Fight to the Death Ch. 02-03

"You kicked your wife out for helping him without talking to us first, how is this different?" Dominic challenged.

"I was stupid and have made amends for that. What you're doing, forcing Rogue to chose between her mate or her family, it's insane!" Cole retorted.

"You're almost at the line you never want to cross with your alpha," Dominic warned.

"Dad, Rogue isn't eating, she isn't sleeping, she just lays there," Xavier chimed in.

"I'm surprised that you of all people are acting as champion for Rogue and Griffin's relationship," Dominic said.

"I know what he did dad, and I know why he did it. I also know that when we went in to get Raven, Griffin came up with the plan to get her out once we met Gore," Xavier said.

"She didn't get permission before she married him," Dominic reminded his sons. "Pack law states ..."

"You can chose to forgive it. You just don't want to because it means that she can't mate with Davis," Charles reminded Dominic.

"I think you need to forgive it," Marie said, bringing in a tray of tea.

"And why is that? Do you want me to look weak in front of the other alphas?" Dominic roared.

"Because Rogue needs Griffin, now more than ever," Marie told her husband.

"Rogue needs an alpha approved mate," Dominic challenged.

"The hell with an alpha approved mate, because I doubt you'll ever approve of Griffin and he's who I want and who I need," Rogue said from the doorway. Charles, Xavier and Cole looked at each other before looking at their father expectantly. There wasn't much in the way of physical changes, but they all recognized the change in her scent.

"Does Griffin know?" Xavier asked finally.

"No. Until twenty minutes ago, the only person that knew besides me was Doctor Lewis," Rogue answered. Her face was pale and her eyes were rimmed with dark circles.

"Did you eat?" Marie demanded to know.

"Yes mom, I ate," Rogue snapped.

"Rogue Elizabeth, don't you ever talk to your mother in a disrespectful tone again!" Dominic growled. He sighed and studied his daughter's face carefully. Before anything else could be said, Davis and his father Thomas walked into the study.

"I apologize for coming in uninterrupted, but I just intercepted something that Beth, Raven and Mage need to look at," Thomas said.

"Hi Rogue," Davis said, giving Rogue a small smile.

"Hi Dav," Rogue murmured. She turned back to her mother. "Mom, can I go back to bed now? I'm really tired," Rogue wanted to know.

"Go ahead. I'll be in to talk to you in a little while," Marie allowed. Rogue offered her brothers a sad smile and left the study, making a beeline for her bedroom.

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

"There's been a lead on Marcus," Beth told Raven.

"Where is the bastard?" Raven wanted to know.

"Mage, Parker and I are going to check it out," Beth told her.

"I'll come with you," Raven said, pushing herself out of the chair.

"Mommy!" Jenny cried from her room.

"Rain check?" Raven asked with a small smile. Beth nodded and gave her cousin a hug.

"Course," she agreed before hurrying out the door.

~~~~~~~~~

"What a dive," Mage commented.

"You're telling me," Parker agreed.

"Thanks for coming with us Park," Beth murmured.

"Any time boss," Parker said.

They walked further into the seemingly abandoned house and Beth shivered. "I can't believe Marcus would stay in a place like this," Beth said softly.

"Cole and Xavier did run him into hiding," Mage reminded her.

"True," Beth mused. Parker grabbed Beth's arm and pulled her back and Beth gave him a startled look.

"You almost fell through a hole in the floor," Parker told her.

"Thanks," Beth muttered. They quickly but thoroughly searched the rest of the house, meeting back by the front door.

"He was here recently, he must have just left. There is a microwave dinner on the kitchen table," Mage said.

"He left a good chunk of his clothes too," Beth chimed in.

"But he will be back, he forgot his keys," Parker told them.

"Then we'll wait," Beth decided.

-Hours later-

Beth and Mage exchanged glances as Marcus tiptoed back into the house. He walked right past them, heading straight into the kitchen. He dumped the uneaten microwave dinner into the trash then headed upstairs to pack the rest of his things. Beth and Mage quietly followed him, hoping that Parker was ready. Marcus whirled around when one of the girls stepped on a rickety beam.

"Parker now!" Mage shouted as Marcus began chanting. The spells battled each other, and eventually, Marcus' spell started to break through theirs; to really be effective, they needed Raven too. Beth and Mage concentrated on keeping the spell going while Parker pulled the small black gun from his pocket. He aimed it at Marcus and fired. With a roar of anger, Marcus used an energy wave to knock the three of them down before turning and fleeing the house.

"Did you hit him?" Beth asked.

"I think so. There's only one way to find out; let's go home," Parker answered.