The Lone Bear Prince & His Mate (The Lubartown Series) Book 1

Chapter 23:The Aftermath

The Night of the Force Marking

Larkina

After a hectic day, I was exhausted, I felt hurt that Clarke hated me so much but I deserved it after everything I put him through. I knew this was the best way to save him because the Supremes tried everything. When Toffe showed up at my door asking for help. I thought about it and we decided to save him after hurting him for so long. I thought I was doing what was best for me and the people since I was selected, I loved Barron and thought things would be different. I should have given Clarke a chance back then but I stupidly chose duty, now here we are, going to live in the same house as total enemies. Well, I won't say he is my enemy but he sees me as one and hopefully, I can get through to him. I went home to get a few things, eventually, I would decide what to do with this place but until we reached common ground, my daughters would stay with their father and stepmother.

I had called their father to pick them up and stay with him for a few weeks because things will get heated and I don't want them to witness what will go down with me and Clarke. I helped them pack and when my ex-husband picked them up, he saw the mark and said, "You got mated to Prince Clarke, eventually," I smiled but told him, "It is complicated, and don't say anything to our daughters as yet," he agreed before leaving. I headed back to Clarke's mansion to be close to him because bears will hardly keep away from each other once mated and I am beginning to feel the effects already. I stopped and got a meal for him and as I drove up, the place was well-lit and his guards bowed to me since I was his mate. I went inside and it was quiet, I put the meal in the kitchen and got plates when I felt a pain in my chest and I screamed.

I couldn't believe he was hurting me again on purpose, maybe I deserved it but this time, I wasn't having it, I was going to put my foot down and tame the bear. I stumbled up the stairs and I heard the moans, I was sweating profusely, I pushed the bedroom door seeing Clarke balls deep in the woman from earlier, and saw rage. I knew it was Sasha because she wanted Clarke after losing out before, this was our second chance to make things right and we were going to show him that we were on the same playing field as him. I will stick my claim to him, I ran pushing him so hard off her, and dragged her by the hair down the stairs. I saw guards running inside after hearing the commotion, including his Beta, Kit and I yelled, "Get out of my way!" Luna commanded them and Clarke came down behind me in slacks, bare-chested yelling, "Lark, stop," but I ignored him and threw the b***h out of the house.

I looked at him as Sasha joined me and said, "No more bitches in this house without my consent," pushing him out of the way as the men snickered. Clarke looked at me flabbergasted, how does this cycle of hurting each other end if I didn't intervene? I said, "Let's eat before the food gets cold," heading towards the kitchen, I was done playing nice girl. I started to eat, the men went back outside and Clarke stared at me, he sat down and said, "Thanks, I was hungry," we ate in silence. After dinner, he said, "You can't stay here," I looked at him, saying, "Yes I can, I have the mark to prove it." He wasn't happy as I watched him bite his tongue, he eventually said, "Fine, stay in the guest room and stay out of my way or else." I replied, "Or else what, are you going to f**k me?" He snickers and says under his breath, "Over my dead body b***h," I slap him before I walk past him.

******

The Next Morning

I woke up as the alarm clock went off, I was heated because of the mark, I needed to mate him but I took a cold shower and went down to make breakfast. I saw Kit in his kitchen making coffee, and he said, "Good Morning, Luna." I had forgotten that this was my new normal and smiled returning the kind gesture. He handed me a schedule of what Clarke expected of me and I was confused, he wanted me to feed the horses and I looked at Kit saying, "Fine, jackass," Kit smiled and left. He knew I was afraid of horses, I had a bad accident as a child and vowed never to go near one again. I was a bear for crying out loud, we didn't need them, f**k, I went to check on his kids but forgot his parents took them for a few days, I guess everyone expects us to clash at some point.

I saw a portrait of him and his kids with his ex-wife when I felt his presence behind me, he asked gently, "What are you doing inside here?" Walking towards the picture, I could see he was hiding behind the pain and I felt him pull it back from the bond not wanting me to feel it. Clarke was a broken man, I helped break him and it was my duty to fix things even if it took a lifetime, I owe him at least that. He said, "You don't have to deal with the kids, I have nannies for that, if you choose to clean, that is up to you because I have a maid," he turned away from me and said, "I will be at the office all day." I looked out the window and watched him drag off in his truck, Sasha said, "It's a start, he didn't yell at us," I smiled saying, "This is only the beginning but hopefully, we get through to him."

*****

Clarke

"Get up, Clarke, it's a beautiful day," I groaned, "Go back to sleep, Zion, we haven't spoken in forever, now you wake me," he said, "I know, I was excited, we have our mate." I turned still feeling the burn from the slap last night, it turned me on but I won't tell her that, hey, even dragging Vicki out of the house turned me on. I said, "You got to be kidding me, she chose, Barron, you baffoon, she hurt us..." he cut me off and said, "She saved us from doom, go get my sexy Luna." I said, "Absolutely not, we are not falling for it, she may want to hurt us again," he said, "Not after the mark to the bone, we are stuck with each other, let's try, Clarke, you knew I always wanted our fated." I got up and went in the shower, I thought about all the things we did to hurt each other, I didn't trust her, why did she come back? Is she still f*****g my brother? Is that why her mating fail?

So many questions, but then I got images of her naked body in my head, the hot spontaneous s*x we had, and I was shocked because I barely remember it, I knew Zion was playing with me. I won't lie, it turns me on but I had to snap out of it, my mark burns, and the bond wants us to mate but I can't, I won't and I turn the shower off and get dressed. I smelled her in the nursery and wondered why she was there, was she going to destroy my kids's room, I knew I had to calm down. She looks beautiful in her sundress, I lean on the door frame watching her, Zion says, "Go to her, this is our second chance, we loved Dale but she lied to us and is gone, so don't screw this up, Clarke." I smiled saying, "Now all of a sudden, you are not crazy or feral anymore," he blocked me, and I walked into the room asking, "What are you doing inside here?" She was looking at the portrait of my former wife with our two sons, I held back my pain from her knowing how I felt.

I said, "You don't have to deal with the kids, I have nannies for that, if you choose to clean, that is up to you because I have a maid." I saw her facial expression she wasn't expecting that after I gave Kit the list to let her feed the horses but I will link him to let someone else do it because it scares her. I was in the office going over the mess we had on our doorstep, Teku was hiding her with his mate, and now the Supremes are in town for a little longer. Barron offered to help with the cleanup and wanted to meet me today but I wasn't going, I was sending, Mobly, I couldn't face Barron nor was I ready to, but I know my family hopes we repair the relationship. As the day went on, I was hungry and about to order food when I heard a knock and in pops my mate, she had lunch, I couldn't believe I called her my mate, Zion snickered. Lark looked at me and said, "I thought you would be hungry and brought your favorite," I smiled because she remembered.

After lunch, we talked briefly, and she told me about her ex-husband and how it turned out, I remember hearing about this witch Vivianne. She and Dale were friends, that's how she tricked me into loving her, or maybe it was real, I don't know anymore, but I was still planning to find a way to break our bond so we were not stuck together and Zion growled. She said, "I saw your meds, you missed two weeks Clarke," she handed me them, and I said, "I hate taking these," but I took them anyway. Aidan wants me to be better and since he actually cares about me, I won't let him down again, I got up to escort Lark back to her car when she said, "I took a cab." I offered to drive her back home and she held my hand, I felt the tingles of our bond and wanted to pull back but saw the people in town were watching us, so I let it go. Zion was right, she was my mate whether I accepted it or not, the townfolk and clan already seemed to be accepting her but can we continue to keep up appearances or is my luck changing?