Steve walked out of the house with a nagging feeling pulled at his stomach. Something had had happened further in that house after he and Blake left. He was fighting every beta feeling in his body not to go back in and snatch her way back to the safety of Blake.
Steve walked down the street that was basking in the low evening sun of autumn. The leaves from the trees lay littered on the floor and crunched under Steve's feet. The leaves that remained on the trees were bright orange and brown and they quivered in the slight autumnal breeze. Steve slowed his pace as he reached his black SUV. He had parked down the road and of sight so he could watch from afar. As he climbed into the drivers seat he pulled his phone from his pocket.
"Hi Michael it is Steve. Just seen Marie and got your number. Are you free? I want to discuss something with you"
Steve hit send and settled back and watched the house. A uneasy feeling had settled in him since stepping foot in the house. His phone beeped. He picked it up and expected it to be a reply from Michael but instead it was Blake.
"Where are you??? I have found a witch"
"I had some errands to do, and i am meeting Michael. I want to see what he thinks about this"
Steve's phone began to rang immediately.
"Blake, I will be back soon and then we will speak to this watch together"
"I don't care about that. Have you seen her? Is she ok? Tell me Steve" Blakes voice was raised and Steve could sense the stress in his words.
"Yes Blake I have seen her" Steve paused he knew Marie was not ok but he couldn't tell this to Blake. "She is fine Blake"
Blake growled "Get back here as soon as you can. I am going to go and speak to this witch" With that Blake hung up the phone.
Steve placed his phone back down and against started to watch the house whilst waiting for a reply from Michael.
The text finally came and Michael agreed to meet Steve. The text message contained an address. Steve punched this address in to the GPS, turned on his engine and went to leave.
Just as he went to pull out of his parking spot, something or someone caught his eye. It was Jacob stumbling up the walkway to the front of the house. Steve watched as he Jacob fumbled for the door knob before finally managing to let himself in.
Steve turned the car off and got out and walked back up to the house. As he got closer he could hear raised voices. Steve hurriedly ran and hid by the lounge window. His Lycan hearing allowing him to hear clearly.
"Jacob are you drunk? Marie asked.
"So what if i am Marie. You sent me away" Jacob spat back at her.
"You hurt me Jacob, I needed space"
Steve could feel the anger boiling in his body. Jacob had hurt her? That was what the blood was from. His fists were clenching at his side.
"I told you that was not me Marie. it was my wolf. He took over"
"Why would your wolf want to hurt me Jacob?"
"He didn't, he just got lost....lost in the moment of fucking you" Jacob's words coming out all slurred.
"Got to bed and sleep of whatever it is you found to get you drunk" Marie spoke quietly but firmly.
Steve heard Jacob's heavy dragging footsteps lead away from the lounge. Steve let out the breath he had been holding. He was ready to jump if this argument went further but luckily Jacob had took Marie's advice and at least sounded like he was going upstairs. Steve ran back to his car and drove off to meet Michael. This meeting needed to happen now.
Steve parked his car in the business building's parking lot, his sense of urgency driving him to find Michael. The building appeared to house multiple offices, and various windows were still lit despite it now being nearly 8pm.
Determined and focused, Steve climbed out of his SUV and crossed the parking lot and entered the building, quickly making his way through the lobby. There, he spotted Michael, who was waiting as arranged. Michael stood calmly in the well-lit lobby, looking expectantly at Steve as he approached.
Steve greeted him with a nod of acknowledgment, relief in his eyes. "Michael, thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I need your help."
Michael extended a welcoming hand, "I am so glad you reached out. I am guessing this is about Marie? I am so worried"
"Me too Michael, after what i have seen this evening we need to to get to the bottom of this to protect Marie"
"This evening? what do you mean?" Michael questioned as concern flashed in his eyes. "Wait lets go to my office and we can continue this there"
Michael led Steve down the long brightly lit corridor and then opened the door of his office and invited Steve inside.
"Please do sit Steve. Do you want a drink?" Michael asked as he walked over to a side board that had glasses and a couple of bottles of various alcohol on them.
"Anything strong" Steve replied.
Michael quickly poured two whisky's and handed over to Steve before taking a seat in the brown leather chair opposite where Steve was sitting.
"Tell me everything Steve"
Steve filled Michael in the events of the evening. From finding Marie at the top of the stairs i a blood stained blanket and the Jacob arriving home and him listening in.
"I am going to kill him" Michael roared. "How fucking dare he hurt her"
"This situation just seems so....so strange Michael. I do not know what to think or what to do but what i do know for sure is that i think Marie is danger" Steve ran his hands through his hair and let out a heavy breath filled with anxiety and worry.
"I agree Steve. Jacob did explain what he had learnt about the venom which complicates this even further"
Steve did not reply but stared intensely at Michael waiting for him to continue.
"He told us that the vampire venom does not kill your wolf and make you human but instead masks the wolfs abilities and pushes the wolf so far away that it makes you think you are human"
Steve's brow furrowed as he tried to grasp the implications of this revelation.
"She was never human?" Steve said in almost a whisper.
"It would appear so. but that is not all Steve" Michael twisted his hands together before continuing. "Marie has her wolf back. She returned the night she and Jacob met. Marie says her wolf came back and claimed Jacob as her mate. That was the night they claimed each other"
"This still does not make sense" Steve stands and begins to pace around the office. "They were mates, but he rejected her right?" Steve asked the question mainly to himself "but then she was Blakes mate." Steve let out an exasperated growl.
"I know. this does not make sense" Michael spoke.
Steve stopped pacing and he turned to Michael " Are we assuming then Michael, that then venom creates such a powerful illusion that even the goddess herself is fooled by it?."
"Even if that were the case, It does not explain the mate bond being switched. As you said Jacob rejected her before she was attacked"
"I was certain that this was not magical you know Michael, but now i am not so sure. do you know of any other reason as they why the mate bond would switch? Steve poured himself another drink and downed it in one. He held the bottle out to Michael but he shook his head.
"I am starting to think this may be the case too, especially after something Marie said"
"What? What did she say?"
"She said she still feels pulled towards Blake"
"We have to get to the bottom of this"
Steve felt a sense of urgency deep within him. The mystery surrounding the vampire venom had taken on a new level of complexity, and now the fact he too believed magic was at play. Finding the truth was now even more paramount
Determined to uncover the perpetrators and the reasons behind their actions, Steve and Michael continued to strategize. Steve informed him that Blake had found a witch that could possibly help.
As the two men sat talking further Michaels phone began to ring. He glanced down at the caller ID and panic rose in his chest.
"Marie what is....." Michael fell silent as he heard the the screams and shouts on the other end of the line.