I walk back to my desk from making a coffee and sit down. From the corner of my eye, I see my phone buzz and light up. I check it and it’s a message from Tom, telling me to meet him in the parking garage, where I used to park. I quickly reply and tell him I’ll be out soon. Honestly, I think it’s a little strange that he wants to meet me where there are no cameras. I know Theo and Tobias are hiding something and I’m determined to find out what exactly that is.
Looking up toward both their offices, the doors are still shut. Surely, I can zip out really quickly without getting noticed, though I still have doubts. Their hearing is extremely good, and I know if I use the elevator, the dinging noise it makes will alert them to me leaving.
Getting up, I slip my heels off so they won’t hear them on the marble floors. Clutching them in my hand, I all but run on my tippy toes to the fire escape, closing the door as gently as possible behind me. I wait to check if I can hear any movement or their office doors opening.
When I’m sure I'm in the clear, I run down the flights of stairs to the lobby. Before opening the door, I sit on the bottom step and put my shoes on, walking into the lobby and toward the doors that lead to the parking garage. I open them and start running up the ramps, towards my usual parking space.
When I get to the top of the parking garage, Tom is standing against the barrier that stops people from driving off the roof. He waves when he sees me and glances around. It’s odd that he’s so paranoid.
“Where are they?” He asks, looking down the ramp.
“Still in their offices. What’s going on, Tom? Why the sneaking around?”
He looks nervous and loosens the collar of his shirt. I have never seen Tom so worried and awkward before.
“How well do you know Tobias and Theo?” He asks.
That’s a strange question to ask. I’m fairly sure I know their darkest secret, not that I can voice that to Tom. But the way he’s looking at me, I have a feeling he knows.
“I know them well enough Tom, what is this about? You told me to let them help me and now you’re freaking out.”
“That was before I knew you were their mate.” That word again, and Tom obviously knows what they are. I take a step back, this conversation… I know I’m not going to like it.
“What are you getting at, Tom?” I nervously glance down the ramp, now paranoid myself they are going to jump out at us.
“Tobias is a werewolf, Imogen, and Theo.”
I cut him off. “I know what they are, Tom,” I say simply. Tom’s eyebrows raise, a look of confusion on his face.
“They told you and you aren’t running for the hills?” He looks at me like I’m mad.
“Well, it doesn’t change who they are, Tom. They are still good people.” I answer.
“Good people, Imogen? They aren’t even human,” he all but yells.
“Shh keep it down, stop freaking out.” I try to silence him.
“Do you have any idea the danger you are in when they try to mark you? Do you have any idea of the sacrifice you will have to make?”
Now, I’m confused. Sacrifice? What sacrifice?
Tom, seeing the look on my face looks like he’s about to pass out or throw up. I’m not sure, but all the color drains from his face. He suddenly steps forward and sweeps my hair to the side.
“Shit, I’m too late; I can’t believe you let them mark you. You need to get out of here, Imogen, before the bond kicks in completely.” Tom speaks in panic.
I push his hand away. “How do you know so much? What you’re saying isn’t making any sense. Why would I run?”
Tom runs a hand over his balding head and loosens his shirt collar more, sweat is starting to bead on his brow. He looks panicked, “My family has worked for them for generations. Don’t you think it’s weird that no one knows who owns this company? No one has any photos of them. No matter how big this company has grown and become recognized, it’s because my family covers up for them, and have done it for generations. My father did, his father and so on. We are bound to them from some old treaty. As far as the public knows, the owners want to remain anonymous. But if you check the filing and all social media accounts, you never see photos of them. People would ask questions, people would find out what they are. So, every generation, and even my future generations will keep them covered. They move the company every few decades and come in as the grandson or sons to run it and my family follows and makes sure they go unnoticed to the public. That’s how I know what they are.” Tom explains, sounding more frantic with each word that passes his lips.
I furrow my brows, still rather lost. “But what’s that got to do with me? I haven’t got anything to do with it.”
“I know, but soon you won’t have a choice, Imogen. Soon, my family will have to cover up for you too. They have marked you, you belong to them now.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Tom. I’m my own person. Nobody owns me,” I say, rolling my eyes annoyed with this conversation.
“Yeah, right now they don’t, not till that bond kicks in.” He grabs my shoulders and looks me dead in the face. “You need to run. Get away from here while you can. Your relationship in the supernatural world is forbidden. No humans allowed.”
“I know this, but nobody knows except their parents that I even exist. Just spit it out, Tom. I don’t have all day. What aren’t you telling me?”
“Think about it. Imogen, you’re the Forbidden Mate. There are only two options for you. They either kill you or…” He stops, hesitating and looking down the ramp nervously. I do the same, thinking I hear something, before turning back to Tom again.
“Or what, Tom?”
“They change you, Imogen. They have to change you, make you like them.”
I gasp and take a step back, “They wouldn’t do that.” But suddenly, I’m not so sure. Them, hiding me away and telling me to wait for the bond to kick in. Theo’s words come back to me.
“You won’t want to leave when the bond kicks in.” I shudder, now understanding what he meant, meaning I will choose to be changed. I don’t want to become like them, trapped, forced to live forever. And how would they do that, change me?
I stumble backward, the gravity of what he just told me pushing down on me. Fear consumes me, I don’t want to be a monster. I don’t want to live like that, always hiding in the shadows. Yeah, in stories it sounds good, but real life? No, I don’t want that. I’m content with being me, I don’t want to change. I sure as hell won’t allow them to decide that for me.
“You need to leave, Imogen, before they either kill you or, well, kill you. The only way for you to become like them is to die or for Tobias to change you into what he is, which I heard is extremely painful.”
I step back, nodding. I don’t want this. I never asked for this, I sure as hell don’t want to turn into some furry oversized dog. Do they get fleas? My mind is rambling, not being able to cope with the information I just heard.
The noise Tom makes pulls me from my rambling, frantic mind. We are no longer alone, Theo comes out of nowhere and grabs Tom by the throat. I scream at seeing my friend being choked, his face changing color, his hands clawing at Theo’s to get him to let go. My scream makes him turn and look at me, I step back. The look on his face is demonic, his eyes are burning blood red, his fangs protruding, even his nails are now deadly points as they dig into Tom’s neck. “Let him go, Theo, please,” I beg, taking another step back. I need to run, but I can’t, knowing Tom is going to die if I do.
“Please Theo, let him go,” I cry, tears falling down my face. I start sobbing hysterically. He’s a monster, the thing of nightmares. The thing that goes bump in the night. The promise of death and right now, he is going to kill Tom. I can’t watch this; I can’t bear to watch his death.
“Run, Imogen,” Tom chokes out, his voice barely audible.
I turn and run. “Imogen!” Theo snarls as I take off.
“I should fucking kill you for what you have done,” I hear him say behind me. I look over my shoulder and Theo drops him. He falls on his knees, choking. I turn and keep running down the ramps. I feel an arm go around my waist and I’m pulled back against a warm chest. I kick my legs and hit wherever I can, trying to escape his vice like grip on me.
“Settle down, Imogen,” Tobias’s voice is angry. I don’t listen, just keep thrashing. I hear him growl before throwing me over his shoulder.
“Fucking kill him,” he growls out. I look up and see Theo, walking back up the ramp towards Tom.
“No, no, please don’t hurt him.” Theo stops and looks back, “Please,” I beg. I stop thrashing against Tobias, hoping Theo will walk back toward us. Theo keeps walking up the ramp after a second. I start punching Tobias and hit him wherever I can. “No, please, no!” I thrash wildly, wanting to go to Tom.
“Imogen, enough!” Tobias growls out, I flinch at the venom in his words, it makes my blood run cold. “You kill him, and I will never forgive you.” Tobias doesn’t say anything at first. He starts walking and I start thrashing again, trying to escape.
“Please, Tobias, don’t be so cruel. He is my friend, he didn’t do anything wrong,” I cry.
He kept walking till we reached his car. He opened the back door and tossed me in.
“It’s too late, Imogen.” I don’t understand what he means at first. Until he walks around to the trunk and opens it, Theo walks down the ramp, Tom’s limp body in his arms. I scream and open the door and run, only for Tobias to grab me again. He throws me on the backseat, and I start kicking him and reaching for the other door handle. “Enough, Imogen, or I will put you in the trunk with him.”