Chapter Twenty-One

"Okay, the coast is clear." I say to her. She pokes her head up and sits peacefully in my passenger seat. I head straight to my house. She stares at me, distrust showing all over her face. "What?" I bite out.

"Why didn't you just use your powers?" I gaped at her.

"How the-"

"I know a lot more than you think. Just because I may be a Rogue, doesn't mean that I don't find shit out. I've been trying to figure shit out about the Council, but there's just something I can't get past." She audibly sighs.

"So what now then?" I ask.

She just looked at me and smiled. "We'll hatch a plan together."

I smirk. "Whatcha got in mind?"

"First lets get somewhere private where we can talk. I know you're mated to Mark, and I-"

"Wait, how do you know Mark?" I cut her off. I glared at her suspiciously.

"Tsk tsk." She swished her finger back and forth. "Mark never mentioned me, huh?" She grimaced. "It's just like him. Always trying to avoid his sister."

"S-s-sister?!" I shot my head in her direction, eyes wide and mouth gaped open.

She laughs. "Yeah, I'm his sister. But that is another story, for another time. Would you mind paying attention to the road? I know I just dropped a bombshell, but I'd PREFER not to DIE in an auto collision." She emphasized and smiled at me. I turned back to the road, nearly dodging going into the ditch. My mind was swirling. *Mark had a sister? Then again, Mark doesn't speak about his past at all, nor his family.*

We pulled up into the driveway, Marks car parked in my normal spot. I shut the truck off, glancing at the she-wolf sitting next to me.

*Whistle* "Damn! This is your place?" She gawked at the mansion-like house, eyes popping out of her skull damn near. I lost it.

"Yeah, this is my stepmothers house. This is where we all lived at one point till the Council banished them." I wiped the tears from my eyes, holding my stomach. Most people reacted like that when they saw Celestial's house. It still was a hilarious sight.

"And shifters thought that they had some big houses. Why did they get banned?" She hopped out of the truck and waited till I met her on the other side.

"Celestial is a vampire, and although my dad is technically human, he's a shifter as well. The Council doesn't know that know." I walked up to the door and unlocked it. Once I walked in, I had an eerie feeling. Someone, no. *Something* was here in this house, but I couldn't pinpoint where or how.

I heard a growl from behind me. I turned and saw the she-wolf's eyes go dark.

"Blood."

My eyes widen. "What did you just say?"

"I smell blood." She grabs my hand and tries pulling me away from the house. "Come on, we have to go. It's not safe here."

"But what about Mark?" I jerk my hand away, and run back towards the house. "We have to save-"

"Mark is fine! It's not his blood! Come on! Lets just go!" She grabs my arm and pulls me back to my truck. Before we could reach it, another shifter pounced in front of us, growling and baring his teeth. Fear pricked my nerves, the cold feeling running through my blood. I just stared, open mouthed, at the beautiful pure black wolf in front of me. The wolf's eyes were cobalt blue as they stared at the she-wolf. She placed her hands on her hips, a small smirk forming on her face.

"Mark, shift." The wolfs ears perked back and then up, still growling at the she-wolf. "I said SHIFT." Her voice boomed loudly. I covered my ears and shrunk down behind her. The black wolf still stared at the both of us. It felt like hours before he walked passed us to a nearby bush, his eyes never leaving hers. I heard bones cracking and then saw Mark, a VERY naked Mark, standing behind the bushes. My face went red as I turned around to face the other way.

"What are you doing here?!" I heard him yell at her. "Why are you holding on to Morgan?!" I took a chance to glance over my shoulder, seeing Mark advance towards us, grabbing me out of her arms and slowly pushing me behind him. The she-wolfs eyes danced with amusement, the smirk growing more across her face.

"Still the same, aren't you? I came to help." She held her hands up defensively. "As the aliens say it, I come in peace. You need all the help you can get." She glanced over Marks arms where open cuts stood out. "They're stronger than you thought, isn't that right brother?" She folded her arms across her chest.

"This has nothing to do with you." He barked at her. "I am not weak."

"Please, you're going to be weak until you finish the mating. Not being thoroughly mated is not only killing you, but it's draining your strength. You're still the son of an Alpha, you should know by now how this works."

"I am a rogue and so are you."

"That means nothing when it comes to the bond of mates."

Mark growled again. My head swimming with too much information.

"Mark...?" My voice barely above a whisper.

Both jumped slightly, realizing I was still there. He turned towards me, cupping my cheeks with his hands, forcing me to look into those beautiful cobalt blues.

"Morgan! Are you okay? She didn't hurt you did she?" The she-wolf scoffed, throwing her hands in the air and turning her face away from us.

"Yes, I'm fine and no she didn't. But Mark?" I closed my eyes, enjoying the feel of his warmth. I hardly get to see him, so the feelings are very much needed.

"What babe?" His voice low.

"Why do you smell like blood?" I opened my eyes, a pained expression crossed Marks face. "Did you fight someone? Were they in the house?"

He shook his head at me. "Just a Council dog. They were trying to look for the "room". I caught them sneaking around when I got home from work and it broke out into a fight. I managed to drag his body outside and burn it before you got here." He turned to look at his sister. "You're right, we are going to need the help." He lowered his head and sighed, turning back towards me and putting his forehead to mine. I softly smiled at him.

"Great, well once you two lovebirds are done, we can get started." She clapped her hands together. Mark shot her a look with pure annoyance written all over his face.

"Fuck off Meg. You have had your mate since you were sixteen." He turned back towards me, a small smile forming on his face. "I've only had her for two and a half years, and I barely see her as is. I will take my time with the mating process. As long as Morgan is safe, then that's all I care about."

"And yet, you're just going to grow weaker till it's complete." Meg shook her head at him. "You know better than anyone, you can't wait. It's already been two and a half years and you still haven't even MARKED her!" Her nostrils flared, her aggravation growing every second. "If we're going to win this, then I suggest you at least complete it. It's been long enough."

Mark sighed. "I'm done discussing this. Lets go, we have planning we need to do." He let go of me and walked inside. I stood there, staring at his back, him not even taking a second glance over his shoulder to see if I was following him. I felt like my heart was going to shatter.

"Mating?" I finally voiced.

"Yes, it's a process we need to complete in order for the mate bond to grow stronger and for use to grow stronger as well. The fact he hasn't even marked you yet is a problem. Does he ever lose control around you?"

I shook my head at her. "Really? Hm, this could be extremely interesting. I may just have to test him then." She rubbed her chin, a devilish grin showing on her face. She was hatching a dubious plan, and I had a feeling it included me.