Red Riding Hood

Chapter Thirty Four

My head hurt. My neck hurt. My body hurt. Flicking my eyes open I wasn't in my room. Trying to open my eyes I groaned moving to sit up, the lumpy bed unfamiliar. The last couple of days came to me in a rush and I collapsed back onto the bed, burying my head into the pillow. The warm shape beside me moved, causing me to become aware of the arm over my back and the legs entangled in mine. In seconds I was out the bed, pulling the sheet with me to cover my naked body. The quick movements had my head protesting, bile burned my throat as nausea took over. Oh god. I quickly ran to the bathroom and after a few minutes I was finally able to put the world back into place. Brushing my teeth in an effort to rid my mouth of the toxic taste, I then splashed water on my face. Spying the red silvery outline at the base of my neck I hesitantly touched it, memories of last night returned. 'What the hell?' I thought quickly turning back to the bedroom I stormed in, slamming it behind me, which had Parker alert, jumping up turning to face me. The guilt on his face said it all.

"What is this?" I demanded pointing to my neck. He frowned, roughly running his hand through his hair as he tried to think of something to say that wasn't going to annoy me further. Spying a similar mark on his neck I practically ran over, looking at it. As our bodies connected the urge to be closer to him flooded me and I closed my eyes hoping the feeling would pass.

"You have one?" As soon as I said the words I remembered the thrill from biting him. Marking him. "You marked me?" I said remembering what William had said about it. Oh god, William. What did that mean? Groaning I flopped on the bed, twisting the sheet around my body like a cocoon.

"I told you, you were going to hate me," he said sadly, sitting on the bed beside me. My feelings towards him were as muddled as ever and his closeness wasn't helping to make them any clearer.

"Why? Why do it then?" I snapped; looking up at him he flinched under my gaze.

"If I didn't, she was going to kill James to make you obey. With us marking, it is the final stage of being mates. If she threatens me, you'll be more likely to do what she wants and it keeps everyone else out it" I sat up, what he said made sense, it was why I was here in the first place. Though I was certain he wasn't completely devastated on the turn of events, it wasn't him being a selfish jerk. He actually cared. He always had. Everything he had done was for others.

"What about William?" I leant against his chest needing the comfort he could provide. His arm came around me holding me close.

"If you still feel something for him now, it will probably fade" He said it flatly, his voice void of any emotion.

"I love him Parker," I whispered, letting the tears flow now. 'He loves me' I thought. But would he after he finds out? I felt him tense beside me and he moved to stand up. Looking at him, I could tell he was angry now.

"Why? Why do you love him Beth?" he demanded. I opened my mouth but no words came out. I don't know why I loved him, I just did. I thought about the nights we would lay together, he was always talking of the pack, of being Alpha. He was proud of all they had achieved; he loved being what we were. He had asked me questions on me, about my Dad, about James. We liked so many of the same things, music and books. I just clicked with him. But I had all that with Eric and nothing with him was the same as what I had felt for William. He made a snort like sound, smirking as he realised I couldn't answer him.

"Why do you love me then?" I challenged, but his smirk didn't disappear.

"Really?" he asked sarcastically, moving to sit back beside me on the bed. I shifted so I was at one end leaving him to lean against the pillows.

"Really" I snapped back, glaring at how amused he seemed. He only smiled now as if he knew the biggest secret ever.

"Because you're beautiful" he started and I rolled my eyes.