40. At Least, I Have A Mate

*Marley stood at the threshold of a small room, located at the isolated corner of Odis's mansion. No other being was around except Kyle, who was rambling beside her, something about the Twilight movie, and telling the human to not to be afraid of him.*

*But Marley, without doubt, was afraid. She was going to be in the same room with the two vampires... alone. And no one was around if all this went downhill.*

*Kyle pushed open the door revealing Iosif, whose eyes were fixed on the floor, deep in thought but looked up immediately on hearing the creaking sound of the old wood.*

*Marley walked inside the room, and Kyle followed behind after shutting the door.*

*"My apologies, if this arrangement seems a little suspicious." Iosif began, his blue eyes scanning the scared girl. "Don't be afraid. We mean no harm."*

*"Yeah, who'll want to face that rowdy mate of yours?!" Kyle chimed in with a snort.*

*"Why am I here?" Asked Marley, eyeing the other two cautiously.*

*"We have something to discuss with you," Iosif replied, "it's better if others don't hear of it, although I think Jared already knows about it... But we'll deal with him later."*

*"About what?"*

*The knight sighed, his calculative face turning soft. "I'm sure Odis must've told you his reasons for keeping you here."*

*Marley, with a slight hesitation, nodded.*

*"Odis's way of doing things was wrong. He shouldn't have abducted you... but his reasons were right." Iosif gave a quick glance to Kyle, who stood silently, before turning back to the human girl. "Marley, my brother is out for all of us, and believe me he is a force to be reckoned with. He's determined on establishing the centuries-old abandoned order. He wants to rule over all of us, just like the werewolves used to rule over humans."*

*"So, you want me to help you." Marley concluded.*

*"Yes."*

*"Do I have a choice?"*

*"Of course, you do. I'm not Odis." Iosif spoke immediately. "But before you give me your answer, you should know something."*

*Marley's brows furrowed.*

*"Your pack will also be fighting with us against Dimitri."*

*Almost immediately, the dread filled inside Marley, turning her numb. No! Her mate and pack shouldn't be getting entangled into this madness. Weren't humans capable to fend for themselves? Didn't they have modern weaponry?*

*"If you don't want to do it for strangers who nabbed you, do it for your mate. Not only for your mate but for everyone. For other humans too."*

*Marley stared at him dumbfounded.*

*"The world ruled by my brother-in-law is not going to be pretty," Kyle added. "No pressure or anything but the world's peace kind of hangs on your shoulders."*

*"Why?" Finally, Marley whispered to herself. Why was this all happening to her?! Why was this all happening now?!*

*Both the knights looked at her in pity. But it had to be done. She was now their last hope.*

*"One thing more." Iosif spoke up, making Marley look back at him. "It'll be better if you keep this from your mate."*

*"And why would I do that?!" She glared at the white-haired knight.*

*"If you want to help Eden, you'll not tell him about your resemblance with Dimitri's dead mate." Iosif said with a sure determination. "Do you think your Alpha will let you have a part in this war? He cares too much for you, he'll rather die than knowingly put you in the same room with my homicidal brother."*

*Marley didn't reply, letting his words sink in. Her mind failing to reach any decision.*

*"The choice is yours."*

*******

Marley gently caressed the fingers which were intertwined with hers. She looked at the sleeping face of Eden, lying on her shoulder, and recalled her encounter with Iosif and Kyle back at the mansion before her pack had shown up to attack the lycans. Her mind was still in disarray about hiding things from her mate. *Is it the right thing to do?*

"He barely slept while you were gone," Callum said, making Marley look at him through the rearview mirror. Half-way through the journey, the guys have switched the places. Callum was now behind the wheels with Oliver beside him. The beta, like Eden, had also dozed off. "He was a mess without you."

Marley turned her eyes back to Eden and noted his tired looking face. There were dark circles below his eyes and a small unshaven stubble was grazing his high cheeks. Her mate's unkempt state was enough for Marley to know that Callum's words were true.

"I used to tease them all about getting whipped by their mates," Callum continued with a pout, and Marley smiled seeing a grown man make a baby-like face. "But now I want one too. I am the only single one left."

"I'm sure you're going to find her soon," Marley replied but after a brief moment added, "or him... or them, I mean whatever your preference is." She smiled sheepishly.

"Her." Callum chuckled. "You can say her, Marley."

"Yeah, we get it you're straight," Eden mumbled in his raspy, sleepy voice. His eyes still closed. "Look ahead. I'd rather not die because of some accident." He pulled Marley closer, burying his face into her neck, and went back to the half-asleep state.

"I also want a mate to cuddle with." Callum's pout became more prominent, as he looked at Marley and Eden. He turned to the sleeping Oliver, and gave him a rough shove with the left shoulder, robbing his friend of his peaceful nap. "Oliver! cuddle with me."

Oliver gave Callum an incredulous look before turning his head and falling back to sleep.

"Of course, you only cuddle with Sanjay." Callum huffed, making Marley laugh at his shenanigans.

By the time they reached Marshville, the sun had already set. The streets of their pack were illuminated by the side lamps and the dim lights coming out of the surrounding house windows. As Callum parked their jeep outside the pack house, its front door opened and Sanjay rushed out. And almost immediately, Marley too bolted out of the jeep, pushing away Eden who was lying on her shoulder.

"What the-" Eden frowned at the sudden jolt and the lack of his mate's warmth. He looked outside and saw Marley and Sanjay hugging each other like five-year-olds. The Alpha sighed and hit the back of Oliver's head who was asleep at the front. "Get up."

"Lazy asses," Callum commented before walking out.

Eden rolled his eyes and Oliver yawned, as they followed their friend out.

"Nothing happened to you, right?" Sanjay questioned, still hugging Marley. He had been camping at the pack house ever since he found out his friend was missing, refusing Oliver's plea to go back home.

"No." Marley replied. "What are you doing here right now? You should be at home."

Oliver, leaning against the jeep, watched their exchange silently. However, a minute later he cleared his throat to gauge Sanjay's attention, but frowned when he was blatantly ignored. Another failed attempt deepened his frown.

Eden was watching his Beta with amusement. He leaned toward Oliver and whispered, "do you want my help?" Before Oliver could reply, Eden took hold of his friend's injured arm and smashed it on the hood of the jeep, making sure not to hit too violently. Eden knew Oliver's arm was almost fully healed by now, so there was no guilt of hurting him.

His mate's scream was enough for Sanjay to break out of his reunion with Marley. They both turned around finding a grinning Eden and Oliver, who was holding his arm and cursing.

Before Oliver could lash out on Eden, Sanjay interrupted. "What the hell happened to you?!" He demanded, his eyes falling on Oliver's banded limb. "Didn't I tell you to take care of yourself and shove Eden at anyone who tries to attack you?"

"What did you say?" Eden glared at Sanjay, but the latter paid him no attention as he was already heading to the house, dragging the smiling Oliver along with him.

Eden then searched for Marley and found her busy with his parents, Catherine and Nicholas, at the footsteps of the house. A frown appeared on his face too. It wasn't fair! He was supposed to have her attention. *Marley was his.*

"Look at you being a big baby for your mate," Callum mumbled, noting the face of his childish Alpha, and walked away to join the other three.

Eden once again retorted to glaring, but after a second thought he changed his mind and jogged to Marley. He enveloped her into a hug from behind and smirked at his friend. His actions taunting Callum.

"At least, I have a mate," Eden teased, and kissed Marley on her cheeks for the extra effect. And it worked as Callum had his eyes narrowed at the couple.

"Uhm... Eden, what are you doing?" Marley asked. A light shade of pink covered her cheeks when she saw Catherine and Nicholas laughing at them.

As Eden's eyes fell on adorable shy face of his human, he no longer cared about making his friend jealous. He just wanted to kiss the life out of her... so he did.

Others chose to walk inside, leaving the Alpha and his mate behind.

******