The Alpha's Mate--Cursed Heart

Complications Of The Heart

Chapter 16: Complications Of The Heart

MARCUS

I couldn’t believe this was happening—did Xavier just say ‘MATE’? I looked over at Seraphina, who stood frozen in shock, her bright blue eyes wide and her mouth slightly gaped open unable to speak as their eyes remained locked on one another. Returning my gaze over towards Moriah and Xavier, my mate’s eyes were on her friend, a wide happy smile crossing her face as she inaudibly breathed out, “Oh, Xavier!”

“I—uh—” Xavier choppily began, swallowing hard before attempting again, an enamored grin spreading across his rugged face as his grey eyes softened, “Hello, Seraphina. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Xavier.”

“Hello,” Seraphina quietly replied, still reeling from the realization as she nervously smoothed down her dress, “It’s nice to meet you as well...Xavier.”

Finally looking over at me, he greeted, “It’s nice to meet you as well, your Alpha Marcus. I have to say, I find myself incredibly grateful that you agreed to meet us here today.”

“Understandably so,” I grinned, “And it’s just Marcus, please.”  Looking between them, I suggested, “Perhaps you two would like to talk privately while Moriah and I visit for a bit. There is a nice area around the corner there that would allow for some privacy.”

Seraphina looked over at me with a fear-stricken expression, breathing out, “I’m not sure that is a good idea. I’ve protected this area, but—”

“We will be fine,” I assured her, “I’m sure you will be able to sense if any trouble should arise.”

“I would really like that, Seraphina,” Xavier stated in thick reverence, slowly walking towards her, “If you are willing, of course.”

Dropping her gaze towards the ground, Seraphina took in a deep breath, shyly raising her eyes back up to look at Xavier once more as she exhaled out in awe, “I am more than willing, Xavier.  In fact, I don’t believe there is anything I want more currently.”

Xavier smiled brightly as he walked up and extended his arm out towards her.  I grinned as Seraphina slowly laced her hand around his large strong arm, their eyes never leaving one another as they slowly strolled away together. 

“Well, that was unexpected,” Moriah astonishingly breathed out, making her way towards me, “But if I’m truthful, I’m incredibly happy that Xavier finally found his mate. I just wish the circumstances weren’t so difficult.”

Turning my head, I gazed lovingly upon her as my wolf’s excited howl echoed in my ears, “I have to agree with you. It seems we are all facing the same complications now.”

Moriah dejectedly exasperated out, “Why does everything have to be so complicated, Marcus? I feel like my whole life has been one complication—one heartbreak—after another.”

“I know that feeling well,” I slowly exhaled out, “But I am very happy that you asked to see me, even if I am only allowed a few moments with you.”

“I wanted to thank you for your gifts, Marcus,” Moriah softly admitted as I took in her thick lavender scent drifting up between us as she stood before me now, “They are beautiful and mean so much to me. No one has ever given me anything that thoughtful before. I guess that is why I found Xavier’s suggestion so appealing, even though I know how dangerous it is for you to be here now.”

“The danger means nothing to me, Moriah,” I earnestly told her, “Not if you feel any connection towards me.”

“I won’t lie to you, Marcus,” Moriah regretfully admitted, “I don’t know what I’m feeling. But I do feel—something. I even had a dream about us last night.”

I couldn’t help but feel excited at her admission, quickly asking, “You had a dream about us?”

A soft smile expanded across her beautiful ivory face as Moriah dreamily recalled, “We were dancing and I felt overwhelmingly safe and warm in your arms. The adoration I should feel in our connection was so real in my dream.” Her tone fell into despair as she told me, “But as soon as I awoke, that feeling disappeared, leaving me so confused.”

“I’d like to think that means I am in your heart somewhere. Our connection only feeling one-sided due to your illness in some way.” I reasoned, the increasing hope in my heart expressing heavily in my tone, “A complicated curse for us both, but something that together we have a chance to overcome?”

“An incredibly dangerous complication for us both considering the feelings between you and my brother,” Moriah sadly returned, “Alec will never accept that we are mates and I worry about what he might do should he ever find out. I can’t bear the thought of being his reason to go to war with you, Marcus. Yet, I am so drawn to you and now with Xavier’s connection with Seraphina, I can’t help but feel now that I’ve made mess of everything.”

**********

SERAPHINA

I couldn’t stop myself from looking at Xavier as we walked towards an area not far from Marcus and Moriah. With his dark hair, steel grey eyes and rugged oval face that seemed to be filled with so much kindness, I was still in awe of handsome face. My hand still wrapped around his firm bicep, I could find no flaw whatsoever in him physically as I admired him in his pressed long sleeved maroon button up shirt and black pants.  But there was something that was deeply troubling me—a scent that emanating from his pores.  A scent that initially caused a reluctance in me, but now brought both intense anger and fear inside as I finally realized what it was...

“I can’t believe after all this time, I’ve finally found you,” Xavier happily breathed out, “It only gives me more incentive to make every attempt to convince Alec to somehow find common ground with Marcus.”

Before I could say anything, he stopped mid-step, turning to look deep into my eyes with such adoration, taking both of my hands in his as he professed, “I won’t stop until I do just that, Seraphina. I already know it in my heart—nothing will stop me from being with you.”

Squeezing his hands, I reluctantly stated, “Which makes what I need to ask you all that more difficult, Xavier.”

His brows furrowed as Xavier searched my eyes for answers as he worriedly asked, “Ask me what, Seraphina? What is it?”

“Are you under Lenore’s care for anything?” I cautiously inquired, “Any illnesses that may have required her assistance?”

Shaking his head, Xavier confusingly responded, “No, why?”

“Can you tell me what you have had to drink today?” I immediately questioned, attempting to maintain calm, but beginning to falter in my building fury.

Xavier’s expression went blank in his confusion as he thought out loud, “Nothing unusual. A cup of coffee this morning and a few glasses of water. I did have a couple of glasses of wine before heading out with Moriah. Why are you asking me—”

“Who gave you the wine?” I curtly interrupted, my anger beginning to boil over, “Was it Lenore? Or Alec?”

“Alec,” Xavier whispered, his eyes narrowing as my questions suddenly brought disbelief and realization in his gaze, “Please tell me why you are asking me these questions, Seraphina.”

While I was caught off guard by how protective I already felt towards him, the fierceness of my feelings flowed ferociously through my veins as I angrily told him, “It seems Alec and Lenore added a potion to your wine, Xavier. A very powerful love potion, in fact. Which means that for some reason, Alec and Lenore want you to believe you have a connection with Moriah.”

“Wait!” Xavier desperately breathed out, his face falling into deep despair, “So our connection—it—it  isn’t—”

Closing the space between us, I brought my hand up to my handsome mate’s cheek as I lovingly assured him, “Our connection is real, Xavier. The feelings we have for one another have nothing to do with the potion, so as long as you don’t mind being mated to a witch, my heart and my love are yours forever.”

A relieved smile crossed his face as Xavier dipped his head down to whisper against my lips, “That is more of a relief than you could ever imagine! And just so you know, I happen to appreciate being mated to a powerful witch, who is the most beautiful woman I have ever known. The only regret I have is just knowing of you and not having the opportunity to meet you before now, my extraordinary Seraphina.”

I forgot my anger for a moment, instead allowing our special moment as Xavier’s lips met with mine. The feel of his tender kiss bringing such joy and love to my heart and as our kiss deepened, a new feeling flowed inside—deep desire for my already beloved mate. My mother was right—this feeling? What I felt for Xavier was nothing like I had ever known—and I was going to fight with everything I had to hold onto this—to Xavier—forever.

Reluctantly parting from our embrace, Xavier devastatingly said, “While I want to stay in this moment forever, my love, I think we may need to get back to the matter at hand—I need to understand why Alec would betray me in such a way—and more importantly, why he would be so desperate for me to fall in love with Moriah.”

“That is only one of the many questions I have, Xavier,” I exhaled out heavily, running my fingers through his dark hair, “And I can’t help but feel you are not the only one being viciously betrayed. I feel quite certain that this supposed illness of Moriah’s is another form of trickery being played out by Alec and Lenore.”

Xavier’s expression darkened dramatically as he angrily replied, “For what purpose? Why would Alec do anything so vicious to his own sister?”

“That is what we need to find out,” I calmly stated, “and the sooner we do, the better. I’m afraid our complications are going to multiply rapidly—and I fear the answers are going bring great upheaval to all our lives.”

“I won’t lose you, Seraphina,” Xavier steadfastly declared, “and if what you are saying is true, I won’t allow Alec to hurt Moriah any longer either. But whatever our next steps are, we need to plan them out carefully. Alec cannot know we suspect him of any wrongdoing. I’ve seen his vengeful side—we need to have the upper hand or there could be very deadly consequences.”

**********

MARCUS

Moriah’s downhearted statement send both me and my wolf into a tailspin. It tore me apart inside to see her so sad and wanting to do anything possible to make it better.  And there was one idea in particular that I wanted to try more than anything.

“Why don’t we set all the difficulties facing us aside for now?” I offered, extending my hand out and bowing before her, “Perhaps we can try living out your beautiful dream. May I have this dance?”

Moriah giggled, a sound that made my heart soar with happiness, “Marcus, you can’t be serious! Not only are we in a forest, but we have no music!”

Standing up, I took a step forward, leaving no space between us, “I don’t need music, Moriah. I just need you in my arms.”

Grinning widely, Moriah replied softly, “You have such a romantic heart, Marcus. How can I refuse you after that?”

One of my hands came to rest on her waist as my other hand wrapped around the slender hand that Moriah slowly brought up as I peered down at her beautiful happy face before pulling her close into me. Swaying effortlessly in the grass, I took in every detail of this moment in my mind—Moriah’s smile as she looked up at me, the feel of her body so close to mine and the perfect curvature of her waist held within my grasp—it was almost as if I was in a dream...

I was so elated to have Moriah in my arms, that I was unable to stop myself from my next action. Leaning down, I placed a gentle kiss on her cheek before whispering into her ear, “I hope that I'm not making you feel uncomfortable in any way.”

Moriah hesitated for a long moment before tilting her head back and breathlessly stating, “Actually, I’m worried that I’m about to make you feel uncomfortable.”

Before I could respond, I felt Moriah’s hand glide up my neck, her fingers running through my hair as she pulled my head down to gently press her lips on mine. While part of me wanted to question what was happening, a bigger part of me didn’t—couldn’t—as my deepest desire had come to fruition in that moment. 

My desire was so great, my lips reactively hardened our kiss slightly, overjoyed when she returned the action, opening her mouth slightly to allow me to taste her before slowly moving to envelope her tongue with mine. I poured every ounce of love I felt for my beautiful mate in our surprising moment of intimacy. My hand wrapping around the back of her head as I brought her tighter within my hold, a low growl vibrating against our lips as my wolf anxiously begged to claim her as our own. 

Afraid I wouldn’t be able to stop if I didn’t force myself to part from our embrace, I brought my hands up on either side of Moriah’s head, gently breaking us apart before I looked deep into her softened blue gaze and rasped out, “Tell me what you’re thinking right now, Moriah, because all I can think about in this moment is that I never want to let you go again.”

Swallowing hard, Moriah breathlessly stated, “I think you may have brought my wolf back to life, Marcus, and all I can think about in this moment is you have been the key to my cure all along.”