Chapter 6 - Marian
Two Days Later
Mondays were hated because they were a reminder that the weekend was over, but to me, it was the start of another week of being alive. By noon I turned the computer in the supermarket’s office off and started packing my bag to head home.
Everything was ready for the week, and I wasn't needed. Mondays tended to be slow.
When my phone slipped out of my hand and into my bag, I paused and smiled, remembering my weekend. The highlight, without a doubt, was spending time with Nikoli.
After driving to my house, we only spent a couple of hours together while I cooked, but it had been a fantastic journey down memory lane that didn't bring me sorrow.
He'd grown so much it was insane, but he still had the charm he did as a child. It was like no time had passed between us. Our bond was the same, although his head was at my waist the last time I'd seen him. Now I had to look up to speak to him, just like his dad.
When Dorian's dark eyes flashed in my mind, I frowned.
I'd thought about it long and hard for days before deciding to visit him. I spent a lot of time at the pack, and we'd be running into each other time and time again. I needed to face him, and we needed to face the tension between us.
After chatting with Killian, I didn't feel like punching Dorian quite as much. Although his approach was wrong, he meant well. Then I turned up, and he was shirtless, his body covered with tiny beads of sweat, and for a second, I wasn't sure what to do with myself.
He was a mountain of muscle, more than when he'd first left, and both his arms were covered in tattoos, there were also some tattoos across his chest. His skin was like a Picasso painting, but there were many scars.
They were on his chest, stomach, and arms, and when he’d turned his back to me, it was as colorful as the rest of him, but there were scars on his back too. Some were slightly raised off his skin, making me wonder what agony he'd suffered from these wounds.
Wolves healed quickly, and scars were only left behind if the wound was pretty bad. What stories would his old wounds tell if they could speak?
I’d averted my eyes in an attempt to control myself, but I couldn't help feeling attracted to him. Our relationship was over, but that didn't make me blind to the fact that he was gorgeous, though it angered me a little.
It would be so much easier if I wasn’t attracted to him.
Still, I was glad we had a chat that didn't lead to an argument. I hadn't expected an apology from him about our breakup, but the last of my anger left when he said those words. As I'd said, he made the choices he felt were best for him.
How strange of a thing it was to love someone and then have to pretend it didn't happen?
I closed the office door and walked through the supermarket, all packed and ready to leave. When I walked by the meats section where shoppers could get fresh meat cut or sliced to their liking, I spotted Isaac.
There was a basket in his hand, and he was reaching out to Dustin, the server behind the counter. Isaac accepted the blood bag and dropped it into his basket with three other bags before saying thank you.
When he abruptly looked my way, I waved.
"Hey," I called while walking over to join him. "Looks like management made some changes, huh?”
“Indeed they did,” Isaac replied with a smile. “Are you management, perhaps?”
I shrugged. “Perhaps, I am. You'll never know. There are whispers about a newcomer in town, and he has to be catered to like everyone else. Management in this place is always at the top of their game."
He laughed knowingly. “Right, well, please pass on my thanks. This saves me a trip out of town.”
I eyed his basket. “Will that be enough?”
“For now, yes,” he replied. “So, how are you, Marian? I haven’t seen you since our forest chat.”
“I’m well,” I said while adjusting my handbag on my shoulder. “I’m about to grab something to eat and head home.”
When an elderly human, Mr. Gahard, approached us while pulling his basket, he eyed Isaac with suspicion before passing. Isaac watched the elderly man walk away, as did I, but I couldn't help frowning. It wasn't a look of hate or disgust, just mistrust.
When I turned to Isaac, he'd already turned away.
“It must be difficult, being judged like that," I spoke softly, and he gave me a tightlipped smile and walked away.