~Tia~
After untangling myself from my s*x mates, I got a text from Lynn. She said that I should talk to Mark. It seemed to be important. I
would have found him sooner, but I had a time getting out of the room. My mates decided that we needed to have another round
in the shower, then another one when I tried to get dressed. I felt satiated but also drained. I guess this is what life will be like
with twin mates.
Mark is acting funny, and I’m not sure what to make of it. I slowly walk into his house, looking around the room. I wonder if
something is going to pop out at me with the way Mark is acting. Nothing popped out at me, and I was relieved for a bit.
I walk into the living room and sit on the couch. Mark sits on the other end of the couch and keeps fidgeting. He is looking all
over the room and not speaking. “Mark, is everything alright? You really have me worried right now.” I look closely at Mark and
can see the sweat on his brow. Something is going on with him, but I can’t help until he talks to me.
I scoot closer to Mark and reach out to touch his arm. Mark flinches at my touch and jumps off the couch. Mark starts to pace
back and forth, and all I can do is watch him unravel. I lose track of time, watching Mark go through the distress he is
experiencing. “I…..I…..” Mark struggles to speak, and my heart breaks for him. I’m not sure how much longer I can watch him go
through this.
I start to stand up, but Mark shakes his head. “No, please. Don’t do that…..don’t comfort me. I….I need to get this out.”
“What it is Mark? It can’t be all that bad.” Mark looks at me with so much sorrow and fear. I can’t imagine what has happened
that has Mark acting like this.
“I…….I found my mate.” Mark found his mate?! That’s amazing! I found out years ago that Mark had a crush on me. I guess I
kind of always knew, but I pretended that I didn’t. I never wanted to ruin our friendship. It would have made things awkward for all
of us, especially when we found out we weren’t mates. I didn’t know it at first, but I kind of always felt that he wasn’t the one.
Mark found his mate, and I know the joy and excitement that comes with that. I can feel the smile grow on my face as I think of
my mates and imagine all of the feelings that Mark must be feeling right now. Wait….if Mark found his mate, why all the
awkwardness? Why all of the sorrow and fear in his eyes? Why is he wearing a hole in his floor? “Mark, this is a good thing.
What’s the issue? Why does it seem as if you aren’t happy with this news?”
“I’m sorry.” Mark turns to me, and I see a tear travel down his face. “I had no idea, I swear. I….I…I don’t know what to do.
You…….you are my best friend.” I swear I thought Mark didn’t have those feelings for me anymore. It seems as if he still does,
and that could be a serious problem. I have found my mates, and Mark is meant to be their Beta. There is no room for Mark to
have romantic feelings for me.
Mark drops to his knees in front of me. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what the right choice is. I….I’m not sure if I could
reject her if you ask me to. I want to do be that person for you, but I don’t know if I’m strong enough.”
I have to stop this before it goes any further. This is not okay; Mark harboring these feelings for me. He has to let me go, or else
things are going to get very bad. “Mark, I….I’m flattered I swear. You know I love you…..as a brother.” I stand up and walk to the
window. “I’ve known for sometime that you have had feelings for me, but I always hoped they would just go away. I never wanted
to risk our friendship. You are meant to be Beta to my mates. You can not have feelings for me beyond friendship. You have to let
this go. Accept your mate and let me go.”
I turn to Mark in time to see a smile on his face. A chuckle slips out of his mouth, and he quickly covers it. I watch his shoulders
start to move up and down, and he laughs. Mark throws his head back and laughs boisterously. I have to say I feel a bit
offended. How is it that Mark is now laughing at me? Mark doubles over, hands holding his stomach, laughing uncontrollably.
“Just what the hell is so funny?”
Mark sits up and wipes his eyes. “I needed that. Don’t get me wrong, I did have feelings for you at one point. I did get over them
and let you go years ago.” I can feel my face get hot with embarrassment. I completely misread that situation.
“Mark, if you don’t have feelings for me, then what’s the problem with accepting your mate?” Mark sighs and stands up. He walks
over to the window where I am and faces me.
“Tia, I…..” Mark breathes in deeply. “My mate…..she is…..well, its…..” I’m starting to get frustrated. I feel like Mark has drawn
this out long enough, and I just want to get to the point.
“MARK! Spit it out already. You are making me nuts right now.” Mark grabs my hand and looks me in the eyes.
“My mate is…….well, it’s Jenna.” His mate is Jenna……like the Jenna that is running around this pack, trying to take what’s
mine…..that Jenna? What. The. f**k!