Word Count: 2032

~Meara

I stare at the window, watching fat droplets roll down the glass.

Being back at work is completely pointless. We haven't had a single customer all day, and my shift is nearly over.

Other than the money, though, I'm here because I'm fighting for a sense of normalcy.

Sire was confused when I told him I wanted to come back to work today, but he took me here anyway.

Because of the curse, though, no one is venturing out. Emma and I's bosses are insisting we take the risk by keeping the place open, and because she needs money and I need to get out of the house, we are here.

"I'm glad you're back," Emma says, flipping a hand towel over her shoulder.

"I can't believe this place is still open." I would laugh if it wasn't so sad. I wish I could tell the people that this sickness isn't contagious, although that would only cause more panic.

Emma smiles, leaning against the counter. "I would complain but it's nice and quiet and my friend has returned."

I rub the back of my neck.

When Sire went back underground I tried getting back into work. It only lasted a week before the guilt set in and I couldn't bring myself to go for a bit.

"As strange as it may seem, I came back to work for a sense of normalcy. This does not feel normal." I gesture around the barren room.

"Why do you need normalcy? What's been going on?"

I sigh, looking down at the counter that I've wiped endlessly at this point. "There's a new guy in my life."

"What happened to Case?"

"I ended it." At least I think I did. If he had found his mate I would have backed off immediately. It's something that even the strongest relationship cannot compete against.

Emma grins. She has never liked my now ex-boyfriend.

"Like you should have when he first cheated on you," she comments, examining her nails.

I know she is right. Dwelling on it will only depress me, though.

"Anyways, this new guys is...intense. Things are moving really fast," I tell her.

Sire has jumped past any uncomfortable talking stage in a relationship. He wants to fall deeply in love and never look back, which is daunting. I can't tell if it's him, or if it's the mate bond.

Emma wiggles her brows. "That sounds hot. Can I have details?"

"I want him badly, but I don't trust him enough yet to commit."

One slip up and I'm going to fall into bed with him. He's overwhelmingly attractive and my body yearns for him constantly. It's maddening.

"It's because of that asshole Case. He screwed up your sense of trust by cheating on you," Emma points out.

"It's more than that. Who this new guy is as a person makes it hard to want to be with him," I explain.

I can't tell her Sire is an Alpha who once reigned over an ancient Pack and has come back for revenge...If she tried to love someone with that kind of history she would struggle too.

"If you really want him, go for it. But only if he's a good guy."

"I think he is a good guy. He has been good to me so far, but there are aspects of his...past that make it difficult." I pick my words carefully, not wanting to allude to anything I can't come back from.

Other than wanting to kill Carran, he doesn't seem like a bad person...

Yet.

"At the end of the day, if he isn't your mate, don't worry about it," Emma mutters. "See, I save myself the heartbreak and just sleep with hot people until my mate eventually comes around."

"Yeah..."

She slides the glass door open on the cabinet, pulling out a slice of chocolate cake on a white plate, setting it down in front of me. When she hands me a fork I join her in taking a bite.

"So if you want him so much, fuck him and move on," she says over a mouthful of the cake.

I let out a long sigh. "If only it were that easy."

There is no moving on from Sire. If I came to him for release, for a casual time he wouldn't be someone I could walk away from.

"Or commit to him, and see what happens." She shrugs a little, acting as though she isn't watching my face, testing my reaction.

"Yeah. You might be right," I muse.

What would be the worst thing that would happen if I gave this mate bond a chance?

Sire may end up being a monster. He may destroy my Pack and everyone in it. He may go against our agreement and slaughter Carran in cold blood.

Everything could go wrong...but everything could also go right.

"Meara?"

I shift my attention from the chocolate cake I was enjoying to the person walking through the door.

My heart drops. "Oh fuck."

Case, who was once my boyfriend approaches the counter. He seems tense, anxious. I don't blame him...we haven't talked in weeks.

"Get out of here Case," Emma calls out, giving him a hard look.

"You can't kick customers out, Emma," he responds back tightly, narrowing his eyes on her.

The two have battled each other the moment Case came into my life. Emma was right about him, as always, and continues to let me know it.

And now more than ever she is not going to put up with him.

"What are you doing here?" I ask him, shifting uncomfortably. Even when we were together he never came and visited my place of work.

Maybe it was because of Emma, or maybe he never cared...either way, it doesn't matter anymore.

"I came to see you. We need to talk." He glances between me and Emma, who is giving him the a vicious look. I'm surprised he isn't cowering under the intensity of it.

"She is with someone else, Case. You should leave," she snaps.

Case's eyes darken. "I know she is. That's why I'm here."

"Come out back. We can talk." I'll hear him out, but if I do it here we will have to listen to Emma's commentary.

He follows me silently out into the alleyway behind the café. I lean against the wall, examining him. Has he always looked so meek, so unsure of himself, or are the circumstances that are making him like this?

"So, you really are with him now?" He folds his arms over his chest, a shadow passing over his face.

I rub the back of my neck. "I don't know about that."

"So that guy wasn't your mate?" He shudders as memories of Sire come back to him.

I wonder if he would feel better if I had a less imposing mate...

"Oh he is. But we aren't exactly romantic or anything," I admit. I'm not sure why I'm telling him that, because it doesn't change the relationship between us.

Nothing changes the reality of a mate bond. Even if I'm not sure how I feel about it right now.

He takes his opportunity, stepping off the wall. "I miss you, Meara, like a lot. I want to be with you."

"I'm not getting back with you. Not just because Sire is my mate, but because I should have left you a long time ago," I tell him, reigning back a harsh tone although my words properly convey many years worth of hurt.

I don't want to be mean, but I've been vague enough with him. I've made my decision.

"Come on...you don't mean that," he mutters. He sounds disappointed, like my father was when I couldn't make up my mind about what I wanted to do with my life after school.

"I do mean that."

He takes another step forward, looking over me. "You say silly things a lot, remember? It's why we go so well together. I remind you of what is best for you, and today that means getting out of this place and getting back with me."

I blink, slowly registering what he said.

"You're insane. I have no idea what I ever saw in you," I snap, stepping back, wanting as much distance between us as possible.

Suddenly, it's as if a switch has flipped in me. Any attraction I once felt toward Case melts away into nothingness as a part of him I've never seen before rears it's ugly head.

"You were in love with me. You cannot deny it," he insists, a frown gathering between his brows.

I shake my head, stunned.

"Well, isn't this sweet."

Turning swiftly, I see Sire standing in the threshold of the building. His sharp gaze shifts between Case and I. How long was he standing there?

"Sire-

"Continue," he says, cutting me off before I can jump into telling him what is going on. "I want to hear all about this man's undying love for you."

Case smothers his fear, although his eyes betray him. Anyone with sense about them would fear Sire, especially when they are trying to get back with his ex.

"This doesn't concern you," Case snaps.

"Considering Meara is my mate, it does," Sire responds smoothly.

I give him a long look, but he is too busy staring Case down. To Case's credit, he is standing his ground, refusing to back away.

He's a fool. Even I don't know if Sire will kill him or not.

"You shouldn't be here," I hiss to my mate. He seems to show up at the least convenient times, as if he can sense any flare in my emotion.

"You told me to come collect you after you completed work for the day. It is time," he reminds me.

I close my eyes, cursing under my breath. "Shit, I forgot."

"You already have her as your mate. Just let me speak to her." Case almost sounds like he is pleading.

He's dropped the brave façade, opting instead to seem unthreatening and desperate.

"I don't have anything more to say to you, Case," I decide. "I'm sorry this all happened, but you weren't sorry about what you put me through."

Ending my relationship completely and finally with Case feels as though it should hurt more than it does. He was my first love, but he was also the first person who broke my trust. I need to move onto the next chapter of my life...without him.

"I am sorry...of course I'm sorry," he says. He sounds accusatory, like I'm a fool for not realising he is sorry, like I should believe him.

I don't believe him. If I hadn't caught him, I would still be deeply in love with him.

"It would be best if we didn't see each other again," I choke out, casting my gaze away from him as I turn to brush past Sire.

He doesn't immediately follow me, lingering back. "Speak to her again and I will kill you."

I don't hear Case's response. I wave goodbye to Emma, grab my jacket and head out the front, waiting for Sire to catch up.

"Very subtle," I mutter as he comes to my side, shaking his shoulders as if to roll the anger off him.

My mate smiles down at me. "I think he understands."

I roll my eyes. I have no doubt his methods will be effective, although I wish it included a little less threatening.

So much for normalcy.

"You're insufferable, you know that?" I mutter, shaking my head at him. Regardless, I slip my hand into his, ready to return back to his manor.

"You'll come to love it, don't worry," he assures me confidently.

We'll see.

💙••💙

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"...I've never had an orgasm before!" I blurt out, backing away a few steps.

He sits up, dark hair ruffled and messy from the fingers I ran through it. His eyes, once wide, slowly darken.

"You what?" He breathes.



~Midika 💜🐼