Charlie traced the marking on Maya's shoulder as she slept peacefully. The thin sheet that was lazily tossed over her body was now barely covering her. Her bareback was on full display as the sheet rested messily on her hips.
A small smile tugged at Charlie's plump, pink lips as he stared down at his mate. His eyes shone with glee, absolutely in love with the sight before him. Maya began to wiggle around as Charlie's forefinger danced down the length of her spine. "Charlie," Maya whined making Charlie's smile widen. "Let me sleep."
Charlie chuckled deeply at her as she reached her arm behind trying to swat Charlie's hand away from the sheet. "Charlie-" Maya's whines were soon turning into warnings. Wanting nothing more than to go back to sleep.
"Yes, princess?" Charlie mumbled in her ear as his teeth tugged gently on her earlobe. Maya once again reached back, swatting Charlie's hands away before they could slip underneath the sheet.
"Let me sleep dammit!" Maya cried out.
After another attempt to get his sneaky hands underneath Maya's sheet, Charlie gave up. "Fine. I'm going to shower since you want to be mean to be."
Maya turned her head as she peeled one of her eyes open. She was peeking at Charlie who was walking out of her bedroom with just a pair of boxers on. "Put some clothes on." She exclaimed as she squeezed her eyes shut and turned her head away again.
"Ah, so she noticed me." Charlie cheered in a high pitched voice. Maya cracked a smile as she tugged the blanket up to her chest before sitting up. Her eyes landed on a pair of silver orbs that were staring back at her. She blinked and they were gone.
Charlie walked back into the room, in search of his towel. He paused when he saw Maya's worried face. "Hey, what's wrong?" Charlie questioned as he kneeled down on the bed beside her. Her eyes landed on him as she clenched the sheet tighter in her hand.
"Char," Maya whispered. Charlie was growing more and more anxious by the second. "I think we're being watched."
Zac and Lucas were walking through the packhouse, laughing. Lucas was finally going to meet Hazel and he was happier than ever. A low growl erupted from behind the two making them both freeze. "Going somewhere, Zachary?"
Ace's voice escaped in a growl, barely making his words audible. Zac nudged Lucas, telling him to go wait in the car. Zac didn't want to take the chance of something breaking out between him and Ace, and Lucas ended up getting caught in the middle of it.
Zac turned around, facing Ace. Ace stood tall as his full height, his shoulders pushed back. His eyes were black with a light ring of sliver surrounding the dark orbs. His chest vibrated as another growl was released. He was shirtless, exposing his toned stomach and broad shoulders. His bare feet were soaking wet, meaning that he'd just been in his wolf form.
"I'm not really sure how it concerns you, Ace." Zac made a move to walk away, not wanting to hear anything Ace had to say anymore. Zac was physically drained from running around, chasing after Ace, making sure that he stayed out of trouble, and left Maya and Charlie alone. He was annoyed and utterly tired.
In a few mere seconds, Charlie was pinned against the wall with Ace's claws digging into his neck. Blood leaked from the open wounds. Trailing from underneath Ace's fingertips and down Zac's neck, yet, he showed no emotions. No pain. Nothing. He stared at Ace with a blank and expressionless look. This only added gasoline to the already untamed flames. "You're a traitor, you know that?" Ace's voice was in a low hiss, his face inches away from Zac's.
Releasing a chuckle, Zac tilted his head back with a forced smirk. Zac's eyes were slowly fading away from their beautiful, natural green, and into black. A bright green light surrounded his eyes, similar to how the sliver surrounded Ace's. "So then sue me. I didn't know that being in love meant that I was now a traitor. Now that you know what it feels like to lose your mate, to be rejected," The word rejected triggered something inside of Ace, his wolf stirring around inside him, waiting to be released. "You know that pain. The emotional, physical, and mental pain that you go through. So don't call me a traitor, because it's utter bullshit. You know, I can't help who my wolf marks." With that, Zac removed Ace's hand before storming out of the house.
Ace's fist met the wall, forcefully. His body began to shake aggressively before he yanked his hand out of the wall, making the hole bigger. His eyes darted down to his knuckles. Rage was the only emotion soring through his body at this point. All the sorrow, despair, and regret was replaced by anger. The sound of Zac's car tired screeching on the pavement drew Ace's attention away from the blood that was dripping from his busted knuckles. "If it's them you chose, then so be it." Ace's lip turned into a horrifying expression. He had a plan, and someone wasn't going to make it out alive.
Lucas and Zac sat in the booth at Hazel's favorite cafe, waiting for Hazel to arrive. Hazel was running late, so they decided to order themselves something to drink, Zac ordered Hazel's favorite drink as well. The sound of the bell on the door of the cafe indicated that someone walked in. Hazel slid into the booth beside Zac. "Sorry that I'm late. Maya was stressing out this morning." Hazel sighed as she slipped her coat off. "Hey, bud." She smiled towards Lucas who blushed and whispered a hi back.
"Everything okay? Why was she stressed?" Zac asked. Hazel looked at Lucas with hesitation. "It's okay, he knows everything." Zac quickly assured Hazel, watching as her shoulders slumped in relaxation.
Hazel cleared her throat before telling them. "Ace is watching them. She saw him outside her window this morning." Zac's and Lucas's eyes widened in surprise at the news. "Charlie's wolf has been on edge all day, he and Maya mated last night, he's worried that Ace knows."
"That could be why Ace was acting like that earlier." Zac mumbled to himself. "hey. Is there anywhere else that they could stay rather than Maya's place?" He asked, trying to plot out some sort of plan which prevents Ace from getting what he wants. Maya.
Hazel thought for a moment before nodding her head with caution. "Charlie had an apartment. But I don't know if he still does, he's been staying with Maya these past couple of weeks, he could've lost it or given it up." Hazel explained.
"Maya? Ace's mate?" Lucas interrupted.
Zac nodded, confirming they were the same person. He waited for Lucas to finish, seeing that he wasn't done expressing his thoughts. "What about Ivy? Ace has been in love with her since they were younger." Lucas' thoughts spilled out without him being able to process his own words. Lucas absolutely adored Maya and the thought of Maya being hurt made his little heartache.
"So? What's the plan?" Zac asked. His curiosity flowed out as he tried to figure out how this could play out. For both the better and for the worst.
Hazel raised an eyebrow at the brothers, concerned about who Ivy was. "Ivy?"
Lucas tilted his head at Hazel. "Yeah. Ace's first love."