I just look at the beer that has been placed in front of me when the whole room goes silent.
Morax leans back in his chair, letting out a sigh. I don’t want it to be like this, but now I may not have any choice.
I don’t want Riley to suffer, but Morax made it clear I cannot get involved. I still don’t want to. He made this mess, so why should I clean it up?
“Fine, I’ll do it for Riley!” Jack announced.
“No Jack, you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into! This life isn’t glamorous at all! I hate every minute of it and wish it could end. Except this is the life that was handed to me.”
“I would rather spend an eternity in that position than see Riley die!”
“She doesn’t deserve this and never asked for it! All she wanted was to be the mate to someone, and she got me. Now, look at where it’s led her!” Jack whispered.
“Fine Michael, I give my blessing!” Morax stated.
I snap my head in his direction, looking for anything. Something to indicate he is lying out his ass.
When I see nothing, I ask Aaron for shots! When it’s placed down in front of me, I hold it up and slam it down.
She knows that I cannot have her. So how do I try and start up at least a bond that she can trust me with? I nod my head at Morax when I decide to go visit her.
In an instant, I am back in her room, seeing that she fell asleep on the couch with a blanket. I look at her and my feelings are all over the place.
I have pushed them out of my mind for so long, knowing I couldn’t have her, and now I have an opportunity.
That means I give up everything for her. Could I do it? I was so ready to in the beginning, but now that I am faced with it again, I don’t know.
I quietly walk over, scooping her up and walk her over to the bed. I place her down on it and cover her with the covers.
Right when I turn to leave, she grabs my hand and looks straight at me.
“Michael, please stay here till I go back to sleep. I’m scared Jonah will come back and the pain hurts too much. I know you can take it away.”
I nod my head and lay down on the bed beside her, when she snuggles up against me. I wrap my arm around her, except I feel so awkward because she is mated, and not to me.
I can feel a sense of calm start to come over both of us, and soon she is sound asleep.
I go to move and leave when I see Jack standing at the doorway. I stand up from the bed and walk over to him.
“She’s asleep now, so I am going to go.”
“Stay with her Michael, please. I know when I touch her she still feels the bond a little, but soon hers will be gone also.”
“I have tried to act as I do, but Kane has already cut ours, so I feel nothing anymore. No calmness, and no sparks. Just nothing.”
“I want someone near her that when she’s upset can calm her. She will try with me, but soon she won’t find comfort with me anymore.”
“Jack, do you know how awkward this is? She is your mate, and you are asking me to stay and lie next to her! I don’t want to be blacklisted like I’m moving in on the Alpha’s mate.”
“Michael, you can come and go at will, just leave right before she wakes up. She needs to learn she can trust you! Because when the time comes, she will have to trust you enough to mark you.”
I look from Jack over to Riley and just nod my head. I turn back to say something, but he’s gone from the doorway and I hear another bedroom door open and shut.
I slowly close Riley’s and make my way back over to the bed. I lie back down next to her when I feel a mind link cutting in.
I feel the link cut, and soon we’re all asleep.
I can feel him lying next to her, and my wolf is going crazy.
I was thrilled when Jack started cutting the bond. That will make it that much easier for mine to take over once I mark her again.
I can still feel a bond between us, but it’s so weakened that even if I wanted to do something, I couldn’t. I saw her in pain the other day and wanted to take it away, but couldn’t.
That’s when I saw him standing hidden in the corner. He took away her pain, but don’t know why? Why is he getting involved in this? He can’t have a mate unless they know something we don’t!
“Asmodeus, can you guys really have mates?”
“No! Unless we trade places with someone and become mortal in a sense. We can’t force someone either.”
“They have to know and agree beforehand that it will be for eternity. That’s why I chose that Tracy girl. She has already signed on to be stuck for eternity.”
I just think to myself how odd it seems that Michael would be so invested in Riley? Why, though?
I decide to look for myself and sneak closer. I can see through her window and can feel her pain set in from me being close when she is quickly comforted.
I feel her quickly fall asleep when Michael appears outside a few feet in front of me.
“What do you want, Jonah? Don’t you think you cause her enough problems every time you come near?”
“She will be mine, Michael! I don’t know what kind of shit you're starting with her, but it will never work! She won’t agree to go with you!”
“I never said she would, and never expect her to, but she needs to not have pain in her life. Keep coming around and all she will associate you with is pain!”
It hits me like a ton of bricks. I never even thought that she would think of it like that. I watch him disappear back into her room when he looks at me through the window.
I quickly turn, taking my leave and go back to the cave where Asmodeus is. I just sit and think about what I should do. I keep going to check on her and do nothing but cause her pain.
So, then when I finally get her all she will know from me is pain. I will try to stay away until it’s time but she will get over it. Especially with what I can offer her.
