I jump to my feet; Tobias walks over to me and grabs my arm. “Why aren’t you eating?”
“I want to go home,” I tell him, ignoring his question and trying to yank my arm free. His grip is too strong and his arm doesn’t even move. It’s like pulling on a brick wall.
“That’s not an option, you know this already,” Tobias growls, visibly angry. His eyes flick between their usual blue to black onyx. Tobias pulls me towards the door, intending to take me down the stairs.
“Tobias, let go, you are hurting me.” He lets go and instead, throws me over his shoulder caveman style. I smack his back once and only manage to hurt my own hand. Tobias slaps my bare ass and I jump; the sting is intense and makes my eyes water.
“You didn’t need to smack her that hard, Tobias,” Theo scolds him. I can feel every finger welting on my skin.
“She has to learn,” Tobias simply says.
“I’m not a fucking child; you don’t just go smacking people like that. It fucking hurt, dickhead.”
Tobias walks into the kitchen and places me on the stool in front of the breakfast Theo made, which is now cold. “Eat now or I will force feed you.”
“Like hell you will. I’m not doing anything you want, Tobias.” I snap at him.
Tobias punches the island counter, making me jump. I refuse to back down and stand up, walking back out. I know he won’t hurt me, at least not intentionally. I sit on the couch and flick the TV on. I can hear Theo and Tobias arguing in the kitchen but tune them out. Not being able to find something I want to watch, I give up and head back to the bedroom.
Theo comes up with Tobias and I sit up. “Just leave me alone, please.”
“If I let you go back, do you promise to grab your things and come back here?” Tobias asks.
“Yes,” I lie.
Tobias must have heard my heart rate pick up because he is standing over me in a second. “You’re lying,” He looks down at me. I really am a terrible liar, now even worse with their super hearing picking up my heart rate.
“I don’t want to be here, okay? I want to go back to work; I don’t want to stay out here till I drop dead, Tobias.” Tobias and Theo exchange glances. Tobias is about to walk out, clearly not going to let me leave, but Theo stands in the doorway. That, however, doesn’t stop him as Tobias barges past Theo.
“I will let Theo mark me,” I say softly.
I give up. That’s exactly what Tobias wants. If it means going back to normal, I will do it. It’s clear he heard me when he freezes, turns around and walks back into the room.
Tobias grabs my chin with his fingers, forcing me to look up at him and meet his eyes. “Say it again.”
“I will let Theo mark me. There, I said it. Can I please go back?”
Tobias thinks for a second as his eyes focus on mine, probably to ensure I’m not lying again. After a moment of tense silence, he speaks up again. “I have to go back to work, so he can’t now.”
I sigh. What’s another day, I suppose.
“I will drop you off with Theo. You don’t leave his side until I come get you, understood?” I nod, eager to go back, even if it is for only for a few hours. I can at least get my mother out of that darn box. The guilt of knowing she is still sitting in it has been eating at me.
Theo grabs me some pants and chucks them to me. I quickly slip them on and follow them back downstairs. Tobias walks outside and hops in the car, I go to get in the back, but he winds the window down and I already know he wants me in front. I open the passenger door and hop in.
Theo comes out and gets in the back, he passes me a muffin. “Eat it. He is letting you go back. Now eat.” Tobias waits for me to take a bite and my stomach growls from being empty for two days, Tobias growls and starts the car. With traffic it takes us forty-five minutes to get to the apartment building. Getting out, the valet looks at me with a strange expression, probably because of my clothing choice. It isn’t really a choice, I’m still wearing their clothes. Tobias walks us to my apartment door, unlocks it and lets us in. He gives Theo a kiss before grabbing me and shoving his tongue down my throat.
He pulls away and smirks. “Behave or this will be the last time I let you back here, Imogen.” I nod, and he walks out, closing the door. I walk straight into my bedroom and Theo walks in behind me, carrying a suitcase.
“Pack what you need. We won’t be coming back for a while.” He mutters.
I turn to him, not quite understanding what he means. “But I said you could mark me; how long will I have to stay out there for?”
“Probably a week till the bond kicks in. Then, he will let you come back to work.” Theo looks away nervously. I have never seen him look nervous before, but I feel like he’s lying to me. Why do I have a feeling I won’t be coming back here at all? Knowing I can’t run, I decide to pack. I chuck my clothes in the suitcase as Theo walks in, holding my photo album and places it in the suitcase.
“He isn’t letting me come back, is he?” Theo looks away at my question. It’s all the answer I need to feel more frustrated than ever, so I leave him in the bedroom and walk into the living room.
“He fucking lied to me and you went along with it.” Theo doesn’t say anything, and I know I’m right. They plan on keeping me locked away. “Why?” My voice makes him look back at me. I’m furious. “I’m done, so fucking done with everything.”
“We have our reasons, Imogen,” Theo says.
“Explain then, make me understand,” I beg, tears brimming in my eyes. I can’t keep doing this. If this is what my life will be like with them, I want no part of it. I walk over and grab my make up bag, hairbrush and dump it in the bag.
“Once I have marked you, and the bond has kicked in, we will explain everything. You just need to be patient.” Theo mutters.
“Patient? I have been patient for two fucking weeks. I’m done Theo. I don’t want to be a part of whatever the fuck this is.” I raise my voice.
Theo looks hurt but walks out into the kitchen, giving me space to calm down. I continue to pack, knowing I don’t have a choice. If I run, they will just drag me back. Finally, having my own clothes, I slip on a pair of black leggings and an oversized sweatshirt.
When Tobias arrives to pick us up, I grab mom off the counter and walk out to the car. Theo and Tobias put my things in the car, and I climb in the back. I ignore Tobias when he asks me to get in front. Instead, I turn to look out the window. The ride back to my prison is silent and tense. Nobody speaks and when the car pulls up, I open the door and get out before he stops completely. I open the front door, which they left unlocked and walk upstairs. I don’t bother closing the door, seeing as it is now broken.
I place the box on the side table and open it, grabbing the plastic urn out. I stare at it, wondering what I can do with her. I don’t want her trapped in the urn forever like I am in this house. I also don’t want to let her go either; I know that will be the last step before I’m forced to move on without her. I know mom wanted to be set free, she mentioned it a few times in passing whenever loved ones died. Mom would always say she didn’t want to be buried in a coffin with worms and critters, that she wanted to be set free somewhere nice. I know I need to honor her wishes; I’m just not sure I’m ready yet.
Tobias walks up and places my bag in the walk-in robe. “What’s that?” he says, pointing to the urn in my hands. To be fair it doesn’t even look like an urn, it's literally a blue plastic container.
“My mother,” I say, my voice empty, emotionless. Tobias hesitates before sitting next to me, he doesn’t say anything, just sits there. His company is nice, but I’m still furious with him for lying to me, and what he is doing. After about ten minutes of sitting in silence, he speaks.
“I never knew my parents. I know they were both werewolves, obviously. I was placed up for adoption when I was born. I was adopted when I was five and I turned. My adoptive parents freaked out, said I was cursed and a demon from hell.” He chuckles, like he thinks it’s funny. Honestly, I think it’s harsh, especially for a five-year-old; to just chuck him away like garbage, not once but twice.
“I lived on the streets until I met Theo’s mother. She found me sleeping behind a dumpster, out front of their house, and then, they raised me.”
“That woman that came here was Theo’s mother, wasn’t it?” I ask.
“Yes, her name is Caroline. The man that was here is Josiah, Theo’s father.”
“And they didn’t care that you were a werewolf?” I ask. They must be nice people if they would take in a random child, one that wasn’t human.
“No, for years they pretended not to notice, even covered up for me when I would accidently kill livestock on neighboring farms, but no they didn’t care. People feared what they didn’t understand, they still do. Caroline just saw me as a child, not a monster.” Tobias explains, seemingly lost in some memories.
I think about his words for a second, trying to imagine what it would have been like so long ago. Getting up, I place her back in the box. I don’t want to put her in it, but I also don’t want to leave her here, where I sleep with two supernatural beings. That doesn’t seem appropriate. Tobias grabs the box from my hands, realizing I’m trying to think of somewhere to put her.
“Come on, she can sit on the mantle till you figure out what you want to do.” I nod and follow him down. He reaches up and puts her on the mantle below the TV. Theo comes out and wraps his arms across my shoulders, his lips going to my neck and I shiver under his touch.
“Want to have a shower with us?” He asks, pressing himself into my back so I can feel the bulge in his pants. I don’t even get to answer before I’m whisked off back upstairs and into the bathroom. Tobias and Theo seem to be racing each other to see who can rip my clothes off first.
In no time, I’m stripped completely bare. Tobias picks me up and places me on the sink, standing in between my legs. I wrap them around his waist, completely forgetting I’m angry at him, just loving the feel of his hands on my body, softly caressing my thighs and sides. I put my arms around his neck and lean forward, kissing him. I run my tongue along his bottom lip, wanting entry. When I feel his lips part, I brush my tongue on his. He pushes into me, taking control and kissing me deeper. I moan into his mouth as his hand moves up squeezing my breast. I hear Theo step in the shower and look over Tobias’ shoulder, he shakes his head smiling and I can’t help but chuckle.
I push on Tobias’ chest, so he steps back, and I hop off the counter, getting in the shower. Tobias walks in directly behind me, his hands go to my breasts as he pulls me back towards him, my back pressed against his warm chest. Theo moves closer and I can feel his erection pressing into my stomach as he leans in to kiss me. One of his hands moving between my legs, his fingers parting my lips before he shoves a finger inside me.