The Women Between

Chapter 6: Marking Part 2

A gasp sounded from those around the pack, but the three of them- Cassandra, Gregory, and Thomas- were focused on each other too much to care. The kings took a step forward, which made her take one step back, jerking her arms up with her palms facing them. There was something in their eyes that screamed lust and possessiveness that made her heart thump harshly in her chest. Panic began to settle into her mind with wild lustful thoughts bursting at the seams of the box she stuffed them in. Her body is responding to them. It made her want to run into their arms, while the other side of her was screaming for her to run away.

She cannot handle what this mate bond is doing to her, when she knows that alphas are cruel men. They want what they want, leaving her to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. The twins had taught her that on many occasions, and it did not end well for her. This was going to be no different. She thought with fear, forcing her to take another step back to the ones they took forward.

“Stop!” Cassandra shouted with her voice hoarse. Her chest is heaving and her breathing in and out quickly with the fear widening her eyes. “Just wait a moment.”

Their wolves are at the forefront, turning their eyes red, and they refuse to listen to her. They moved forward slowly in an attempt to reach her, while she kept taking another step back trying to keep space between them. They do not seem to want that, but she needs a moment to think about this. She is not sure if she wants a mate in her life when she has never considered herself mate material for a wolf.

She looked back at her brother and the pack, hoping for some help. Then, she spotted Derek grabbing Garrett at lightning speed, and taking him away from the situation. She could not blame him for that when a mating with an alpha can turn violent. She read that in one of the books that she cannot remember, right now. Her mind is racing too much to think clearly about her situation.

Her eyes widened more at the sight of that as she turned her head back to the kings. Her heart is pounding as she realizes that they are going to mark her, and everyone knows it. There was not one pair of eyes that looked away from her except for those ushering the children away. It was the brief moment when she had looked away that this all dawned on her. She knows now that she has only one choice. Run! And she did so.

Cassandra turned around and headed for the table she had been sitting at a moment ago. She flipped over it, then she dove under. She had jarred her body with the impact her behind made on the ground between her flip and dive. It did not help that Kimberly leapt up to try to stop her by grabbing her blouse. She had to maneuver her body to stay out of reach, which caused her to land wrong, but she was not going to stop for anything, even with the slight sting in her rear.

She is glad that she wore flat heels instead of pointed ones. Her ankle would have broken or twisted in her dive to get away from the kings. They, thankfully, followed her, leaping over the table, which bought her some time and space. That is another reason Kimberly could not get a hold of her. She saw their large bodies heading for her and retracted her hand and dove onto her mate.

However, now, she had time to run to the councilman who was seated by her former alpha. He stands in front of him, now, to protect this man from the kings in their attempt to mark their mate.

She did not know what he could do to help her stop them from marking her, but she had to try something. They need to talk to her and give her the opportunity to decide whether she wants a mate or not instead of marking her. She could reject them afterwards, but it is more painful. Plus, the marking will enhance the mate bond which terrifies her that she could be swindled into loving them.

“Please,” she pleaded with her eyes wide and soft looking between them. She slid on the upturned table that had the food smashed on the ground, then went behind Andy. She turned to him, hoping he would do something. “Tell them to give me a moment.”

“I’m sorry,” Andy said, looking abashed as he turned to the kings. He gave her no comfort in the way his face paled, and his eyes were sorrowful. “Their wolves are in control. You will be marked today.”

She turned and spotted her mother holding Garrett in her arms, looking startled and worried about her. The panic made her go to her mother, hoping that she could save her again. She refuses to let hope dwindle inside of her, needing just an edge to get them to stop and think about this. This is her mother who loves her and is as confused as she is, right now, who will help her with them. Right?

“Mom, Steve, please,” Cassandra begged with a squeak in her voice as the kings leaped at her. A scream slipped out of her, causing her to jump behind the beta. “Tell them to give me a moment.”

Her mother slipped in front of her and stared at the kings that towered over them, but Steve yanked her away. It left Cassandra to stand before them while Carla was held down by her mate. A whimper left her feeling like she was about to be devoured and no one would save her from these mighty men. Her body trembled between fear and the lust that they reflected in their eyes. She knows, now, that she is doomed to do the only thing to save her life.

“I’m sorry, Cass,” Steve yelled over her mother’s shrieks. “There is nothing any one of us can do to help you.”

She kept stepping back, feeling her gut twist in anticipation and fear. She wanted to scream that they are all chickens for letting these men come at her like the predators they are. But she knew that no one would interfere with the kings and their mate. No one can interfere with them or risk their lives. It made her feel a pang of sadness through everything going on inside of her. She did not want these men to mark her just yet.

Gregory lifted his hand to try to touch her face as she stepped backwards. She kept her eyes on theirs, refusing to look anywhere else in this slow backward walk. Her steps faltered from the mess on the ground when she flinched from fear at his hand grazing her cheek. The sparks and tingles were barely there, but it startled her enough to jerk her body. She fell to the ground with pain entering her ankle after her foot slipped from her. Her rear is hurting her, too, but she grits her teeth against the searing wave creeping up her calf and down her thigh. She is lucky that she fell on the ground and not the table with its metal bars underneath.

She could not let the pain get to her, though, as she started to half crawl away from them. They almost looked like they were laughing at her attempt to create distance between them. It only made her lips purse in irritation. She wished that she had the courage to tell them to jump off a bridge, but all she could think of was getting away from them. She did not want to be marked just yet.

“Please,” Cassandra begged them with tears starting to drip down her face. “I need a moment. Oww!”

She grabbed her knee, trying desperately not to go lower, where the pain was radiating up her calf. She had moved her foot the wrong way in her effort to get away from her mates, but it drew them to her using their wolf speed. They could have used it at any point and time, she knew. They were letting her wear herself down to submit to them. She did not realize that, until they rushed to her side bearing worried looks. Thankfully, though, their wolves released them, so they could help her.

Thomas was at her feet gently prying her shoe off. The sparks and tingles rushed through her the minute he touched her foot. A gasp slipped out at the hazy feeling starting to coat her mind. She did realize the gentleness he used to look at her foot, which added to her shock. She could not feel any pain anymore, either, while looking into his blue eyes flickering studiously over her ankle. Her body decided to tighten with the need of his touch. Her breaths are coming out in slow pants and her heart is starting to calm down from its pounding. That is when she felt someone holding her hand.

Her head turned to see Gregory giving her a half smile, like he was blushing at the act. She found it adorable that he would be so bashful about something so simple for his age. A smile flickered over her face, wanting to give a little laugh, except she did not want to hurt his feelings. Then, her eyes met his, seeing the grey storm had past to a calm sadness that made her heart clench. Her lips parted seeing this. She wished she knew what she could do to make him feel better.

“Are you alright?” Gregory asked, looking deep into her eyes.

She could only nod her head with a small girly sound slipping out of her. It is not how she wanted to sound when meeting the man… men she would love for the rest of her life. She wanted to be cool, calm, and confident to show them that she was what they would want in a woman. All of that flew out of the window when they touched her, sending those delicious sparks and tingles through her. She could barely function with it.

Then, Thomas touched the right spot to make her cry out and jerk into Gregory's arms. Her hand went to his shoulder with his arm wrapping around her, sending more sparks and tingles through her body. It felt nice being held by him, like this, with his scent sending a soothing message through her. She loved it, but when she looked up at him, there was a smile on his face. She could not help returning it while feeling a chunk of her heart go to him. It was like she had broken a heart cookie into three. Then, she gave them one broken-off piece to the brother, while waiting for the other brother to take his. She wanted to remain like this forever with her and him basking in each other’s presence.

“You’re going to be alright, Beautiful,” he said softly, then he nuzzled her hair. “It is just a sprain. We’ll get you to the doctor, anyways.”

He was so impressive, she thought awe-struck by the way he was gently holding her like she is glass. It made her feel so special that she wanted to release the pent-up sadness inside of her that had her feeling hollow at times. She wanted to tell him everything while letting his brother touch her body. It is wreaking a beautiful havoc on her system that made her want to stay with them forever.

“You smell good, Beautiful,” Gregory said as he took a deep breath from her neck to her head.

“Yes, she does,” Thomas agreed, sounding sensual.

She jerked her head towards him, shocked to see him beside her. Her eyes were wider now than before at him half lying behind her and almost pressing against her back. A smile is on his face as he lets his fingers trace up and down her arm. Excitement ran through her that made her smile grow wider at the sight of him. His warmth and what he was doing to her made it difficult to think, too, especially as he planted a kiss on her shoulder. He took the other portion of the cookie, leaving her with the last piece as a small gasp slipped out of her.

Cassandra is perplexed about why she no longer feels scared of them now. She does not understand what made her want to run from them, especially when they are immersing her in this good feeling. It makes her hazy and relaxed about whatever they are doing to her. She is sure that she feels a tongue on her neck that is sending a thrill through her body, causing her eyes to flutter. It felt so good, she thought, with a whine slipping out of her and her feet struggling to gain footing as she fought to sit upright for them.

“It’s alright, Beautiful,” Gregory cooed at her when he came into view. “This…”

Her fingertips touched his face so gently that she barely felt it, until she lowered her hand to his stubble. A smile is on her lips through the pleasure Thomas is giving her at her neck while she touches Gregory’s pink lips and cheek. They are so kissable that she licks her lips feeling the need to taste his. Her eyes are even asking him if it is okay to do this, but he is lost by her touch in the mate bond. She could hear the need pounding in her head to just take a taste that drove something warm and wet between her legs. This call is seductive and demanding that she tries to ignore it, until she can take it no longer.

Cassandra pulled him in by his lapels and took his lips to hers, feeling something restraining her waist. It made her heart pound hard in her chest like something was latching onto it. There was no resistance from him as he held her head to keep them from parting their lips. She did not care what made her do this. She would not stop from tasting the coffee and almonds on his lips that reminded her of Christmas with her Dad. It is so good. It is like she cannot get enough of it.

She pulled his lower lip inward a little with her teeth, then licked it lightly with her tongue. He emitted a growl of approval which was all she needed to continue assaulting his lips. She moved to his top lip, feeling the stubble there, tasting its rough surface on her tongue. A moan slipped out of her loving the way his hands were gripping her ever so gently while his brother had her cradled in his lap. It is like she is hungry for this man who needs this little bit of reassurance about something that she is not sure about.

Her instincts are driving her body to give him what he wants and forget everything and everyone else. She can only give to these two men even as his lips slide down her cheek and back to her neck. There is only them on this little paradise island that she created in her head. No one else existed even as she tried to turn her head to Thomas to give to him, too. She could not do it feeling something, keeping it in place. Instead, she threaded her fingers through his hair, which jerked his head up slightly to see her smile. His lips twitched into a smile back to her before he gave a chaste kiss and went back to her neck.

She felt like she went to heaven when Gregory and Thomas threaded their fingers through her hands. They made her arms cross over her body. It gave her more than she thought she could possibly feel in a single moment. Her heart is thumping with the need of these men wanting something that she knows is taboo, and yet, it feels so right. She wants them and all that they are offering her, seeing how many special moments they will have. Her body even wants them inside of her, too. She wants the relief from the pressure building between her legs, but they are holding her down from taking it from them.

Thomas’ other hand is on her head and is slowly leaning it back while, at the same time, they hold her waist. This let them start nipping at her neck, dragging gasps and moans that tensed her body. She wanted to part her legs for these two men, feeling her euphoria threatening to bust. She even wanted to move against them, but their bodies held her in place. Then, they sunk their teeth into her skin.

A scream ripped out of her, dragging her back to reality and out of the haze of the mate bond. Her fingers tighten on theirs and their grip on her tighten as she struggles against them, but it is no use. She cannot move. They are marking her as their mate without her consent while they hold her in the haze of the bond. She had lost all her willpower to fight, but she knew that she did not stand a chance against two of the mightiest wolves in the kingdom.