The sunlight burst through the broken window and the curtains flapped around in the early morning breeze. Marie began to stir from the best night's sleep she had ever head. Her eyes fluttered opened and landed upon Blake who was still fast asleep with his arms wrapped tightly around her. Marie did not want to wiggle to much as to not wake him so in stead she lay there with her head on his his perfect chiseled chest and traced lazy patterns with her finger, her touch light and affectionate.
Blake began to stir underneath her "Good morning," she whispered. Blake's response was a soft chuckle, his fingers brushing against her hair. "Good morning to you too. How are you feeling?"
Marie glanced up at Blake with soft smile "Amazing" How about you?" Blake shifted so he was now on top of Marie and with a peck to her nose "I am also amazing". Marie reached up and kissed him.
"how about we go and get some breakfast, the workmen will be here soon to fix the window" Blake said as he pulled away from the kiss. "Sure, where would you like to go?"
Blake stood up and started to walk around the room picking up his discarded clothes from the night before and getting dressed. "I know just the place" he smiled.
Marie followed suit and picked out clean clothes from her dresser. Marie pulled on some blue jeans a white shirt and then turned her attention to brushing her hair.
After a few minutes they were both dressed and ready to go.
Blake took Marie's hand into his and fir the first noticed just how small she was compared to him. He was was 6ft4 and she must have been no bigger then 5ft4. He encased her hand and led her out of the house and down the street.
The town around them was waking up, shops opening their doors, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. The café that Blake led her to was charming, with wooden tables set up both indoors and outdoors, and a quaint, welcoming atmosphere. They found a cozy spot by a window, allowing the sunlight to filter in as they settled in.
Blake picked up the two menus and handed one over to Marie. Blake opened his and started to read what was on offer. "What do you fancy?"
"I think I will go for scrambled eggs on toast with a coffee. You?"
"Sounds good i will have the same. I will go and order"
As Blake went to place their orders at the counter, Marie took a moment to try and settle the nerves that were creeping up into the pit of the stomach. "Lilah are you there?" She whispered in her mind trying to find her wolf. She had not heard or felt her again since the night before when she appeared out of the distant corner of Marie's mind. Marie was met with nothing but silence.
When Blake returned to the table, a small smile graced his lips as he placed a coffee cup down in front of Marie. The noise snapping Marie's attention back to Blake.
"Thank you" Marie replied, her smile mirroring his. She reached for her coffee cup, the warmth of the drink comforting in her hands. silence fell between Blake and Marie as he watched her curiously as she played with the corner of the napkin n between taking small sips of the coffee.
Marie was wrestling with her own thoughts, and decided she needed to share them with Blake.
Taking a deep breath, Marie looked into Blake's eyes "Blake, there's something I need to tell you about last night..."
Before she could continue, the soft voice of the waitress interrupted their conversation. "Excuse me, folks. Here are your scrambled eggs and toast."
Marie's words were cut off, and she offered the waitress a polite smile as the plates were placed in front of them.
"Thank you," Blake replied to the waitress, his voice carrying a hint of gratitude. He turned his attention back to Marie. "What about last night?"
Marie's fingers returned to playing with the edge of her napkin, a mixture of emotions swirling within her. She took another deep breath, her gaze meeting Blake's once again. "Last night, after you went to leave, I heard," Marie paused scared of her next words "I heard my wolf"
Blake's eyes widened slightly, surprise and curiosity evident in his expression. "Your wolf's voice? Marie, that's... significant"
"I know, she came to me and asked why I had pushed you away, and then the last thing she said to me was Mate" Marie looked up into the burning gaze of Blake, "then your smell surrounded me. I have not heard from her since. I have tried but there is nothing" Blake reached out his hand and took Marie's hand in his. "We will get to the bottom of this, I promise" Blake smiled "Maybe Doctor Michael can help?" Blake asked with curiosity in his voice. Blake wanted to know what the relationship was between Marie and the Doctor. "Yeah maybe" Marie pulled her hand away and started to eat her breakfast, Blake followed suit. Soon they had both finished and were sat in a comfortable silence as the café bustled around them.
The ringing of Blake's phone filled the air, and he reached into his pocket to retrieve it. Apologizing with a small smile, he glanced at the caller ID before answering.
"Hey, Steve," Blake greeted, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity. Marie watched as his expression shifted from surprise to a more serious demeanor.
Marie's gaze remained fixed on Blake, her curiosity piqued by the call. As Blake listened to Steve's words, Marie noticed a subtle change in his posture. His brows furrowed slightly, and his focus seemed to shift entirely to the conversation on the phone.
After a few moments, Blake finally spoke "Thank you for sorting the window. Prep the plane for our return this afternoon"
Marie's attention sharpened at the mention of his return back to his back. Was he leaving her already.
After a few more minutes of conversation, Blake finally ended the call. He looked at Marie, his gaze a mix of seriousness and concern. "That was Steve. The window has been fixed."
"Oh. Wow. That was quick" Marie replied whilst looking down and playing with the edge of the napkin again.
"Steve is my best friend and my Beta. I know you and him will get on so well" Blake said with a soft smile. Marie looked up into Blake's eyes. "What about the rest of your conversation i heard you talking about returning to the pack" Blake stroked his hand through his dark hair "Marie I am the Lycan king, I have to return to my pack lands"
"So you are leaving me already?" Tears started to fall from Marie's eyes. "Marie, No I am not leaving you. I would never"
But the words barely registered in Marie's mind. The anxiety had taken over, and her instinct was to escape—to flee from the overwhelming rush of emotions that threatened to engulf her and the fear that once again she was going to be left alone. She stumbled backward, her chair clattering against the floor, drawing the attention of the other customers in the café.
With a mix of tears and desperation, Marie turned and fled from the café, her steps quickening as she reached the street. The air outside felt heavy and constricting, her chest tight with the weight of her emotions. Panic and fear surged through her, driving her forward, away from the source of her distress.
She barely registered the people passing by as she continued to run, her thoughts a jumbled mess of anxiety and sadness. The prospect of being left alone again was too much for Marie. Her fears rising further and further in her chest.
Tears streamed down her face as she continued to move, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. Her breathing became fast and panic covered every inch of her body.
As she turned a corner and found herself in a more secluded area, Marie finally came to a stop, her breath ragged and her emotions a tumultuous storm within her. Leaning against a building, she buried her face in her hands, the weight of her own fears and insecurities crashing down around her.
Marie's heart raced as she leaned against the building, her breaths coming in shallow, rapid gasps. The flood of emotions that had propelled her to run from the café had morphed into a full-blown panic attack. Her chest tightened, a suffocating sensation taking hold, as the fear of rejection and abandonment consumed her thoughts.
Tears blurred her vision as she clutched at her chest, her pulse thundering in her ears. Every thought seemed to magnify the intensity of her panic, each beat of her heart a painful reminder of the vulnerability she was experiencing. The world around her seemed to spin.
As Marie struggled to breathe, her thoughts raced back to the past—moments of pain, of feeling isolated and rejected. The fear that history would repeat itself, that she would once again be left behind, fueled the panic that coursed through her veins.
In the midst of her distress, a gentle voice broke through the chaos. "Marie? Are you okay?"
Startled, Marie looked up to see Blake's worried expression as he approached her cautiously. His presence was both reassuring and overwhelming, a reminder of the connection they shared but also a source of the fear that had driven her to this point.
"I... I can't," Marie managed to choke out between gasps, her voice shaky.
Blake's concern deepened, and he moved closer, his arms reaching out tentatively. "Marie, it's okay. Just focus on your breathing. I'm here with you."
Despite the storm of panic that raged within her, Marie's gaze locked onto Blake's, his eyes a lifeline amidst the turmoil. His voice, his touch, seemed to anchor her. Blake pulled her into his embrace his arms wrapped tightly around Marie's tiny frame.
Minutes that felt like an eternity passed as Marie gradually regained control over her breathing. Her pulse slowed, and the world around her started to come back into focus. Blake remained by her side, his touch a constant source of reassurance.
As the panic began to subside, Marie's tears still fell, but the overwhelming fear started to lose its grip on her thoughts. She took another deep breath, her gaze finally meeting Blake's once again.
"I'm... I'm sorry," Marie's voice was hoarse, her vulnerability evident.
Blake's expression was filled with understanding, his eyes soft as he met her gaze. "You don't have to apologize baby. I will always be here for you"
"Thank you," Marie finally managed to say.
Blake's smile was warm, his fingers gently brushing against her cheek. "You're not alone in this, Marie. We'll face whatever comes together. Now lets get you home and we can talk some more"
Blake wrapped his large muscled arm around her shoulders and guided back down the street.