Pregnant After One Night With The Lycan By Kellie Brown
Chapter 41 Then Just Fall In Love With Me
Tanya’s POV:
I later find out from Marco that although Brandon had escaped, his trail couldn’t escape the nose of a powerful Lycan. Marco had expertly tracked him down using his sharp wolfish sense, and reconnaissance experience to follow Brandon’s bodily odors to his position.
Brandon had been on the phone to Lily, confirming he had been able to steal my manuscripts successfully. Of course, Brandon didn’t sense the presence of the Lycan Prince, who in swiftness grabbed my manuscripts and bludgeoned him into unconsciousness. Marco tied him up in a remote area of town within the confines of an abandoned house so that Brandon couldn’t call Lily to update her on the turn of events.
However, right now, I’m squirming in my seat with both hope and unease as Marco presents the evidence to the inquisitor. The man takes a cold hard look at my papers, silently flipping through the pages as the room holds its silence.
Finally, the inquisitor’s voice cuts through the tension and stillness of the courtroom. “Tanya’s manuscripts are indeed dated prior to Lily’s creations.”
A loud rush of hushed voices fills the room, surprise, and dismay articulated in their tones and expressions of bewilderment. The inquisitor ignores the commotion and continues speaking. “I therefore believe that it was actually Lily who copied Tanya’s creations, rather than the other way around. Hence, Tanya should be honored with first place in the compet*ition, and Lily should be completely s*tri*pped of all her previous championships for her copied creations.”
The room now erupts into an explosion of disorder and disarray. I sit completely frozen, reflecting the disbelief expressed by the crowd. I can’t fathom that I’ve not only won the trial, but I’ve been awarded back my perfumery championship, despite Lily’s attempts to dismantle my livelihood.
With her in mind, my gaze flickers towards her. Something unsettles me to see Lily’s fists clenched with rage, fingers pinching the depths of her palms as her chest rises and falls erratically. But in all honesty, it seems only fitting that Marco, her fated mate, and now ex, has been able to skillfully dismantle her tower of lies.
I’m so focused on the success of the evening, and the relief I feel for finally being freed from accusation, that I and everyone else in the room, don’t notice the slow rise of the full moon. It now perfectly sits high in the midnight sky, its beaming light glitters through the windows, and casts itself down on my husband, to which I then realize our mistake.
Almost in slow motion, I watch as Marco stumbles in place, swaying uncomfortably as he braces against one of the pillars. He grunts first, his fingers and hands shaking and cramping before a menacing growl cascades from beyond now sharp canine teeth.
Everyone erupts into a panicked frenzy, and they all back away from Marco’s immediate surroundings. I instead rush towards him, pushing and shoving through the bodies in absolute haste. Desperate to be at his side.
He’s still human… He’s still human. There’s still time.
Another terrifying roar causes someone to scream, and others to move further away. But I finally reach him and am met with a threatening display. Whilst using the pillar to hold himself, he’s pressed his fingernails into the stone, human hands with pointed nails scratching against the stone as he fights with himself. He snaps his head up to me, eyes glowing their unfamiliar shade of burgundy, and he momentarily bares his teeth, not yet recognizing me.
“Marco, it’s Tanya. Please. Let me help you.”
Just at this critical moment, a flash of light suddenly comes from his pocket, which seems to have eased his pain, and then he looks at me.
My fear subsides as I see the recognition in his eyes, but I wonder what that flash of light is. His heavy bestial breathing filters through his voice, “My pocket. Get it out of my pocket. Now.”
I don’t question his demand. I try not to hesitate as I inch closer and put my hand into the pocket of his black pants, feeling in the dark. Finally, my fingers wrap round a small vial, which I pull out, revealing the perfume I gave to him for his birthday.
I don’t need to ask for what to do next. I unscrew the cap and hold it beneath his nose, trying to stay close and hold it steady as he struggles to fight off his Lycan form through harsh jerks. But eventually, I hear him breathe in the sweet soft aroma of lavender. The clear bottle suddenly flashes with a blinding bright again for all but a second, before fading away to reveal Marco’s eyes of oceanic blue.
His breathing looses its guttural undertone by each pace, and slowly he loosens his grip on the pillar, unhooking his fingers from it, making me sigh in utter relief.
I can also hear gasps from the crowd behind us as they too see what I see. Marco recovers his human senses, and the curse’s effects somehow vanish even as the full moon still lights the way from up above.
By now, I hear footsteps from behind me, and I slip the bottle into Marco’s fingers while I turn to face them. It’s King Joseph, despite my frazzled state, innate submission to the Lycan King compels me to courtesy before him, before stepping aside so the King can tend to Marco as he pleases.
“Marco, going out under the moon will risk the onset of the curse once more. Stay with Tanya in the palace, just for tonight,” the King doesn’t sound like he’s leaving any room for Marco to object, and my husband nods his head, still slightly weak from fighting off the transformation. “Fine. If it means preventing myself from hurting anyone, but I want to have a room to myself, with a lock. Tanya is to be kept safe and away from me,” they both for once, seem to agree to this. And that night, I’m left with a bed to myself as Marco locks himself away.
The next morning, we decide to stay for breakfast. A gorgeous display is set up on a long and elegant glass table. I situate myself beside Marco, opposite the King, Queen and Eric as we begin to feast on fine delicacies fit for royalty.
“I didn’t shift. Nor did I lose my mind to the Lycan last night. I was completely conscious,” says Marco.
My surprise mirrors that of the King, who looks overjoyed with the prospect that Marco’s curse didn’t return last night. There is no guarantee that Marco’s curse has been cured, but there is definitely unspoken hope in the air around us for what the future can hold.
However, when I look to see Eric’s reaction, I’m unsure of what to make of his expression. He maintains his decency with regards to the news, but somehow, there’s an unreadable emotion in his eyes that I can’t quite decern, 1
I’m distracted from this thought however as Marco turns to speak to me. “It must’ve been the perfume you gave me. Not only does it help me sleep better, but it also keeps me mentally aware and awake during the full moon.”
His words are all but statements and I can’t help but blush in reaction. Although I’m not entirely confident it has been my perfume that allowed him to stay awake, the fact that I might’ve helped him lifts my spirits.
Course, reality eventually sets in. My love for Marco is growing stronger and stronger by the day, and he treats me with more care and with a dutiful showcase of loyalty and faith. I can’t help but worry that there will come a point when I can no longer hide my desire for him.
I have to acknowledge and remember that our marriage isn’t real. It’s only a contract that legally binds us through law, not through love. I decide I need to go see the Messenger Mage for help again.
Later that evening I make my way to the Moon Goddess Temple, noticing how the streetlights nearby have been repaired. They glow a soft distance yellow, illuminating me and the street below. I can’t help but wonder how come, since it hasn’t been done for years.
Nevertheless, I make my way into the Temple, and into the small room. So use to our regular meetings I begin talking with ease about what’s bothering me.
“I’m falling deeply in love with Marco by the day. I’m trying so hard not to, I’m trying so hard to hide it too. But he fills me to the brim with emotion, and I’m so afraid that it’s going spill out,” I know the Messenger Mage is there, but I a*s*sume her silence is her urging me to continue. “It’s itching away at me Moon Goddess. I stress every night that I’ll fail to hide it from him. I need to stop somehow.”
“But why don’t you just allow yourself to fall in love with him?” she asks.
I hesitate at first, since the truth is incredibly painful. But I finally explain. “Because Marco told me when this all started, that he could give me everything I needed once we were married. Safety, health, protection, and more. But the only thing he couldn’t give me was love…” Before I can say anymore, I see movement from behind the veil. I’m too stunned to speak as Marco steps out from behind it, eyes holding me still with their hypnotic vibrancy as he speaks.
“And I’ll forever regret saying those words.”