Insight

Eve hadn't been drinking the sedum tea for a few nights before her wolf began to seem more like she once was. The animal knew she had been acting strangely. Even the she-beast was glad to be out from under the creeping sedum's influence. Bastian caught her that evening when she 'accidentally' spilled her mug over the kitchen sink.

Bastian made her a new cup and brought it upstairs to her. Eve was sitting on her new bed, annoyed by her own bad timing. She'd been caught, which meant getting rid of the tea would be harder from then on. Bastian would be keeping a closer eye on her, if that was even possible.

"Here, Evie." He sat on the edge of the bed and handed her the steaming tea.

"Thank you..." She replied as she hesitantly took it from him.

"I want to talk to you about something." Bastian stated before touching the coffee mug in her grasp. "Take a drink."

Eve reluctantly lifted the cup to her lips, where she pretended to swallow the herbal liquid.

"I want to address some of your more vivid concerns about breaking your mark." He spoke calmly.

His words made Eve's fingers tremble nervously. She hated when he talked about this, because it meant he'd been thinking about it.

"I'm doing fine. That won't be necessary." Eve replied sharply.

"Your getting weaker and you don't want to drink the tea anymore. Your wolf will start getting out again. The power will take over more and more. Then you could die." Bastian responded. "I just wanted to clear up some things in case it becomes necessary later."

"The tea is doing things to my wolf. I think it's making her act out and be more violent." Eve rushed to gather her thoughts.

"Wolves are wild animals, Evie. Tea or no tea." He sounded like he were coaxing a child.

"What did you want to say, Bas? Tell me, so I can go ahead and shoot you down." The Luna met his gaze.

"It says in every book that I've ever read, the marking requires the souls involved to feel a sense of 'true intimacy' for the mark to take." He spoke slowly, as if easing her into the information. "Intimacy can be taken, like with Selena when her bond was broken. But sex isn't all that intimacy is..."

"I don't feel comfortable talking about this..." Eve whispered.

"Listen, I know you're loyal to Flint. You're connected to him. But I don't think you would have to have sex with me, for me to break your mark. I think we already have a sense of 'true intimacy' between us. That's why you can feel my touch, the same way I can feel yours." Bastian laid his palm on her knee.

Even through her sweatpants, she could feel the static his hand produced. She hated that feeling, especially in this moment. It felt almost like the sensation was trying to prove him right. She crinkled her nose at it.

"I refuse. I won't even consider it." Eve stated firmly.

"Then you have to drink the tea or take some monkshood. Something. You're strength isn't what it used to be, and I won't watch you die. That would be killing the pups right along with you." Bastian pulled his hand away from her and sat up straight.

"Monkshood?!" Eve furrowed her brows at him. "I told you I won't take it. It smothers my wolf! Threatens her life!"

"Then drink your tea. Or, alternatively, let me mark you." He shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest.

The Luna growled at him. She was cornered. Her strength to physically fight him wasn't there any longer. Her wolf had all the power the pup could provide, yet she couldn't muster the strength to wield it. She made a decision, one she was sure she was going to regret later.

Without hesitation, she brought the mug to her lips. Eve gulped down the bitter liquid, finishing the entire cup in a few long drinks. She lowered her hand and inhaled, thrusting the now empty mug into Bastian's chest. He was smirking at her, as if she were fascinating.

"Did that answer your ultimatum?" Eve grumbled as she wiped her mouth.

The tea made her tired. Drinking it all at once caused a wave of exhaustion to crash over her. She leaned on the headboard behind her as her mind slowly became less clear.

"Yeah, Evie. For now, I'll take it." Bastian nodded.

"Go away now. I need to rest." She slid under the blanket, rolling onto her side.

The rogue Alpha stood and clicked off the light. He sat the mug on the nightstand before unceremoniously laying down beside her. Eve sighed in frustration. She was still cornered. Maybe not by a decision, but by Bastian. Always.

"I'll take care of you, Evie. All three of you." He whispered as he moved a lock of her honey blonde hair from her face.

"If you cared about me, you would want me to be happy. Even if you weren't." She replied, already nearly asleep.

"No, Evie. I care much too much to lose you." Bastian moved closer and held her.

Eve's muscles were too heavy for her to shake him off, though she wanted too. The static he produced under her skin lulled her further into unconsciousness. Yet, even then, she could feel how uncomfortable she was. How much she wanted to escape. How impossible her dreams of reuniting with her mate seemed. It was nearly painful.

Bastian watched her drift off to sleep. Her face was so close to his that he could make out the faint freckles scattered lightly across the bridge of her nose and cheekbones. He examined her button nose and bow lips. She was perfect to him. Even the fact that she'd been with Flint didn't bother him. She was going to give birth to the key to his plans. To Bastian it seemed like fate.

He thought about her words before she fell asleep. If that's what Eve thought love was, Bastian would have to disagree with her. Examining her had brought him closer to her. He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, inhaling her sweet and tart scent. Eve's eyelids fluttered in her slumber, feeling the static of his touch even as she rested.

"I'll show you how much I love you, Evie." Bastian breathed as he brushed his nose against hers. "I'll never let you go back. You're mine now."

He smiled and rested his forehead against hers. His grin broadened as an idea came to mind. He pulled his phone out of his back pocket and placed a kiss on her forehead, snapping a photo. Bastian examined it and sighed to himself. The sight of Eve in his arms made him happy. Happier than he'd been since his parent's deaths.

Bastian locked the phone and put it back in his pocket. He held her again, breathing in her slightly floral scent. He reveled in the undercurrent of bitter berries that wafted off of her. His wolf was never silent, never at peace. Yet, in that moment, the rogue didn't care.

Bastian let the sounds of his inner beast's snarls echo in his mind. He absorbed the static Eve offered him, allowing it to carry him to sleep like the gentle current of a familiar stream.