Marie did not stop driving. Her hands held onto the wheel tightly. the only thing keeping her grounded at that present moment. Her phone was ringing constantly and she knew it was Blake. The notification sound rang out. Marie glanced at the message from Blake. New tears pricked at her eyes. She turned her phone off and threw it down onto the passenger seat. her attention once again on the road in front of her.
The house finally appeared in front of Marie in the early hours of the morning and along with it came a sense of comfort and safety that she had been seeking. Marie parked the car and jumped out grabbing her bag and rushed inside slamming the door behind her.
As she stood in the solace of the her quiet home, the emotions of the night came flooding back to her.
The weight of the emotions that had been building within Marie finally overwhelmed her, and she sank to the floor, her body wracked with sobs. The tears flowed freely, a release of the hurt, confusion, and frustration that had been consuming her throughout the night.
As the minutes stretched into what felt like hours, Marie's grief and sadness spilled out, each sob a testament to the depth of her feelings. Alone in the quiet of her home, she allowed herself to fully experience the pain of her choices and the uncertainty that lay ahead.
When the waves of emotion began to subside, Marie slowly picked herself up from the floor. She couldn't bear to stay in the room where she had first learned of her bond with Blake, where their journey had begun. It held too many memories, both joyful and painful.
Instead, she made her way to the spare room, seeking solace in its familiarity. Marie crawled into the bed and pulled the blanket over her head and let sleep wash over her.
Marie awoke the following morning, with a sadness in her heart. The mate bond pulling at her and urging her to run back to Blake. Marie pushed the feelings down. She knew she needed to be away from Blake and the pack to find clarity in what her next move should be. She climbed out of bed and took a quick shower. the warm water spilling over her, gave her a new found determination.
Marie opened the fridge in the kitchen, her stomach rumbling. All she could find was a bottle of water. She opened it and took a swig. She grabbed her keys of the table and headed off to the grocery store.
As Marie walked through the aisle's selecting what she wanted, a sense of normality washed over her. She paid for her items and started to head home.
Marie's walk took her down the familiar path, and as she passed the coffee shop where she had once worked, a sense of nostalgia washed over her. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and the cozy atmosphere of the place were comforting, reminiscent of a time when her life had been simpler.
As she stepped inside, the owner of the coffee shop, a familiar face, greeted her warmly. "Marie! How have you been?"
Marie smiled, appreciating the familiar and friendly welcome. "Joseph, It is great to see you. I have been better but I will get there" She admitted.
The owner nodded sympathetically "Well, you know, Marie, if you ever want to work here again, you've got a place. You were a great part of the team, and you're like family to us."
Marie's heart warmed at the offer. The idea of returning to a familiar job, to a place where she felt a sense of belonging, was appealing. It was a reminder of the life she had temporarily left behind.
"Thank you," Marie replied, touched by Joseph's kindness. "I'll keep that in mind. Right now, I'm just glad to be home."
With a coffee in hand and the offer of a job to consider, Marie left the coffee shop, feeling a sense of comfort and possibility.
Marie returned home, and set about fixing herself something to eat form the groceries she had just brought. She sat at the breakfast bar and settled once again into the sense of familiarity.
After eating Marie looked around and set about cleaning away the dust and cobwebs that had built up in her absence. As she moved through her home, sweeping away dust and clearing cobwebs, she couldn't help but feel a renewed connection to the space. It was a place where she had built herself back up again and it was the only place that was truly only hers.
As Marie continued to clean she grabbed the pile of post that accumulated on the floor. Amid the pile a handwritten envelope caught her eye. Its distinctive appearance stood out from the rest, and curiosity compelled her to pick it up. She carefully tore it open and began to read.
The contents of the letter held her attention, and her heart raced as she processed the words written on the page. Her eyes flitted to the end and saw it signed from Jacob.
Marie carefully read through Jacob's letter, the words on the page carrying the weight of their shared history. The memories of that fateful night, now distant and somewhat blurred, came flooding back as she absorbed his apology. It was a gesture she hadn't expected, and it left her with mixed emotions.
Jacob's note continued, revealing his desire to see her again and to offer not just an apology but also information about the vampire venom that had poisoned her. The mention of this knowledge piqued her interest. She couldn't help but wonder about the implications of what he had learned. As she held the letter in her hands, Marie contemplated her next steps.