Chapter 4

~Marcus’ POV~

He seemed genuinely concerned for Rivers well being which, so far was the only thing I liked about him. You could see it etched in his face with every twist and turn of the vehicle through the surprisingly busy streets of the country.

I tried to maneuver the vehicle as best I could around any visible potholes and  bumps but every time the tires happened to snag on one of the road’s offending imperfections it would jostle Rivers’ arm and he would whimper in his sleep, causing Grady’s brows to furrow deeper and deeper until he sat quietly in the back looking miserable and tormented.

I could understand how he felt. Just the thought of Rivers hurt was enough to drive me up the wall, so one could just imagine the reality of the situation now. I was torn between taking him to the hospital and just going straight to the hotel. There were no broken bones just his bruised body and bruised pride which was what ultimately led me to the decision to go straight to the hotel.

We’d been driving for an hour so far but had managed to stop once to get a small igloo with ice and water. At the moment my mate’s hand was submerged in it and still he slept on; quite possibly exhausted from the shock of all he’d been through.

“He’ll be fine Grady.” Thomas was reassuring his mate in the back seat.

“Yeah I know.”

A glance at the rear view told me otherwise; he was still worried and clearly doubting Thomas’ words.

“I just keep thinking what might have happened if Marcus hadn’t found him.” he said brokenly and a wave of appreciation flowed through me at the sincerity of his words.

There was a chance my earlier dislike of him had been misplaced. If he cared this much about Rivers then he couldn’t be completely hopeless.

“No point in thinking about that. He’s safe.” I spoke for the first time since our brief stop but the silence that descended had me thinking that maybe I’d sounded harsher than I’d intended.

I wasn’t very competent in the whole ‘comforting’ department.

“Maybe we should just call this whole thing quits. We got to experience one pack, I don’t think I could stand seeing him hurt again.” The boy continued to mumble.

“If you think Rivers will agree to that then you don’t know him very well.” I commented, glancing briefly at my sleeping mate.

“Besides, it’s a minor injury, he’ll be fine in a few days.”

When Rivers whimpered against I delved into our bond, drenching the strands with as much positivity as I could while half my mind remained focused on the road. He was dreaming about the incident and I imagined he would be for some time to come, after all it wasn’t every day that someone came face-to-face with death.

The pounding of my heart escalated at the very thought and I pushed it from my mind. I’d just have to be more careful with him. I wouldn’t let him out of my sight.

………………………………………..

“Maybe you should keep it submerged.” Grady suggested when I lifted my battered hand from the ice filled water yet again. It was quite possibly doing its job but it was still painful as hell.

“You try sticking your hand in a jar of freezing water and then you come tell me what I need to do.” I muttered; grumpy from the pain and uncomfortable from the sweat and dirt still caked to my skin .

I hadn’t had much time to do anything since we’d come back. Marcus had simply filled the jar of ice and water, handed it to me and told me to stick my hand in. Then he’d left and twenty minutes later he still wasn’t back and the swelling still hadn’t gone down.

“Do you want me to take you to the doctor?” Grady asked again, coming to crunch down in front of me. I shook my head and his eyes travelled to my hand.

I held it up before me like it wasn’t my own; inspecting the damage. It was starting to develop dark patches where the bruises were more prominent. I tried to flex my fingers but I felt a shot of pain and stopped. There was a shallow gash in the middle of my palm; I probably cut it on a rock or something.

Now that the hand was above water, the numbness was wearing off and it began to throb painfully. I stuck it back in the jar with an annoyed sigh.

“Where’s Marcus?”

Grady shrugged.

“Somewhere with Thomas. Do you want me to call him?”

I shook my head. “I need to shower. Help me take these off.” I told him then, pulling my hand from the jar and lifting it gingerly.

Grady stood and his hands went immediately to my shirt tail. I lifted my arms slightly, allowing him to pull the filthy thing over my head then drop it to the floor without jarring my injury too much. Who would have thought a trampled appendage would hurt so damn much.

“Jesus Rivers.” He gasped when he spotted the bruises covering my torso. I winced when he reached out to trail his fingers over a particularly large bruise.

“Those much hurt like a bitch… Do you want me to get you some painkillers or something?” his brows were furrowed in concern; completely unGrady-like and I shook my head.

“I just wanna get clean and go to bed sweetie. Get my pants.” and without hesitation he was unsnapping my jeans and helping me out of it.

There went my awesome first day of Pack Fest.

Ugh…

 …………………………………….

~Marcus’ POV~

“He says he’s fine but I think he’s still in shock.” I explained to Adrian, the phone trapped between my ear and shoulder as I juggled the bags of food.

“You sure you don’t want us to come out there?”

“No need. In a day or two he’ll put it all behind him and be ready to jump right back into it. You know how he gets.”

Adrian chuckled on the other end “Alright them, tell him I’ll call later.”

“Will do.” I said, pushing the hotel room door open with my foot. I managed to grab hold of my mobile before it could fall to the floor, then looked up to see Grady pulling down my lover’s pants.

I kicked the door closed and deposited the bags onto the nearest table. “You know if I was a lesser man I’d be beating the shit out of you for touching him.” I drawled as I watched Grady discard the pants onto the floor at his feet.”

He rolled his eyes and Rivers looked toward me with a grin.

“Hey darling where’ve you been?” he asked, making his way toward me in nothing but a pair of too tight boxer briefs.

My eyes narrowed into slits as I took in his bruises. “You should be resting.” I told him sternly but he completely ignored my words and stood on his toes, angling his face for a kiss.

My eyes roved over his face and over his arms before I conceded and placed a gentle peck on his forehead. He frowned, regarded me for a second before looking back and forth between me and Grady.

“Which one of you is gonna help me with my shower?” and when my eyes narrowed dangerously he winked and stepped past both of us and into the bathroom. A second later I heard the spray of water and I turned to Grady who was watching me warily.

I indicated the door. “Thomas is probably looking for you.”

He was quick to nod and not long after that I was alone with my thoughts and the sound of my lover humming in the shower.

I sighed, then rolled my shoulders, trying the dispel the tension there as I  pulled off my shirt  and made my way to the bathroom and the steaming shower that awaited me there.

……………………………….

~Rivers’ POV~

The poolside was quiet this time of day. There were three other people here along with us and until Grady decided to take that dive he was gearing up for, the pool would quite possibly remain empty.

“Sweetie we’re on vacation, why can’t you just forget about work for once? The company isn’t gonna crumble with you absent for a couple months you know.” I said turning to Marcus who was naked save for a pair of black swim trunks, sitting on the lounge chair beside me with a pile of papers and folders organized before him.

It was a beautiful day out; I was finally able to relax without having to worry too much about my throbbing hand after the uncomfortable night I’d had and I just wanted to spend the day unwind with my mate; yet there he sat, nose deep in work….as always.

“Mmhmm.” He responded distractedly and I knew without a doubt he hadn’t heard a word I’d said.

I tried again.

“Can we just enjoy the day without your bloody papers please.”

No response. My eyes narrowed.

“Marcus.” I called.

“Not now Rivers.” He said firmly, his brows furrowed as he continued to scrutinize the document before him.

I pushed up out of the chair in annoyance and ripped the document from his hand and it was only then that he glanced my way. His mouth tight with a frown as he glared up at me.

“Now that I’ve got your attention, could you please just relax with me today? You’re at it twenty-four seven, it’s time for a break.” I said and proceeded to gather the other papers as best I could with only one useful hand.

I froze when his hand latched onto my arm and he gave me that signature look that let me know he wasn’t having it.

“Don’t give me that look. It’s for your own good.” I admonished and when he plucked the papers from my loose grasp, I reached over and plucked them back from him.

“Rivers, I don’t have time for games. This may be a vacation for you but I have too much to get done to sit here and waste time.” He explained calmly, as though I were a child.

“Well you’re ruining my vacation with all this work. A few days won’t kill you. I’m gonna go put these away and we’ll try to have some real fun.” I said adamantly and I felt the annoyance whisper through our bond.

“Rivers. Stop.”

Typical Marcus with his grumpy disposition. You’d think I’d have at least made some headway in getting him to lighten up in the year we’d been together.

I looked at him with a raised brow.

“That tone only work on your employees darling. Now either put these away or I will.” He was putting a damper on my day.

“Don’t be ridiculous giv-”

I acted before either of us could formulate another thought and with a flick of the wrist his papers went flying through the air to land into the pool a few feet away.

I watched in horror as they floated on the surface for a fraction of a second before they sank…and sank…and sank until I could barely make them out.

I turned around slowly to take in my lover’s expression. I offered him a weak smile as he stood there staring down into the blue of the pool, the bridge of his nose trapped between his thumb and forefinger signaling his frustration.

Then his flashing eyes turned on me and I regarded him warily.

“Don’t look at me like that you’re the one who brought paperwork to a poolside.” I said in my defense, gesturing around us and to my surprise a half smile sprang to his face and his eyes flashed with amusement.

“You’re something else, you know that?” he said and I shrugged.

“Does this mean we get to relax now?”

“Okay…sure…” he trailed off and I raised a brow when he stepped closer to me. “Do you want to go for a swim?”

And in an instant he had me lifted from the ground.

I could see his intent clearly though our bond as well as the ill-concealed mixture of glee and vindication as he moved ever closer to the pool.

“Marcus don’t you dare!” I squealed and an instant later the I was being swallowed up by the chlorinated water. I kicked to the surface, spluttering as I glared at him where he stood smirking down at me from dry land.

“My hair! You are so dead Marcus Corsetti!”

I ran my hand through my hair and squeezed for what it was worth, then looked back up at Marcus who was now gathering whatever papers I hadn’t managed to destroy. My eyes narrowed when he deposited them into the file jacket and proceeded to leave the pool side.

“You’re the one who chose to be mated to a nerd.” A voice spoke not far behind me and I rolled my eyes before turning to Grady.

“Shouldn’t you be off pestering Thomas or something?” I asked jokingly and he shrugged.

“Where is he anyway?” I looked around the pool side and took note of the other tourists…no Thomas.

“Probably getting some rest…he’s…” he trailed off uncertainly then shook his head. “He’s probably just tired, we stayed out late last night.” he finished and I appraised him with narrowed eyes.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah why?” I hadn’t realized something was off about him until that moment. I took in the subtle droop in his shoulders…shoulders which housed what looked to be human bite marks?

“Jeez you and Thomas are really getting into it huh?”  I left it up to him to decide whether I meant sex or something more sinister. He only shrugged.

“Maybe I should go check on him…see you later okay?” then he was swimming the distance of the pool and exiting at the shallow end. I watched him until he was completely out of site then pulled out of the water myself, grabbed my towel which was strewn across the chair and made my way to my room. Marcus and I needed to have a little talk about Thomas. Something wasn’t right here.

………………………

“Something’s up with Thomas and Grady and don’t tell me to mind my own business because this  is serious. I saw bite marks.” I announced as soon as I entered the room. Marcus looked up at me from where he sat around the small table and appraised me with a bored expression.

I watched as he raised an eyebrow imperceptibly, “Bite marks?” he looked skeptical.

“Yes bite marks and they don’t look like the ones you’d get from playing around if you know what I mean and Grady won’t tell me anything.” I was practically pleading. For what exactly I wasn’t completely sure but something needed to be done.

“Grady didn’t tell you because it’s not your right to know. What happens between them is their business.”

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms before my chest. “Thomas could be abusing him and you want me to mind my own business?”

“Grady isn’t the kind of person who would stay in an abusive relationship and Thomas wouldn’t intentionally hurt his own mate. You’ve got nothing to worry about.” His expression hadn’t changed. Still looking borderline bored and maybe just a little bit… annoyed.

“You don’t know what Grady would or wouldn’t do, you don’t even like him but if you won’t help then I’ll find out on my own.” I swiveled, grabbed my towel again with the intention to exit the suite.

“Rivers.” The seriousness of his tone stumped me and I turned back to him with a dramatic sigh.

“What?”

“Come here.”

I shook my head.

“I don’t have time for this Marcus, I need to help my friend.”

“You need to relax.”

I gritted my teeth and turned to go once again.

“How do you propose to find your answer? Go over there and insult your Beta by accusing him of ill-treating his mate?”

I paused and turned slightly.

“I really couldn’t care less right now…better to be safe than sorry right?”

“Or is it better to act the fool rather than be logical?” came his scathing remark. I spun to face him.

“Don’t you dare talk to me like that, I’m trying to look out for someone I care about. You’re just sitting on your ass choosing to do nothing. At least I care!”

“Thomas is not harming his mate Rivers…but go ahead. Go pry into their lives, it will be interesting to see how well this will go over.” he shifted his attention from me completely then and picked up his pen to continue whatever work it was he was doing.

“Why can’t you just support me in this? What if it was Adrian or Scottie…you’d investigate I know you would, so why are you giving me such a hard time?”

He looked at me then, his eyes piercing mine. “There’s nothing to investigate here. Trust me.”

My eyes narrowed. “Do you know something I don’t? Is that it?”

He seemed to think about it for a moment but still chose to remain silent and my suspicious grew.

“What’s going on Marcus?” I moved away from the door and came to stand only a few feet away from him.

He dropped the pen and leaned back in his chair to regard me.

“I’m going to need you to trust me. Do you think you can do that?”

A bullshit answer if I ever heard one. I glared

“And I need you to trust me and tell me what’s going on. Do you think you can do that?” I returned and his brows furrowed.

“It’s not my business to tell.” He spoke calmly and silence descended for a brief moment as we both just looked at each other.

His face was devoid of emotion but his eyes glowed with intensity. I took a breath, then another and attempted to enter the bond and like a shock to the system I came upon a block.

He was shutting me out!

“I can’t believe this.” I spoke softly.

“Rivers you know I would have to have a good reason for choosing to keep this to myself. I promise you, Thomas would never intentionally hurt his mate. That’s all I have to say on the matter.” He said it with a degree of finality and I bristled at his words.

“There’s never a good reason to keep things from someone you love.”

“Riv-”

 I turned on my heels before he could get another word in and pushed through the door, leaving him to his precious secrets.

                                           AUTHOR'S NOTES

TOOK ALITTLE BREAK FROM STUDYING TO UPLOAD THIS. hOPE YOU'LL ENJOY!

DoUbLe.A

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