The Mark

Big confusion

Kiara was looking at her brother walking away to get more drinks. This day was crazy. Maybe if he gets tipsier, he’ll tell her more about what’s going on.

Jasper who was sitting opposite Kie was talking about something with Tim, but she didn’t pay too much attention to the topic. Suddenly she felt someone’s hand on her shoulder; she knew that touch.

“Umm… Can we talk?” Lisa asked quietly when Kiara turned her head.

Oh no. She didn’t want any more drama tonight, but she knew that they needed to talk. “Yeah, of course.” She replied eventually.

“Shall we…?” Lisa pointed to the door to the terrace with her head suggestively.

“Uh… yes, okay.” Kiara agreed.

Tim wasn’t so engaged in the discussion with Jasper anymore. They were still talking, but he observed what’s happening. Jealousy was squeezing his stomach, but there was nothing he could do. They weren’t anything more than friends.

Ladies proceeded to the terrace. When the door closed behind them, they were standing in an awkward silence for a while. Neither of them didn’t know what to say.

“Look Lisa, I’m sorry…” Kiara has finally spoken, but Lisa interrupted. “I’m sorry too, Kie. I was stupid. It’s just… the way he looks at you. I was jealous. I still am to be honest, but I know you wouldn’t cheat.”

Guilt ran through Kie’s body when she heard that. Although she didn’t exactly cheat, they weren’t together anymore, and if they were, she wouldn’t do anything with Tim.

“It’s okay Lisa, I get it.” She replied, and to her surprise Lisa came closer and grabbed her waist. “Wait, what are you doing?” she added, turning her hand down.

“Well I thought we could leave this stupid argument behind us…” explained Lisa with confusion. Her skin was dark, but she blushed so badly it didn’t hide it at all.

“I wanted to apologise, but I don’t want to get back together.” Said Kiara truthfully. It was good to finally say it, to be honest with Lisa. “I don’t love you. Not the way you want me to. I thought that the feeling would come, but it didn’t.”

Lisa’s almost black eyes were now filled with tears ready to come down her face. She was sure that this was just a fight, not an actual break up. Seeing that, Kie grabbed her ex’s hand.

“Look, you’re great. You’re smart, funny and beautiful and you don’t deserve to be with someone who doesn’t feel about you the way you feel about them.” She said, “I’m sorry I mislead you for so long.”

Lisa stepped back and pulled her hand from Kie’s hold. “Is it about Tim?” she asked.

“Please don’t start again… I told you what this is about.” Kie started to be irritated.

“Don’t lie! I saw you two dancing… Even Miles noticed something, he was watching you.” Lisa was shouting and pointing her finger accusingly.

“What do you want me to tell you? You said you don’t want to fight.” Replied Kiara.

“I wanted to forget about all of this and just come back to what we had. But you clearly moved on!” Lisa was in tears. She was mad at Kiara, but also at herself. Deep down she knew it’s going to happen, sooner or later.

“This has nothing to do with Tim. It’s only about us.” Kiara felt guilty but it was also cathartic to say it. The truth was that she cared for her ex-girlfriend and wanted to stay friends, but it seemed impossible, at least for now.

“So you’re saying that you don’t like him?” she asked with a grimace on her face.

Kie was tired of this interrogation. She did like him, and she did find him attractive, but that was not the point. If Tim wasn’t an option, she still wouldn’t want to be with Lisa. “Lisa please don’t do that.”

“Answer me.” She requested.

“I do like him. I do find him handsome. Is that what you wanted to hear?” said irritated Kiara. That was her first more serious relationship and she didn’t know what to expect. She also didn’t know that the possible break up would be that messy.

“I knew it. I f*****g knew it!” Lisa was shouting and gesticulating aggressively.

“Lisa, please. Even if Tim wasn’t here, it still wouldn’t work out. I don’t love you. I care about you, but I don’t love you that way. I’m sorry.” That was the final statement to which Lisa didn’t respond; she just rushed towards the door and pushed them hard just to see Tim right behind them.

“Umm… You were here for a long time and I just came to check if everything is fine.” Said a man in black shirt. He noticed that the atmosphere was tense and happily deducted they haven’t got back together.

“Oh, it’s just great!” Lisa rolled her eyes and started walking away.

“I love you Kie. Please wait for me.” Miles’ voice sounded in Kiara’s head and for a few seconds she couldn’t hear anything else but the echo of those words. At first a nice feeling overwhelmed her body when Miles slipped into her mind, but right after that her heart started pounding and she felt more and more anxious. What did that even mean? She tried to respond, but he blocked her and something was telling her that the distance between them is getting longer.

“Kie, what’s happening?” Lisa was again right next to her now putting hand on her back.

“Kiara are you okay?” Tim also rushed towards his friend.

Kiara couldn’t hear them properly; she started hyperventilating and got dizzy. She bended over the terrace railing. Her heart was racing irregularly. She had cotton legs, everything became darker with every second. She collapsed.

“KIE!” Lisa shouted with a squeaking voice.

Tim managed to catch Kiara before she fell on the floor. He picked her up and ran inside the hotel, where he could lay her on a couch and call for help.

“Lisa go there and find her mom! We need to call an ambulance.” He ordered calmly. Lisa was so surprised by his attitude, she didn’t argue. He seemed not to panic and like he knew what he’s doing. She took off her heels so she could run faster.

In fact Tim knew what he was doing, but was extremely panicked anyway. Somehow he bonded with this girl and seeing things like that happening to her were worrying. Werewolves are fast, strong and resistant. They don’t faint and have good health. He didn’t know what had caused that, but he was sure it must’ve been something really powerful.

All those thoughts were popping in his mind while he carried her through the ball room. Music stopped and now everyone was watching them.

Three people jumped out from behind the crowd. Alpha, Luna and Sofia were running towards them, but Tim didn’t stop, he wanted to lay Kie on the couch which would be more comfortable and lift her legs up for the blood to flow.

“Ambulance is coming!” Lisa shouted from the doorway between the ballroom and the hotel hall.

They were already next to one of the couches; Tim laid Kie carefully and put her legs on the armrest.

“WHAT HAPPENED?!” it was Alpha shouting. Both Tim and Lisa were surprised why Alpha is so concerned instead of Kie’s mom standing right behind.

“She started breathing so fast… she didn’t… we didn’t…” Lisa tried to say something but tears made it impossible. Celeste hugged her.

“It looked like a panic attack, she didn’t respond to anything we were saying. She just fainted.” Reported Tim. Some people could’ve been intimidated by Alpha shouting, but Tim was like his son. He knew him and knew he’s worried. But why so much? Dan was a good Alpha and cared for all pack members, but he’s never seen him engaged like that.

Dan kneeled next to the couch where Kie was resting. He checked if she’s breathing and her pulse, both fine, but he stayed on his knees anyway.

Celeste was still holding crying Lisa in her arms and tried to calm her. She was looking at her brother, narrowing her eyebrows in worried grimace.

From outside the building they could hear a siren, which was a sign of an ambulance getting closer. Tim sighed with relief that his friend is going to get help soon.

“Where is Miles?” asked Sofia who was silent until now. Lisa was too emotional now to even notice that, but Tim was confused by Kie’s mother’s behaviour. She seemed worried, but more than that she looked scared. Not because her child is unconscious, but because of something else. Alpha was the one who was next to Kiara, Alpha was the one who was now holding her hand, which was surprising when her own mom was a few feet away. Anyway, that was a good question; usually the siblings were inseparable.

“He went to get us drinks, but that was a while ago.” Tim answered directly to Sofia. “Does anybody know where Miles is? Get him here!” now Tim was shouting to the whole party members lurking from the ballroom. No one moved like they were enchanted to stay still, but when Tim shouted again, few people actually started to look for Miles, and then almost everyone joined. All for nothing; Miles was not there.

Paramedics were already there, Alpha had a hard time to leave Kie’s side, but he knew they needed to do their job. They moved her to the medical bed and took to the ambulance.

“I’m going with you!” Dan didn’t even look back; he was going along with the medics, leaving the hotel.

“But I’m…” Sofia started talking with a weak voice, but Luna stopped her right away. “Don’t you even dare. We’re going in my car, and let me get this straight; you’re coming only because I’m letting you.” Celeste looked angry and her usually nice and comforting face now was terrifying.

Tim was startled by this statement, now even Lisa who was still in shock looked at Celeste with confusion. Now they both were looking at Sofia waiting for her response, but there was none. It was very strange and Tim was curious what’s going on, but that was not the right time. They needed to go.

“We’re going too.” Lisa said what Tim was thinking. She was afraid that Luna might be harsh towards her, but Celeste just replied with her natural caring tone “Of course honey, come on. No time to lose.”

Before they left, Jasper approached them saying that Miles is nowhere to be found. Both Sofia and Celeste looked like they saw that coming. Worried? Yes. Surprised? Not at all.