Chapter Forty-Four

*Marks POV*

"I guess I will go and help the others downstairs. I'm sure the pack is anxiously awaiting to see if I returned safely." My gaze dropped from hers, turning towards the door leading to the staircase downstairs, I paused for a second. "You're right. You aren't my property and I am sorry for what I did. I was trying to protect you."

She scoffed. "Mark, I can protect myself too, ya know. Maybe understand something, you aren't always around. That's why I train and that's why I practice every damn day. You disappear sometimes on me, and what can I do if you're gone? I have to protect myself, too." She sighed. "I can't keep relying on you to always be there anymore. I have to take care of myself." My head wheeled around so fast, I could have sworn I was going to get whiplash. My eyes widened, fear coming off me in waves.

"Wh-wh-what do you m-m-m-mean by that?" I stuttered. My whole body froze and I watched as James did the same. Fear radiated off the both of us at her next words. She sighed, shaking her head.

"I mean, I have to protect myself. I can't rely on you to always be there to protect me." She raised her eyes to mine, tears brimming and threatening to escape. My throat went dry, trying to swallow my fear down my throat. My heart raced and pounded against my ribcage, slowly shattering in anticipation. "You have responsibilities and I cannot involve the pack in what's going on. They're all innocent in the point. They're only after me. They want me. They made that pretty obvious, and you can't protect me forever. I have to rely on myself and protect myself. I-I-I" She gulped, struggling to finish her sentence. "I feel it would be best if we stepped away from each other for a bit. I need to think and I need space. I have to train more. Once the briefing is done, I will be in that training room, preparing for whatever is coming next. I don't want to be bothered." My heart stopped. She turned and walked into the kitchen. The traitorous tears I fought so hard to keep at bay, flowed down my face. The look on Jame's face was pure horror. I was rooted to my spot, her words swirling through my head.

"Alpha, I-I" I look towards James, his eyes refusing to meet my own, his voice shaky. "I- That was a shock. I didn't think she would say something like that to you. What happened?" He looks towards me, my eyes lowering to the ground.

"I mistreated her in front of a guest." I solmenly said. I refused to look at him. I know my anger gets the best of me, but I was trying to protect my mate. James probably would have done the same thing. I felt James in front of me, his hand rested on my shoulder. I glanced up at him, a soft smile gracing his face.

"I would have done the same thing to Sabrina if I was in your shoes. Go talk to her. You both need to talk. Tell her everything, Alpha. She deserves to know the full story of what we're doing here to begin with." James patted my shoulder and walked past me. I straightened up. James was right. "Oh, and Alpha?"

I turn my head to see James in my peripherals, his back facing me, his body tense. "What James?"

"Don't ever disrespect my Luna, again. She's a fine Luna, and I will not tolerate the Alpha disrespecting the Luna. I am loyal to you, yes, but as your Beta, my loyalty is now sided with her. She deserves to know everything. Be honest and stop running from your father. It will not help us in this war if you have daddy issues." Waves of finality and assertiveness rolled off James in waves. He turned his face just enough for me to see his eyes turn pitch black. His wolf coming to the surface. My wolf growled, believing he was being challenged, but I knew where James was coming from. I nodded my head and we headed our separate directions; him to the basement and me to my mate.

Walking into the kitchen, I noticed Morgan leaning against the sink. Her body shaking from the sobs she was trying to hold in. I walked up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and kissing her neck before nuzzling deep into it. Her body went rigid. The same sparks that always shot through my skin, welcomed me with open arms. I felt her body release it's tension as one hand left the sink to dry her eyes. I loosened my grip to turn her to face me. Her eyes were all blotchy and red. Her nose was bright red from the sniffling she was doing. Goddess, she looked so damn adorable and it broke my heart at the same time seeing her cry.

"Mark, *sniffle* what are you doing here?" She asked softly, looking me directly in the eyes.

"Is it a crime to love on my mate?" I nuzzled my nose against hers. She slowly shook her head. "Good. Look Morgan, we need to talk about something important and I want to do it now before coming clean to the rest of everyone else. It's going to be extremely hard for me and Meg to talk about it. I feel that you should hear it form me first." She nodded her head, confusion crossing her beautiful face. I grabbed her hand, sparks once again shooting through my skin. I led her to the table and chairs, pulling one out for her to sit. She sat down and I sat across from her. I grabbed her hands in mine, and kissed each knuckle, each finger nail, every inch of them. Goddess, this woman doesn't know what she does to me. I glance up after kissing another knuckle, her face is beat red from the attention, but her emotions are nonexistent.

"Mark." Her soft, but stern voice forcing me to stop what I'm doing. I sigh, leaning back against the chair, never letting her hands go. She gives me a look and I know I need to speak sooner or later.

"I need to tell you about my past, why Meg and I are actually here and about my father. There's so much I need to tell you, but I don't know where to start. These are things I haven't been meaning to hide from you, but I have hidden them. When I'm finished, promise you won't hate me."

"Why would I hate you Mark?"

"Because, what I'm about to say, may change the way you look at me. This is extremely hard for me to talk about, but I'll start with this first: Meg and I are of royal blood. We are twins that should have never been born, but we were. Because of that, our mother died during child birth. My father, the King of all wolves, went crazy after his mate died." I sighed. "My father abused me and Meg. I stood up for her as often as I could and took most of the beatings. However, one day, I couldn't take the abuse anymore, and I-I fought back. At that time, the abuse was dwindling, but it was still there. He didn't take it out on Meg as much as he took it out on me. I lost control of my wolf that day."