Chapter Six: Unwanted Alliances
I woke to the sound of angry voices drifting up from the courtyard. My head still felt heavy from yesterday's confrontation with Marcus, and now it seemed like the tension was spreading through the entire castle.
I dragged myself to the window and looked down. Marcus stood near the training grounds, his broad shoulders rigid as he faced Beta Thomas. Even from my window, I could see the hostility radiating between them. Other Night Pack warriors had gathered behind Thomas, creating a clear line of division.
This was getting out of hand.
"Miss Chloe?" Roslyn's voice came from behind me as she entered with fresh clothes. "You're up early."
"Real hard to sleep with all that noise." I gestured toward the window. "What's everyone saying about... all this?"
Roslyn set the clothes down and came to peer out the window with me. "The castle staff are split right down the middle. Half of them think Marcus is dangerous but attractive in that dark, mysterious way. The other half want Shadow Pack gone by sunset."
I watched Marcus run his hand through his hair, that habit I was starting to recognize when he got frustrated.
"The kitchen maids keep arguing about it," Roslyn continued, helping me into a simple blue dress. "And the guards have been taking bets on whether Beta Thomas will actually challenge him to a fight."
"That's ridiculous."
"Is it though? Marcus does have a way of getting under people's skin."
I couldn't argue with that as I prepared for breakfast, not wanting to involve in whatever that was.
---
Breakfast felt like walking into a battlefield. Dad sat at the head of our family table, cutting his meat with more force than necessary.
"Some guests," he said loudly enough for half the hall to hear, "create more problems than they solve."
"David," Mom warned softly, but her heart wasn't really in it, I could tell.
"I'm just saying, when someone disrespects your family and then refuses to leave, it makes you wonder about their real intentions."
I felt a sense of déjà vu as this felt like a repeat of yesterday and glanced over at the Shadow Pack table. Lucian sat alone, quietly eating his breakfast while looking deeply uncomfortable. Marcus was nowhere to be seen spoiling the sense of déjà vu that I had. I totally suspected the fact that he was probably still arguing with Thomas outside.
"Where do you think Marcus is?" I asked without thinking.
Dad's fork clattered against his plate. "Who cares where that arrogant..."
"David," Mom said more firmly this time.
"He's probably causing more trouble somewhere," Fiona said, shooting me a concerned look. "Why do you care?"
I didn't have a good answer for that. Why did I care? Yesterday I'd told him to stay away from me, and I really meant it. But something about seeing him isolated and facing hostility from my pack bothered me.
As if summoned by my thoughts, Marcus appeared in the doorway. His grey eyes swept the room, and I noticed how conversations quieted when people saw him. He looked tired, and haggard.
Our eyes met for a brief moment across the hall, and I felt that familiar flutter in my chest. Then I forced myself to look away.
What the hell was wrong with me!?
---
After breakfast, I was walking through the main corridor when I heard two of our younger warriors talking in low voices.
"Someone needs to put that arrogant Shadow Alpha in his place," Jake muttered to his friend.
"Thomas is too diplomatic. If it were up to me, I'd challenge him myself."
"The disrespect to our former Alpha heir... it's unforgivable."
Something hot flared in my chest. Before I could stop myself, I stepped around the corner.
"That's enough," I said, using the tone I'd learned from watching my parents lead.
Both warriors looked surprised to see me. Jake recovered first, straightening. "Miss Chloe, we were just..."
"I heard what you were saying." My voice was steadier than I felt. "Marcus is a guest in our territory, under our protection. Whatever issues you have with him, you'll handle them properly or not at all."
They looked confused, probably wondering why I was defending the man who'd publicly rejected me. Honestly, I was wondering the same thing.
"Of course, Miss Chloe," Jake said finally. "We didn't mean any disrespect."
After they left, I stood in the empty corridor, touching my temple unconsciously. Why had I done that? Why did I care if they challenged Marcus?
I needed answers, and I wasn't going to get them from Marcus.
---
I found Healer Meredith in her herb garden behind the castle, sorting through bundles of dried plants. She looked up when she heard my footsteps, and worry immediately crossed her weathered face.
"Chloe, dear. How are you feeling today?"
"Like everyone knows something about me that I don't." I sat down on the small bench beside her workspace, watching her hands still on the herbs.
"Meredith, I need to ask you something directly."
She set down the bundle of lavender she'd been holding. "Of course."
"The night of my accident. You treated my injuries." I touched the scar on my temple. "Has anyone else been asking you about it? Recently?"
Meredith's hands stilled completely. She glanced around the garden nervously before answering.
"The Shadow Pack's healer and his brother came to see me yesterday. He asked... very specific questions."
"What kind of questions?"
"Medical ones. About the nature of your injuries, the healing process, whether I noticed anything... unusual."
My stomach dropped. "And did you? Notice anything unusual?"
Meredith looked torn, wringing her hands in her apron. "Chloe, perhaps this is something you should discuss with your parents..."
Wait what?
"I'm discussing it with you. What aren't you telling me?"
Before she could answer, footsteps approached on the garden path. Marcus appeared around the corner, and Meredith immediately stood up like she'd been caught doing something wrong.
"I should get back to my preparations," she said quickly, gathering her herbs with shaking hands. "Excuse me."
She practically fled, leaving Marcus and me alone in the garden.
I shot to my feet, fury and frustration exploding through me. "What did you say to her?"
Marcus stopped, his hands going up defensively. "Chloe, I can explain..."
"Explain what? How you've been interrogating my healer behind my back? How you've been scaring her so badly she can't even look at me properly?"
"I wasn't trying to scare anyone. I was just asking questions..."
"What questions?" I stepped closer, my hands clenched into fists. "What gives you the right to investigate me like I'm some kind of case to solve?"
Marcus's jaw tightened. "Because someone hurt you, and everyone here seems content to pretend it never happened."
The words hit me like a slap. "What are you talking about?"
"Your accident wasn't an accident, Chloe. And if you'd just let me explain..."
"Let you explain?" My voice rose dangerously.
"You rejected me in front of everyone! You said you'd rather see me dead! And now you want me to trust you with the truth about my own life?"
Marcus ran his hand through his hair, that frustrated gesture I was beginning to hate. "I know how this looks..."
"How this looks? How this looks is like you're playing some sick game with me!" I was shouting now, all the confusion and pain of the past few days pouring out.
"First you destroy me publicly, then you act like you care, now you're sneaking around questioning people about me. What do you want from me?"
"I want to protect you!"
"From what? From who? You won't tell me anything!"
"Because I can't! Not until..."
"Not until what? Not until you decide I'm ready? Not until you figure out how to use this information against me?" Tears of rage burned my eyes. "I trusted you once, didn't I? And look how that turned out!"
Marcus went very still. "You remember something?"
"No, I don't remember anything! That's the point!" I wiped angrily at my eyes. "But you keep talking like we had this great relationship, and then you show up and treat me like dirt. So either you're lying about our past, or I was a complete fool!"
"You weren't a fool," Marcus said quietly. "You were..."
"I was what? Perfect? Special? Your destined mate?" I laughed bitterly. "Right up until I wasn't good enough anymore."
"That's not what happened."
"Then tell me what did happen! Stop protecting me from my own life!"
Marcus stared at me for a long moment, and I saw something break in his grey eyes. "I can't. Because if I tell you everything and you still don't remember, it'll destroy us both."
"There is no us!" I screamed. "You made that very clear!"
The garden fell silent except for my harsh breathing. Marcus looked like I'd physically struck him.
"You're right," he said finally, his voice hollow. "There is no us. Not anymore."
But before either of us could say anything else, Beta Thomas appeared with three other warriors behind him. His face was grim as he approached.
"Alpha Marcus," Thomas said formally. "I need to speak with you."
Marcus's entire posture changed, becoming more rigid and alpha-like. "What about?"
"Your presence here is causing unrest among our pack members. I suggest you limit your movements around the castle."
The air between them crackled with tension. Marcus's hands clenched into fists at his sides.
"Are you giving me orders in your territory, Beta?" Marcus's voice was dangerously quiet.
"I'm making a reasonable request for the peace of both our packs."
"And if I refuse?"
Thomas stepped closer. "Then we'll have a problem."
I looked back and forth between them, realizing with growing horror that this was partly my fault.
My association with Marcus was causing political problems for my own pack, but seeing him cornered like this felt wrong.
"Thomas," I started, but Marcus held up a hand.
"I understand your position, Beta," Marcus said tightly. "But I won't be confined like a prisoner."
"Then perhaps Shadow Pack should consider cutting their visit short," one of the warriors behind Thomas suggested.
Marcus's grey eyes flashed with anger, and I could see him about to say something that would make everything worse.
"Actually," a calm voice interrupted, "Marcus and I were just planning to hunt in the eastern forest."
Lucian appeared as if from nowhere, his gentle smile defusing some of the tension immediately.
"A hunt sounds perfect," he continued smoothly. "Give everyone some space to breathe. We'll be gone most of the day."
I watched in amazement as Lucian managed to de-escalate the entire situation without anyone losing face. Marcus looked like he wanted to argue, but Lucian gave him a meaningful look.
"Fine," Marcus said finally. "We'll hunt."
Thomas nodded, apparently satisfied. "That sounds reasonable."
As the group dispersed, I caught Lucian's eye and mouthed 'thank you.' He smiled and nodded before following his brother toward the castle entrance.
---
That evening, I stood at my bedroom window watching the courtyard. I'd been doing that a lot lately, though I couldn't explain why.
When Marcus and Lucian finally returned from their hunt, both carrying fresh game, I found myself scanning Marcus for injuries. He looked tired but unharmed.
As if he could feel me watching, Marcus paused in the courtyard and looked up at my window. Our eyes met across the distance, and for a moment, time seemed to stop.
There it was again, that strange pull I felt in my dreams. That sense of connection that made no sense but felt as real as breathing.
"Chloe!" Fiona's voice called from down the hall. "Dinner!"
The moment shattered. Marcus looked away and continued toward the castle entrance.
I stepped back from the window, my heart racing for no reason I could name.
What was happening to me? Why did Marcus affect me like this when everything logical told me to stay away from him?
I touched the scar on my temple, wondering not for the first time what memories I was missing. And whether I really wanted them back.
Because if I had cared about Marcus before my accident, if we'd made some promise together, then losing those memories might have been a mercy.
Some things, I was beginning to think, were better left forgotten.
But my heart didn't seem to agree.