s an unusual scent. Definitely not an animal, but not human either, and no lycan or werewolf.
Witches? I ask. Or no… vampires!
Mixed in with the scent of the vampires, there is something else, though, something alluring and calming.
The hint of cinnamon and wild oranges. This is impossible…
it can’t be. Not again! My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach, while Amos is clearly torn.
He is scared but pushes me on towards the scent.
We need to be careful, I say. I don’t know much about vampires.
Before I can make my next careful step, I see a hand flashing forward through the night. I dodge it, kicking my attacker and making them drop back onto the ground. There are noises around me now, footsteps and voices.
“A werewolf,” one of them says.
I take a fighting stance, glaring at the vampires in front of me.
“He attacked me,” complains the guy I knocked over.
“Are you kidding? You attacked me first,” I say.
“You idiot,” one of them hisses. “His Lordship said not to attract any attention. Is this what you call no attention?”
His Lordship.
“That’s too late now, isn’t it?” announces the most angelic voice I’ve ever heard, followed by a tall, slender man. He has long blond hair and is engulfed in the heavenly scent I took up before.
Mate! Amos calls out.
I can’t fucking believe it!
“I don’t mean any harm,” I say, not sure how to deal with this new situation. “I just heard noises.”
The beautiful vampire gazes at me, a hint of anxiety in his eyes. It’s only then that I notice his group doesn’t look like they are out for a fight. One of the guys is even holding a small baby, and they all look tired and like they were hurt. “You are on the run,” I observe.
My beautiful vampire wavers slightly, his knees buckling. I catch him before he can drop to the ground.
“Silas!” the man, holding the baby, calls out.
“Your Highness,” another one blurts out.
I gaze around anxiously, not sure what to do, but even without my wolf pushing me, I know I can’t just leave him behind. “Come with me,” I say. “We are camped close by.”
I gently pick up my mate, not waiting for anyone’s approval before I stalk back to the cave. The group follows me, to my relief, not picking up a fight.