Mark nibbled on the dried jerky. Enjoying the rich smoky taste combined with the smooth raspberry taste of the moonshine. He found that he didn't have to drink too much to feel calm. So, he kept his drinking light and filled himself with more jerky. While beside him, Jack ate a whole jar of sweet pickles and drank the pickle juice. The silence only made Mark dwell on how much he'd messed up. Yet, he didn't know how to fix it. Was there even a way to fix it? He kicked himself for lying but beating a dead horse was getting him nowhere. Bowing his head, he thought about trying to apologize again. Only to have Jack scoot closer to rest his head on his shoulder. Glancing at him, he asked a bit startled. "Jack...?" Jack exhaled loudly, then mumbled out. "Why did you have to ruin everything...?" Mark straightened up a little, answering honestly. "I wasn't trying to. I didn't want to tell you... I... It was easy when I didn't get to know you. Knowing you just... It just made me feel stupid for not trying to get to know you sooner. I just thought you were like the rest of them..." Jack set the empty jar down, asking him with a sad tone to his voice. "If Geralf hadn't shown up... Would you have turned me in? Be honest."

Mark looked away to hide his face, then answered truthfully. "I don't know. I probably would have asked why she wanted you... Then I would have made up my mind." Jack hiccupped, then asked him in a slightly jealous tone. "Who was the man that... That touched you outside my bakery?" Mark smirked just a little from how ruffled Jack was by that. Tilting his head back on the cask, Mark openly answered. "His name is Taran. He is Arlynn's rival. He's here to take the territory from Arlynn. Him and his Pack are the ones I sent to your house that night..." Hefting a disappointed sigh, Mark mumbled out. "I'm glad I told him the wrong place... after what he did to me. All that I did for him." Mark winced as he recalled Jack saying those same words to him. Jack lifted his head, asking him very softly. "You knew I was in the bakery that night?" Mark smirked to himself, admitting with a blush. "Not at first. I knew you had a fight with your parents. I figured you stormed off. Then... I caught you watching. I thought about turning you over to him... but I'd already made the deal with Arlynn. So, I wanted you for myself."

Mark sniffed the air, his mind becoming distracted by the weird scent. Picking up the empty jar that Jack had sat next to him, he sniffed it with caution. Snorting, he told Jack bluntly. "Jack... You drank this whole thing?" Jack nodded, his eyes unfocused. Setting the jar down, Mark informed him gently. "I think you should lay down. Those were fermented in moonshine." Jack giggled a little, scooting closer to ask in a whisper. "Why didn't you warn me?" Mark leaned back from him a bit, answering honestly. "To be fair... I'm a little tipsy. But... I get the feeling that you don't drink... ever." Jack shifted onto all fours, leaning closer to him when he told him in a slow groggy voice. "Not that... Why didn't you warn me... about what you were going to do?" Mark tried hard not to smile, when he told him nicely. "Because that would have defied the purpose of keeping it a secret. I didn't... I didn't want you to know. I didn't want to hurt you... but I knew it would..." Jack's eyes teared up a bit, when he told him in a broken-hearted voice. "I don't know what to do... I can't trust you. But I can't go home..." Mark reached a hand out to touch his cheek, telling him in a deep heartfelt voice. "I can't express how sorry I am, Jack... I wanna make it up to you. I just don't know how..."

Jack reached out to take the jar of moonshine from him, Mark was going to stop him if he went to drink it. Instead, he just set it aside. For a second Mark relaxed, until Jack leaned in to kiss him. Mark placed his hands on Jack's shoulders to try and lightly fend him off. He didn't want to hurt Jack, but knew he wasn't really himself either. Jack's kiss was slow and rather pleasant. It held so many emotions from lust, to love, and a deep longing. Mark kissed him back, savoring the kiss for what it was. As Jack pulled back to breathe, Mark kept his hands out as a way to either catch him or fend him off again. Jack blushed behind his long bangs, giggling out in a pained voice. "I know how you can make it up to me." Mark showed peaked interest by raising an eyebrow, but the rest of him was braced with caution for what might happen next. Sitting up, Jack brushed his bangs off his flushed face and grabbed his tunic to pull it off. Mark immediately tensed up, stammering out. "Whoa. Jack. Jack! Stop." Tossing his shirt down, Jack moved up to grab Mark's shoulders. Mark tried to pry his hands off, only to have Jack swing a leg over his lap.

Cupping his neck, Jack put his forehead to Mark's and almost whined out to him. "Mark, please? Just this once. It's all I want... Pretend I'm Toby." Mark huffed, correcting lightly as he tried to lift Jack off his lap. "Taran. And no, I won't do that. Jack..." Jack clung to his shirt and tightened his legs against his to make it impossible for Mark to remove him without hurting him. Kissing his cheek, Jack pleaded with him like a child. "Mark. Please? We can hate each other after... but right now... I just want one good thing to happen to me." Mark stopped trying to lift him off his lap to put his hands on either side of Jack's face. Staring into his eyes, he told Jack as sweetly as he could. "Jack... You're not yourself. It wouldn't be right." Jack shook his head, telling him with such big blue eyes. "I'm fine. I want this. Please?" Mark tried to resist, but he couldn't help giving him a little kiss. Upon breaking the kiss, he told him with such affection in his voice. "Are you sure this is what you want?" Jack nodded with teary eyes, prompting Mark to ask coolly. "You'll let me lead and take my time?" Jack nodded so innocently. Mark gave a little nod, then wrapped his arms around Jack's waist as he climbed to his feet and picked him up with him.

Jack hugged him, snuggling against him as Mark carried him toward the bed. Slowly laying him down, Mark patted his leg and told him with a small smile. "Get nice and comfy for me." Jack eagerly scooted over the bed, then reached out for him to join him. Crawling over the bed, Mark kissed him. Taking his time to prolong the kiss and savor it. He had a plan to handle Jack. He didn't want to upset him and make him cause a drunken scene that would end with them getting caught. However, he wasn't going to rob Jack of his virginity either. He cared about him too much to take advantage of him a second time. From the kiss, Mark kissed a trail down Jack's neck. He kept the kisses light and watched Jack closely. Jack turned his head for him, closing his eyes as he enjoyed his kisses on his skin. Rubbing Jack's chilled arms to help him relax, he kissed down his chest. Just as he was kissing down his belly to the hemline of his pants, Mark paused. Jack's breathing was so steady, and he had stopped stroking Mark's wrists. Putting a hand on his chest, he smiled when he asked in a whisper. "Jack?" When Jack didn't stir, he let himself break out into a grin.

Reaching for the blanket, Mark pulled it over and draped it over him to keep him warm. Leaning forward, he kissed his cheek and whispered to him. "Goodnight, Jack." Jack sleepily took his hand, shifting to his side as he mumbled out in his sleepy state. "Night..." Lifting his hand, Mark kissed the back of it, then carefully tucked it close to the pillow. Jack released his hand to hug the pillow and Mark got up to move away. Collecting Jack's shirt, he folded it and then grabbed a jug of water. Setting them beside Jack's bed, Mark moved to sit on the steps beneath the trapdoor. For a long time, he sat in silence, just watching Jack sleep. His own buzz was wearing off, but he could imagine that Jack was going to feel his tomorrow. He was just starting to think about turning in himself, when the door to the tack room opened. Mark stayed very still, listening to one of the men snap out to the other. "This is ridiculous. They couldn't have just vanished!" The second man slammed what sounded like a saddle down, replying simply. "I don't understand why Geralf is so obsessed with this kid. The werewolves want him. Geralf wants him. Why?" The other man snorted, blurting out. "Oh? You haven't heard?" The other man huffed out. "Heard what?" Mark leaned closer to the trapdoor, listening intently.

The first man chuckled a bit, then answered dryly. "Geralf heard a prophecy from a witch he killed up North. She said a child would be born under a Blue Moon and would possess blood that could cure a blood curse. Can you imagine shooting the cure right into the bastards?!" Mark's heart twisted but he continued to listen as the man continued. "Well... turns out that Mr. Mcloughlin's son was born on a Blue Moon. But he up and vanishes before Geralf gets back to tell everyone in the guild. Seems his witchy mom had also heard of the prophecy. No one hears from him for years... until Geralf intercepts a letter from their old trainer. Fucking dirty rat had helped them escape. So, Geralf kills him and comes here." The second man sighed, telling him gruffly. "And now we've lost him... Perfect." The first man moved stuff around, retorting firmly. "Ya, well... we know he's here. We just have to find him before the wolves do." The second man groaned, muttering out. "And the wolf he's with? What if he got the antidote to him? What if we can't find him, because the wolf already killed him?! What then?"

The first man shrugged, saying flatly. "I don't know. That's for Geralf to decide. All I know is that when he finds that boy this time... Geralf doesn't want to play nice. He wants his blood so badly... Don't tell anyone. But he's thinking that he might just kill the boy's family to lure him out. Which would keep them from protesting what he'll do to the boy." The second man gasped, stating out in awe. "Fuck... Remind me to stay under Geralf's boot. He must really hate werewolves." The first guy chuckled, before they left the tack room together. Mark eased his tense muscles, glancing back at Jack with soft eyes. Now it made so much sense. The wolves wanted to kill him and Geralf wanted to use him. Getting up, Mark inched closer to Jack. The pull me felt even made sense now. Jack brought out the wolf in himself... because he was born under a special moon. His very flesh held the moon's wonderous magic. Kneeling, Mark fixed the blanket over Jack's body, smirking out to him. "You're a moonchild. I don't believe it." Brushing his knuckles along Jack's cheek, he thought about Arlynn. Knowing what he knew now, he felt torn up inside. He could see why Jack was such a threat to their kind.

Part of him even started to think that he should take him back. Until he realized something. Scooting away from Jack, he clutched his heart feeling his own sense of betrayal. If Jack's blood was a cure... and Arlynn was going to make him kill him to join the Pack... then she knew. She knew that killing him would cure him. She had no intention of letting him join and every intention to being rid of him. Shrinking away from Jack, he went to the back of the cellar and hid in the corner. Softly crying to himself, he felt like he had lost everything. He'd lost Jack and any hopes of being accepted. Being stuck in the middle sucked. When dawn finally came around, Jack jerked awake to the sound of the Huntsmen stomping around in the barn. Their loud cheers from their newest kill and excited talk was making his head throb worse than it already was. Sitting up slowly, he groaned and ran a hand through his sweaty bangs. Upon lowering his hand, his eyes widened at the sight of his bare chest. Draping an arm across his pale pink nipples, he glanced around for Mark. When he didn't see him, he lifted the blanket to see his legs. A sigh of relief left him when he saw that his pants were still on.

Grabbing the jug of water, Jack gulped it down like he hadn't had water in months. Then pulling on his shirt, he staggered up to his feet to look for Mark. With all the excited cheers above, Jack started to get nervous. Did Mark turn himself in? Had he said something last night? Rubbing his temples, he tried to remember but last night was a blur. He just remembered eating and drinking next to Mark. Anything after was a void of darkness. Walking around the last cask, Jack winced out. "Mark...? Are you still here?" He didn't get an answer. Moving into the darkness a bit, he stopped. Mark was huddled up in the corner, lightly snoring as his head rested on the wall. Kneeling in front of Mark, he bit his lip. It looked so uncomfortable. Had his drunken antics driven Mark to stay clear of him? Was he afraid of making him angrier? Feeling guilty, Jack took his arm and shook him awake as gently as he could. Mark practically jumped out of his skin, his eyes barely opening. They looked so red and tired. Although, he couldn't imagine that he looked any better. Taking his hand, he whispered to him sweetly. "Come with me?" Mark was reluctant but too tired to really stop him from pulling him to his feet.

Leading him back to the bed, Jack helped him down across it. Mark barely got his head down before he was out cold. Jack tried to stay up as he drank more water, but when his head still hurt too badly, he laid down beside Mark. Laying down helped a lot. Turning to his side, he stared at Mark as he slept. He just didn't know what to do about him. Should he forgive him? Should he wait? Should he test him somehow? Reaching out to brush Mark's bangs away from his eyes, he whispered to him. "You say you've had a change of heart... and I really want to believe you. But... we'll wait and see." Jack started to pull his hand back, until he saw the wet streak down Mark's cheek. Tracing his finger over the line very lightly, he asked him curiously without expecting a response. "Were you crying?" Just the thought of that pulled at Jack's heartstrings. Had he said something to hurt him? Did their fight hurt him more that Mark let on? With a little reluctance, Jack scooted closer to hug him. Resting his head on his shoulder, Jack thought about the fight over and over in his head. He had been used and betrayed... but when looking at it from Mark's side. He felt bad for him. Even with how alone he felt, he always had his family to fall back on. Mark just had... himself.

Even if he couldn't bring himself to forgive him right now. He still understood his side of it. Snuggling against him, Jack tried to find a way to forgive him without opening himself up to be hurt again. His mind seemed stuck. Going in endless circles as he tried to figure out what to do with Mark, until Mark asked him in a warm voice. "You're not trying to seduce me again, are you? Or is this how you plan to kill me? Hugging me to death? Cause a pillow would be more effective." Unable to stop himself, Jack smiled warmly. Something about Mark's deep voice just brought it out of him. To Be Continued...