Slamming the glass of now empty beer down on the table, it smashes and I hear a chuckle.

"Giving up so easily Tyler?" I growl looking up.

"You cannot talk Marcus! Have you gone back and seen Samantha? NO YOU HAVEN'T!" I shout, he smirks.

"People haven't figured out that she's my mate... well werewolves and things like that haven't figured it out. In the end I didn't need to tell Samantha that unwed a vampire, I could just leave her be with her life," Marcus shrugs with a smile.

"That's nice of you," I spit, he raises an eyebrow.

"What is, mate?"

"Pretending that you don't care, but you really do. Are you doing this for her sweetheart? Yeah, now you know how I feel bastard." I roll my eyes and look around for the bartender, "what happened to the bloody bartender?"

"Oh about that... I was a little hungry so a snack wouldn't of been so bad," I roll my eyes.

"Now I have to get myself a drink, thanks," I jump over the counter and get out a tequila bottle.

I jump back over and sit down popping open the lid, I bring the bottle to my lips and take a chug.

"Look Ty, you are like a brother to me. This is from one man to another, caring doesn't help anybody!" He exclaims.

"That's your epic advice? You know, you are so useless at times Marcus," he chuckles.

"Fine, I'll tell you. Don't let her hate you, just compel her to forget again," I slam my fist down on the table and scowl.

"I can't do such a thing!"

"And why not?!" He fires back.

"When I was having that argument with her, she wanted the truth. I could tell that not knowing was tearing her apart Marcus, the more I lied, the more angry I felt with myself. I don't want to compel my own mate, I want her to accept me for me!" I exclaim.

"You're so weak, love. Caring."

"One thing that I have learned in 1000 years is that love isn't weak, how can we get past our pain and neglect without love to heal us. It makes us feel alive and truely great. Here's a lesson, to be powerful you need someone to rule with you. What is a king without his queen Mark?" I raise an eyebrow in questioning, "if anything, you're the weak one. Running from the truth, you didn't run to protect her! You ran because you're a coward and you thought that if you felt love, it would destroy you because it's your weakness. Yeah sure it's our weakness, Shae is my weakness! However, she's also my greatest strength, I wouldn't be living today if it wasn't the hope of finding my mate.

Marcus I suggest that you find Samantha, you tell her how beautiful she is, you tell her how you feel then and only then... you tell her what you really are. If you compel her mate, it's only putting yourself at misery," I say.

"Okay," he whispers.

We stay in silence, I take another sip of the bottle of tequila. "Prove it," he says.

"Prove what?" I ask with confusion.

"Prove to her that you are worthy of trusting, prove that you aren't going to harm her, that you will protect her. Do you love her Tyler?" He asks, I clench my fists.

Am I?

I look into his eyes, "yes.... I do love her Marcus." I whisper.

He smiles and pats me on the back, "you just need to regain her trust."

"Marcus," I say, he looks at me.

"Yes?"

"I already knew that I loved her, I ripped her necklace off her and I told her that I hated her because she made me weak. I told her that my enemies can now use her against me, I told her it was because I love her. Then I made her forget and I ran out her window, I watched her. She looked at her necklace in confusion, having no idea of what I said. And it bloody hurt mate, all I wanted to do and still want is to hold her in my arms, hold her without her looking at me in terror. I don't want to compel her to feel safe because you can't decide that. Just like you can't tell someone that they love you."

"So let me get this straight, you took her necklace filled with vervain. Then you blubbered about all your feelings and what you are then you made her forget? What was even the point of that?" He asked.

"I wanted to see how she would react, I wanted to see if she would hate me for being a vampire. But I was a coward, I wouldn't of wanted to know. So, I made her forget then I ran," I shrug.

"We are not runners Tyler, we will fight for our girls. We will get their trust. But..." he trails off.

"But what?" I ask.

"What if they become vampires one day? They're gonna remember when I tried killing Shae's brother, not even knowing that it was her brother. But that's beside the point, they will remember everything," he whispers.

"That's never going to happen. I'm not allowing my mate to become..."

"A monster?" He mutters, I nod.

"Exactly."

"But what about eternity with our mates?" He asks, I shrug.

"We still have a while, let's not dwell on the future when we don't have to worry yet," I say.

"So what do we do now?" He asks.

"Well I don't know about you, but I'm going to get back my girl."

~~

I contemplate on wether to make a run for it or be brave and ring the bloody door bell.

Marcus rolls his eyes and presses the bell in eagerness, it's a shame really. My best friends mate happens to be the best friend of my mate, so inconveniently they live together. So we have to show up at their apartment, together.

Samantha swings opens the door and her eyes land on Marcus first, they widen. "M-Marcus."

"Okay... while you two love bird have a little chat, I'm just going to see Shae and have my own chat."

She crosses her arms over her chest and blocks my way, I could easily push her.

"I don't think so," she says, I roll my eyes.

"It can be the easy way or the hard way."

"You hurt her Tyler," my eyes widen, she told someone my secret?

"What did she tell you?" I growl stalking towards her.

She's your mates best friend. She's your best friends mate. Don't hurt her.

"That you two had an argument and all you know how to do is lie, that's all I heard."

"You know nothing until you hear the story, so I suggest you move blondy," my jaw clenches.

"No," is she challenging me?

I look into her blue orbs, "let me inside," I say.

"Let you inside," she repeats, she moves aside and I step in.

I use my speed to run to Shae's room and open the door. She jumps and looks at the door then me.

"Tyler," she says.

"Don't push me away because of what I am Shae."

She places her phone on the bed and crosses her arms over her chest, "I told you I need time."

"Yeah and I was going to give it to you but if you liked me you wouldn't need to think twice, I want you to tell me the truth Shae. I told you everything, I deserve to know without having to use force."

"Tyler-"

"Shae, tell me now!" I shout.

"Yes, I liked you," she whispers, I feel some relief coming off my shoulders.

Wait.. liked?

"Liked?" I repeat.

"I liked you when you didn't lie to me, when you didn't hurt the people they me and my family care about the most, when you weren't some blood sucking machine. But I hate myself and you because somehow deep inside of me, I like you... too much. And to be honest, I don't want to like anyone again."

"Why?" I question, she stands.

I walk all the way to her, she backs up into the wall. I cup her face wiping a fallen tear away, "you know my whole life story don't you? So you should know."

"I don't know your whole life story, I know some of it. I found out that you were my mate when you were 16! I wanted you to have a life, so I watched you in the shadows, secretly protecting you."

"Yeah well obviously you didn't come sooner, long story short, I fell in love then he 'loved' me then broke me. Turns out it was all a game to him. How do I know if you aren't doing what he did?" She asks.

"I've protected you."

"But how do I know that you're telling the truth!?" I sigh and cup her face closing my eyes.

"Clear your mind."

I look at her from across the restaurant, she's so beautiful.

"We've got three girls, good looking, perfect for the auction," I hear.

I turn to the bar noticing a man sitting on a stool looking at MY girl.

I stand and walk to him, inspecting him. He ends the call and looks at me as I stop in front of him, "those girls won't be available for the 'auction'," I say grabbing his throat.

He grabs my hands trying to remove my own, "call them and say that they weren't good enough," I say compelling him.

He nods and I remove my hand, "boss, they're not good. They won't be sold, stretch marks, over weight, pimples, not good enough."

He hangs up and I smirk, my smirk fades and I snap his neck.

"You did that?" She asks, I nod. "Why can't you give me more time to think Tyler?" She asks.

"I can. I just needed to know if you feel something for me. Shae, not all guys are like that jerk. I would treat you like a queen, my queen."

~~