Chapter 111: Missing the Mark

ALEX

I crane my neck and stare up the white stony wall of the lighthouse as the bright light at the top of the tower suddenly disappears ominously.

Now, I can’t see anything up there at all. Just dark sea mist from the massive, crashing waves around us.

~Where the hell are you, Ariel?~

~What’s taking so long?~

Lucius and Marius sit calmly on the rocks beside me, deep in meditative prayer. Despite all the chaos from Amy’s accident, somehow they’re able to sit completely still.

But that’s impossible for me right now.

I pace back and forth in front of the tower. Ariel has been inside there for ~way~ too long, and now I’m getting more and more restless.

I know Ariel can handle herself…

But ever since what happened inside Fate’s lair, I’m a hell of a lot more comfortable by her side.

~Especially when we’re dealing with goddesses.~

~If she doesn’t appear soon,~ I tell myself. ~I don’t care how sacred this place is…~

I’m breaking down that wall and finding her.

ARIEL

The ancient door slides open by itself as I approach, and I take my first step out of the darkness into the bright moonlight outside.

Alex is standing right in front of the doors holding a massive piece of driftwood, which he drops before rushing over to me. He pulls me into his arms, and I let myself melt into his chest for a peaceful moment.

Marius and Lucius break out of their meditations and approach behind him, eager to know if their prayers have been answered.

“What happened?” Marius asks, his eyes glimmering with hope. “Did the Goddess grant your powers back?”

I shake my head sadly.

“I’m sorry, Marius.”

I reach out my hand to comfort him, but his face falls and he turns away in silence.

I feel terrible seeing him so crushed. I hate that I’m powerless to help him right now.

His mate is in the hospital, and not even the Moon Goddess can do anything about it.

“But there’s another way,” I say to him. “Fate is the one who did this to Amy. That means Fate is the only one who can undo it. I’m going back to Fate’s Web and confronting her.”

Alex opens his mouth to speak but I quickly cut him off. “I know what you’re going to say, Alex. It’s too dangerous, it’s too—”

He shakes his head, giving me a reassuring smile.

“Wherever you need to go, I’m with you, Ariel,” he says, taking my hand.

I can barely contain my shock.

~Is he being serious?~

“Really?” I say, trying to hide my suspicion. “It’s a crazy plan. You’re not going to try and talk me out of this?”

“I know better than to try that by now.”

My body washes with relief and my face erupts into a smile. I pull him in for a kiss, savoring his lips, which kiss me back so intensely, it’s as if he hasn’t kissed me in years.

His understanding means the world to me.

Inside the lighthouse, I saw all of the people I’d healed ~without~ my powers—including him.

I realized that I’ve changed Fate’s path so many times already…

~So why can’t I do it again?~

And with Alex by my side, I get the feeling this might ~actually~ work.

I look back at Marius, whose eyes are still filled with doubt.

“We’ll make sure Amy makes it through this. That’s a promise,” I say.

He nods gravely and turns to walk away from the tower alongside Lucius. Alex takes my hand and we follow.

“By the way…,” I ask, curiously looking at the giant piece of driftwood by our feet. “What were you doing with ~that~ when I came outside?”

“Oh. It’s just a battering ram,” he says. “Five more minutes and I would’ve smashed this spire in half and come looking for you.”

I look at his determined face.

~Goddess, he’s actually serious.~

I smile and stand on my toes, pecking him on his lips. “I bet the Goddess wouldn’t have appreciated that very much.”

“Seems like we’re always pissing off one of the goddesses,” he says, shrugging. “How much worse could it get?”

I sigh, walking with him as we get farther away from the tower.

~I guess we’ll see soon enough.~

NATALIA

I lie naked, sprawled on my bed, my skin covered in beads of sweat.

My heart is slowly returning to normal after our third round of lovemaking ~tonight~.

~Goddess…~

~Chuck is certainly making up for lost time.~

He slides his arm under me, and I lean on his shoulder, which feels as smooth as a pillow.

He kisses my cheek tenderly, over and over, and right now, I feel completely safe.

He shifts his weight, and suddenly I can feel his manhood pressed up against me.

Standing at ~full~ attention.

“Really?” I say, giggling. “Again already?”

His pale blue eyes drink in my body as his fingers lightly trace over my breasts, sending tingles through my body as he explores my skin.

“When the Goddess blesses me with a mate like you,” he says, “pleasing you is all I can do in return.”

I squirm a bit as his fingers skim my stomach, taking their time to slowly meander lower until they slide between my legs, hovering above my entrance.

The electricity of his touch creates quivering shocks against the wetness of my sex. My breathing gets heavier as he starts to rub.

By now, he knows ~exactly~ where.

I close my eyes, taking in the pleasure. I’m really not used to someone spending this much time on ~me~.

I’m not even used to being intimate with someone I actually feel safe with.

Who I don’t feel the need to cover up or hide from…

Who knows exactly what I like.

~How did I get so lucky?~

After nibbling my ear, he works his way down my neck with heavenly kisses, and I run my hand down his ridged abs, feeling my wetness growing.

I’m starting to want more than just his fingers.

But then, his lips glide over Xavier’s mating mark on my shoulder, and I have to resist the urge to pull away uncomfortably.

I can’t help it. I feel self-conscious that another man’s mark is there.

And Xavier is the last thing I want to think about while I’m in bed with Chuck.

“Natalia…,” he growls.

“Yes, Chuck?” I say, eager for some dirty talk to get my mind off of my ex-mate and back in the mood.

“I want to mark you.”

~What?~

My eyes snap open and I turn to look at him. His wide blue eyes stare at me with a fiery intensity.

“A-are you serious?”

All the pleasure instantly drains from my body, and my heart starts to race. He senses my unease and leans in to kiss my cheek.

“Natalia, what are we waiting for? We’re destined mates. We’re going to spend the rest of our lives together. Let’s just complete our bond ~right now~.”

I open my mouth, but honestly, I can’t think of anything to say.

He looks confused. “You… You don’t want to?”

“Yes, Chuck, of course I do! It’s just that—”

I stop before I can say any more.

Before I say anything that will hurt him.

“It’s just that what?” he asks, pulling away and sitting up.

I turn from him, my thoughts racing.

“Being with you has been a dream…,” I say quietly. “You’ve been so good to me.”

It’s true. There ~is~ a part of me that desperately wants his teeth to sink into me right now.

“But?” he asks.

~I thought I could move on and say nothing about the past.~

~I thought I could start a new chapter.~

~Can I really let Chuck mark me if I haven’t told him the truth?~

Chuck anxiously waits for me to say more.

But the words don’t come. I can’t manage to tell him about how I saw him that day when we were eighteen.

~Goddess, it would hurt him so badly.~

I pull away and sit up on the edge of the bed, shivering. Compared to Chuck’s warmth, the room suddenly feels ice cold.

“Natalia, let’s just talk about it,” he says, his voice laced with disappointment. “I’m sorry that I surprised you like that.”

“I just need to be alone to think,” I say, pulling my robe from the pile of clothes on the floor, wrapping it around me, and standing up.

The room is silent except for my wolf whimpering loudly as I walk toward the door.

She wants me to go to Chuck. She wants me to tell him everything.

~Shut up,~ I snap back at her.

I avoid Chuck’s gaze as I open the door and step into the hall.

I’m pretty sure if I see the way he’s looking at me right now, it will shatter my heart into a million pieces.

***

I slip into the dark nursery and gently shut the door, careful not to disturb Xavi in his crib in case he’s sleeping.

But he’s wide awake. I hear him babbling, playfully scratching the bars of the crib. Seeing him makes my body melt into relief.

It’s three in the morning, but I can tell he wants to play.

I reach down and pick him up, rocking his warm little frame against my body in the darkness. A thousand emotions flood through me as I feel his tiny heart beating against my chest.

~My perfect little baby boy.~

My eyes become misty as I feel his little claws start playing with my hair and pulling gently on my moonstone earrings.

“You know Mama loves you more than anything in the world, right?” I whisper.

He lets out a little gurgle in response.

“You’re my teacher, you know that?” I say, kissing his forehead. “I wouldn’t know what true love is if it weren’t for you.”

He stares at me, his yellow eyes lightly glinting in the dark, as if I’ve just said the strangest thing in the world.

“But I really do love Chuck too. I just don’t know if I can take the next step with him, you know?”

His lip quivers, and, suddenly, he starts to cry, sending out little howls into the night air.

I pull him closer to me. “Shhh. Stop that now, Xavi. It’s okay.”

But he doesn’t stop.

It gets louder. And before I know it, I’ve joined him, my own tears rushing down to my chin.

“It’ll be okay, Xavi. I promise.”

But I really don’t know if that’s true.

I don’t even know if I deserve Chuck’s love.

I’m a liar and a horrible person, and Chuck is the kindest man I’ve ever met.

~Why would I have a destined mate like that?~

~Is Fate just playing some joke on me?~

Xavi’s howls grow quieter, and I start to rock him in my arms. I feel the last tear roll down my cheek as well.

As I look down into his peaceful face, I know one thing for sure:

I can’t regret that I was with Xavier, because Xavi came out of it.

My son is a beautiful creation who was born out of an ugly situation.

And so maybe…

Maybe if I show Chuck my ugliness…

If I tell him the truth…

Maybe something beautiful can come out of that, too.

***

I quietly open the door and peer into my dark bedroom.

I halfway expected Chuck to have left and slept under the stars after what happened.

But he’s right there, still naked, sprawled out on my covers.

Waiting for me, just like he always does.

“Chuck…,” I whisper, slightly worried he’s already fallen asleep.

He turns his head, staring at me with hopeful eyes.

“I’m ready,” I say. “I want you to mark me.”