Marked Mate

5

SCARLETT

I found myself staring at the clock, surprised by how quickly the time had passed. Erica and I had spent the last two and a bit hours in the games room, playing something called Pool.

It was far too complicated for me, and I struggled to hold the long stick and hit the balls with it, meaning Erica won over and over again by a landslide. I didn't mind though - actually finding myself laughing whenever I missed a shot, which was most of the time.

We made our way up to Roman's office, expecting him to be finished with his work. Erica wouldn't stop talking about Brandon and how excited she was to see him. She was practically bouncing off the walls at the prospect. Surprisingly, I had started to miss Roman, and I berated myself for thinking about him in such a way.

What did I expect to feel when I left? I had to get used to the feeling of him not being around.

After knocking on the door, a tall brunette man flung it open, looking rather similar to Roman, except he was clean shaven. Erica wrapped her arms around him as he planted multiple soft kisses to the top of her head. I peered past them to see Roman sitting at a desk tapping away at a computer, instantly turning his attention to me and smiling.

I stuffed the maps I had taken from the library further into my pocket - hoping he wouldn't spot them - wandering up to him and peeking over his shoulder at his laptop. I was nosy. Always had been.

"Sorry," he said, leaning back so he was pressed against my chest slightly, the warm sensation causing me to sigh. "I'm just finishing off this email."

"What have you two been working on today?" Erica asked curiously, helping Brandon pack away his things.

"Apparently the Enclave clan have been getting more aggressive. I've been receiving multiple emails about them from other Alphas," Roman muttered with frustration.

I gulped, my entire face going white. Were they close? Had they found me?

"What do you mean? Who are they attacking?" I questioned, trying to make my voice sound normal, although, it cracked at the end.

"Nobody near here," Roman said, shutting his laptop and getting up from his chair. "But other Alphas are concerned.I know the Enclave tends to claim they're just searching, but they've been burning places down and threatening packs to allow them in to check for any gifted wolves. It's unacceptable."

"Why do they want them anyway?" Erica mumbled.

"Having gifted wolves makes them stronger, it makes it easier for them to rule us like some sort of messed up government controlled by fear," Brandon huffed.

"I doubt these gifted wolves want to work with them if they're hunting them down and ripping them from their families though," Erica added.

She was right. We didn't, but I had heard through the grapevine that the Enclave Clan threatened us with our loved ones. Luckily for me, I had never had anyone that I cared about after Pearl.

I shut my eyes, taking deep breaths. I had no idea that the Enclave clan were actually forcing their way into packs. I thought that they had more respect for normal wolves than that, but it appeared not.

"Don't panic," spoke Brandon, his arms still wrapped around his mate. "We're sorting it. We're setting up alliances as we speak, just in case of an emergency."

I hummed in response, not wanting to hear any more.I had to leave, but the thought of the Enclaves burning down Roman's pack and possibly killing people just in search of gifted wolves - in search of me - made me shiver.