I've Been Waiting For You

Chapter 51

  Tracy wasn't lying when she told him that Markus never lost a game. He watched Chris shouting his lungs out every time he would lose his footing or any game against Markus. It was really entertaining. 

"I'm out. No more." Chris got up from the floor and went to the table. He grabbed a plate and filled it with finger food. "Anyone else hungry?"

  Pamela just shook her head. "Let's continue without him."

"One last game then we eat." Tia said in her position on the floor.

  They finished game with Markus being first and Kev coming in second.

"So, how have you been Mitchell?" Tom asked as he handed him a plate.

"I've been good. School keeps me busy sometimes."

"What about Markus, does he keep you busy?"

  Mitchell looked at Tom who was grinning at him. He still didn't know much about him or the others but he seemed like a decent person. Did he know about Markus?

"How long have you known Markus?" He asked instead of answering his question.

"Markus grew up with Kev and Susan. I met him when he first started kindergarten. Along with Tia, Tracy and Chris.

"What about Pamela and Dan?"

"We met them in first grade. They instantly stuck close to Markus."

"Just like that?"

"Markus as I'm sure you have noticed, isn't like other normal people. We saw that growing up, so we took it upon ourselves to protect him."

"Markus has been causing nothing but trouble since he was younger."

  Mitchell looked over when Tia walked in, the others right behind her.

"How is that my fault?" Markus smiled at him, before taking a seat on the ottoman as Tia gave him a plate which he took with a smile.

  He guess Markus was feeling comfortable sitting on the ottoman instead of a chair. He took the seat next to him.

  A serious expression came over Tia's face as she stared at Mitchell. She turned to look at Markus.

"Does he know about you?"

"Not everything."

  Silence reigned through the room as Mitchell waited to see what would happen. He didn't want them to think he was here for any other reason except to be with Markus. 

"It doesn't bother you that he's not human?" Tia asked, her eyes never once leaving his face.

"No it doesn't. I'm here because I want to be with him."

"Do you know about us?"

  Mitchell shook his head at Tracy. It was up to them to tell him if they wanted.

"We're Half-human."

  Mitchell could only stare at them. "Wow, that's surprising. I guess that's kind of expected, though. I mean I'm surprised but not shocked, which I found to be quite surprising."

"He's babbling." Pamela said, laughing.

"When we first met you, we tried to make you feel like you belong with us. We were happy when Markus told us he finally found his mate." Chris said then he quickly glanced at Markus.

"His what?" Mitchell asked looking at him.

"I thought I told you not bring that up." Tia said glaring at Chris.

  Chris looked at Markus and shrugged his shoulders in apology. "I'm sorry. I thought he knew."

"It's fine Chris."

  Markus turned to Mitchell with a sigh, placing his plate on the table.

"My mate, soulmate. In human terms life partner."

"That doesn't sound so bad. We're already together."

"It means more than that Mitchell."

  Markus got up and took his hand, pulling him through a door leading to the backyard. He leaned against the railing to stare at the water. 

"I can't live without you in my life. The word 'Mate' has different meanings. For us it means forever. There's no one else."

  Mitchell knew what he meant. But still it was a lot to digest at the moment. 

"Was that the connection we felt when we first saw each other?"

"We're connected but not physically or spiritually with each other. In order for us to be as one. I need to make love to you then mark you."

"Is that the reason your pheromones scent have been so strong? You want to mate with me?"

"Yes. It will only get stronger and the heat will become more unbearable. Others like me, some humans, can smell my scent and it drives them crazy."

"What if we don't mate with each other?"

"I'll be force to mate with someone else."

  Mitchell stared at him in shock. No way in hell was that going to happen.

"Is that why Cassie, Lucas and Tim looks at you like that?"

"They're waiting for you to reject me then I'm fair game to them."

  Jealousy and anger churned in his stomach. He grabbed Markus's hand so he would look at him.

"I'm not letting those people put their hands on you. You belong to me, not them. They can go to hell and rot for all I care. Your mine and I'm yours. We're going to mate with each other."

"Mitchell, you have to be sure about this. There's no going back."

"I'm serious Markus. I can't lose you."

"Are you doing this because you don't want to lose me or do you have feelings for me?"

  Mitchell remembered his conversation with Kev that night after dinner. Kev had asked him the same question. 

"Do you love Markus?" Kev stared at him.

"I'm not sure what I'm feeling."

"Then if you're not sure, stay away from him. Don't hurt him because he's already in love with you."

"Really?"

"Markus told us that he dreamt about you for years. When he saw you at the supermarket, he wanted to talk to you but I told him to be patient."

"He already knew I was in the same class with him."

"He tried to play it off. You giving him a palm reading was just an excuse to talk to you."

"I thought he just wanted to tease me."

"Markus knew you were his mate. But he couldn't just tell you. He wanted you to integrate into his life. Inviting you to that party, the picnic, the diner. To the Hendersons."

  Mitchell had looked back at where Markus had been waiting for him.

  Waiting for him to come to him.

  That was all he needed.