"Well, what's it going to be Mara?" Trixle asked wiggling her eyebrows.

"Um. Dare." Mara stuttered slightly, she was afraid of what her friend might have up her sleeve.

"Excellent!" She threw her hands up in the air. "I dare you... To kiss Marx."

Mara just stared open-mouthed at Trixle. What on earth is she doing? 

"Come on, you heard me."

"I-I changed my mind. I want to do truth instead." Mara said looking at the ground.

"Can she do that?" Emmett asked. Of course he would be on her side. 

"No she can't. You can't do that Mara."

"You never said that in the rules."

The entire time Marx kept trying to interject, but the girls were ignoring him. 

"That's because I shouldn't have to explain the rules!" Trixle stated.

Mara kept her eyes on the ground. "You should have stated at the beginning that you couldn’t change your mind."

"Fine." Trixle huffed. "Then truth it is. Why don't you want to kiss Marx?"

"I-it's not that I don't want to kiss Marx..." She trailed off.

"Well, then what is it?" Trixle prodded.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Mara, even if they didn't want to admit it, everyone was curious as to why anyone would want to deny their mate in the way Mara had done to Marx.

Mara could feel anxiety building up inside until she felt like she was about to burst.

Suddenly she was sitting in the dark. She looked around trying to find her friends in the blackness but came up empty. She called out for them but no one was around. 

In the dark silence Mara dropped her head into her hands frustrated at herself by the situation she had gotten herself into.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marx stared at Trixle, with a tinge of anger in his eyes when Mara disappeared from right in front of them. 

She read his glare loud and clear. "I'm sorry. I was just trying to help."

"And how well did that work out Trix?" Marx snapped at her.

"I just thought that if she shared what she was feeling then it would finally move things along." She trailed off.

"Right idea, wrong way to go about it. This isn't your battle, this is between Mara and myself."

"Okay, well I'm her best friend. I know when she needs a push." 

"Well obviously you pushed in the wrong way. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to track her down."

Trixle sat on the floor in her room in silence as Marx stormed out the door in search of Mara.

He picked up a scent he recognized as hers. It smelled like roses with a cinnamon spice. She was still on the same floor he could tell. 

There wasn't really a trail since she had transported herself from the room, but he could smell the general direction she was in. 

He turned down the hallway to his left and stopped short outside of a supply closet. He sniffed once more double-checking that her scent was actually coming from the other side of the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mara could see a shadow in front of the door by the small line of light coming from underneath. It shifted from side to side before the door opened and Marx stepped through. 

He took a look at Mara sitting on the ground and stepped inside, turning on the dim, flickering light and shutting the door behind him.

She sat on the ground staring up at his darkened face, unable to see his eyes as he looked down at her. 

"Hey." He said.

"Hey." She whispered back.

"Trixle was out of line back there. I'm sorry, I tried to stop he-"

"No, she wasn't really out of line. I mean sure it happened in a totally awkward way, but I know she meant well."

"What do you mean she wasn't out of line?"

"Well I sort of talked to her about this, us, before. I think she may have been acting off of that."

The right side of Marx's mouth pulled up. "You've been talking about me?"

"Don't get all excited now, it was nothing special." Mara replied jokingly.

He feigned hurt before holding his hands out to her in an offering to help her up.

Mara hesitated slightly before placing her hands in his, the tingling sensation running from the tips of her fingers and up her arms. 

Marx pulled her up, and she was standing just inches from him, looking up into his dark eyes. Her heart started beating faster, and before she realized what she was doing, she rose up on her toes and closing her eyes, gently pressed her lips to his.

Marx's body tensed before he relaxed into the kiss and she could feel the shift in him. He dropped his guard and leaned into her. Mops and brooms fell to the ground with loud crashing sounds as he turned them around.

Marx backed Mara up until her back was against the door of the supply closet and he began kissing her more eagerly. 

His hands slid down to her waist and hers found their way into his hair, her fingers running through it. 

She was taken over by the sensation washing over her, she felt whole for the first time. Her heart was still racing, her body was tingling, and her mind was whirling. 

Mara's lips parted slightly and Marx took the advantage to slide his tongue inside, exploring her mouth. 

They both pulled back for air, and they looked into each other’s eyes.

Marx cleared his throat. "Uh. I'm sorry about that, I got a little carried away."

Mara looked to the side, running her hands through her long hair. "No, don't be sorry. It was good."

"Only good?" He winked at her, back to his normal self. 

Mara rolled her eyes and looked around the closet with the flickering lighting. "You realize you just ravished me in a supply closet right?"

"You picked the meeting place. I just followed." In the dim light, his white teeth glistened.

"How did you find me anyways?"

"Just followed your scent." Mark pointed to his nose.

Mara had a hard time thinking about the fact Marx could smell her, or that she smelled distinguishable from other people. Finally curiosity got the better of her.

"What exactly do I smell like?"

"Roses." He smiled and tucked a strand of hair gently behind her ear. "With a hint of cinnamon spice." 

Mara blushed at the way he looked at her. She couldn't believe they had actually just had this moment. In a closet. Mara turned around hiding her face.

"What's wrong?"

"I just made out with a guy in a room full of cleaning supplies."

Marx just chuckled.

"And Trixle is so going to question me about this. I won't even know what to say, I don't even know what this was! I have absolutely no idea what is going on."

"If it makes you feel any better, I don't really know what's going on either."

Mara raised an eyebrow at him.

"What do you mean you don't know what's going on?"

"Well, this whole mate thing is new to me also. I don't really know what to expect."

"How don't you know about it?" 

"Well I know some." He looked at the ground. "I know that wolves are really the only ones that have these true mates. Fae, witches and all of them have something similar, but it's different for wolves somehow. And not every wolf has a mate, so it isn't as talked about."

"Not everyone has a mate?" Mara frowned.

"No. Those who don't have mates end up doing things like humans back on Earth. Trying until they finally succeed."

He looked back up at her. "Mated pairs have a significantly lower separation rate than those who do not have mates, for obvious reasons."

Mara just nodded. She never really thought about people who didn't have mates. She wondered if Trixle had the fae equivalent of a mate, she had never said anything about it. She was curious if Trixle was jealous because Mara did have a mate, and that's why she had made the comment about some people knowing whom they were supposed to be with.

She tried to shake the thought off and focus on the situation in front of her. Marx was standing over her, their bodies almost touching, and she had just kissed him. No, she had just made out with him, and she had liked it.

What am I going to do now? I can't really push him away again. I don't want to push him away again. 

"What are you thinking about?" He asked sliding his hand under her chin and bringing her face to look at his.

"Honestly." She breathed out. "A lot of things."

He stood there silently, letting her continue when she was ready.

"Like I said, I don't know what I'm doing here. The only relationship I had ended in him trying to kill me, and I'm scared about this whole made for each other thing."

Mara sighed looking deep into Marx's eyes. 

"But I can't deny that I have feelings for you. I don't want to deny those feelings anymore. I don't know if it's love or what it is, but I think I'm ready to dip my toe in so to speak."

Mara could see the smile spreading across Marx's face in the dim lighting. She knew he had been waiting since he found out about their bond last year, she couldn't even begin to contemplate how much it must have bugged him to see her with Zander knowing she was his mate.

Marx is my mate. The words ran through her head, making circles and jumping around like a three-year-old on a sugar high. 

Marx leaned down, his lips running over hers softly before he pulled back. 

"I'm glad to hear I get a chance my lady." He bowed down and kissed the back of her hand. 

Mara laughed and rolled her eyes. 

"Alright, come on. We probably shouldn't be in the supply closet, I feel like we're in one of those hormone filled high school TV shows."

"Well..." Marx started before dropping off when he saw her glare. 

"Shutting up." 

"That's what I thought." Mara said as she opened the door, peeking her head out to make sure the coast was clear before exiting the closet with Marx right behind her.

"I should probably go talk to Trix, let her know I'm not mad." She started. "See you at lunch tomorrow?"

"Sure thing." Marx said as he entered the stairwell.

Mara just transported herself up to her room, appearing right in front of Trixle who jumped back surprised. 

When she finally registered that Mara had just materialized in the room she grabbed her arms and pulled her in.

"I am so so sorry Mara! I didn't mean for that to happen."

"Trix, calm down. It's okay."

"No it's not, I'm a horrible friend, I should have known better than to do that to you. In front of Marx and Emmett. I just thought you needed a little push, I'm sor-"

Mara covered Trixle's mouth with a hand, silencing her apologetic rambling.

"Seriously Trixle. It's okay."

Trixle narrowed her eyes at Mara looking her over closely.

"Oh. My. Goodness." Trixle said, the words muffled by Mara's hand. 

Mara dropped her hand and looked away, heat flooding to her face, which she assumed was already flushed before.

"What?" Mara asked, trying to play dumb. She knew Trixle could already tell. She was an expert at knowing those things.

"Marx found you didn't he?"

"Yes."

"Where were you?" She asked accusingly.

Mara bit her lip while looking away. "Supply closet on the other side of the floor." She mumbled.

"You did it in a supply closet?" She shrieked.

"No!" Mara's face got even darker, her eyes staring at her friend so wide she thought her eyeballs were going to fall right out of their sockets.

"Oh my gosh! We only kissed, well, made out." She shouted defensively.

Trixle doubled over laughing.

"Relax Mar, I know you wouldn't do that already, least of all in a supply closet." She suddenly got more serious.

"But you really kissed him? So does this mean you two are dating or something?"

"Well, I told him I wanted to try whatever this is."

Trixle squealed, happy to finally hear the good news. She had been bugging Mara off and on ever since the beginning of summer. 

"I'm really happy for you Mara. I'm glad you finally took that step, and I'm sure you won't regret it.

After Trixle was satisfied with the information she got, the girls went to bed, preparing to get up early for the first day of classes. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marx sent a message to his father telling him he had important news to discuss. Almost immediately Makortax was at his son's door.

Emmett had left to give them privacy and Marx dove right in.

"Father, I have found my mate." Marx said with a happy smile.

"That is excellent son! I am happy for you."

"And one of the good things is you already know her."

"Is it Aliece?" Makortax asked, referring to a childhood friend.

"No it's not Aliece."

"Eliza then?" He asked, perking up at the idea. He had only met the girl once, but she had seemed nice, and strong enough to be the mate of a prince.

"No father, it's Mara."

Makortax's face dropped at the name. This was the last thing he had expected.

"What do you mean, that witch?" He asked confused.

"Yes father. Mara Coll- Crowland." He said, nervous enough that he slipped on her last name.

"No."

"Yes, she is." His brows furrowed at the quick turn his father's mood had taken.

"That is impossible. She is a witch."

"There is a part in her that is wolf, it must have happened generations ago. That is why we think her anger is the trigger for her magic."

"I know there is wolf, it came from Urissa's mother and father. Still, she is not suitable for your mate. I refuse to let that happen."

Marx flinched at his father's words, feeling as if he had been slapped across the face. His own father was trying to make him deny his mate.

"You don't underst-"

"The Hell I don't, boy. Now, she cannot be your mate, a witch cannot be the mate for a wolves."

Makortax's mind was reeling with this new information. He couldn't stand the thought of Mara being that close to his son. What he was saying was true, he was unsettled by the idea a witch could be his son's mate. What upset him most was the fact it was Mara.

He had already voiced his opinion to the Council, but they had failed to heed his warning. He was sure Mara would snap at some point, and he did not want his son to be at the epicenter, but he couldn't say that. He just had to allow his son to think he was being bigoted.

"Father. Her being a witch has nothing to do with this whole thing. We are supposed to be together, there is a pull, we both feel it."

"Well then I suggest you cut the string because I will not allow her to step foot in the kingdom by your side."

Marx took a step back with his jaw wide open, thrown by his father’s words. "You don't understand this, you never had a mate!" He shouted. "You have no comprehension of the depths of our connection father, and you never will." Marx spat at him.

"That is enough. I have had it about this whole conversation, I have told you my final decision. Mara Crowland will not be your mate if you wish to return home and take your place at the throne."

"You wouldn't take me off, you have no other heirs to take your place." Marx challenged.

"I have the power to appoint, and I believe Emmett Knolls would do a fine job." He said looking over to Emmett's side of the room.

Anger flashed behind Marx's eyes, and he found it difficult to keep his wolf at bay. 

"If you find it so troubling to keep away from this witch, I can always have you moved to a different school if you would prefer that." His father spoke, moving his dark brown eyes back to Marx.

Marx's eyes went to the ground and his shoulders slumped in defeat. "No sir."

"Then this conversation is done." It sounded more like a question and so Marx answered.

"Yes sir, it's done."

"Good." Makortax turned and stormed out of the room as the door slammed shut behind him.

Marx sat at his desk trying to figure out how what he thought would be one of the best conversations had turned into the worst.

The only thing he could hear were his father's words ringing in his head, Mara Crowland will not be your mate if you wish to return home and take your place at the throne.

He went to lie on his bed, staring at the ceiling while he went over the entire conversation again, ignoring when Emmett came back looking at Marx worriedly. 

He somehow managed to fall asleep, the talk with his father playing on repeat.

*******************

Alright, what a whirlwind of emotions and such. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. 

Leave your comments below for me, and if you liked it, then don't forget to vote. 

:D Thanks