Three Fated Hearts

Chapter 44

~Mark~

MATE! MATE! MATE! MATE!

Stop, Cato! You have to stop.

I want mate. Go to mate. I throw a wall up to block my wolf. He is going to give me a splitting headache, and I have to think. I have to figure out what to do because this is crazy.

So the apples and cinnamon sent that I detected earlier belongs to my mate, and my mate is Jenna. Oh, my f**king Goddess! What type of horrible turn of events is this? This woman doesn’t want me. She is out to replace my best friend. How can she be mated to me? Why would the Moon Goddess think it’s a good idea for her and me to be together? I know I don’t know her personally, but just looking at her actions tells me more than I need to know.

“MARK?!” I whip my head toward Lincoln, who is in shaking a hand in my face. Landon is looking at me with concern and sympathy. “Are you okay, man? What’s going on with you?”

“Isn’t it obvious, Linc? Mark has found his mate.”

“Yeah he said that. So what?” Landon runs his hand down his face in exasperation.

“There was only one person in this room with us, doofus.” I watch Lincoln’s face and see when the realization hits him.

“Oh s**t! Oh man.” Lincoln sits in the chair next to me. “F**k man, I’m sorry.” S**T! Even Lincoln feels sorry for me. This is horrible. Is she really that terrible? I mean, putting aside the problems she’s causing here, is she really such a horrible person?

“Let’s just take a minute and breathe.” Landon for the save because I have no words at this point. I have no idea what to say or what to think.

The silence stretches for a while; everyone is lost in their thoughts. I would love to discuss this with Cato, but I already know what he will say, so there’s no point. I need to talk about this to someone, but I have no idea who. I can’t talk to Tia because it just wouldn’t be right. I can, maybe, talk to my sister, but I’d have to swear her to secrecy. She can be hit or miss in that department.

I really need to clear my mind. The air in the room seems to be disappearing at a rapid rate, and I’m having trouble with my intake. I need fresh air……I need open spaces…..I need out of this room! “I….I have to go. I…..I just can’t right now.” I jump up from the chair and make my way out of the room, ignoring the cries from the twins. Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

I make it out of the office and out of the packhouse. The minute I hit open air, I take the biggest breath. I feel like my lungs are deflated, and I’m struggling to fill them with air. My knees hit the ground, and I grab the grass as if trying to anchor myself against a raging wind. My chest feels heavy, and I don’t know how to release the pressure.

I’m starting to feel dizzy and fearful of passing out. What the hell is happening to me? Finding your mate is supposed to be a joyous time. It’s supposed to be the best thing that happens to you. I can’t honestly say that’s how I feel right now.

I know I start to move, but I can’t remember how. I feel myself moving in the wind, and there is no way it’s strong enough to be pushing me. I have no idea what direction I’m moving in. I feel I’m not on my feet, so I must be crawling. It feels as if I may be about to die, but that would be crazy. I hear nothing other than the beating of my heart thundering in my ears. I swear I can hear the swooshing of my blood as it rushes around my body.

I’m trying my hardest to stay alert, but I just can’t do it. I’m teetering on the edge of reality and darkness, and I don’t want to tumble. I struggle against the darkness trying to use everything to help me. I try to focus on how the ground feels beneath me. I try to focus on the air around me. I even try to grab onto the sound of my heartbeat. I think I’m losing the battle because the darkness is getting bigger and bigger.

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“Mark? MARK!” I feel my body shaking and hear my name in a piercing tone. I crack an eye open and look around. I can see the sky; it’s a bit dark but not completely nighttime yet. I can feel a few taps on my face, and when I move my eye around, I see the assailant, my sister.

“Lynn?”

“Mark, what the hell?”

“Where am I?”

“You’re on the porch, at home. Why are you passed out? What happened?” So I made it home. I have no idea how I did that, but I’m glad I did. I struggle to sit up with Lynn’s help. I put my head in my hands and just breathe. “What’s up with you, Mark?” I have to talk about this. I can’t just ignore it. I have to try to trust Lynn with this.

“Lynn, I have to talk to you. I have to tell you something, but you have to swear to keep it to yourself.” Lynn looks at me with confusion. “I’m serious Lynn. You can’t talk about this to anyone, especially Tia.” Lynn slowly nods at me. I shake my head. I grab Lynn’s shoulders. “No, I need to hear you say it. I nee you to promise me…..promise me you won’t say anything. PROMISE ME!”

“Okay Mark, f**k! I won’t tell anyone, I swear.” I sigh and swallow the lump in my throat.

“I….I found my mate today.” A smile springs onto Lynn’s face.

“That’s wonderful Mark! OMG! Mom and dad will be so excited. Who is she? What’s her name? What’s she -”

“It’s Jenna. Jenna is my mate.”

“WHAT. THE. F**K?!”