The Alpha's Mate--Cursed Heart

Pursuit

Episode 11—Pursuit

Moriah POV:

The happiness I felt was overwhelming.  I was being held tight, molded into a muscular frame as we glided across the floor to the slow medley.  My eyes were closed and I lost myself in the security of the strong arms around me as my mouth widened into a fulfilled smile.  I felt the overwhelming urge suddenly…I needed to see his face.  Forcing myself to look up, I saw Marcus’ face beaming down at me, his eyes soft and adoring with a smile of contentment that matched mine.  I was completely enthralled by him.  Slowly, he lowered his head down until our lips were within inches of one another…

I felt myself gasp in shock and sit straight up in my bed as I was jarred awake from my dream.  My heart was pounding in my chest as the vivid memories ran through my thoughts once more.  Why did I dream of Marcus?  And even more confusing, why was the happiness and attraction I felt for Marcus in my dream no longer present upon awaking? 

I looked over at the bottle of potion on my end table.  Lenore had created the potion to quell and destroy my inner demon—my wolf—so that I would no longer be painfully torn in two, both physically and mentally.  Could my wolf have survived?  Or is there another force within me trying to tear me apart by this feeling of insanity?   The one thing I was sure of…it was not love…no matter how much I wish it were.  And with Marcus being my brother’s enemy, not even friendship was wise, although the connection I felt with him…

Trust Him.  The voice echoed like it always did when I thought of Marcus.  But then out of nowhere, there was a new message as I heard the words, Look Further. Trust Yourself.

My eyes narrowed as I contemplated what the voice was, what the words were supposed to mean, and why I was placed back in this turmoil in my mind. 

“Well,” a familiar voice jovially called out, “Judging by your expression and the fact that you are still in bed, last night must have been quite a night!  Still exhausted?  Or are you trying to plan your escape from captivity?”

My head snapped back towards the doorway before I quickly jumped out of my bed and ran towards the tall, dark man standing in my doorway, squealing out, “Xavier!”

Xavier laughed as I excitedly jumped into his arms, instantly wrapping his ripped arms tightly around me as I wrapped mine around his neck, “Ahhh, Little Miss!  How I have missed you!”

“I have missed you more!” I exclaimed as I leaned back to peer into his steel grey colored gaze, “I worried that Alec was going to keep you too busy to return to the castle for months!”

Xavier laughed as he took his finger and playfully ran it down my nose, “Well, it has not been for lack of trying!  I had no idea our lands contained so many deserted woods for rogues to hide in!  Not that I found any…but I am under orders from my Alpha!”  

Stepping back, Xavier put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into him as he excitedly asked, “So, word has it that my Little Miss somehow managed to not only get out of the castle, but was able to take in the festivities of a ball!  Please, tell me all about your little adventure!  But more importantly, tell me you were not in here planning your escape after tasting a bit of freedom, causing my next mission to be locating you and forcefully bringing you back into the fold!”

I buried my head in his chest, giggling as I replied, “You could always run away with me.”

Xavier glanced back at me in mocked dismay, “Now how am I to finally find my mate if I were to run away with you?”

“True,” I sighed in mimicking defeat, “Although for the life of me, I cannot understand why you haven’t already found her.  Maybe there is something wrong with you.”

Xavier dropped his jaw in shock before picking me up and tossing me onto my bed as I fell into a fit of giggles, “And to think I rushed up to see you before obeying my Alpha’s orders and seeing him directly upon my return!”

As I sat on my bed, the battle within me seemed to overshadow the lighthearted conversation with Xavier as the word “mate” brought back visions of Marcus and his declaration to me the night before.  In turn, my expression darkened, which did not go unnoticed by my visitor.

“What is it?” Xavier asked in a low serious tone, “Why do you suddenly look so downhearted?  I promise you, I will not be in trouble with Alec if that is what suddenly has you concerned.”

Pulling myself from my thoughts, I forced my smile to return, “No, it's-it’s nothing.  I was just thinking about how last night was more than likely just a fleeting moment.  It was nice while it lasted, however.”

Xavier was the only person I could tell about the events from last night, but I wasn’t ready just yet.  I needed to figure out what was happening within me first…and understand more of the connection I felt for Marcus. While I trusted Xavier with many of my secrets in the past, I also knew his main loyalty was to his Alpha.  If I were to tell him about the events with Marcus and my confusing feelings, he would feel obligated to tell Alec.  Just the thought of Alec's knowledge caused a fierce feeling of protectiveness where Marcus was concerned.  

For now, I needed to keep my secret from everyone, especially Alec and Lenore.  While I appreciated the efforts put forth to save my life, the remedies could be incredibly painful with intense headaches and writhing muscle pain, especially if my wolf or some other entity was infiltrating my body again.  This time I was older, more aware, and stronger than I was before.  I could do as the voice advised…look further and trust myself.

Walking over to sit on the side of the bed, Xavier sympathized, “Don’t despair, my Little Miss.  Perhaps Alec saw the good from last night.  Maybe I will ask if we can go on a walk this afternoon through the village.  I am, after all, his strongest guard.”  Standing up, Xavier flexed his ripped muscular frame, posing in front of me with a proud smile on his face, his short black hair and perfect white teeth shining under the streaming sunlight flowing in my room.  My worry faded as I laughed at his intentional mood- altering antics. 

Although said in a joking manner, I truly couldn’t understand why he had not found his mate yet.  Xavier was handsome, intelligent, funny, and loving.  He deserved all the happiness this world had to offer.  I felt genuinely lucky to have always had him in my life.  As his father and grandfather had both been in my father’s pack, all of Xavier’s family were treated as family.   In fact, in some ways, he was more of a brother to me than Alec.

Covering my heart with my hands, I cried out in humorous admiration, “If you can accomplish that, you, Xavier, will truly be my HERO!”

********************

Marcus POV:

I knew I should have been back at the castle hours ago, but as I stood in front of the Red Dragon Roses in deep contemplation, I found myself unable to leave my oasis.  Placing one hand on one of the roses on the far end, I pulled it towards the edge of the large bush beside it that contained my other favorite flower in the garden, the Blue Dragon Rose.  These roses were commissioned and cultivated by my mother to represent her love for my father and their pack.  The iridescent blue outlined with white glowed in the sunlight as I took the rose in my hand and intertwined it together with the rose beneath my gaze, joining the red and blue together in beautiful harmony.

As the thoughts of Moriah filtered through, I found myself wishing we could be together in beautiful harmony…my love, my forever, my mate. 

The curse began over shadowing my vision of Moriah, piercing through my mind.  Perhaps as the last of my line, I was the one who would never know love as part of its punishment.

“I know what you are thinking,” a female’s voice gently broke in, “and you are wrong, Marcus.  You deserve for someone to prove that this curse you feel you are dammed with is not your destiny.”

I turned to find Katelyn and Marcus standing directly behind me.  Letting out a soft cynical laugh, I replied, “Perhaps that is why, dammed or not, I am refusing to give up.”

Vincent raised his eyebrow, “Really?  And here Katelyn thought convincing you would be more difficult.  Although I am more hesitant as I am afraid the difficulties and risks may be too much, even for you.”

Diverting my gaze back to the flowers, I plucked the intertwined roses and twirled them in my hand, “You know me well enough to know that if it is important to me, I will face whatever risk is put before me.  But, my next step will require me to impose on you once again for help.”

“Count us in!” Katelyn excitedly exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

“Tell us first,” Vincent coaxed, “What does this imposition consist of?  And please tell me it does not involve Katelyn having close contact with Alex again, because I’m afraid I can’t let that happen.”

“Neither can I,” I quickly agreed, “That was too much for both of us.  Which is why I need you both to pay a visit to Alec and find a way for Katelyn to be alone with Moriah and take her this…”  Walking over to the table behind me, I picked up the finished wooden box and handed it to Vincent.

Turning it around in his hands, Vincent said in awe, “It’s truly beautiful, Marcus and I can tell by the craftmanship made by your own two hands.  But how is this going to help you gain Moriah’s affections?”

“The true gift is contained within the box,” I evasively smiled, “Something she will have to keep between just us…and hidden from Alec.”

Gently pushing open the top of the box, I pressed my fingers along the bottom outer edges in the back, releasing the false bottom.  Pulling it upwards, Vincent and Katelyn peered in to see my real gift.

“Oh Marcus,” Katelyn breathed out, lightly running her fingers over it, “It’s—It’s breathtaking!”

“It is,” Vincent agreed, “Who knew you could be a romantic?”

“She is the only one who could bring out the romantic in me,” I sighed, “I just hope that I’m not wrong… that there is a chance.”

“And if there isn’t?” Vincent quietly asked, “Are you prepared for that?”

Slowing nodding, I thoughtfully stated, “I am, but I am not stopping until I have pursued every avenue to her heart.”