~Mark~
The seconds ticked by, and my anxiety was growing. I came out with it; I told Tia that Jenna was my fated mate, and I was met
with silence. I swear I could probably hear a pin drop if there were one dropping.
Tia is standing at the window, looking out onto the land. She hasn’t made any reaction; she hasn’t spoken, and she hasn’t really
moved. I have no idea what she is going to say to me, and that makes me anxious. Tia is my best friend, and I want to do
anything I can for her. I know Jenna, and she has had some major issues, but I’m not sure if I will be strong enough to let Jenna
go if Tia were to ask me to do so.
Tia starts to pace a bit, and I take a step back and watch her. She looks at me, then looks away again. She paces a bit, then
repeats the looks. I can’t decipher what the looks mean or if I should be worried. Tia stops packing and walks over to the couch
to have a seat. I’m not sure what to do, so I stay at the window.
“Mark?” I look over at Tia, and she gestures for me to sit next to her. I slowly make my way over to the couch, preparing myself
for the worst reaction. I’m so nervous about what she could say, but there is no way to push it off now.
I take a seat on the couch, keeping some distance between Tia and me. I don’t want to sit too close just in case Tia wants to do
some physical damage. I try to sit back but am too anxious to relax. I keep shifting around on the couch, not knowing what to do
with my hands or my body. I feel a hand on my arm, and I look at Tia.
“I don’t like her.” I nod, not trusting myself to speak. “She is trying to come between myself and my mates, and it isn’t right. I don’t
even know her, but she has come here and is causing problems. I don’t trust her, and I’m not even sure that I want to ever get to
know her.” I can feel my heart sinking with each word that Tia speaks. She isn’t wrong at all, and there is nothing that can be said
in Jenna’s defense. “That being said,” Tia is rubbing circles on my arm. I turn my head to look at her. “She is your Goddess given
mate, and you owe it to yourself to see it through. You should try to talk to her, get to know her.”
I let a breath out and look up to the ceiling in an attempt to keep my tears at bay. “I don’t want to lose you.” Tia lightly chuckles.
“You silly boy. You could never lose me. You are one of my best friends; my brother. There is nothing that can keep you out of my
life.” I sigh with relief. I was so concerned that this would come between the two of us. A fated mate is everything, but so is a
best friend. “I’m telling you now though……she and I may never be friends.”
“I completely understand that. I won’t ever try to force you two together. Hell,” I get up and walk back to the window. I’m not even
sure that she and I will ever come together. She seems hell-bent on having your mates. She didn’t even acknowledge that we
are mates. I know she felt the bond; I mean, she’s an Alpha. I felt it, and I’m barely a Beta.”
“If she doesn’t come around, it’s completely her loss. She’d be a fool to ignore you.”
“Of course you’d say that. We are friends.” I see Tia move out of the corner of my eye. She is next to me quickly and has a hand
on my back.
“We may be friends, but you know I never lie to you about anything. I will always tell you the truth and if you were horrible, I
would have told you so. You’re an amazing guy and she’d be lucky to have you in her life.” I wrap an arm around Tia’s waist and
give her a squeeze.
“I don’t know. Maybe we will figure this all out and maybe we won’t. I’m still trying to come to terms with everything.”
“I understand and you should take your time. There is no time limit on the mate bond. I wouldn’t try to push anything; let things
flow.” I lean down and place my head on Tia’s. Even though I prepared myself for the worst, I don’t know what I would have done
if Tia had been against this union. “I will say, if she hurts you, I will f**k her up.” I throw my head back and laugh. “What’s so
funny? I’m serious.”
“I know you are and that’s why it’s so funny. The image of you and Jenna fighting; I can totally see her losing to you too.” Tia
starts to chuckle as well as she wraps her arms around my torso. We stand at the window for a while, just enjoying the quiet
between us and the view outside.