Another Choice

(Tom)

I have been looking for a fucking clue about who is behind the plot against Selina for a month now and didn’t find anything! This is so fucking frustrating! I spent so many times, so many days for what? Nada, niet, rien! Nothing at all! This is my main focus. My only focus actually.

“Or this is your excuse to not think about the awkward situation you are in.” My wolf says.

“What are you talking about?” I ask him.

“Yeah, Ignore the elephant in the room!”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

“You and Selina, leaving together, cooking for each other, sharing the same bed. You’re acting like a couple. And don’t tell me you don’t have feelings for her. We both know it will be a lie!”

Of course, I have feelings for Selina, we are leaving together and we just clicked together. Everything is so easy between us. But it's not Love. It can't be Love.

“First, it’s us and Selina, I’m not the one who purred two nights ago when she fell asleep in our arms. secondly, I know this is confusing! I don’t need you to know that. And don’t tell, you don’t have feelings for her because we both know it will be a lie too.” I reply using his argument against him.

He sighs:” I know. I can’t help it. She is so great, not perfect, but she is easy to fall in love with. And at the same time, guilt is eating me because she is supposed to be Noah’s.”

“Yeah, I’m feeling the same way...”

“So focusing on something else is not a bad idea.” I add.

“For now...” He says not convinced.

“For now. We will think about that when danger will be dismissed. One problem at the time.”

He agrees.

I’m at the Primus Pack for grandpa Franck’s birthday. I’m avoiding Noah because we didn’t speak since our fight at his birthday party and also because of the guilt about my situation with Selina. I'm drinking in one of the two bars of the town as I need some time alone - and a drink - because being there with everybody and everything is a bit overwhelmed me.

“Hello Tom, what are you doing alone?” Selina says sitting by my side.

Why is she doing here? I know her family was invited but since her 18th birthday, she refused to come when she knew Noah would be here. Noah and grandpa Franck are pretty close so he would miss his birthday party for nothing and Selina knows that. Moreover, she would have told me that she will be here. She smells like her, looks like her but something is off here.

"Yeah, she is off too. Something is wrong with her." My wolf says.

"Hey Princess, what are you doing here?" I ask nonchalantly. I hope...

She smiles at me. My Selina would have rolled her eyes and would have called me Thomas in the second, not smile at me.

"I just wanted to see if you're okay? I mean, you left the party pretty quickly. I know we used to work together but even if it didn't work, I'm still worried about you." She says with a flirting smile.

Rumors say I worked as Selina's assistant and after as she was too demanding, we fought and I quite. Other rumors say she hired because she was pitying my mate's situation.

"This is not Selina!" My wolf growls.

"Shut up Captain Obvious! It might be the clue we're looking for so better play along with this impostor. So we need to be calm." I scold him.

She orders a piñacolada which is not the kind of alcohol she drinks usually. She prefers a stronger cocktail as old fashion. Actually she's only drinking Whiskey now that I think about that.

"Not now." My wolf says. Right.

"Well, shit happens!" I reply.

"Relax, I came in peace!" She says caressing my arm.

"I know you and we both know you are not here just by courtesy. So what do you want?" I ask sternly.

This flirty fake Selina is annoying me and I need a way out before I blow up and she realizes I know she is an impostor.

She taps the bar with her fingers, something Selina never does.

"I was just checking. I have what I want now." She says leaving.

What the fuck just happened! Who was that! I make a sign to the barman to order the same thing.

"I hope you enjoyed it." Someone says behind my back. Noah.

"Yeah, and it will even better without you here!" I say not looking at him. He takes the sit on my left.

"Do you know what is nice with alcohol?" He asks me.

"Go to hell, Noah!" I say not wanted to speak with him.

He laughs: " Alcohol is perfectly hiding the taste of certain potion. Like the one, I had put on your glass."

"What are you talking about you?"

"It's a love potion. Soon you will be obsessed with the last woman you met, Selina. So obsessed that you will want to mark and mate her."

NO!

He puts a small bottle in the table and adds: " This will help you."

Adonit Meladrona.

"Why? You know I will die marking her." I ask. I need to know why he is targeting me.

"Because of you, I have to find excuses for my rejection. You're my brother and still, you stood on her side. You should have thought twice before turning your back to me!" He says coldly.

"Do you think it's too excessive?" I say.

"What did you do to my wolf?" I add when I realize I don't feel him anymore.

"Relax! He's just sleeping. I didn't want to make a scene in the bar. So, I just took some precautions."

"Why me?" I feel so betray!

He laughs: " I'm doing you a favor by ending your pitiful life. This is what you wanted since your mate's death so you should thank me! You will be dying deserving of a bigger cause. You will die not for anything like your mate. Selina killing you will accelerate her fall."

"Fuck you, Noah! I hate you!" Everything is turning around me and I feel disoriented. Noah pushes me out of the bar and sits me on the floor in a small dark street.

"Bye Tom. When you will wake up, the only thing you will think about will be her." He says and puts the small bottle in my hand.

When I wake up, and still fell diseased but I'm too scared about what I will do if I see Selina. I need some help. I need to call someone.

"Tom, everything is fine?" Lana asks when she hangs up. She knows I'm calling her only when I'm in deep shit.

"No, someone drugs me. I need your help and I need to avoid S."

"Share with me your location and I will come to pick you up."

*****

"So let me resume everything. A stranger put some love's potion in your glass to push you to try to mark and mate S.?" Asher says.

I nod. I ask them to put me in a cell. So it's where I am. I can't hurt Selina it will destroy her and I will never forgive myself.

"What's S. real name?" Lana asks suspiciously.

"Sarah. Why?" I gave her the first name who starts with s that I could think about.

"Uhm..." She says thinking.

"Asher go with... Sarah and explains to her the problem with Tom. I will stay here. I can easily stop him if I need." She adds.

"Okay, be careful and keep me updated." He says kissing her forehead.

"I know you're hiding something." She says.

"Like you! My wolf told me once that he recognized you as one of us. Well, an hybrid as you're a witch too. Still, we never see your wolf. I know you're hiding things too." I say.

"Touché!" She says.

"I trust you, it's just best if you don't know. One day, we will tell you everything."

"So your secret is linked to S?"

I nod.

"Mine is painful and I don't know if one day, I will be ready to share it." She confesses.

"I can accept that." I smile at her.

"And I can wait for you to tell me your secrets. But not too long." She says.

"Maybe, she will be one of our rescue mission one day. I feel that her secret is huge too." My wolf says.

"Maybe. Good to have you back. You got me worried!" I reply.

Wait, he should not be back yet. What going on? Is it because of the love potion?

"My wolf is back. I thought you blocked him? You will never be able to keep me in if he takes over." I say to Lana.

"I will not have too." She replies taking a book and starting to read it.

"If he is taking over the cage will not stop him. Believe me, he is powerful." I say.

" I know." She replies not looking at me.

"I'm serious!" I say pushing the cell door and realizing it's not closed.

"What the fuck! Why it's not locked?" I say angry.

"Because you will not attack her."

"You don't believe me!" I say angrier.

"I do believe you, but a love potion works only if there are no real feelings. Nothing can overpower real love." She explains.

"I don't love S." I protest.

She looks at me: " Yep, keep lying to yourself despite evidence..."

What?!