The Luna of Pearl and Silver

Chapter 5: Avoidance and Temptation

At the date of the pack event, Marcus couldn't shake off the sense of unease he felt in the pit of his stomach. He knew that the event would be attended by all pack members, including Thessalia. The memory of their one-night stand still lingered in his mind, and he didn't want to complicate things further by acting on any lingering feelings.

A few days after the passionate night with Thessalia, Marcus often found himself lost in thought, digging up the events that led to his one-night stand with her. He couldn't remember much from that night, and it bothered him. Was it just the effect of strong alcohol, or did he really want it to happen?

Trying hard to push those thoughts away, he knew that dwelling on them wouldn't do him any good. However, the memory of Thessalia's touch lingered in his mind, and he couldn't help but wonder if there was more to their encounter than just a drunken mistake.

He tried to keep himself occupied with pack business and preparations for the event, but he couldn't help but think about Thessalia whenever she crossed his mind. He knew that it was wrong to feel this way, especially as the alpha, but he couldn't deny the pull he felt towards her.

As he made his way to the event, Marcus tried to push those thoughts aside and focus on his duties as alpha. He knew that he had a responsibility to his pack, and he couldn't let his personal feelings get in the way.

But as soon as he caught a glimpse of Thessalia in the crowd, Marcus couldn't help but feel a sense of awkwardness wash over him. He knew that they needed to talk, to address what had happened between them, but he didn't know how to approach the subject without making things even more complicated.

Marcus was quickly encircled by pack members who required his assistance as the pack event began. He tried his best to focus on the pack business and keep himself busy, but his mind kept wandering back to Thessalia.

He caught glimpses of her throughout the event, but she seemed to be deliberately avoiding him. Marcus couldn't blame her for it. After all, he was the alpha and he had Charice as his soulmate, while Thessalia was just a lower level of pack member. He knew that their one-night stand had been a mistake, and he couldn't act on his feelings for her. Something that happened between them was over before it even began.

Despite his best efforts to keep his composure, Marcus was determined to keep things professional and avoid any unnecessary interaction with Thessalia during the event. He knew that their mistake could have serious consequences for the pack if it was ever revealed, and he didn't want to risk causing chaos and division among the members.

However, he found himself stealing glances at Thessalia whenever he had the chance. She was as stunning as ever, and it always made him sad to see her again. But every time he tried to get close to her and just wanted to feel her presence around him, someone would interrupt him, asking for his attention or advice. He felt frustrated and annoyed, knowing that he wouldn't be able to talk to her in private anytime soon.

As Marcus walked around during the event, he couldn't help but feel like something was missing. The energy in the air was palpable, but it wasn't quite what he was looking for. He scanned the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of Thessalia, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Just then, he heard a familiar voice calling his name. "Marcus! Over here!"

It was Ashner, the alpha of the neighboring pack, the Silvermoon Pack. Marcus felt a pang of annoyance at the interruption, but he couldn't ignore the call. He made his way over to Ashner and his packmates, trying to keep his thoughts focused on pack business.

"Marcus, good to see you," Ashner said, clapping him on the back. "We wanted to talk to you about a possible joint venture."

As the conversation came to a close, Marcus excused himself and started walking around the event once more. He caught sight of Sophia and Lynn, his relatives and Thessalia's best friends, chatting nearby.

"Hey Alpha Marcus, come join us!" Lynn called out.

Marcus decided to approach them, hoping that they might give him some insight into Thessalia's current state of mind, taking a seat next to them.

"Hello, ladies," he said, trying to keep his voice casual.

"Hello, Marcus," Lynn replied, smiling warmly at him. Sophia merely nodded in greeting.

"How's everything going?" Marcus asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Oh, you know how it is," Sophia said with a shrug. "Just trying to enjoy the event and not get too caught up in the drama."

Marcus nodded in agreement. "Yes, drama can be quite exhausting."

Lynn looked at him curiously. "Is something wrong, Marcus? You seem a bit distracted."

Marcus shook his head quickly, trying to dispel any suspicions. "No, no, everything is fine. Just a bit preoccupied with pack business, that's all."

They chatted about pack business and the upcoming full moon, but Marcus couldn't help feeling restless. He wanted to find Thessalia, to talk to her and figure out what was going on between them.

But as the night wore on, Thessalia remained elusive. Marcus knew that he couldn't keep thinking about her like this and he needed to focus on his duties as alpha. But he couldn't help the sadness he felt for her, and he knew that it was only a matter of time before their paths crossed again.

Just as he thought he caught a glimpse of her in the crowd, he was interrupted by one of his pack members, asking for his attention.

"Alpha Marcus, I have a question about our next hunt," the pack member said, stepping in front of Marcus and blocking his view of the crowd.

"I'll answer your question in just a moment," he said, scanning the crowd for any sign of Thessalia.

Just as he spotted her again, another pack member approached him with a similar request.

"Alpha Marcus, I was hoping to speak with you about our training exercises," the pack member said, also blocking Marcus's view of her.

Marcus felt a pang of annoyance and tried to keep his cool as he addressed the pack member's request.

"Of course, we can discuss that soon. But first, I need to take care of something," he said, using the excuse to slip away and make his way towards Thessalia.

But just as he got closer to her, he was once again interrupted by a pack member in need of his attention.

"Alpha Marcus, we have a problem with the new pack member's integration," the pack member said, pulling Marcus away from Thessalia once again.

Marcus sighed, feeling the weight of his responsibilities as alpha weighing heavily on his shoulders.

"I'll handle that as soon as I can," he said, forcing himself to focus on the issue at hand.

As the night wore on, Marcus found himself repeatedly distracted and his patience wearing thin by the needs of his pack members. He knew that his duties as alpha came first, but his mind kept wandering back to Thessalia. He wondered if she felt the same way about him, or if she was actively trying to avoid him. The uncertainty of their situation only made him more frustrated.

As the event continued, Marcus found himself unable to resist the pull he felt towards Thessalia’s presence. He wondered why his heart hurt with jealousy whenever he caught a glimpse of her chatting and joking with other pack members. He knew that he had no right to feel this way, but he couldn't help it. Something flamed in his heart and he had to talk to her soon.

Unwavering in his resolve, he watched her from a safe distance and kept an eye on her. He knew that he couldn't approach her directly, but he hoped that he could find a way to get closer to her without causing any suspicion.

At one point, Marcus saw Thessalia across the room, standing alone by the refreshment table. He took a deep breath and made his way towards her, hoping to finally get a chance to talk to her. While Marcus was widely regarded as a fearless, authoritative leader, he found his courage dwindling whenever he was near Thessalia. It was hard for him to express himself; his words appeared to get caught in his throat.

He sighed heavily, feeling defeated. He knew that he wouldn't be able to talk to Thessalia at the event, but he also knew that he couldn't keep avoiding her forever. He needed to find a way to talk to her privately and figure out where they stood with each other. But for now, he had no choice but to continue with his alpha duties and put his own desires on hold.

As the event was winding down, Marcus saw Thessalia slip out of the gathering. He knew that he couldn't let her go without talking to her, but he also knew that he had to be discreet. He excused himself from the group he was with and followed Thessalia, keeping a safe distance between them. He watched as she walked deeper into the woods, her long hair swaying behind her.

Marcus hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. He knew that he shouldn't pursue Thessalia, but he also couldn't resist the pull he felt towards her. He took a deep breath and began to follow her, careful not to make any noise.