Chapter 18: The library

**Elliot’s Point of view**


"Us?"
"Yes. Aren't you curious about this mark thing?"
I frown. Why is it so important to her? I finally understand.
"The moon crescent on our wolves' chests." I gasp.
She nods. "The color of our furs is complementary, the color of our eyes too, and that crescent ... It may be nothing, but it's worth checking out, right?"
I'm suspicious. "Why did you ask me to come?"
Her face turns blank and she turns her back to me and heads for one of the shelves. "To prove to all of you that the Moon Goddess didn't plan anything and that it's just bad luck." She says as she picks up a book.
She is lying but it still hurt. I don't say anything and start looking too. We stay in comfortable silence, immersed in our History and legends until I share my discovery with her.
"Look at this. I found three books made by different people at different times and they all talk about the same theory. It has to do with the position of the marks."
"The position?"
"Yes on the body of the wolf. Not many people have had marks but they think it matters. On the forehead like the King would be a sign of responsibility. The throat for someone wise. Wait ... There! ‘The mark on the chest is the rarest. It is placed on the heart of matted people. The couple is initially in conflict and absolutely must mate and mark as soon as possible. The reason is related to the form of the mark’ 
I raise my head and do not hide my satisfied smile. She, on the contrary, does not express anything. 
"It doesn't prove anything. It's just theories." She says as she walks away.
Her behavior annoys me. She acts like it doesn't affect her when I know it does.
"You could have done this research on your own. Why did you ask me to come?" 
She still doesn't look at me, but I feel the connection between us tighten and electricity buzzing in the air.
"To keep you update on what I've found out about the rogues and for you to help me search. It's still faster than doing it alone."
It makes sense but I know she's still lying. I grit my teeth but don't push it. I know her well enough to know that pushing her to talk will just make her more defiant.
We step in from time to time to share a discovery. We find, among other things, a book dating back more than a thousand years and recounting an epic battle for a mate. 
The Omegas are at the bottom of the chain. They are the ones who prepare food for everyone or do the housework. They are not well regarded and although they are often treated well, they are sometimes just seen as slaves.
It was the history of a omega girl who was raped and then rejected by her Alpha mate. She then kept this kind of diary that traces her life. Rejected by her family and by her pack, she became rogue and stayed alone for almost 2 years, broken. Finally, she was found by her second mate chance, an Alpha who was an enemy of her previous pack. Mad with rage, her first mate declared war on her new pack and a bloody battle followed. 
Immersed in her story, we don't realize how much time has passed until Alice starts to yawn adorably.
She catches me looking at her and moves away again. It annoys me this mania that she has to move away from me as soon as she feels that we are getting too close. 
"We still haven't figured out what the shape of the mark means."
While we're still looking, I try to make small talk. 
"By the way, how are you doing? Is it ok at home?"
She looks at me, surprised, and goes back to her book. Just as I think she's not going to answer, she closes it with a gasp and turns to me.
"Not so good. My father is on edge and I can't get him to understand that it's not you the enemy. There's just too much hate in him." She sighs again and goes to sit on a chair. "Last night I heard my parents arguing but I couldn't understand what they were saying. I think my mom agrees with me, but even she can make him see reason." She shakes her head. "Right before they got into the argument, I went to see Alpha Jack." I raise my eyebrows in surprise. "I would have gone with you, but I'm too afraid we'd be seen together. Anyway, I was hoping he could convince my dad but he's also convinced it's you! Good thing Derek came along to my rescue."
At the mention of his name, I grit my teeth. I remember all too well how close he was to her earlier in class. She notices and seems to hesitate. 
"How is Derek?" I ask in what I hope is a neutral voice.
She hesitates. "He seems fine. Last night he sided with me and promised to call their pack allies to see if they've heard a rumor about an enemy trying to overthrow us." She says with great affection. Leo grunts and so do I.
She raises her eyebrows. "What? That's pretty nice of him, isn't it?"
Without saying anything, I turn my back on her to hide my eyes and my lengthening fangs. I'm consumed with jealousy and Leo is still fighting to take control and mark Alice right here right now so everyone knows, especially Derek, that she's mine and only mine.
I take a deep breath to try and calm myself and just as I'm about to do so, her hand lands on my bare forearm, sending discharges throughout my body.
I snap my head and look into her blue eyes. She gasps at the sight of me and her pupils dilate. All my senses seem to intensify as our eyes never leave each other.
Her smell overwhelms me, her warmth envelops me and I'm happy to see that I don't leave her indifferent. I mean it's normal that she wants me because I'm her mate, I was made for her, but I'm just happy that at this moment she doesn't hide her feelings. I can't read all the emotions on her face but I don't see the usual fear or anger. 
She's only inches away and her breath hits me. Shit. Like earlier when she was straddling me, I feel myself hardening. And this time she’s not even touching me.
Her breath becomes shorter and her smell changes. I sniff the air and freeze. Fuck! The smell of her arousal spreads throughout the room.
I don't know who leans in first, all I know is that in the next second she's crushed against me, my lips pressed against hers.