Not edited.

***

Christian's POV

  I didn't know what had gotten into her. Going back to her father to discuss a subject that we all knew was just a sick game.. "Absolutely not, Lana," I told her, even though she was already a step ahead of me and walking out of the living room. I've been trying to talk her out of this ever since she rushed in the kitchen with that stupid idea in her head.

  "I never asked for your permission, Christian. I don't need it." True. But there were other methods that she was tempting me to use. I could still keep her in the house if I wanted to, and there were plenty of ways to do that.. I just figured it would be more kind of me to try to convince her first.. What else was I supposed to do? Let her go so easily.. Those same people that she called family basically sold her out to the Vesnetsovs who were one of the most dangerous pack, especially once that Alexander started ruling, and I saw how damn angry that made her.. Now she was acting like they were the ones that were going to save her..

  I shouldn't care enough to overthink that much and to feel so eager to stop this nonsense once and for all, but at the same time, the way she acted, it was almost as if she wouldn't listen even if I tried stopping her. And I hated having to use drastic methods with Lana.

  As she put her shoes on, there was not much that came to my mind that I could tell her to change her mind, other than physically. Stepping over the other side, I somewhat managed to stop in the middle of the hallway, a little before the doors, just so I could get her to at least talk to me. "Can you at least think through what you're saying here? Where the fuck did that come from? You didn't mention a thing last night.." She glanced at me before straightening up and running her hands through her hair.

  "Christian,-"

  "What?" I immediately barked back. I fucking hated when someone was uncertain about serious things.. Especially when it came to risking her safety. And in this case, it was Lana. "I thought you ran away for a reason," My voice was clear and somewhat loud, but it seemed to trail off when she took a small step closer. I looked down at her, trying to figure out what was going behind those greens, what the hell she was thinking with wanting to risk her life. And I shouldn't had been the one to care so damn much, but I was trying to keep up with our deal.

  Instead of saying something, I watched her reach her hand towards my face, before she blinked a few times, changing her mind and looking away as she simply pressed her hand over my shoulder. She glanced back at me, trying to preform some kind of a faint smile, but I could see it in her eyes.. She was not okay. And it wasn't whatever for me. I knew the girl for a while now.. She changed her opinion in less than 10 hours. And this was a serious subject. A damn serious situation.

  "I know what I'm doing, okay?" I heard her say as she put her hand away.. Her voice kept trailing off and nothing seemed right for this situation. "This is important for me, Christian. Don't,- just please don't try to stop me." Silence swallowed both of us after that, and all I had left was to look back at her and try to figure out what had gotten into her so quickly.

  I didn't know how to explain to her.. She trusted her family.. I understood that.. But she had to consider the fact that the biggest betrayals were coming exactly from family. And it wasn't just that I was following some situations that I had to deal with in my family.. But generally, those were the people that everyone trusted the most, and it hurt the most when those same ones betray you. She already went through that.. God, her heart was too pure to understand. She couldn't fucking accept that they already hurt her once. And I was not trying to convince her to give up on them, I just wanted her to think it through.

  I mean, her father was Khal Morpher. He worked with my father back in the war.. They were supposed to rule together not against each other.. Their brains work the same fucking way.. There was no way that it was something pure hiding behind the whole situation. It was all messed up, and she had to understand that it would hurt her far more than not knowing everything. Because sometimes, not knowing every damn detail meant more safety.

  "I don't want to stop you, I just want to hear what you have on your mind.." I told her watching how she closed her eyes for a second and ran a hand through her hair before she took a small step back. "Lana, just talk to me before you go."

~

Lana's POV

  I sat on the couch across from Christian. I tried explaining as much as possible. But was it understandable for him? Did he ever have to deal with something like that.. What Amelia and I saw in those 'visions', it was no joke.. It included so many people, and I was not willing on just letting that go without any answers. It was madness to just try and forget about it because we didn't even know if it was true or not.. I couldn't live with assumptions. I wanted to know the truth.

  "The best way to know if what I saw was real is to ask the person that's mostly involved in it. And that's my father." He had his elbows leaned on his knees and from the frown on his face I could tell that he didn't really like what I was telling him.

  "There is another way, Lana.. We'll find a different way." He seemed so certain in what he was saying that almost seemed impossible to change his mind. But this was going too far. We were losing time. And I knew that Amelia was involved in that as well.. I just didn't talk to her that morning. I was certain that I could solve it without any drama whatsoever. And I was aware that I ran away for a reason, but I knew that they weren't going to make me do something I didn't agree on. Besides, time already passed.. The situation cooled off..

  "It's my family, Christian. They're not going to hurt me." The worst thing that I knew for fact was going to happen was my dad being angry with me for worrying them.. And my mom probably not speaking to me.

  I watched how he released a slow breath and leaned back on his chair. I could tell that I annoyed him with my excuses, but it was my family we were dicussing. I knew damn well that no one would rise a finger on me. And even though I didn't want to deal with that at that point, they were all involved.. My father was the main dot. He connected us all.. We were a family for so long because of him. We functioned as a union because of him. We were the strongest pack because of him.. Because he was a good leader. If it was a different case, I wouldn't feel so comfortable and calmed about going back home. I ran away not for my life, but with the hope that the situation about my arranged marriage would be a little forgotten by the time I go back.

  He looked at me, and I could tell that there was something that he wasn't telling me.. Something that he didn't express yet. I glanced at Calliope but she just followed the situation.. "Listen," Christian's deep tone took my attention again as I watched how he leaned forward again. "I'm not saying that your family is going to hurt you, Lana, I'm not.. But we all saw what happened last night. We took the necklace from your father, and even though the pendant we found belonged to a Vesnetsov, it's obvious that he was involved. He's been working with the Vesnetsovs for years.."

  Oh, but there were so many other ways, and they all added up. "I know, okay? But, I already told you last night.. What if we didn't take the necklace from my father, but we took it from Alexander?" I didn't know how to prove my theories but what I did know for sure was the fact that my family was never going to hurt me. "If my father was involved in the attack from last night, trust me, I would've been dragged out from here that same second they crashed in."

  My father was never going to let me be involved with vampires if he knew where I was.. And Christian and I.. We were more than just involeved. There was something going on, and it wasn't just the deal. I knew that. I was aware of it. I felt it.. I just didn't want to admit it..

  But after seeing those visions that night.. I didn't want to run. I wanted to face it. I wanted to hear the truth. I wanted to know if it was real or not. "You don't need to convince me.. You helped us find the necklace, I'm just trying to keep my side of the deal.." I could feel that spark of frustration building into something stronger.. Heat just rushed in my face. I didn't need his protection. The deal was never for protection. It was for him to keep me away, but I didn't any to be away anymore.. I wanted to be included with my family's situation again.

  "Yea? Well, what if I want the deal off?" Silence fell over for a few seconds.. I stared at him and he stared back.. I couldn't keep my thoughts on track, I just knew that I could see that same frustration reflect in his eyes. I did trust him.. I grew close to him.. And I knew it angered him when I made sudden decisions. But this was something that had to be done. It wasn't much of a choice.. There were only a two people that could explain if it was true or not and that was my father and Amelia's mom.. And of course I trusted my father more. He was the first choice.. Even if it meant having to go back home. The place that I ran from only a month ago.

  I even forgot about Calliope at that point, I just knew that I was trying to keep up with the anger that went behind Christian's eyes.. I could tell that he kept something to himself, and maybe I said that about the deal on purpose.. Just to make him talk.. See if it was only the deal that kept our trust in each other.. However, he managed to keep quiet and ignore my outburst.

  "Okay," I heard Calliope's voice, but I didn't bother looking at her until I heard her continue. "Deal or no deal, I believe that we are all involved in the same thing. It's the same group of people that we're circling around and we're all part of it." She was right. And I think she only started this to break the tension and to take our attention, but I knew that whenever she spoke, she had something smart to say.

She stood up slowly, clasping her hands together before she glanced back at me. "So, what if there's a plan?" She continued, and I think it was enough to catch both of our attention. "What if Christian and I come with you, I put a spell on both of us so they wouldn't catch our scents , we wait for you a bit away from the house while you try to get some information about what you saw last night out of your father.. And," She cleared her throat slightly, speaking slowly like she was explaining to some kids. "And, if you don't like the situation there and you decide you want to get away again, we'll have your back."

  Calliope didn't know the real reason why I ran away.. Only Christian knew about the marriage thing, and I was glad that she didn't ask much because the subject alone was pretty sensitive for me to discuss when there were so many other problems going on in my life. I learned in only a month that my father was not connected with the vampires because they were enemies, but maybe because both sides were seeking something that could protect or end one person. Adam.. I couldn't understand how my family was involved with that, or with the Vesnetsovs in general, I just knew I didn't like the situation we were all thrown in. 

  But I did like the plan. I mean, what if my father was still hooked with the deal he had with Alexander? What if he still wanted me to marry him? I was not going to let that happen, and I knew that after going back, getting away was going to be way damn harder than it was the first time.. I knew that he was going to make the security stronger, and with all the anger that I caused he was definitely going to be more prepared to keep me in place..

God, I just hoped that Calliope could do a spell that wouldn't let my father and the others catch their scents, because if they sensed a vampire near, especially if they saw it was a Le Bouriser, there was going to be a fricking bloodbath down there.. I knew damn well what my father and the pack were capable of, but I also saw Christian in a pretty bloodthirsty situation the other night. He was still one of the most powerful vampires out there.. If it came to a fight, it was going to be an interesting action.. I just didn't want to know or test any of them.. Calliope's spell was the only way.

~

My mind seemed nearly blank while we were in the car.. The closer we got to my house, the stronger the anxiety kicked in. My heart was steady but harsh against my chest.. My blood rushed in my ears and my thoughts seemed to echo in my head. There was not a single idea of what I had to say, how to start everything, what to ask.. But I knew that it just simply had to be done.. I had to find out, no matter what it took.

The whole ride there, Christian and I didn't say a single word to each other.. Maybe it was because I wanted the deal off.. Maybe he was just angry with me because I refused to listen to him.. But we all already discussed and agreed that this was my only way on finding out if what Amelia and I saw was the truth. Besides, I asked Calliope if we had another option, and of course the only other option was Amelia asking Jessica, her mother, since she was just as involved in it as my father.. However, Calliope suggested that we leave that. And Christian was very certain that Amelia shouldn't know about this plan because she would do the same, and apparently he couldn't keep an eye on everyone if Amelia and I both went out for information..

The car came to stop. I was in the middle of the back seat, so damm nervous and anxious that I was unable to lean back, so I was just sitting on the edge of it. My heart performed a quick skip when I realized that we had stopped.. I looked towards the small mirror in the middle and the same second Christian looked at it too.. Our gazes met for a second, but when he just looked away, I knew that there was something going on.. I knew he was mad at me. However, I could not deal with that at that point.. I didn't do anything wrong. I mean, he didn't act like he was angry, and it made no sense why me wanting to break the deal would effect him in any way.. Yes, the subject effected me, but I knew why.. I was getting attached to him, getting used to his attention, his presence..

He.. He had no strings attached with me whatsoever, and he only cared about the deal. It was just that he probably thought that I might be out of use and that if I leave or get hurt now, his chances of getting information about the necklace from my father would of course be very little. I even heard about his history.. Calliope said that he only loved one girl, and that he lost her. There were no chances of Christian Le Bouriser to have any kind of attachment with me. A werewolf. A Morpher.

  The weird part was, it bothered me knowing that he was angry with me.. It just didn't feel right. I was aware that I could exaggerate very often, but I knew how I felt about the whole situation.. He kept claiming that there was nothing but the deal that bound us, and we both kept our sides of the deal.. Perhaps that's what made me say that.. Telling him that the deal was off.. Because I helped him find the necklace and he did.. It was not my fault that there were attackers that took it.. And he on the other hand kept me safe just like he promised.. He didn't let my father find me and that was what mattered.. So it meant that we both kept our sides of the deal.. It was only reality for this to end.. Somewehere.. And that somewhere was perhaps that day.

  But I still needed to have someone that would have my back if my father still insisted on the arranged marriage. And Calliope's plan was perfect. She wanted to help. However, if Christian was mad at me no one made him come.. He was just too obsessed with wanting to have control over every situation and he wanted to know what was going on with everyone at every time. He wanted to hold the strings over every damn situation, and I was glad that I still had him on my side, but we all knew that if the situation at my place was dialed down, then I was there to stay..

  "Alright," Calliope turned towards me from the passenger's seat. "If something's off or if you're not satisfied with the situation, just text me S.O.S. We'll get to the house and help you get out." She started, waving her phone in her hand. "And if everything's alright, still let me know so we wouldn't wait for you. Either way, we want information about the necklace and the whole vision thing.." Right. Of course. It all came with a price.

  They were there to have my back as long as I gave them information about the necklace, and if my father was or wasn't involved with the whole attack thing.. Also, Amelia was the important one for them.. The queen wanted to know if the vision we saw was true or not, and even though she didn't know that they were here on this suicide mission with me, if I got information from my father about whether what we saw was truthful or not, they were going to tell her. Seemed like there was still some kind of deal going on between us, even though Christian barely said a word to me since we left. I was fine with it.. As long as they had my back if something went wrong in the house.

  I nodded my head at her, glanced at Christian, but once again I was just able to catch his gaze in the mirror. If everything was going to go fine with my father and I, then I was going to text them to go home and of course text them the info that I was going to get. In that case, we would all go to our separate ways.. So me walking out of that car could be easily a goodbye.. And it's the most messed up thing how hard it felt when he looked on the side and once again didn't say a word to me. He didn't care if I was going to leave or not.

  Huh, what the hell was I expecting? I mean it was Christuan. If course he didn't care.. Calliope said it herself.. He didn't have any attachments with the girls he slept with.. He did it as a distraction.. And I was just the one that had a random deal with him.. That ended now.. So either it was going to be a goodbye or we would have to face each other again after..

  I took my backpack before moving on the side and opening the door.. I could feel anger inside me.. I almost felt bad for telling him that the deal was over, which was the reality of our situation.. But then.. He didn't even bother to say goodbye when it could be the last time we were seeing each other.. He didn't even look. And that showed how damn much he cared. So he wasn't really mad at me for pointing out the reality that the deal between the two of us ended, but he just showed his real face, and showed how much he cared.. I was just glad that I could at least count on Calliope.

  I walked on the road, the headlights from the car that was now behind me were off, since they were supposed to stay hidden.. The house was only behind the corner, and even though they were risking on getting seen, Calliope did put a spell on both of them so they wouldn't get sensed. My job was to go in my house, talk to my father, see what he had to say, and if I was satisfied with the answer and if he was willing in letting go the whole marriage thing, then I was there to stay.. If he was still heated with the idea if me marrying Alexander, then I was going to leave. And if they didn't let me leave, which was probably going to be the case, then I had to text Calliope for some backup, and they would help me get past them.

  The plan still sucked.. If they helped me get away, then it meant fighting my own and being on the side of my father's biggest enemy. And my father was of course going to see with who I was staying.. Who had my back.. Whose side I chose.. Even though that didn't mean choosing a side, it just meant me trying to do the right thing.. I loved my family despite everything, and I was staying with Christian and the others because I was trying to stop my father, or at least delay his stupid decision about giving up all his power to Alexander.. Putting him in charge. Because I knew that was not a good idea.

  And of course what I had with Christian meant something, I wouldn't have felt so damn depressed about leaving, and his coldness that he showed only seconds before I left wouldn't have effected me if it didn't.. But there was no explanation to those feelings I felt.. The only thing that came to my mind was that perhaps I had grown to trust him. That's why it felt hard to see him act like that and to accept that it was in fact, yes, maybe a goodbye. But things had to be done a certain way.. I could only blame myself for getting attached to a vampire. I made a deal with the devil and it worked out fine for me.. There was just still something holding me back. Pulling me back..

  With just a small turn, right aside from the road, on a large clearing surrounded by the woods was the house I grew up in.. Also, the house that I ran away from, only a month ago. I stopped for a second staring at the large mansion. I knew every inch of this place that was away from every town, the place where I was taught everything I knew, the place where I grew to hate those that I now had deals with.. Those that I now had trouble saying goodbye to..

  I heard myself release a sharp breath as I glanced at my arm.. The cut was healed.. But the memory of the attack was still there.. Blurred from how distracted I was that night from the visions I saw only seconds before the attackers crashed in. Now, I was supposed to continue walking towards my own home with the thought that maybe those attackers had something to do with an order that could possibly had been given by my own father.. With the thought of those visions about my father having another daughter could be easily true.. Perhaps I was going to walk out of this house with the truth. Or my father was just going to use his manipulative method and make me feel like the bad one for even daring to ask something like that, whether it was true or not.

  I opened the large gates and walked slowly towards the door.. Once I reached the porch, I thought that someone was going to rush out because they would hear me.. However, nothing happened.. I just took the key from the top of the doorframe, and slowly unlocked the door. I took a step in, met with the very familiar view of the large hall and a pair of two symmetrical curved staircases across from the door. Something dropped in my stomach.. No matter how much I convinced myself that I ran away for a good reason, I still missed it.. I missed home.

Before I could release that shaky breath that I was holding, from the whole silence that dominated which was weird for this house because it was always loud and alive around the whole place, I heard a sharp gush of wind, and before I could react, I felt my body being pushed against the wall right beside me and a heavy pressure against my neck. The hit against the wall made me close my eyes, but I immediately managed to open them, and realized that I was staring back at a very familiar pair of green eyees.. Jack.

  He frowned, releasing the grip from my neck. "Lana," It was more of a question, but he had the 'honor' to be my brother as well as Marco, so only the two of them knew where I was the whole time.. I could tell the twins apart cause Jack had a scar on the side of his eyebrow, and Marco didn't.. Besides they were my younger brothers, I could tell them apart in a dream.. But now, perhaps my return just surprised him.. He took a step back, giving me enough space to push myself off the wall. I was just glad to see him, so it only seemed like a reflex when I hugged him. "What happened? Are you okay?" I heard that worried tone in his voice as we pulled back..

I nodded my head, pushing my hair off my face.. "Yea.. I never planned to run away forever, Jack, I just,- I thought dad would change his mind.. I'm hoping he did, 'cause I need to talk to him," Before he could say something, right from the living room walked out my mom and Marco.. My mother's expression was surprised, eyes wide and her face almost flushed when she saw me.. Was it so unbelievable for me to come back home?

"Lana," Her voice was high with surprise as she walked towards me in a rush.. It was a new thing to see her dressed in jeans and a shirt, even though her hair was still very nicely done in a low bun.. I never liked that she tried showing our family as something gracious, even though with my father being basically the very root of the whole pack, it was what was expected from us.. But he taught me differently, and perhaps I was always more casual since I was more close with him than I was with her..

However, I missed every single part of home.. Her saying that I was supposed to be more ladylike, her perfect buns and all the parties she threw whenever she found the excuse.. I missed just laying my head on her shoulder while we watched a movie, exhausted from a training my dad made us go through, but still laughing with a butterbeer beside us.. When she pulled me into a tight hug, it all came crashing through me like a wave that made me feel pressure in my head from how happy I felt seeing her.

"Thank God, Lana," I could hear her voice shake as we pulled away and Marco was quick to tap me over the shoulder slightly, but I couldn't help but wrap my hands around him too.. Even though I contacted with him more than I did with Jack, I still missed everything about him.. The sarcastic jokes, or the fact that him and I fought the most whenever he tried convincing me that if we race through the woods, he was going to beat me.. I always beat his ass.. "You had us dying worried. Where were you?" My mother's voice was starting to screech as she pressed her hand over my back and lead me towards the living room.

When I heard her say that, I knew that firstly, my brothers didn't betray me by telling mom and dad that they had contact with me.. I glanced at Marco mouthing out a small 'thank you', but he just nodded his head in return.. Then it also assured me that the attackers from last night had nothing to do with my family, because if my father was involved in this, like I said, I would've been dragged out of that house that same second..

I stopped before she could make me seat on the couch so she would question every deatail, turning towards her, and making her look at me with slight surprise. My lips parted to say something, but I smiled firstly to calm her down, and saw some relief in her eyes. "Mom, look, I,-" I tried smiling again, before glancing at Marco and Jack that stood on the side like some body guards with their arms crossed over their chests and listened to what I had to say.. "I know that you and dad are probably aware why I left home.. And I'm not back because I changed my mind. I'm not going to go along with that madness and marry Alexander."

She released a slight breath in a puff before she looked back at me and pressed her palms against the sides of my shoulders. "Lana, you know what kind of a ruler your father is.. He knows what he is doing and as our daughter it is your duty to support his decisions." And that was when I knew that, in fact, no, things did not change here.. Not one bit. They were still sticking to that decision..

I took a step back, unable to keep the ironic chuckle that escaped my throat. "I cannot believe that you are making me discuss this subject the second I walk in the house after a month." I could still see the slight surprise behind her eyes, perhaps because I dared to talk back to her, when she was so damn focused on that movie she was making in her head that she was so eager to turn into reality.. "This is my life. I do have a say in it. And I say that I'm not going to marry him." I made sure to be clear with that, and I was ready to repeat it as many times as I had to.

Since I was 18 my mother tried putting that idea in my head.. That idea of course me marrying someone that she would choose.. I just could not believe that my father actually agreed on that when my while life he taught me how to be a strong individual, and how to crash everything that came in my way.. This was the complete opposite of his morals, of everything he taught me.. It was like he was brainwashed.. And I knew that my mom wanted the best as well, but that 'best" was actually the worst thing that they ever decided.

I turned back towards the hall, looking around. "Where's father? I want to talk to him." I finally asked as I turned back towards her. Again, her eyes were still wide with surprise while she was glued to her spot, perhaps because I found the courage to stand against her and actually say that no, I was not going to marry Alexander Vesnetsov.

After a few seconds she seemed to snap out of that shock from my courage in my own words, before she took a few steps towards me and reached her arms to once again direct me towards the living room. "He is already angry with you for leaving home. Do not anger him even more.."

"There are things that I saw and went through while I was away that only he can explain to me.." My tone was sharp and edgy from how hard I was trying to sound convincing. Perhaps it made her think that I lost respect towards her as a mother, and my loud tone again only surprised her. But I was only trying to prove my point.

I saw her frown and I knew what was next. I got her angry.. "After everything you did, where do you get the courage to talk back at me?" Her voice was pretty loud even though she was trying to control it. Her fists were clenched beside her, and I knew her scolding lessons always took a whole eternity. But I didn't have the time to deal with that at that point.. She rose her finger and had that even more serious expression on her face that always assured me that I was in trouble when I was a kid. "It was your damn choice to try and act like some rebel and run away from home.. Do you even know what you made us go through?"

But I was an adult now. They could not make choices about my life without me having a say in them. "I am not going to let you ruin our pack," I once again talked with the same harsh tone that she used with me, and that made her even more mad at me than she already was.

With the closeness she had, less than a feet from me, it was enough for her to reach her hand and grab my arm with a tighter grip than I had ever felt from her. I had never seen her like that before.. "This is not a game, Lana. Stop acting like a child!" She rose her voice, still holding me still.. I could tell that there was something far more complicated going on behind her eyes other than just anger.. It was fear.. And I knew it was not from me, it was from something that perhaps made her make this decision. Father too? "What has gotten into you?! I did not raise you like this." And it was obviously something that turned her against me..

I didn't say anything for a second. I didn't want to test her more. I just saw Marco's hand over hers, and her grip around my elbow loosened as she looked at him. "Enough," He told her looking her directly in the eyes, even though with his quiet and raspy tone he seemed to try and calm her down. I don't know if Marco standing up for me surprised her again, or just made her snap out of whatever she thought she was doing, I just know that she let go of me, and Marco instantly looked back at me, placing his hand over my back and making me turn around. "Dad is in his office," He said as he led me out of the living room and towards the strairs.

I glanced over my shoulder slightly, watching Jack do the same with my mom, but she already had her back turned on us as Jack lead her towards the couch. "What has gotten into her? She's acting like a completely different person," I heard her say to Jack, but I already turned my head in front if myself and took a step on the stairs. What has gotten into me?! Am I the crazy one for trying to stop them from making this ridiculous decision?

"She's vulnerable right now. You can't make her do something like that, mom." Jack tried explaining the best way he could.. And I talked to him a few times after I left. He was also supporting me with this.. At least I had them on my side, proving me that I was not crazy for not wanting to marry a stranger and give up all the power.

"It's for the best." She started with that scolding tone and her voice slightly muted the more I walked up the stairs. "She's our daughter, she's supposed to obey our decisions." Ah, of course. It was for the pride of our family. How sweet. My parents promised me to a man I didn't even know.. It was going to crash their pride if their daughter acted like this, wasn't it? "Your brother should not encourage her by taking her side like that."

I glanced at Marco, bur he just rubbed my back sligtly. I was shaking at that point. Not that I was nervous for talking to my father, but for seeing a complete different side to my mother.. "I shouldn't have came back," I whispered slowly, but the frown on his face made me feel like I was talking crazy.

"Don't say that." I heard him say quietly as we reached the second floor, my father's office right at the end of the hallway. I stopped, looked at Marco and he looked back at me. He could read right through me.

"What has gotten into them?" Again, I talked quiet, trying not to be heard by my dad, or my mom that was still rambling about how disrespectful I acted, for hey, being crazy and all and not wanting to ruin my own life firstly, then the life of another thousand people with that marriage.

Marco glanced on the side, making sure there was no one near us, before he looked back down at me. "You were right about the deal.. There is a deal between dad and Alexander, he just refuses to tell me what it is about. He told me to stay out of it and that it was for the best.." He ran his hand through his dark hair.. The more he grew up the more he looked like my dad.. He was already so much taller than me.. "That's all I got."

I could tell that this subject effected him as much as it did me, even though he wasn't the one that our parents were making drastic decisions for.. But we weren't blind.. We could all see that there was something going on. However, they refused to tell us.

I tapped his shoulder sligtly, before taking a step to walk towards dad's office. "I'll figure it out." I told him as I passed by him, knowing that he followed only a step behind me. I seemed to take careful steps towards my father's office for some reason as I stopped a feet away from his door.

My hand reached for the knob, but before I even wrapped my fingers around it, a familiar voice from the inside stopped me. To be more correct, it was my father talking. "She'll come around." Was all I heard through the isolated door and with his voice muted.. Like a stone, something dropped in my stomach. My heart skipped a beat and only one thought hit me. But the first thing I tried telling myself was 'No, it's not possible,'.

  I was the kind of person that assumptions made me even more eager to know.. With a quick knock on the door, I wrapped my fingers around the knob and turned, pushing the door open immediately. The sight I was met with took me by surprise, and I think everyone in the room heard how rapidly my heart started thumping, like it lost control.. I stopped dead in my tracks, across from my father's desk and stared, completely lost and paralyzed with the sight.

While my father was sitting on his desk, right beside it was standing a tall young man, in casual jeans and a gray shirt, with a built large figure and muscly arms crossed over his chest.. A dirty blonde hair, messy on top of his head, sharp jaw and cheekbones, and large light brown eyes with clear wildness that I only saw once before. Mr. Alexander Vesnetsov personally.. Apparently, my future husband.

***

Babes, that was intense, let me tell you.. Hope y'all enjoyed tho.. It was a pretty long chapter, so I had to stop somewhere.. But yea, leave your thoughts in the comments and tell me what you think about the whole Lana/Chris thing.. Is it okay for Christian to act like that? Hopefully Xander won't stand in the way of this romance (;

I'll be focusing on this book more from now on so stay tuned for new updates (: Kisses babes, :*