Born of Two

Duos

Chapter 16

Molly's POV

I walked up the stairs to my guest suite, tears threatening to spill over and the feeling of loneliness creeping over me. Maybe Simon was right; perhaps I am the most emotionally volatile person in the world.

I didn't mean to hurt Rosalynn. I just wanted to push her and prepare her for what was coming. When Simon approached the 5 of us, he said he found the soul in the prophecy. The one that would bring harmony, healing, and hope. He loves to alliterate like that. We were all very skeptical of what soul he deemed worthy. It had been 20 years since we had someone to pledge our loyalty to. When given to someone, they must be pure and built from challenging situations. Knowing she was the girl in the prophecy and then realizing who her parents were, it was like a light bulb went off in my head. I needed to be here to train her gifts and give her what she needed.

I reach the room Lochlyn gave me in the packhouse for what he said was "temporary housing ." I open the door to the room to reveal its warmth and cozy nature. The room was small and had a quaint little fireplace for the cold Minnesota winters. However, I enjoyed the simplicity and took a liking to the design. I will admit to helping with my frigid wind and curated snow abilities. However much I could appreciate the warmth around me. The bed was a queen, and the room was neutral tans with black accents. It simply screamed temporary.

I stripped out of my workout clothes and walked to the closet, pulling out a simple green sweater with some high-waisted black jeans. I stared at the mirror, fixing my platinum hair. I couldn't shake that feeling of loneliness. I was forever destined to move from soul to soul, never having something to complete mine. I once had a great love, but he was laid to rest during the dust bowl. His soul was pure while he provided for his seven family members. Taken from me on a hunting trip, I wailed for days begging the water spirit to bring rain and end the turmoil in Middle America. Instead, all I brought down was anger and destruction through raging wind and dust storms.

"Destined always to be alone. Right, Dean?" I say to nothing in the room in general. I notice the fire dying out, so I sit in front and wiggle my fingers using a little breeze to pick up another log and gently place it on, and then another draft to stoke the fire back to life. I don't know how long I sat at the fire, curled into a half ball, watching the flames come to life and dance with each other. I was always mesmerized by fire and how it interacted with the wind. Such a simple but devasting combination that mortals truly feared. My trance of watching the growing flames was broken when I heard a loud commotion of howling outside. I slowly stood up and walked over to my second-floor window to see if we were being overrun or if the stupid wolves were being dumb and rowdy.

"Awe, bummer, they are being rowdy. I was hoping for something to pick up and throw with a good gust." I said as I turned away from the outside world and my sad reflection in the window. However, just as I was about to walk away, I saw a young man, maybe mid-'20s standing there, staring straight at me through the window. His eyes were intense as if they were burning for me. He started to raise his hand and point to me through the window before one of his friends came up and punched him on the shoulder. He turned away for a second, and I let a shiver pass through me like a frosted breeze. His eyes burned themselves into my memory. I felt the fire roar to life as a massive gust went through the room, shuffling papers and photos. I looked back to the common area, where he stood, again staring at me with passion and lust. Although I couldn't hear through the glass and brick, I could clearly understand what he said, "You're mine."

A breath caught in my throat, "Am I no longer alone?"

Marco POV

I had just crossed the border coming back from the trip to Sapphire Moon, where we had been for a few days. Alpha Lochlyn had decided to postpone his trip due to the oncoming guest we may or may not meet. Finn and I met with Alpha Mark regarding the events at his border a month ago. Finn being the Delta and myself moving to the Gamma position in a few weeks gave us an excellent chance to help build relations with other packs around us. The Sapphire pack is one of our closest allies and helped develop our pack after we lost so many members 20 years ago. We share a border with Red Moon and feel the rising tension on both of our borders. While on a strategic mission, Lochlyn also sent us to assess the gentleman who was found beaten on their border. The man had made significant strides towards being healthy again.

Flashback

"Gamma Marco and Delta Finn, meet Lucas. This young man is the gentleman who came from Red Moon."

We walked into the small hospital room and saw a man, maybe 6'3 but less than 180 pounds. The man was nothing but skin and bones and scar tissue. You could see the reminders of his beating from Red Moon. We could gather they used whips and even tarred his legs to prevent him from running. But despite these inflictions, the man raised his head and lifted his Jello cup to us with a smile. His dark skin looks healthy and glowing despite his circumstances.

"Hey, Alpha Mark! I see you are bringing some new guests for me. Am I your pretty zoo animal today?" The man let out a deep laugh that made Finn and I chuckle. Alpha Mark paused mid-sit, not knowing what to say. "Hey, relax. I know I am good-looking, but can I get paid for the sideshow? I mean, it is not every day someone escapes Red Moon's clutches alive. Maybe we could make a traveling show." He raises his hand as if he is unrolling a banner.

"Don't you see it, man!!!! Sapphire Pack and the amazing, daring, cunning, and devilishly handsome Lucas. The escape from Red Moon."

"Lucas, we have guests." Alpha Mark tries to reign this guy in without laughing. "But we can discuss that later."

You could tell the Alpha and this gentleman has a good relationship. It makes me curious why this older Alpha has taken such a liking to such a spirit as Lucas, but I remain silent and make a mental note to approach the topic later at dinner.

"You're right. Now don't go stealing any of our ideas! How can I be of help, gentleman?"

"We wanted to see how you felt and if you were up for traveling yet?" Finn spoke up first.

"Travel?" You could see the panic strike his face as well as the hurt.

"We wanted to take you back to our pack, The Northern Moon Pack. Our Alpha wants to meet you and discuss what plans you know of-"

Lucas hung his held low. The humorous and innocent exterior cracked before our eyes. His eyes filled with shame and guilt. "Did they truly find her?"

"Yes." I stepped forward and was ready to say more before his long sigh cut me off.

"Then she is truly in grave danger." There was a long pause that reflected the tension in the room.

"Gentleman, I think that is enough. Lucas has many sins to repent for, but he is beginning to correct those wrongs." Alpha Mark looks at Lucas and puts his hand on his knee. "Aren't we, Lucas?"

He nodded. "However, Alpha, while I respect those wishes, I know these gentlemen have been here for a few days and are due back home soon. They need to know the information. The girl-"

"Our Luna. The girl is our Luna." Finn interrupted while puffing out his chest in pride.

"Their Luna," Lucas corrected, "Is in grave danger. Because of a plan that I had a part in creating."

"What do you mean you had a part in creating?" The anger slowly rose in me at the thought of the guy hurting our Rosalynn.

"In the Red Moon pack, I was a healer. I had an important job there. I wasn't in the pack hospital and wasn't helping people like I always wanted. No, they had me locked away in the different building farthest from any pack borders and people. I slept and ate and lived in my lab. If I tried to leave, Demetri would deeply punish me. I worked with serums. Lots of times with wolfsbane, poisons, and the sort. However, it was not defensive or serums to treat the ingestions or contact with those. It was offensive serums. Things we could procure to weaken wolves and thus weaken defensives."

My anger subsided at the idea that this man was no more than a prisoner to Red Moon.

"It isn't a job I wanted to do. In my former pack, my father was a man of great abilities. My mate and I would work alongside my father regularly in the hospitals, helping people heal. Until Red Moon attacked and mercilessly slaughtered everyone, including my mate. Tracy, couldn't shift very well because she was pregnant at the time. My father jumped in front to protect her, but he suffered a stab wound, and the poison killed his wolf before he was. It was like something I had never seen. They killed both of them quickly while I was defending a different part of the hospital." The tears were silently rolling down Lucas's cheeks. The pain of his mate being killed and losing their unborn child was still very real.

"They took me instead. The guards were supposed to take my father captive, but when my dad took the knife for my mate, they had to improvise. So here we are. I finally escaped with a briefcase full of secrets from my projects. However, they knew my plan before I reached the border of Sapphire Moon. They tied me to a tree, and they-"

"THAT IS ENOUGH!!!" Alpha Mark jumped at this point toward Lucas and lovingly covered his mouth. "No more, my son, no more. I can't hear you relive this one more time."

My mouth hung slightly open at the words Alpha Mark just said. I caught him staring at me.

"My son was eight. He was just eight years old. The babysitter went to get a towel from the car not even 20 feet from the pond they were swimming in when Demetri found them." His head hung low. "I didn't know they were going to that pond. I would have gone with them or sent more guards if I had known. They weren't supposed to go to that one, but the other pond had greened with algae. It was not swimmable, so she took them there. Demetri stole away the babysitter and drowned my son. After that, they tarred his body to the tree. The look of fear was permanently etched on his face. Wondering why Daddy wasn't saving him. Ben died, and I couldn't stop it."

"Lucas, how old are you?"

"I am 27. Yes, Ben and I were the same age. That is why Alpha Mark and I have such a relationship. His whole family and I have gotten close. Luna Jessie bought me all new clothes, even is letting me stay with them until I get back on my feet. Their kids Baylor, Brandy, and Branson, we have weekly board games night here in the hospital room. I tried to figure out how to add a B to my name to be a real member of the fam."

Alpha Mark smiles and looks at Lucas. "No need to add a B. We already consider you family. You came here with nothing and risked your life to place a stop to Red Moon. Ben would want you to join our family."

Lucas looked taken aback by Alpha Marks's words. "I promise, Alpha. That if the day ever comes that we get to bring Red Moon to their knees and hold them accountable for the lives they have taken. I will do what makes you proud and brings Ben honor."

End of Flashback

We had left Sapphire Moon after we helped get Lucas moved into the Alpha's house. Dinner was energic and a total celebration of Lucas joining the pack and the Alpha's family. Even though he wasn't Ben, they celebrated as if Ben's spirit had finally found peace and come home. Alpha Mark and Lucas will visit next week after his final week of physical therapy and for Luna Rosalynn's mating and Luna ceremony. Finn and I are silent for an extended portion of the 4-hour drive back to the pack house.

"Can you imagine that?"

"What, Finn?"

"For 19 years carrying the responsibility of your son's death and knowing that it wasn't your fault for it."

"I don't think I ever want to imagine that. However, the Moon Goddess heals hearts in their own time. Lucas is the Moon Goddess's gift to Alpha Mark and Luna Jessie to heal that piece, and I am sure that Lucas's story is far from over. Like Lucas healed them, the Goddess will bring someone to fill his."

"Yeah, I can't wait for a mate. I thought Brandy was beautiful, but I guess it wasn't meant to be."

"You are a lover, not a fighter. She is stubborn and strong-headed. Did you watch her compete in UNO against her brothers? She was ruthless. Whoever completes you will be well taken care of." I tell him as I slightly punch his shoulder.

"Dude, don't you know you should never hit the driver!" Finn jokingly jerks the car to the left before recorrecting. I know we are super competitive and sometimes drive each other crazy, but Finn is 100% my brother. His family took me in until my dad met his second chance mate. They held me together when I could not, and he will always be by my side for that action. I was more than delighted when he earned the Delta title on his run through The underground to know we serve our pack together in the bigger picture.

We saw our little community come together through the trees and our pack house came into view. I have missed home but never like this. My wolf, Sanford, was pacing and howling in my head. His ears were perked up and more alert than ever as he came forward. I am very calm, but my wolf has some impulse issues. Finn barely stopped the car before I flung my door open and sprinted toward the courtyard off the main road. Guys came out of the game room side door to see what I was running toward in the yard. Ray and Quinn were the first to get to me and hold me back, thinking I was in a rage. I must have looked like I was deranged. My eyes were darkened to my wolf's deep browns, the vein on my forehead was about to burst, and my breathing was shallow and ragged. I turned frantically, looking for her as my wolf took control and began howling for his mate to come forward. I was hoping that this wouldn't send everyone else off. I couldn't find her, though, and she should have come forward. Something wasn't right.

Then I felt it, a calling of loneliness, hurt, and sadness. It made the hairs on my neck stand up as I felt I was being watched as everyone began to walk away from me. I looked around the packhouse, and I saw her. Staring at me from the second floor, eyes wide with shock and wonder. With her platinum hair pulled into a messy bun, her green sweater exposing the shoulder I would mark her on. I began to point to her to call her down when Finn finally caught up with me. I looked away momentarily, and my heart hurt, but I felt hope blossom. Who was this mystery girl? I had only been gone a few days, and I knew she didn't have a wolf.

"Earth to Marco?"

"Mate."

"Woah, dude. I love you too, but I don't love you like that."

I looked back to the window, and there she still stood. Her perfect pink lips slightly parted, and she struggled to breathe.

"You're mine."

Finn let go of my shoulder when he realized who stood in the window, "Who is that?"

I didn't even answer him as I took off running through the packhouse. Josephine and Chase began following me as there were sitting at the tables enjoying a snack. I could see the omegas trying o run or even jump out my way as I took the stairs two at a time. Crap, I didn't count the rooms.

"Second floor. 3rd room. Good luck, man. She is pacing in front of the window. I think she is scared, and she definitely doesn't have a wolf."

"Thanks, man."

I run down the hall and stop at the third door. Sanford is running crazy in my mind with the idea that our mate is on the other side of that door.

"Don't open that door yet." Chase calmly places his hand on my shoulder. "You can see her tonight, but you need to understand who she is first. She isn't a wolf, she is from the spirit realm, and this has probably never happened before."

"But it is blessed by the Goddess. I wouldn't care if she was a vamp. MY wolf calls to her." I can faintly smell her scent from here. She smelled like an ocean breeze mixed with oranges. Salty and sweet. I wanted to come home every day to that smell.

"She isn't a part of our world, Marco?"

"Like an alien?"

"No, she is tied to the Luna to protect her and Loch's happiness. She is bound to them. Your love for her, she may not be able to feel that towards you."

"Oh, hell. I am still going to try." In one quick motion, I shook off Chase's hand and reached for the doorknob when the door opened to reveal the most beautiful woman in the world.

Her eyes were the faintest silver, her hair flowy and platinum. My wolf is howling and happy, stomping his paws.

"Thank you, Chase. Yes, this is a surprise to be mated to a wolf. Thank you for trying to honor that and protect me at the same time, protect this man."

She looks at me for only a second before reaching for Chase's arm and offering a small smile.

"Now, do you care to tell me what is happening and who you are?" She says as she brings her attention back to me.

"Umm… I-I am Marco. Can I know the name of the most beautiful person in the world?"

I can see the guys leaning against the hallway doors, gagging a little bit. I ignore them and look back to the woman in front of me, kind of hoping her name started with an M.

"It's Molly."

I couldn't help myself as I reached for her waist and pulled her into a kiss. I couldn't stop myself. The kiss was hungry as I pressed my lips against hers. Molly melted into me before she pushed back and landed a slap against my cheek. She looked at me as she held the fingers to her swollen lips. Irritation and arousal swirled in her silver eyes before anger turned them a dark silver. Before I could register what had happened, she moved her hand; a wind gust sent me barreling down the hallway. I rolled onto the floor before seeing her enter her room alone. I lay staring at the ceiling, smiling. Ray and Quinn lean over into my field of vision.

"Spectacular rejection and fail," Ray said, smiling at me.

"Yeah, what do you have to say about the interaction you just had?"

My smile widened as I gathered my thoughts. I can feel the sparkle in my eye and the tingles on my lips still. "What. a. woman."

Molly's POV

"He kissed me. Oh my gosh, he just kissed me like it was his right." I say, pacing my room

"Like, what right does he have just to kiss me?"

"What a kiss, though."

"I can't believe the sparks and fire it ignited."

"What am I doing? He is an animal. He is mortal. I can't do this."

I fling myself onto the bed, face forward, and let out a muffled scream. Just as I regained my composure, the windows flung open, and the tree near my window grew exponentially. Only one person in the world could do that. As the tree grew into my window and small child-like woman appeared on the branch.

"Hello, sister."

"Avalon."

"Not excited to see me? You seem flushed."

"I thought you weren't going to come?"

"Simon makes a convincing deal." She said with a shrug as she sat on the edge of my bed. "Let's talk about the girl."