Part 64

(POV - Marcus)

Following Aiden back to his office had Marcus wishing he could tear into the other Alpha's exposed neck.

He hated leaving Aria with unanswered questions. He knew exactly what happened when she was left to draw her own conclusions, and he knew it would only hurt them both more than it needed to. He wanted to go back to her, to pull her in close and let her know that he was going to explain everything to her if she would just give him a little more time.

He 'wanted' to share his past with her, but with the amount of chaos whirling around them in this fucking packhouse, he couldn't find it in himself to spare it a single thought.

Aiden shouldered open the door to his office and walked to his desk, sitting down behind the mahogany.

With the quirk of a brow, Marcus studied the office, easily picking out the brand new damage down by an out-of-control wolf.

He bristled at the thought of Aria being subjected to this kind of violence, and it was even harder to keep his hands at his sides. His wolf's claws dug through his skin, shifting between human fingers and sharp claws.

Aiden sat back in the large executive chair, glaring at Marcus, who remained standing despite Aiden's offer for him to take a seat.

"What do you want?" Marcus demanded, his temper frighteningly short. Aiden chewed on the inside of his cheek before he answered, regarding Marcus closely. He hated being studied. It was something that set his teeth on edge no matter who it was.

"Aria," Aiden said simply, his mouth a thin, serious line. "I won't let her go without a fight. I refuse. She's 'my' true mate. She's wearing 'my' mating mark. She will not leave with you."

Marcus scoffed, rolling his eyes and glancing away to keep his wolf from peeking through in agitation. Aiden had long since dug his way under Marcus' usually thick skin. But he'd lost every ounce of patience he might have had the second he heard Aria crying over the phone.

And, as if that hadn't been enough, he'd found out that Aiden had 'forced' his mark on Aria.

But Aria hadn't accepted it. She'd chosen Marcus in the end, and this little pup wouldn't win.

"She's made her choice," Marcus drawled, already turning to leave the garish office. He'd seen enough of it and its owner.

"Are you sure about that?"

Marcus paused mid-step before slowly turning around.

"Choose your words wisely, pup," he warned through his teeth. "Don't start a war you can't possibly win."

Aiden got to his feet, rounding the table but staying far from Marcus reach.

"This isn't about starting a war," Aiden said simply. "This is about Aria finding out that the wolf she thinks she loves killed his own mate."

Marcus went deadly still, every nerve in his body silent, preternatural.

"Do you really think Aria will want to return with you when she finds out what really happened to your dead mate?"

Red flooded his vision as his mind swam with memories of Helena and the day she'd died, their son dead in her arms while Marcus had been too far away to protect them.

He lunged at Aiden, easily pinning him to the desk behind him and snapping dangerously close to his exposed throat.

"Do not ever mention my true mate unless you want your tongue forcibly removed," he snarled, crazed with a brand new kind of rage. "

"Then I challenge you," Aiden  grunted, struggling to break free of Marcus' vice grip. "Fight me for Aria and let's see which one of us truly deserves her."

With an enraged roar, Marcus half-shifted, his teeth elongating into the fearsome fangs that had torn far too many throats apart.

"Alpha."

With a growl, Marcus turned to find Jaden standing at the door, his shoulders squared and obviously prepared to drag Marcus away if he needed to.

"An official challenge has been issued," Jaden continued, ignoring the way Marcus glared at him. "And you need to answer."

With a vicious snarl, Marcus released Aiden and glared down at him.

"You'll have your challenge," Marcus spat. "If you're that keen on giving me pack-regulated means to end you then so be it. Aria will leave with me. And you will never hurt her again."

Without another word, Marcus stormed out, stalking past Jaden and into the hallway. If Aiden had such a hard on for getting killed then Marcus was happy to oblige. Especially since he repeatedly inserted himself between Aria and Marcus, constantly posing as an obstacle to be overcome.

Well, now Marcus had the very rare opportunity to get rid of that obstacle once and for all. And their packs would not be at war.

With Aiden having issued the challenge, the onus would fall on his Beta and Delta to deal with the older packs and their infuriating inquisition. Marcus would be free to leave with Aria, with both his Beta and Delta behind them.

And if Aiden wanted proof that he was the inferior Alpha, Marcus would be happy to show him.

Marcus sensed Jaden training close behind him, his presence welcome even if he was irritated.

"Thanks, Jay," he murmured, storming down the steps that led onto the stone path outside. The wolves from earlier had dispersed but he could still sense them nearby.

"No worries," Jaden mumbled, eyes darting this way and that in search for Mercucio. "I just figured that an official challenge would be the cleanest way to get rid of him. Besides, I know you like to put on a show."

"Careful," Marcus warned, his temper far too hot to withstand Jaden's very unique brand on teasing. Jaden fell silent immediately, although Marcus did catch the hint of a satisfied smirk on his Beta's face.

He didn't care - he needed to find aria to tell her about the upcoming challenge.

They rounded the packhouse, Marcus following Aria's scent before finding her a few feet down the path, her phone pressed to her ear. Mercucio stood directly in front of her, his brows bunched up in concern. Marcus arrived within earshot as Aria declared that she would save her best friend from whatever had befallen the young wolf. "Marc!" she gasped, jumping slightly when she turned and came face to face with him. Or rather, face to chest. She reached out, pressing the palm of her hand over his heart, looking up at him imploringly. "Please, we have to save April, she's in trouble."

There was a long, awful silence while he stared her down. He'd come here to tell her of his impending challenge with her true mate and yet she was ready to run off and risk her life to save her best friend.

She frowned at him and spoke with more force, as if he hadn't heard her the first time.

"Marc, please, her mate is 'hurting' her!"

He turned his head and glanced away, agitation filling his jaw and making it difficult to keep his composure. There wasn't any way for him to say it gently, not with the weight of the challenge or with the way she stared pleadingly at him.

"That's not something we can fix," he said plainly. He didn't miss the way she flinched at his words, and he hated himself for making her feel unsafe. "There are circumstances that can't be helped, and your best friend being mated with a wolf who isn't great is one such circumstance."

"How can you say that?" she whispered, taking a step away from him. Her hand fell from his chest, and he mourned the loss of her warmth. She wasn't understanding him, she was too focused on her best friend and the mate that she didn't like. "How can you be such a prick about this?"

"Because that's just who I am," he snapped, making her flinch again at the sudden change in his tone.

"I don't care," she growled, stepping forward and looking him in the eye to let him know that this was something she wouldn't back down from. "April is family to me. You would do the same in a heartbeat for Jaden and Mercucio. You're being a jerk about this and I don't know why. Why can't you just accept that April is important and needs our help?"

"There are other things that need to be dealt with first," he said, trying his best to be patient, but he could feel the rise of anger licking at his spine, reminding him of the way Aiden had taunted him about Helena.

"There is nothing more important than this," she insisted, her voice wobbling under the weight of emotion, and he understood. He understood because he would do the same for Mercucio and for Jaden, without hesitation. And she'd been through so much in a single day that would leave a lesser wolf whimpering in their bed. And yet, she still got in his face about her best friend.

Fuck. He might love her.

"Aria," he said gently, lifting his hands to her face. He set aside his anger and focused on the betrayal swimming in her eyes. She flinched involuntarily and he shushed her. "I'm not going to hurt you, little one."

"Please, Marc," she begged. "Please be honest with me. Did you really kill your mate?"

He tensed, and he should have known she would ask again, but he wouldn't have been able to prepare for it either way.

He swallowed, his hands cradling her flushed cheeks so gently.

Would it be the last time he could do it?

"Yes," he said, his voice rough. "I did."