I know it was psychotic watching everyone through a spyglass while they thought I was
dead. I needed to see Ajay from a different perspective; to know he didn't care before I gave Chetan my whole heart. After we were done spying on Dev, we watch Chetan and Ajay for awhile as they talked by the river. It was unnatural hearing them talk about me in the past tense.
Chetan says what he usually does, that I was his Mark mate, and he would have died for me.
On the other hand, Ajay catches me off guard; he is crying, something he sporadically
does.
" I am sure she thinks, I didn't want her anymore, she died thinking I no longer loved her
and I do. I missed up, before you called I was having sex with Aanya, and the whole time I
thought of Zara, Ajay says sitting on the ground by Chetan.
" I felt the same way with Kiara , Chetan responses.
"There are reasons why I am so protective of Zara Chetan. I myself took an apple from
the Tree of knowledge.
" what did the tree say?" Chetan looks dumbfounded.
"I don't want to say," Ajay says.
Chetan nods.
I honestly did believe, he no longer loved me, he left me no other choice. I don't even
want to know what the tree said about me. Bad news, I had no more room for. Zero and I talk and laugh for a while; it was fascinating to know a sea monster. He wasn't any different than the male wolves in the pack. He is funny and talkative, but mostly kind.
Soon it is time for me to leave, yet I don't want to go.
"I will come back and visit, Zero," I promise him.
"I know you will, and remember I'll be watching, too," he says.
Boy, do I have a story for the pack. I will leave out the spyglass, though.
He hugs me before I leave swimming from the cave. He has other seaweed blankets, so
he gives me the one I'm wearing to keep, which I am grateful for because when I surfaced, my clothes were gone.
The boys must have taken my clothes back to camp. Walking back to the camp, my
nerves get the better of me, and my stomach hurts. How will the others react?
Looking through the trees, I see the pack sitting around the fire. Everyone looks
sorrowful. Dev is the first to notice me, rushing to the trees.
"Zare, you're alive!" he screams.
The rest of the pack follow him. Dev scoops me up in a big hug and places a kiss on my
forehead. "
"I was so worried about you," he says.
I will talk to him about the wolf zombie later.
Chetan is the next one to embrace me. Kissing my lips, he starts to cry. "I thought you
were dead, baby." He brushes the hair from my face. "Are you okay?"
"I am fine," I assure him.
Ajay is the next to acknowledge me, and though I know he is upset about my absence and
possible death, his expressions say otherwise. He looks so disgusted.
" Zare, where have you been? Please tell me you didn't take your time while we all
thought you were dead!" he yells.
Opening my mouth to speak, I have no idea what to say, I know my actions were
incredibly selfish. "I meant a sea monster and stayed and chatted for a bit."
"While your sister thought you were dead?" Ajay asks.
"That's a new low, even for you, Zare," Kiara says before changing to her wolf and
running off.
"I am sorry," I cry after her.
"Is that where you got that stupid blanket?" laughs Dev.
"It's made from seaweed."
"Did you sleep with him too?" Smoke smirks.
"Shut the hell up," I snap.
"Excuse me?" sputters Smoke.
"You heard her." Ajay glares at me. "Do you have any idea the pain you put Chetan,
Kiara, Dev, and me through?"
"I know I am sorry."
"I was kicking myself in the ass for allowing you to be out in the river at night. I felt so
guilty, so lost thinking something happened to you, Adagyudi."
"I didn't think you would care."
"Don't do that!".
Looking away, I can't show him the pain in my face.
"Chetan, I am sorry, but I can't fight this any longer." He grabs my face with his hands
and brings his lips to mine, kissing them enthusiastically.
The taste of his lips leaves me craving more. He pulls me against his body and kisses the
top of my head when our lips pull apart. Peeping over towards Chetan, I noticed he simply looks away. He doesn't seem mad, only hurt, and I don't blame him. On the other hand, Aanya looks extremely mad, her face is red, and she has tears in her eyes. Clearly unable to take it anymore, she runs to the camper.
Now I know how serious they are about each other. I can't believe they slept together.
"I got to handle that." Kissing me on the forehead one more time, he takes off in Aanya's
direction.
Chetan walks toward me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"You're not mad?" I gaze into his eyes.
"No, I understand what Ajay went through tonight, and I know he still love you," he
replies.
"He has feelings for Aanya, huh?"
"They slept together before the river accident."
Wow, Aanya doesn't have a Mark, mate?"
"I guess he died in an attack, she was telling everyone before you walked up."
"They belong together." I fight back tears. I can never love Ajay how he should be valued
because half my heart belongs to Chetan, and Ajay deserves better than that. That will be the last time I taste Ajay's lips.
"So are you going to settle for me?" Chetan chuckles.
"It's not settling, Chetan. You have to know by now I love and have feelings for you
both. I know it's not ethical, and it's very wrong, but my heart keeps playing tricks on me."
"I know how you feel. That's how I felt with Kiara and you; we have ourselves a tricky
little love triangle."
"I know."
"Ajay won't just hurt Aanya, even if he doesn't love her as he loves you."
"I don't want him to hurt her. She needs him more than me."
Walking back towards the other's, I notice Kiara and Aanya are calm. Kiara is sitting in
Cricket's lap while he nibbles on her neck. Aanya sits close to Ajay while he has his arm around her, and occasionally stops talking to kiss her on the top of the head. Dev is gone again, and I know where he is. Smoke lay on a log looking up at the stars, or planning his next verbal attack.
Walking inside the camper to get dressed because I was still only wrapped in the seaweed
blanket, Chetan chats with the others. Grabbing my blue jean shorts and a flannel shirt, I get dressed quickly. Putting ,cowboy boots on my feet, I am ready to go. Stepping out of the camper, I hear the laughter, telling me everyone feels better. And that makes my anxiety go away.
"Let's go, Chetan," I call out.
"Go where Zare?" Ajay asks through gritted teeth.
"Just for a run," I answer, nonchalantly.
Ajay looks me over, licking his lower lip before breaking into a smirk.
He likes what he sees. My shorts are slightly shorter than usual, but hey, I almost died. I
need to make a good comeback, right? Walking over to Ajay, he becomes even tenser, crossing his legs. "Aanya, I want to apologize, I didn't realize how close you two have become, and I respect your relationship. Ajay, and I are a thing of the past."
"Thanks. Ajay told me you guys just broke up or whatever, so he was heartbroken
thinking you were dead. I understand where the kiss came from," she tells me.
"Yeah, it was nothing more than that."
"You told her?" Ajay asks.
" Yeah." Chetan shrugs.
"I was going to confront you with it later," confesses Ajay.
"No worries, you owe me no explanation," I brush his comment aside.
"Zare, please stay from the rivers. Chetan, I want her back alive," Ajay says.
"I'll do my best," Chetan promises.
How can Aanya not see how Ajay was looking at me? He seriously made himself stay in
that seat, I am sure.
Aanya is a pretty girl, I guess. She has boyishly short hair, a lot shorter than myself. She
has green eyes and a little lighter skin than the rest of us. One of her parents must be white while the other Indian. So that means her parents weren't Marked mates, probably. Usually your parents are from the wolf descendants who were typically Indians. Sometimes wolves mate with other races, so Aanya is different than us, but still unique and a wolf nonetheless.
"Damn girl, yo ass in dem jeans," Smoke jumps off the log, advancing towards us.
Chetan stands in front of me like a barrier.
"You need to make up your mind. I thought you didn't like me," I remark.
"Maybe these shorts are changing my mind." He winks.
"Whatever." Rolling my eyes, I walk away, and Smoke whistles at me.
"That guy is a loose cannon," Chetan growls.
"Seriously, I know." I hesitated. "I have to tell you something."
"Okay."
"But you have to promise you won't get upset with me."
"What did you do?"
"The monster had a spyglass, and I watched everyone."
"Wait, you sat there and watched everyone upset and crying for your loss?" His face
turns a bright red with anger.
"I know it was wrong."
"Just wow, Zare."
"I am sorry, Chetan." I give him a pouty face with puppy dog eyes, the cutest face I can
think of.
"Fine, but we cannot tell Ajay, or you'll be chopping wood again."
"I saw Dev kissing a zombie, and Zero says it's his Mark mate."
"Who's Zero?"
"The sea monster."
"You named the sea monster?"
"Seriously? That's the part you're focusing on?"
"And the part where Dev is locking lips with a brain eater." He laughs.
Rolling my eyes, I laugh, too. Chetan is such a boy.
It wasn't long before we spot Dev sitting under a tree and kissing the zombie. For a
zombie, she is stunning. Yes, she has a few decay spots on her face, but I can still see her human features. She has dark brown curly hair and deep golden-brown eyes. Her clothes are all ripped up, but I can tell she is from a different era. Her jewelry looks vintage, and she is dressed in a fancy dress similar to what my grandmother wore back in the 1800s. It was a creme white at one time, I suppose.
"What are we even going to say to Dev? 'You're busted, we caught you with your dead
girlfriend'?" Chetan says.
Shaking my head, I can't help but laugh. "Just follow my lead." I walk quietly out of the
woods. What am I going to say?
"Zare, what are you doing here?" Dev hollers in surprise when he notices me.
"You told her?" the zombie says.
"No, Riya, I don't know how she would have found out." Dev raises an eyebrow at me.
"The sea monster had a spyglass," is all I say.
"No, you didn't states Dev with his arms crossed over his chest.
"I did."
"You better hope Ajay doesn't find out that while he was going insane thinking you were
dead, you were spying on him." He chuckles.
"Yeah, so dont tell him," I snap.
"Fine, if you don't say anything about Riya," he says.
"I think you should bring her back to the camp."
"What? No way! Ajay would kill her," he objects.
"He won't kill your Mark mate."
"Damn, how long have you been spying on everyone?"
"Zero told me that."
"That's the sea monster," Chetan pipes up.
"Wait, you named the monster," asks Dev.
"Stop it, boys, yes I did," I say.
They both laugh.
"All three of us will stand in front of her protecting her. Ajay won't challenge us",
Chetan decides.
Okay, but I won't let anyone hurt my mate." Dev still looks skeptical.
"No one will; we got this." I give him a confident smile.
Are you up for this, Riya?" asks Dev.
"Sure," she says with a smile.
I know Ajay will never have the heart to kill Dev's Mark, mate. He is protective of us and
our feelings. He will let Riya join the pack.
All of us change into our wolf form, and Riya is a scary sight. She looks like a pet dog
who was hit by a semi. Her fur is matted and covered in blood, a piece of her ear missing, one of her eyes is swollen shut, she is foaming at the mouth, and has cuts throughout her body.
We race back to camp, and I have no idea what the group will think of Riya, but I hope they will accept her peacefully with no fight. We make it to the campsite in record time, and nobody there has moved a muscle.
"We got this, we know our pack and Alpha. He will let Riya stay, and they will look past
her being a zombie," I say with more confidence than I feel.
"Are you sure they can't hurt her?" Dev asks.
"I hope."
"You hope?" He looks panicked.
"Let's change into our human forms."
They all nod and change.
"They will." Taking a deep breath, I was the first to walk towards camp.
"You are back, beautiful." Smoke gives me a wink.
"Ajay, we need to talk." I ignore him.
"What did you do now, Zare?" He sighs in exasperation.
"Dev found his Mark mate."
"That's great," he remarks.
"She is a zombie."
"What? That can't be!" he replies with a confused face.
"She was a werewolf and died.
"You guys are killing me."Ajay takes a deep breath. "Is she trying to attack anyone?"
"No. Come over here, guys," I scream in their direction.
Dev and Riya walk over hand in hand, Chetan follows behind them.
"I am Riya," she says once face to face with the other pack members.
"I haven't heard a zombie speak, only growl and moan," Ajay comments
"Maybe it's because I am a part wolf," she assumes.
"Yeah, that's probably why," Ajay agrees.
"Let's see your wolf form then," Smoke says.
Riya changes into her wolf, and the whole pack gasps in horror.
"I know it isn't pretty, but it's me," Riya tells us.
"You're not letting that ugly beast stay, are you?" asks Smoke.
"I would hold your tongue, mate," says Dev.
"The only ugly beast around here is you." I physically bite my tongue to stop myself
from saying something I'll regret later.
"Oh bummer, I thought we were going to bone tonight, Zare," Smoke laughs tauntingly.
Ajay starts laughing.
"In your dreams, "Chetan growls.
"Her loss." Smoke gives me a wink.
"Riya is welcome to the pack," Ajay announces.
"Did you never find your mark mate while alive?" Chetan asks.
"No, I didn't; Riya replies.
"Interesting," Ajay says, thoughtfully.
Riya changes back into her human form.
"You are magnificent, even as a zombie," Ajay states.
"Back off, lover boy," Dev warns.
Ajay just chuckles.
"Thanks, man, for letting her stay," Dev says.
"You know I got your back," Ajay replies.
"I should know. I thought because she was a zombie, you would want to destroy her."
"I can see why you would think that."
"It's amazing finding your mate," Dev says.
"I thought you were sneaking off often." Ajay laughs.
"Guilty," Dev says.
"How did Zare find out?" Ajay asks.
"You'll have to ask her that," Dev says with a smile.
I can tell he is trying not to laugh.
"Zare, how long had you known?" Ajay stamps his feet.
"I – I found out tonight," I stammer.
"Before or after the river accident?" he asks.
"During, I guess."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"Yup, I can't figure it out, either."
"Zare, spit it out now," he says more seriously.
"The sea monster had a spyglass." I close my eyes, not wanting to see his reaction.
"Tell me you weren't spying on us while we all were in deep sorrow over your death." He
clenches his jaw tight.
"I was."
"Maybe it isn't as it seems," Dev says.
"Yeah, I am sure it's not," Chetan agrees. The girls shake their heads.
"So while I was crying, panicking, and calling myself a failure, you sat there watching
the entire thing." His breathing becomes more rapid as he is no doubt struggling to control his anger.
"Yes." I deserve whatever he comes up with; it was a horrible thing to do.
"Zare, I don't even know what to say," he says.
"It was a horrible thing to do."
"No shit! Seriously, I could tie you down and let everyone beat you with sticks; you
pissed me off so bad."
"I deserve it."
" So what you wanted to see how I would react if you died? You thought I wouldn't care?
I didn't love you still?" he screams.
"Yeah." My cheeks feel wet as a tear slides down it.
"That makes me feel even worse than the time we were together. I didn't make you feel
loved, I didn't express my feelings to you enough, and I didn't prove to you how much I love
you!" His eyes are watery.
"You did, Ajay." I'm crying uncontrollably, it is like it did the day we broke up and I am
losing him all over again.
"Then you wouldn't have slept with Chetan, or needed to watch my reaction to your
death to know how much I love you."
Aanya grabs his arm, no doubt to comfort him, yet he pulls away.
"I don't even know what to say." He swallows hard. He turns to walk away, but I grab
his arm.
"What did the tree tell you?"
"That you were the most important member of the pack and I most always keep you
safe," he says looking down.
"So that's why you were so protective of me."
"That's only part of it, how much I love you well that's most of it." He turns to leave.
"Please, Ajay," I beg.
"What do you want?" He holds my face in his hand as he gently rubs my cheek.
"For you to forgive me."
"You want me?"
Nodding, my body melts at his one touched. He hasn't touched me in so long, and I want
him so badly.
"Then what about Chetan? He loves you, and that's no joke."
"I know I love him, too. I love both of you."
"Well, I am not a good sharer." Ajay says, dropping his hold on my face.
"I just need to eliminate myself from the equation."
Changing into my wolf, I run into the wood as fast as I can. I hear Ajay and Chetan call
after me, but I don't stop running.
I am in love with two men, and I can't be with both. My heart is torn, and my mind
overwhelmed. I know the tree of knowledge. Racing to the tree, I hope it has answers.