Mine

~*~
Danai Gurira as
Marshala Toussaint

Tom Hiddleston as
Elijah Blackbourne

Aaron Taylor-Johnson as
Nicholas Volkov
~*~

---

 "Name?"
 
"Marshala Toussaint."
 
"You live around here?"
 
"Yes, ma'am. 'Bout 3 blocks from here."
 
The archivist looked up from the notepad on her desk and stared at the young dark skin woman with long black hair standing in front of her. She had a smile so bright it nearly blinded her with how drastically it contrasted with her dark skin. Her cheeks were puffy and her eyes were glimmering.
 
"You sure you from around here?" the woman said suspiciously.
 
Marshala cocked her head to the side in confusion. "My family is from New Orleans, Louisiana but I've lived in Massachusetts my entire life."
 
"Hm.." the woman grunted. "You have an accent."
 
Marshala tried not to show her frustration. "With all due respect ma'am, everyone has an accent."
 
The older woman curled her upper lip as she looked back down at her paper.
 
"We don't have any open positions right now," she said waving Marshala off.
 
Marshala took a deep breath. This was the 5th job opportunity to accept her application and turn her down when meeting in person.
 
"You had 3 openings on your site just this morning. You accepted my application. You told me to come in-" Marshala started.
 
"The openings are closed. We're not hiring," the woman said not looking at her.
 
Marshala swallowed hard as he nostrils flared. "I am an expert in my field. I graduated top of my class. I come by reference of-"
 
"I said we're not hiring! Now scoot!" the woman snapped at her.
 
A glimmer of blue flickered in Marshala's eyes that made the woman furrow her brows in confusion. Marshala could feel a heated sensation in her finger tips as she tried to reign in her emotions.
 
"There a problem here?"
 
Marshala turned around to see a security guard looking at her suspiciously with his hand on his holster.
 
She wanted to scream.
 
"We're good, Frank," the woman said giving Marshala a dirty look.
 
"... of... of course..." Marshala said plastering on a fake smile. "Forgive me."
 
Marshala made a 180 and stormed out of the main area of the museum and headed outside.
 
"What were you thinking anyway? A curator? You? Be real, Marshala!" she told herself as she angrily stormed down the steps.
 
"Who's ever heard of a witch working in a museum? Of all the professions to pursue," she scoffed in disbelief.
 
She let out a slight gasp as she finally made it down the steps and held onto the railing. She covered her face, trying to catch her breath from the angst and anxiety she felt.
 
All she wanted was some normalcy.
 
Something to distract her from the ever-growing tension brewing in her community. It was starting to eat at her.
 
Her grandmother was getting too old to lead the coven. Soon the responsibility would fall on her.
 
And she dreaded that day. How could she ever expect to lead as well as the famous Priestess Toussaint...
 
She was so revered. So respected.
 
The burden was too great.
 
"I just want to escape. For just a moment," Marshala said shaking her head. "Merde! I've never felt... felt so alone..."
 
"You're not alone, mon coeur..."
 
Marshala quickly spun around at the sound of the familiar voice.
 
"Elijah...?"
 
She blinked in confusion. There was nothing. No one. Just regular pedestrians going about their business.
 
She took a deep breath and rubbed the back of her neck as if she could still feel his cold breath upon her nape.
 
It had been months since she broke up with him...
 
...gave him back his engagement ring moments before she buried her brother...
 
...and swallowed down her need for him as she watched blood tears stream down the perfect face of the man who had owned her heart.
 
The Head Vampire sparked fear in the hearts of witches, wolves, and vampires alike.
 
Those who dared to stand up to him quickly met their end.
 
And no one ever denied him what he wanted.
 
Except her...
 
And to her surprise, he remorsefully accepted her request to keep his distance. For he understood that the pain he had caused her was too great for her to bear.
 
But Elijah never truly went away. At least it didn't feel like it. She could still hear his voice. Smell his scent. Feel his touch.
 
It was as if he were haunting her.
 
"Mon coeur..."
 
She instinctively rubbed the top of her left breast over her shirt. Her entire body pulsated as she ran her fingers over his mark. She hated that he still had this affect on her.
 
Would she ever be free of him? Did she even want to be?
 
"Mon coeur..."
 
"Don't," she said out loud as if he were standing right in front of her. She took slow breaths trying to rid her mind of his strong hold until she felt her phone vibrating in her pocket.
 
She quickly took it out of her coat pocket to see Giselle calling.
 
"Salut, Giselle. Comment ca va? Bien! Bien! Moi aussi! The interview? Um... it went... it went okay..." Marshala said lowly as she continued walking down the sidewalk towards her car.
 
~
 
Elijah leaned against the tall, large tree watching Marshala get into her car.
 
Agony.
 
Being so far away from her was pure agony.
 
His hands instinctively tightened and released, his nails digging into his palm and puncturing the skin. He desperately missed the feel of her soft skin against his own. Her absence from his embrace was insufferable. He retracted his nails from the bloody holes that quickly healed.
 
Elijah's desire for Marshala was nothing short of an obsession. She consumed his thoughts every second of every minute of every hour of every day.
 
His hunger for her had become so unbearable that he didn't even last the first day of his promise to keep his distance before he resorted to following her.
 
Only to make sure she was safe.
 
At least that's what he told his brothers who were eager to mock him about it.
 
Witches hated vampires hated wolves. But his love for her remained the same.
 
"So this is what it's come to?"
 
Elijah glanced behind him to see another vampire with a long coat standing a few feet from him.
 
Elijah glanced behind him to see another vampire with a long coat standing a few feet from him
"Ben..." Elijah sighed as he turned back around to watch Marshala drive off. "We don't meet for another hour."
 
"I thought we might get a head start, but I see you're rather... preoccupied..." Ben said lowly.
 
"We don't meet for another hour..." Elijah repeated.
 
Ben sighed in frustration. "You're stalking her now."
 
"I'm making sure she's safe," Elijah said.
 
"She is a mere mortal. You are the leader of one of the largest vampire clans. I do not understand this witch's hold over you," Ben said.
 
"Nor, do I expect you to understand much when it comes to mortals after you so willingly reject your own," Elijah said shortly.
 
Ben rolled his eyes. "It is my understanding you two are no longer together."
 
Elijah's lips tightened as he finally turned away from the empty street that Marshala had already left and faced Ben.
 
"Mortals need time to... heal... after they've experienced... trauma..." Elijah said lowly.
 
Ben raised a brow. "... trauma that you caused-"
 
Ben took a step back as Elijah's eyes bled red.
 
"...we don't meet... for another... hour," Elijah said firmly.
 
Ben eyed Elijah's tense expression. The vampire had changed so drastically since he became acquainted with the mortal witch and not for the better.
 
Ben looked at Elijah rather condescendingly before turning and walking away.
 
***
 
"We need to practice that incantation again!" Marshala said clapping her hands loudly.
 
Marshala placed her hands on her hips and chewed rabidly at her bottom lip as she stared at the group of women crowded in the basement of one of their many hideouts.
 
She was not happy with what she saw.
 
There had been another vampire attack that left two of their witches injured, one near the brink of death.
 
"Marshala, they need a break," Giselle said walking up to her and handing her a bottle of water.
 
Marshala furrowed her brow as she looked up at her grandmother sitting in a chair talking to one of the other elder witches.
 
"You don't always have to impress her, ya know..." Giselle said.
 
"I'm not, I'm just-... that's 4 attacks this week, Giselle," Marshala sighed. "How much longer can we keep this up? Our numbers grow thin."
 
Giselle gave Marshala a sympathetic smile as she placed her hand on her shoulder.
 
"Have faith, Marshala... we've made it this far," Giselle said encouragingly.
 
"Marshala!"
 
Marshala and Giselle looked up to see one of the elder witches waving her over to her grandmother.
 
"You didn't tell her did you?" Marshala whispered to Giselle.
 
"Girl, of course not. I've been with my sister Juliette and her daughters Rhea and Ava all day," Giselle said.
 
Marshala swallowed hard as she headed towards the stairs and walked up.
 
"Priestess... Elder..," Marshala nodded her head.
 
"How'd that job interview go," her grandmother smiled.
 
Marshala looked at her surprised. "I didn't have a job int-"
 
"No need to lie to me, Marshala, you know I see everything," her grandmother smirked.
 
Marshala diverted her eyes. "So then you know how it went..."
 
"Marshala!" the elder witch scowled as her grandmother started chuckling.
 
"Always with the smart mouth," the elder witch said.
 
"I didn't mean it like that, grandmama," Marshala said quickly. "I'm sorry, I just... I really wanted that position."
 
"Try being a few shades lighter, cherie, then maybe you'll qualify," her grandmother said wagging her finger.
 
Marshala sighed as she folded her arms across her chest. "Not like it matters anymore."
 
"It shouldn't have mattered at all," her grandmother said. "Marshala, you can't keep trying to escape this."
 
"I'm not trying to escape-"
 
"Marshala."
 
"I was only trying to-"
 
"Marshala," her grandmother said more sternly.
 
Marshala shut her mouth and stared attentively.
 
"You need to be completely devoted to this coven. Every single mortal life will soon be your responsibility. Your focus. Your energy. Your time needs to be here. Tu comprends?"
 
Marshala felt her body tighten with anxiety again. She wanted to say 'no.' She didn't want this. She didn't ask for any of this. Why couldn't it be someone else?
 
"Oui...," Marshala said looking down.
 
"Bien... I met with Vadim Volkov earlier today," her grandmother continued.
 
Marshala looked at her frantically. "If you had told me I would have been there! I don't ever miss a meeting with our allies-" she started before her grandmother put her hand up.
 
"It wasn't a formal meeting. Just talking between friends... the Volkovs have some good ideas on how to better protect our people. I want you to meet with his son."
 
Marshala's eyes bulged. "Grandmama! No!"
 
"No?!" the elder blurted.
 
Marshala looked from the elder to her grandmother and spoke softly. "Nicholas Volkov... is a caveman. He's rude. Aggressive. Brash. Crude-"
 
"He's also the next Alpha," her grandmother cut her off. "And as my successor, it is imperative that you and him have the same allyship that his father and I have. Witches and wolves have always and will always be allies."
 
"I get that, grandmama, but Nicholas-"
 
"Will be waiting for you by the city gym in half an hour," her grandmother finished. "Don't keep him waiting. You know how these wolves are about timeliness."
 
Marshala had so much more to say and yet once again had been shut down.
 
"... yes, Priestess..." she sighed.
 
~
 
Marshala could hear the sound of someone yelling followed by chanting from around the corner of the large gymnasium. She peeked around the side of the building and saw a group of men, all partnered up. They looked to be sparring with each other.
 
At the front was Vadim, the Alpha. He looked to be barking orders to the rest of the pack.
 
She always loved watching the Volkov warriors. They were the most skilled fighters she had ever seen. Definitely a force to be reckoned with.
 
She scanned the crowd but didn't see Nicholas anywhere.
 
"He's inside."
 
Marshala jumped startled as she felt someone quickly grab her to keep her from tripping.
 
"Sorry! Didn't mean to scare you!"
 
Marshala turned around to see the youngest Volkov son, Leo, staring at her. He wore a black sleeveless shirt and gym shorts.
 
"Oh no. It's okay," she said nervously. "Who's inside?"
 
"My brother, Nick," Leo said. "He's waiting for you inside."
 
"Oh right... thanks..." she said.
 
Leo gave her a head nod before he walked past her to join the rest of the pack. She watched in awe as his father proudly pulled him front and center of the pack, challenging the other wolves to take the young wolf on.  It boggled her mind that someone so young was already so powerful, strong, and skilled.
 
She walked backward until she got to the door of the gym and opened it. She could hear heavy breathing immediately upon stepping inside.
 
Closing the door behind her, she glanced up.
 
And swallowed hard.
 
She shifted uncomfortably as she stared at the eldest Volkov son easily pulling himself up over a bar with one arm in quick swift movements.
 
Sweat trickled down his toned, bare chest down to the enticing v-shaped pelvis barely covered by the sweatpants that sat on his hips.
 
She felt her cheeks get hot from the unashamed large dick print visible through his sweats.
 
78...
 
Nick had sensed Marshala's presence before she even walked into the building. He wanted to jump off the bar right then and there, but his pops would have killed him if he didn't finish his set.
 
84...
 
He looked through the sweaty curly hair dangling in his front of his eyes and saw her.
 
89...
 
Like a magnet, his gaze was drawn to her. He was convinced she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. From her dark brown skin, her voluptuous curves and the rasp in her voice, Nick couldn't stop thinking about her.
 
About making her his.
 
94...
 
She was the most badass witch he had ever met. A force that never went unnoticed. Her rebellious attitude was drastically different than her grandmother who she was soon to succeed. And he was excited to see how the witch would lead. Everything about her excited him.
 
99...
 
Even as the son of an alpha, Nick had no control over the hunger Marshala brought out of him with her very presence. Her scent created a heartbeat in his groin.
 
100.
 
Nick eased himself down to the ground at the end of his set.
 
Nick eased himself down to the ground at the end of his set
"Toussaint," Nick said walking up to her.
 
Marshala took several steps back as Nick's massive intimidating form nearly overshadowed hers.
 
"... Volkov..."
 
A teasing grin came to his face as he looked her over.
 
"You miss me already?" he teased.
 
Marshala scoffed. "I'm here because I have a duty. Not for you."
 
Nick looked down at her with an amused grin. "Mmm..."
 
Marshala swallowed hard as she took another step back.
 
She hated the way he looked at her. She hated that it ignited so many feelings in her. Feelings she was neither willing nor ready to admit.
 
"So what did you need to show me?" she said quickly.
 
Nick softly bit his bottom lip as his light blue eyes peered intently into hers. He could barely contain the smirk on his face as her arousal hit his nostrils.
 
"You witches have extensive experience with amulets," he said turning his back on her suddenly.
 
"Yes," she said.
 
"I talked to my pops about it and I think it would be beneficial for your coven if you set up a perimeter by which they all reside in and use the amulets as protection. I can then have my wolves man each post for extra protection," he said walking to a table and grabbing a towel.
 
Marshala got lost for a moment as she watched him dry his sweaty chest with the towel.
 
"Shal?" he said looking at her.
 
She snapped her head up and looked at him startled, trying to find her words.
 
"I... appreciate the thought you've put into that, but I don't think that's a great idea," she said.
 
Nick raised a curious brow. "And why not?"
 
Marshala sighed as she stuffed her hands into her jeans' pockets. "We witches already have very few safe places available to us. The last thing we need is to be imprisoned within our own homes."
 
"So you'd rather leave them vulnerable and defenseless to more vampires?" Nick said.
 
"I didn't say that-"
 
"How many more of your people need to die before you start taking this shit seriously?" Nick said.
 
"Don't you dare tell me I'm not taking this seriously!" she snapped at him angrily as the lights flickered and the windows rattled furiously.
 
Nick moved his jaw as he put his hands up in surrender. "I'm sorry... I didn't.. mean to offend you."
 
Marshala squinted her eyes at him as he walked towards her.
 
"I'm just trying to be diplomatic here, Shal."
 
"Yea, well you have a way with words, Volkov," she said sarcastically. "And my name is Marshala."
 
"I like Shal," he grinned at her. "It's cute. Like you."
 
Marshala rolled her eyes when she felt him reach behind her.
 
"What are you-" she started as she stepped back.
 
"Relax," he said grabbing something off the wall behind her.
 
She was so close to him she could practically feel his breath on her. She looked into his light blue eyes and tried to hold her breath.
 
Nick had already grabbed what he needed, but he was far too enchanted by the look in her eyes and the scent she gave off to pull back.
 
"Nicholas," she said finally as he heard her heart beat quicken.
 
It was one of the few times he actually heard her say his name. And damn did it sound beautiful falling from her lips.
 
He finally pulled back and held up a necklace.
 
"Do you know what this is?" he asked.
 
Marshala looked at the amulet in his hands and her mouth parted in shock.
 
"This is an Awinita amulet," she said touching it. "Where did you get this?"
 
"From another pack," he said. "Not willing to join our fight but... still wants to help... from a distance."
 
Nick eyed Marshala as she inspected the amulet. "Will it help?"
 
"Yea, it will," she blurted as she grabbed it from him.
 
He watched her as she walked over to one of the tables and started taking pictures of the amulet with her phone.
 
"Juliette might know more about how we can use this," she said.
 
Nick walked over to her and leaned against the table.
 
"You ever had Pirozhki?" he asked casually.
 
"Um, no, what's that?" she said snapping pictures.
 
"It's a Russian dish. Baked or fried with whatever kind of fillings you want. Leo and I make that shit all the time before we disappear into the mountains for a while for an intense training," Nick said.
 
"It sounds good," she said.
 
"It is. I'll make some for you after I've taken you to have your first Russian dinner," Nick said.
 
Marshala glanced at Nick. "...are you asking me out?"
 
"Sure, if you wanna call it that," he shrugged with a grin.
 
Marshala shook her head. "Thank you, but no thank you."
 
Nick raised a brow. "Not into wolves?"
 
"Not into younger guys," she said.
 
"We're only a few years apart, babe," Nick smirked.
 
"Which means we're decades apart mentally. No thanks," she said ignoring him.
 
Nick grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him.
 
"Nicholas!"
 
"Fuck, I love it when you say my name," he grinned.
 
"I don't care that you're the son of an alpha or soon to be alpha yourself. You can't force me to go out with you," she snapped at him.
 
"I'm not forcing you to do anything," he said. "I'm challenging you."
 
Marshala rolled her eyes.
 
"Come on, babe, if there's anything I've learned about you in the short time we've known each other is that you love a good challenge," Nick grinned.
 
Marshala sighed but couldn't stop the smirk on her face. "...What?"
 
"Since you're such a badass," he teased. "First one to catch a feral by the end of the night...wins."
 
"Are you kidding me?" she blurted.
 
"Weren't you boasting to me about how good you were at this?" Nick grinned. "If I win, you let me take you out. If you win, I'll leave you alone."
 
Marshala shook her head. "Fine. Under one condition."
 
"What?"
 
"You have to capture the feral alive."
 
"Oh come on," Nick laughed.
 
"If you're gonna mess with ferals, then bring it to me alive. I'm still trying to figure out what biological element is triggering their transformation," she said.
 
"Why do you care?" Nick said.
 
"Because I have friends that I care about who are in danger," she said.
 
"You mean witches...?" he said with a raised brow.
 
Marshala stared blankly at Nick. She wasn't thinking of her witches. She was thinking of Elijah, Cole, Alexander and Peter. That they were barely surviving on their animal-blood only diet and that they were one human away from turning into one of those mindless creatures themselves.
 
"Yea," she said finally. "Witches."
 
Nick eyed her expression suspiciously. He had an inkling she wasn't being very honest, but didn't bother prying.
 
"Deal," he said holding out his hand. "May the best person win."
 
"Oh I plan to," she smirked as he laughed out loud.
 
***
 
Marshala crouched down behind the bush as she watched the feral stalk towards the trap she lay down.
 
She nibbled on her bottom lip as a soft blue glow emanated around her finger tips.
 
She chanted a quiet incantation as she started to move towards it when suddenly she felt a wind brush by her and tackle the feral to the ground.
 
"Are you kidding me?!" she shouted.
 
Nick wrestled the feral onto it's stomach and used a rope to tie it's arms behind it's back. He looked up at Marshala standing a few feet from him with her hands on her hips.
 
"Oh I'm sorry, babe... were you eyeing this one?" he grinned.
 
"You are such an asshole," she said rolling her eyes.
 
"An asshole who just won a date with a fine thing like you," he winked.
 
Marshala tried to show indifference but the grin on her face completely gave her away.
 
~
 
"Try this one."
 
Marshala grabbed the ice cream cone from Nick and her tongue darted out to lick the sweet cream.
 
"Mmm! I like this one better. Not too sweet but I can taste the honey," she said.
 
Nick grinned amused watching her indulge in the ice cream.
 
"Is it... Russian?" she asked.
 
"Swedish," he said. "We Russians aren't known for creating things you can actually enjoy," he teased.
 
Marshala chuckled as she playfully shoved his bicep. "You never speak fondly of your background."
 
"Not many things to be fond of," he shrugged. "Our culture is fairly black and white... especially when it comes to wolves. There's little room for error."
 
Marshala lost her smile as she caught the somber look on Nick's face.
 
"I'm sorry," she said.
 
Nick looked at her. "What for?"
 
"All of this," she said. "It means a lot that your pack has taken this on. You're basically sacrificing yourselves for us."
 
"War is war, Shal. There's nothing to be sorry for. It's not your fault your people are being hunted. I'm just here to make sure none of you fall victim to another one of those damn bloodsuckers," he said.
 
Marshala gave him a small smile before she looked down at the table.
 
Nick watched her attentively as if he were trying to read her thoughts. He moved his hand across the table and gently grabbed hers.
 
"...I'm sorry about your brother..." he said softly.
 
Marshala looked up at him surprised.
 
"You know?" she asked.
 
"I was at the burial, Shal..."
 
"O-oh...r-right. I..." she said biting her lip trying to hold back her tears. She could hardly remember that day. Or at least she tried not to. It became a blurred memory in her mind but the pain was still there.
 
"Hey, hey," he said putting his finger beneath her chin and gently lifting her head.
 
Marshala's teary brown eyes looked into his reassuring  blue ones.
 
"I'll make sure those monsters never come near you or your family again," Nick said. "I swear on my life, Shal."
 
There was something about the way he said her name that made her feel as if she could actually trust him.
 
That maybe with the Volkovs... the killing would stop.
 
Maybe...
 
She felt his thumb press gently against her chin as he looked at her lips before locking her in a gaze.
 
"We should go," she said quickly pulling back from him.
 
Nick twisted his mouth as she grabbed her purse.
 
His frustration was palpable.
 
She glanced at him and bit her lip anxiously. "Wanna go for a walk?"
 
"Is that a dog joke?" he said with a raised brow.
 
"No!" she laughed. "You wolves can be so sensitive."
 
"Yea well you witches tend to have a shit sense of humor," Nick shrugged with a grin.
 
"Dammit! Missed opportunity," she teased, snapping her fingers.
 
Nick rolled his eyes as he helped her off the bench.
 
~
 
"Does it still hurt?"
 
"What?"
 
"Transforming..."
 
Nick stared up at the crescent moon and pondered as he walked alongside Marshala on the lawn. "No. You get used to the pain by the 15th transformation. Triple that if you're a turned wolf and not born one."
 
Marshala nodded as she thought to herself. "I've studied wolves so much... can't help but wondered if some of the things I've learned are true."
 
"Like?" he said looking at her.
 
"Like what happens to you on a blue moon. Going rabid?" she asked.
 
"True. But it's less about being rabid and more about having less control," he said.
 
"What about female wolves? Are they less powerful than males?"
 
"My mom could probably kick my pop's ass in her sleep," Nick grinned.
 
"Are you just saying that?" she laughed.
 
"Don't believe me? Just insult her cooking, you'll see," he smirked.
 
Marshala chuckled as she looked at the night sky. "What about mates?"
 
Nick's breathing shortened as he kept his eyes forward. "What about them?"
 
"Are they really lifelong?"
 
"Of course..." Nick said.
 
"And you guys just... claim them? Even without them knowing?"
 
"Sometimes..."
 
"What if they don't want you?" she asked.
 
Nick glanced at her and smiled. "That's never been an issue."
 
"How would you know?" she said with a raised brow.
 
Nick stopped walking, making her turn around to look at him.
 
"Are you challenging me?"
 
The predatory look in Nick's eyes made Marshala swallow hard as she took a step back.
 
"I mean... it's not like you have a mate, so... how would you know?"
 
A grin came to Nick's face as he stepped towards her. "... how would you know..?"
 
"Know what?" she said backing up.
 
"That I don't have a mate?"
 
Marshala scoffed as her back hit a tree. "I don't see you hanging around any other female wolves."
 
"Who said she was a wolf?" Nick grinned as he placed his hands on the tree on either side of her.
 
Marshala's breathing shortened as she looked up at him. She could just barely see his light blue eyes through the curls dangling in front of his face.
 
"Nicholas," she said, putting her hand against his chest, not sure if she wanted to push him back or pull him close.
 
"Shal..." he said leaning forward and pressing his lips against hers.
 
A warm sensation overwhelmed Marshala as Nick's heated body pressed against hers. His tongue easily worked her thick lips open before he was moaning from her taste.
 
"Fuck, baby..." he groaned as his hands immediately descended to her backside.
 
She let out a slight gasp as he possessively squeezed her ass and lifted her onto his waist. He buried his face in her neck as his fingers tried to work beneath her pants. She could feel his massive bulge pressing painfully into her pelvis as he pushed her up against the tree.
 
He groaned something in Russian as he grind her core against his erection.
 
"We can't, we can't," she said quickly as she pushed him off.
 
Marshala stumbled to her feet as she tried to catch her breath.
 
Nick rubbed the back of his neck as he looked at her sheepishly.
 
"Sorry, Shal... didn't mean to get so carried away..."
 
"It's okay," she said trying to fix her blouse. She looked up at him and caught his heated look.
 
"You have no fucking idea how badly I want you..." he said.
 
"It was one kiss, Nicholas!" she chuckled.
 
"The first of many," he grinned as he leaned in to kiss her again when she put her hand against his chest and pushed him back.
 
"I told you I don't date younger guys," she smirked with a raised brow.
 
"Well consider me the fucking exception, baby," he said before capturing her lips again.
 
~
 
Marshala quietly closed the door to her house so as not to wake up her grandmother who was sleeping soundly in her room.
 
She dropped her things on the couch before heading upstairs to her room.
 
Stripping out of her clothes, she stood in front of the mirror in her panties and bra as she grabbed a scarf to wrap her hair.
 
Suddenly she felt a cold chill.
 
"Mon coeur."
 
Marshala screamed before quickly covering her mouth as she jumped startled. She stared in shock at Elijah perched outside her window. His long black coat fell like a cape from his shoulders as his signature black slacks and loose black blouse teased his creamy white skin beneath.
 
"Elijah?!" she whispered loudly. "Is that... really you?"
 
Elijah peered at her intensely before he started crawling through the window.
 
"No, Eljiah, don't!" she blurted but he was already fully inside of her bedroom.
 
"Get out!" she demanded pointing to the window.
 
"We need to talk," he said firmly.
 
She sucked her teeth as she rushed to grab a t-shirt from her closet.
 
"You can't just come barging in here, Elijah!" she said angrily pulling the shirt over her head.
 
She pulled the shirt down and nearly jumped out of her skin again to see him standing right in front of her.
 
"Elijah," she said exasperated. "What do you want?"
 
Elijah's sharp blue eyes stared at her so intently it made her shiver. He raised a hand to her chin and rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip as his eyes roamed the details of her face. His look of raw desire replaced with a more stern expression.
 
"Elijah-" she started.
 
"Who touched you?" he said quickly.
 
Marshala blinked at him. "Excuse me?"
 
"Who...touched ...you," he demanded again.
 
Marshala shook her head in disbelief as she pushed his hand away.
 
"Elijah, please..." she said walking around him.
 
"I can smell him on you, Marshala!" Elijah said angrily. "Who is he?!"
 
"He's none of your business!" she said walking to her dresser. "We're not together anymore, Elijah. Leave it alo-."
 
Marshala stumbled backward as Elijah appeared in front of her followed by a sharp wind.
 
"Did you forget who I am?" he said staring down at her, possessively grabbing her arm. "Did you forget what you are to me?"
 
Marshala swallowed hard as she looked up at him.
 
"I'm trying to," she said ripping her arm out of his grasp and moving past him again. "Please... just leave."
 
Elijah's nostrils flared as he stared at the empty space in front of him. His breathing had accelerated as he tried to get a hold of his emotions.
 
He took a moment to think until his shoulders slowly relaxed and a grin came to his face, knowing exactly how to get to her.
 
He took a moment to think until his shoulders slowly relaxed and a grin came to his face, knowing exactly how to get to her
Marshala looked down at her dresser, trying to remember what she was doing before Elijah interrupted her nightly routine.
 
Suddenly she felt his cold hand slide against the front of her throat as he forcibly pulled her back against his chest.
 
"You want to forget me..." Elijah groaned in her ear as his other hand rounded her waist.
 
Marshala instinctively grabbed his hand wrapped around her throat with both hands. She felt his breath on her cheek as he lay soft kisses along her skin.
 
"Hmm?" Elijah hummed as he took her earlobe between her lips and tightened his grasp around her neck.
 
"Elijah..." Marshala's breathing shortened as she started to dampen and felt his other hand slip into her panties. "Elijah, don-ah!"
 
She gasped as his fingers slid between her wet lips.
 
"What part do you want to forget, mon coeur..." he groaned as he teased her clit, rotating it in tantalizing circles. "Is it this part... how easily I can make your body sing... how fast I can make you come... how loud I can make you moan..."
 
Marshala already felt herself reaching her edge. She considered it a strange phenomenon how quickly Elijah could bring her to climax.
 
"... or do you need a reminder?" Elijah said softly.
 
Marshala took a deep breath before she spun around and shoved Elijah backwards.
 
"No," she said stepping back from him. "Elijah, you can't. You can't just pop up out of the blue and touch me like everything is okay. I told you I needed space."
 
"I thought you meant space for you to heal, Marshala, not... to move on to someone else!" Elijah said angrily.
 
Marshala's mouth parted as she carefully considered Elijah's words. She felt an anger rise in her at the implication.
 
"Are you.... are you spying on me or something?" she asked.
 
"I can smell him on you!"
 
"From halfway across town, Elijah?!"
 
Elijah's jaw tensed as he quickly diverted his eyes.
 
Marshala shook her head in disbelief as she rubbed the back of her neck. "Please just go, Elijah..."
 
Elijah looked at her defiantly and felt his throat tighten. "Did you kiss him back?"
 
"Elijah, please."
 
"Do you want him?" he said stepping closer to her.
 
"I told you that's none of your business-"
 
"Does he know you belong to another?" he said towering over her.
 
"Elijah-" she said falling down on her bed.
 
"Does he know you belong to me?"
 
Marshala wasn't able to speak before Elijah was pushing her back on the bed. His mouth covered hers, swallowing her protest.
 
"Does he know you're mine?" Elijah growled against her lips as he tore her shirt apart until her body was exposed.
 
Marshala's mouth parted as Elijah possessively cupped her damp core over her panties before he tore that from her body as well.
 
"You wish to forget me..." Elijah said trailing his hands over her chest and pulling her bra off.
 
Marshala breathed heavily as she watched his eyes focus on his mark on her breast. He gently rubbed his fingers against the mark as he looked into her eyes.
 
"Because you'll never forgive me..." he said with a much softer tone.
 
Marshala tried to swallow her angst as he lowered himself to her face again.
 
"It is your right," he said wiping a tear from the side of her face. She saw his eyes bleed red as his fangs elongated.
 
"But you will always... always be mine, mon coeur..."
 
"Elijaaaaah!" she gasped as he plunged two fingers deep into her wet sex. She breathed out for just a second before she felt the erotic sensation of his fangs sinking into her shoulder.
 
She tightened her thighs against his wrist as her back arched off the bed.
 
"Eli-Elij-ah! Oh! Oh god!" she gasped as his fingers curved upward, playing with her spot.
 
"Tell me you're mine, mon coeur..." he groaned as he licked the blood from her puncture wounds. The sound of him finger-fucking her reverberated throughout her room as her juices leaked down her thigh and onto her bed.
 
"Tell me you belong to me..."
 
Marshala felt her stomach tighten as her vision got blurry as she felt her climax hit her hard and fast.
 
"Tell me..."
 
Marshala shot up in bed panting heavily. She looked around her room to see it was empty. The window was shut, as the rising sun shined through. Her phone was on her dresser.
 
3 texts already from Nicholas.
 
"Was that really just a dream?" she said to herself.
 
She moved the covers off of her to get out of bed when she looked down at her naked dark mocha thighs to see they were stained with a white substance.
 
"A wet dream..." she sighed as she got up from the bed. "Dammit."
 
She walked towards her dresser when she noticed her torn panties and shirt sitting underneath a note.
 
My apologies, mon coeur. I'll be sure to buy you another. - Your Elijah
 
***
 
"Nicholas!"
 
"What?"
 
"I just made that!"
 
"I thought you were making more?"
 
"GOOD LORD! YOU WOLVES I SWEAR!" she said throwing a couch pillow at him. Nick chuckled as he caught the pillow.
 
Marshala had spent the past couple of weeks not only training with the young wolf but growing closer in their relationship. What started out as an effort to get over her ex quickly grew into falling hard for the last person she could ever imagine seeing herself with.
 
"I'm sorry, Shal. How about I make you some of my own," Nick grinned as he grabbed her waist and pulled her onto his lap.
 
"Nicholas," Marshala laughed as he teasingly kissed her neck and slipped his hand between her thighs. "Stop! My grandmother is here!"
 
"Oh come on, baby, she can't hear us," Nick smirked as his hand moved up her skirt.
 
"Actually, I can."
 
"HOLY SHIT!" Nick said startled as Marshala jumped from his lap.
 
"Grandmama!" Marshala said frantically pushing her hair out of her face as she stared at her grandmother sitting in a motorized mobility scooter on the other side of the living room. "We were just... we were um-"
 
"I already know what you were doing, chile. Not on my couch," she said rolling towards them.
 
"Priestess," Nick said quickly standing to his feet and nodding his head respectfully.
 
"Volkov..." she smiled as she looked up at him. "I see you've set your eyes on my granddaughter."
 
"I... yes Priestess. She's um... a good person," Nick said rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
 
"A good person, huh?" the priestess said with a raised brow. "That's it? The way you were touching her seemed like it was more than that?"
 
"God..." Marshala groaned covering her face.
 
"Well she's very beautiful," Nick said quickly. "And... smart... and a total badass."
 
Marshala gave him a wide look.
 
"I mean! Cool! She's cool!" Nick said quickly.
 
Priestess Toussaint smirked. "You're both adults. You can make your own decisions."
 
She turned to Marshala. "I'm traveling with some of the elder witches today. I'll be back tomorrow morning."
 
"Tomorrow morning?" Marshala said confused. "That's so long. Do you need me to come with you? Is there anything I can do?"
 
"No, cherie, I need you here with the rest of the coven and..." the priestess looked at Nick. "Baby Alpha here."
 
"Baby?!" he muttered.
 
"Does your father know you're here?" she asked.
 
"Yes. No... I think so," Nick said trying to think.
 
The priestess chuckled as she started to roll towards the door.
 
"You younger wolves are so cute. I also know you're horn dogs. You be careful with my granddaughter and don't get her pregnant. She has a coven to lead."
 
"Kill me now..." Marshala groaned as the door magically closed behind her grandmother.
 
"Was that her giving me her approval?" Nick asked.
 
"No! That's not what that was," Marshala rolled her eyes.
 
"I mean she basically said I could make you my mate," Nick grinned as he stood from the couch.
 
"Are you deaf?" Marshala said sarcastically.
 
"No, baby, I'm a wolf. My hearing is perfect," Nick teased as he walked up to her.
 
"Nicholas, don't start with me," she laughed as she tried to push him back. "We are not messing around. She just left."
 
"And the only rule she gave me was to not get you pregnant," Nick grinned as he picked her up in his arms.
 
"There are so many things I could do to that pussy that won't get you pregnant," he smirked.
 
"Nicholas!" Marshala laughed as he started carrying her upstairs to her room.
 
~
 
Marshala panted heavily on the bed trying to catch her breath from the way Nick stripped her of her clothes and nearly sucked the life out of her with his dominant kisses in just a few seconds.
 
With her hand plastered against her left breast to hide Elijah's mark, she looked up at Nick straddling her between his massive muscled thighs as he pulled over his head the last article of clothing he had on.
 
Nick's long curly hair curtained his face as his light blue eyes probed hers.
 
She inadvertently licked her lips as he reached for her panties and pulled them down her hips, underneath her backside and slipped them off of her legs.
 
She inadvertently licked her lips as he reached for her panties and pulled them down her hips, underneath her backside and slipped them off of her legs
"Look how wet my baby is for me..." he grinned as he rubbed his palm against her damp pussy.
 
Marshala swallowed as she looked at his massive manhood inches away from her heaven.
 
"...Nicholas..." she breathed out.
 
"Don't worry, baby... as long as I don't get you pregnant... right..?" he grinned as he moved back on the bed and lowered himself between her thighs.
 
"What are you about to do..." she said feeling around for his head.
 
Nick grinned as he ran his fingers along the inside of her thigh. "What do you think I'm about to do, Shal..."
 
His finger traced over her thick wet lips and slowly parted them. He swallowed hard as his eyes flickered to its golden amber.
 
"Fuck...I'm about to eat the hell out of this delicious pussy..." he groaned as he lowered his head between her thighs.
 
Marshala whimpered loudly the moment Nick's warm tongue invaded her heaven. She learned very quickly that he was not a tender lover but a hungry one as he firmly gripped her thighs and pressed them against the sides of his head as his tongue eagerly dragged from the bottom of her pussy up to the top.
 
"Spread for me, baby... fuck you taste so damn good," Nick muffled between her thighs as he hooked her legs over his shoulders and french kissed her core.
 
Marshala's body quaked as Nick's tongue mercilessly fucked her into the mattress. She could feel him moving in and out of her tight hole with such speed and strength that she didn't think she could handle it.
 
"Nicholas! Oh god, Nicholas!" she panted as she grabbed the top of his head and desperately entangled her fingers in his curly hair.
 
"That's it, baby, say my name," he said sucking on her labia.
 
He sifted his hands underneath her ass cheeks and squeezed tightly as he pulled her further down onto the bed.
 
She gasped loudly, arching even further as her legs trembled against him.
 
"Come for me, baby. I wanna drink you in till I've had my full," he said sucking on her hole as if he were trying to pull her orgasm from her.
 
"Oh god! I'm coming! Ni-Nicholas, I'm- I'm-" she could barely get out a full thought before her body was shaking uncontrollably as she met her release. She let out a cry as Nick held her hips, moving her pussy against his mouth, not letting a single drop go to waste.
 
She couldn't remember the last time she had such an intense feeling. Not since...
 
"Mon coeur..."
 
She opened her eyes and saw Elijah's face.
 
"No!" she screamed as she quickly shot up.
 
"Woah!" Nick said quickly backing off. "Shit, Shal. You okay? Did I hurt you?"
 
Marshala looked around the room stunned before she met Nick's confused gaze.
 
"Shal?" he asked again.
 
"What?" she said quickly. "No. No I... sorry, I just um..." she said rubbing her head.
 
"It's okay, baby," he said crawling on the bed towards her. "Did I... do something wrong?"
 
Marshala gave him a regretful smile. "No, Nicholas. You were perfect. You made me feel so good."
 
She grabbed his face between her hands and kissed him deeply, tasting herself on his lips.
 
Nick grinned as he pulled back from her and grabbed her waist.
 
"You know I plan on making you mine right?" he grinned.
 
Marshala swallowed thickly as her smile faltered. "What? Like I'm not already," she said sarcastically.
 
She got up from the bed, quickly wrapping the bed sheet around her body when she felt Nick grab her waist and turn her around to face him.
 
"I'm talking about my mate, Shal," Nick said to her. "I want you to be my mate."
 
Marshala felt her breathing shorten. "I'm... I'm not a wolf."
 
"So? Who gives a shit?" he said dismissively. "I want you, baby."
 
Marshala's eyes glimmered as she felt her heart beat faster.
 
"Won't your pack look down on you?" she asked.
 
"Fuck them. I'm in love with you, Shal. I don't give a shit what anyone else thinks," he said pulling her closer. He didn't give her the chance to say another word as he pressed his lips against hers again.
 
Marshala hesitated for just a moment. Nick was unapologetic in how he loved her. And was eager to tell anyone and everyone how he felt about her.
 
And there was no denying her love for him. Though she never expected it to happen, she had fallen hard for the young wolf. His rebellious, carefree nature pulled her from the dark pit of depression she had been spiraling in for so long since her brother's death into a place of hope and peace where she finally started to feel herself again.
 
She eagerly kissed him back, throwing her arms around his neck. He responded in kind by wrapping his arms around her waist pulling her body flushed against his. She could feel his erection throbbing between them.
 
"Gotdamn I wanna fuck the shit out of you. Fuck," he groaned.
 
Marshala pulled back from him and smirked. "Can I get some water first?"
 
Nick raised a brow with a grin. "I guess you'll need it with what I plan on doing to you..."
 
"No babies," she said turning her back on him.
 
"I just need that delicious ass," he said slapping her backside as she squealed with a laugh.
 
Marshala headed down the stairs still holding her sheet to her chest as she walked towards the fridge.
 
She grabbed a bottle of water and quickly started guzzling it down when she saw a face in the window. She jumped startled and dropped the water bottle to the floor.
 
"Shal, you okay?" Nick called from upstairs.
 
"Uh! Yea! Stay there I'll be right up! I just... I just have to pee," she said looking wide-eyed at Elijah's angry face on the other side of the glass.
 
She quickly rushed to the back screen door of the kitchen and quickly closed it behind her.
 
"What are you doing here?!" she whispered angrily at him when he quickly grabbed her arm and yanked her forward.
 
"Elijah!" she said angrily but he was stone silent as his sharp blue eyes took their time roaming over her body.
 
His eyes lingered on her thighs before he met her gaze. She felt her chest tighten from the blatant pain in his eyes.
 
"...E-Elijah-" she started again.
 
"You've given yourself to him," Elijah choked out. His jaw tensed as he looked at her tensely. "You've given yourself to the wolf?"
 
Marshala suddenly found it hard to breathe. Of course Elijah knew she was seeing a wolf. How could he not know. He knew everything. He practically owned the city.
 
He was one of the most ruthless creatures alive and yet standing before her now he seemed completely broken.
 
Blood droplets filled up the corner of his eyes but the expression on his face was dominated by anger.
 
"You let him touch you..." Elijah said so lowly it sounded like a growl.
 
"Elijah, please."
 
"You let him kiss you!"
 
"Elij-"
 
"You're mine!" he growled angrily. "You said you were mine!"
 
Marshala blinked furiously, afraid that Nick would come investigate. She rushed into the arms of her angry vampire ex-lover and grabbed his face between her hands, silencing his ranting with a kiss.
 
Elijah was stunned. Unsure what to make of her reaction. He knew she was only trying to placate him. But he was so desperate just to feel her again...
 
She felt his tense body slowly melt against hers as he immediately grabbed her waist.
 
"... mon coeur..." he breathed against her.
 
Marshala pulled back and looked at him. "... I...I need you to leave, Elijah... please..."
 
She saw his Adam's apple bob with angst. The look in his eyes evident of the argument he was having in his head.
 
"Come with me," he insisted.
 
"I can't!" she blurted before she caught herself. "I... I can't, Elijah. Please just... just go."
 
Elijah looked down at her as he felt the painful tug on his heart. He glanced up at the house before looking at he again.
 
"He's in your room," Elijah said to her. "Touching you? Kissing you? Marshala, why must you torture me so? Is this punishment? It's punishment, isn't it? Please, mon coeur, I beg you, choose another method. I cannot bear this. I cannot."
 
"Elijah, I'm not torturing you, I'm just..." Marshala breathed out trying to find her words. "I need time."
 
"How much time?!" Elijah demanded. "After he's marked you?! After he's made love to you?! After he's taken you from me?!"
 
"No, Elijah-"
 
"HEY!"
 
Marshala felt all the air leave her lungs as she stared at Elijah wide-eyed. Her heart beat so loud in her chest that she could hear it in her ears.
 
"No... please... god no..." she breathed out.
 
Elijah eyed her look of hopelessness before he looked past her at the shirtless, barefoot shaggy wolf standing a few feet behind her.
 
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Nick growled as he ran at them top speed.
 
Elijah pushed Marshala out of harm's way right before Nick slammed into him sending Elijah skidding backward. His feet never left the ground as they tore the grass from the ground beneath his feet.
 
"N-Nicholas," Marshala said reaching for him.
 
"STAY BACK, SHAL!" Nick snarled as his amber eyes glared at Elijah. "New I smelled me a damn bloodsucker. You freaks are like roaches!"
 
Elijah's eyes squinted as he fixed his jacket and glared at Nick.
 
"Filthy, dirty animal," Elijah said condescendingly. "Do you have any idea... who I am..."
 
Elijah spoke with such hostility it made the hair at the back of Marshala's neck stand up. She could practically feel his bloodlust and it was enough to make her stomach churn.
 
"I don't give a fuck who you are," Nick snarled. "Keep your damn hands off my woman."
 
Elijah cocked his head to the side as he looked between Marshala and Nick.
 
"Your woman?!" Elijah snarled.
 
Marshala ran past Nick and rushed towards Elijah.
 
"Shal! What the fuck-" Nick started but Marshala put her hand up and Nick felt a force push him several feet back until he was frozen in place.
 
"SHAL!" Nick snarled angrily.
 
"Elijah," Marshala said desperately. "Please... please leave."
 
"I will not leave you here in the clutches of that disgusting animal!" Elijah snapped.
 
"Elijah!" Marshala begged. "I told you I needed time! Please. I don't want another repeat of what happened to Matthew!"
 
Elijah faltered slightly at the mention of her brother. The harsh sting of guilt penetrated him like a thousand needles at once. The only thing more painful than the guilt were the tears brimming in her beautiful brown eyes. He wanted nothing more to take her up in his arms and comfort her.
 
But how could he... when he was the reason she was so distraught.
 
He looked at Nick still struggling against her magic before he looked at her with a rather lost and desperate look.
 
"Please..." she whispered desperately one last time.
 
Elijah had to bite his tongue and swallow down his protest.
 
Marshala was his weakness. And as history had shown, he would do anything for her.
 
"...as you wish... mon coeur..." Elijah said reluctantly before he quickly disappeared in a flash.
 
Marshala took a deep breath, sighing with relief.
 
Nick almost fell forward when Marshala finally put her hand down.
 
"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!" Nick screamed at her.
 
Marshala turned to him and he immediately paused at the distraught look on her face and the tears cascading down her cheeks.
 
"...Shal..." Nick said a bit more tenderly.
 
"He's... he's my ex, Nicholas. We... used to be lovers," she said unable to look him in the eye.
 
Nick blinked at her in shock.
 
"You're fucking vampires? YOU?!" he said with a mix of shock and anger.
 
"It's complicated," she said defensively.
 
"There's nothing fucking complicated about those damn monsters, Shal," Nick snapped. "We don't make nice with them. We don't befriend them. And we sure as hell don't fuck them!"
 
Marshala took a step back as Nick looked her in the eye.
 
"We kill those fuckers."
 
***