The Mark I Didn’t Want-The Mate I Never Expected Chapter 08
But days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. I never looked back.
I heard Shane had started pursuing Mia Mercer aggressively.
I figured since Mia had her eyes on Baron, Shane wouldn’t stand a chance.
But a month later, he made it Instagram official.
Baron and I had already gone public way before that.
Two months in, Baron took me to meet his parents.
I already knew Mr. and Mrs. Sterling-but they never expected that the son bringing a girl home
would be Baron, not Shane.
I was a nervous wreck.
“What if they hate me for it?”
Baron pulled me close and held me tight.
“Don’t worry. My parents are pretty open-minded.”
“Besides, Shane has a girlfriend now.”
Mrs. Sterling handed me a thick, generous check-way too much.
Then she sat me down in the living room and chatted my ear off..
Shane showed up with Mia right as dinner was being served.
At the table, he kept piling food onto Mia’s plate while sneaking glances at me.
I almost laughed. Did he actually think I’d get jealous?
Baron placed a plate of lobster meat-carefully shelled-in front of me.
Mrs. Sterling teased him, “First time I’ve ever seen you take care of a girl like that.”
“Now I can stop worrying you’ll die a bachelor.”
Baron smiled at me, soft and warm.
“It’s my first time chasing a girl. I’m scared I’ll mess it up.”
“Mom, Dad-can you help me set up a formal proposal dinner with Elara’s family?”
“want to lock this down.”
Shane crushed his wine glass in his hand.
No one even looked at him.
Mrs. Sterling beamed.
“Of course! Pick a date-your father and I will come with you.”
“Elara, just ask your parents when they’re free.”
Shane shot up from his chair. “I’m done!”
Again, no one acknowledged him.
My face went red. My heart pounded. I nodded. “Okay.”
That night, Mrs. Sterling invited me to stay over.
In the middle of the night, I went downstairs to get some water-and found Shane sitting in the living room, drunk out of his mind, staring into space.
I ignored him completely. Grabbed my water and started heading back to his brother’s room.
But Shane blocked my path. His eyes were bloodshot.
“Elara,” he said, his voice cracking.
“Last night was the full moon. I didn’t touch Mia.”
My expression stayed cold. “That’s none of my business.”
But he wouldn’t let me pass.
“Isn’t it ironic?” he asked. “I thought I’d be happy with Mia.”
“But last night-I had the perfect chance. All I had to do was mark her, and she would’ve been mine forever. But I hesitated. All I could think about was you.
“I guess losing something you took for granted hurts way worse than never having it at all.”
He opened his arms, reaching for me.
Once upon a time, I would’ve fallen right into them without him even asking.
Now I stepped back. Two full steps. And I could see how much that stung him.
He couldn’t accept it. He tried to grab me, pull me close. His voice actually broke.
“How did I lose you?”
“These past two months, I’ve checked my phone a thousand times a day.”
“I didn’t want to admit it–but I missed you. I missed you texting me every stupid little thing. Even
a flower on the sidewalk-you’d snap a pic and send it to me.”
“But I waited and waited, and nothing came. Not a single message.’
I was sick of his pity party. I threw the glass of water right in his face.
“Wake up?”
Shane grabbed my wrist.
“Elara, just look at me. Please?”
We grew up together. There’s no way you just forgot all that.”
“I can’t even forget-how can you let go so easily?”
“Please. Stop pretending. Forgive me. Let’s start over.”
“Let go of her!” A cold, furious voice cut through from the top of the stairs.
