3. Woman In Love.

I had become quite skilled at managing my temper, which had been a recurring issue. It became apparent again when I tried to fit my pack into my car for work, only to find that it magically teleported to the yard of a grand mansion in Maine. Damon was less impressed by my pink Maserati, which was custom-made for me, and not for long, he was going to send it to the magic house to be recalibrated for him too so one day we could take a road trip in it, he would be one driving. 

The mansion was an impressive sight, with its large off-white masonry, wood-colored trimmings, and well-maintained lawns. Before entering the house, we took a stroll around the yard. Although I had already explored the yard, they wanted to ensure that they knew every inch of it, including the berry bushes, fruit trees, and other vegetation that adorned the area.

I had played a little trick, which Damon didn't notice. Let's just say that we had a good laugh when he transformed into a massive tiger and unintentionally plowed through my flowerbed filled with catnip and similar plants.

He was so intoxicated by the scent that he was in a dazed and playful state, purring and rolling around. The rest of the Salvatores kept their distance, allowing him to have his fun. As the pack leader, perhaps it was good for him. But oh my, I laughed so hard that I thought I would pee myself. He was absolutely hilarious.

Eventually, I made my way to a comfortable swing, took a seat, and reflected on the changes that had been thrust upon me. Time seemed to lose its significance, or perhaps I simply didn't pay much attention to it. The plush lawn concealed Damon's footprints as he approached me and sat down on the swing next to me. He commented on how nice the swing was and suggested that we should use it for some private moments. 

I responded by saying, "I'm not Mariella, so I'm not feeling particularly lustful while pregnant. I'm just here to relax and enjoy the surroundings. I've already walked around, so I know what's where."

We sat in silence for a while, gently swaying back and forth on the swing.

Damon turned to me and asked, "Baby, where do we stand? I mean, I'm sorry for how things have been, but tell me, what should we do? How do we get back what we had?"

I was exhausted by the same old routine and had no interest in a soap opera, so my response was not what he expected. "Damon, I've told you time and time again, your actions are your responsibility. What you do and how you behave are on you, not me. So right now, I'm not in the mood for this. I'm sick and tired of letting Mariella take everything from me repeatedly. That's why I've decided to find something she can't easily take away."

Damon frowned and said, "Surely Mariella has her weaknesses, but she's not the villain here. You can love more than one person. Why not me?"

I let out a sigh and replied, "I'm not looking for villains. It's just how things have played out. First, she took you away from me. Then it was Adam and Charles, especially Charles, who was there for me when I needed support. But she had to have him, too. And then the other Salvatores. She wanted them all. Even after those nasty seven years, I managed to find five men who cared for me, but no, there she was again, taking them away. Even Wulfe, all she has to do is show some vampire charm, and have vampire heat and he's under her spell. Can you deny this?"

Damon looked at me and softly replied, "No, I can't deny it. But baby, we can be together. Give me a chance."

I responded, "And risk her taking you away again? No, thank you. Like I said, I'm trying to find something that can make me happy and that she can't steal. But then again, she's quite skilled at robbing me of my happiness. Not sure why?"

Damon gradually moved closer to me, embracing me as he spoke softly, "Mimi, my love, you are mine, and we are meant to be together. Please don't doubt my love for you."

I let out a sigh and showed him my arm, symbolizing my struggle with controlling my bloodlust as I sat alone in the corner of the room.

My voice was tired, "I am a creature of love, but even I am special enough to have this tattoo, which was meant to represent our ultimate love story, turn into a symbol of my loneliness. Look, here I am, trying to regain control and recover from a long and difficult battle. The novelty of caring for me faded quickly, even for Wulfe. I've become snappy, irritable, and weak, and I don't hesitate to snap at everyone. So, I had to face most of it alone. You got bored and turned to Mariella. If she had been weak and snappy like me, no one would have abandoned her. Everyone would have cared for her no matter what, simply because she is weaker than you. But I am not weak. I am the strongest in the pack, usually. However, in this situation, I was weaker than Mariella. Since no one wanted to deal with me, I had to learn the lesson once again and be my own source of support."

Damon looked at me, then stood up and walked out. I didn't bother saying anything. This was just how my life was - being alone and having to survive. But I wasn't going to let it bring me down.

I was pregnant and had a lot of work to do. I was going to enjoy my time, prepare the nursery, and then meet my five children. I had asked no one about the genders because I wanted to be surprised. I knew Mariella wouldn't do the same and would probably use spells to see the babies in her belly before they were born, but I chose not to.

Why did I speak those truths? It was the easiest way to distance myself from my alpha. I wanted to be in control and not have him decide or negotiate with me. No, the situation had gained too much momentum. I had too much on my plate to make decisions, think for myself, and create the life I wanted without compromising or asking for help. No, I was determined to do it all on my own.

 I was considering starting to lay down my floor. I had some small pieces of rugs, held in place by glue. I had a specific pattern in mind, so it would take time to build up my floor. What a fun project!

I didn't appreciate the men hanging around, telling me to take it easy and not strain myself. Let them take care of wolves and Mariella, as well as the girls. It was enjoyable to see Elena and Katherine's independent streak, and the Salvatores noticing it and reacting to it.

Perfect, just as I planned. No need for anyone to pay attention to me; let me do my thing. I was lost in my thoughts when Number Two plopped down next to me. He looked handsome, tanned, relaxed, and in good condition. I had checked their radars, as it was my responsibility as their protector to ensure they were in decent shape.

His hair was longer this time, and he hadn't let Mariella mess with it. In the past, whenever they returned to the Azores, their hair would be cut, but not this time. Good for him. It was time for him to make decisions, not Number One.

However, his voice was cold as he said, "You did it again, pushed Number One towards Mariella. Why? He was ready and willing to be with you."

I sighed. Really? But fine, it seemed this pack wanted me to explain my decisions. I showed him my tattoo - a picture of me sitting alone in the hospital, being a doctor. I also had other pictures there.

I explained, "This tattoo represents my life. See, here's me in the hospital. I've learned that this is my life, not Damon's, not Mariella's, not yours. It's up to me to decide how to live it. Right now, I'm pregnant, hormonal, tired, and irritated. You know me - too many changes too fast. I'm out of balance, so I'm not patient. I don't want to just be nice and let him have me."

He grunted, and I continued, "He made his choice, as usual, Mariella. I'm sick and tired of waiting around, taking scraps of his attention or time. Mariella is pregnant too, and you know her. So, I'm just sparing myself from drama here, which would come my way if I had kept Damon."

Number Two grunted, deep in thought. I realized that, despite everything during the holiday, I had opened up to him. He had become my confidant. I wasn't sure if he was scared or caught off guard by my honesty.

Maybe I had changed the most, and maybe that was a good thing. I wasn't sure if any of the Salvatores could be there for me. I leaned back, letting my gaze brush against the light green cover of the swing. The softness and opulence of the swing enveloped me, calming me down.

The sun warmed me as I let the panels in my mind open, allowing solar energy to flood into my tanks. I knew my babies would thrive on this potent yet safe energy.

His voice was calm as he finally responded, "I understand. I really do, baby. She tried her best to be with us during the holiday. She was there for us during our road trip, trying to be a part of our lives. But now, I'm here, not with her. This, my baby, is my choice."

I leaned into him, feeling tired as the tension melted away. Once again, I realized that I had his support right next to me.

I spoke aloud, "What makes you so different from Number One? You're the closest to him, but you're almost the opposite of him."

He replied in a gentle voice, "The answer is simple, my baby. I am Damon, and I chose you, not Mariella. I'm not perfect, and I can't promise you all of my time or attention. But know this, I chose you, not her."

I fell silent as it dawned on me. It was almost amusing to think about it.

I said aloud, "So, if I were to compare our relationship to songs, Number One would be like Linkin Park's 'Numb,' and you would be like Shania Twain's 'You're Still the One.'"

He smirked at me and said, "That works, but I can give you even more romantic songs for us, my queen of rain."

I chuckled and said, "Doesn't it feel almost unreal?"

He glanced at me and calmly stated, "I don't want to participate in this game with you. Save it for someone, like Number One. Use him as you please. Let him be your plaything or fulfill any other needs you may have. Look, my dear, make Mariella work to win them over, seduce them, make them stay with you. Let's watch Mariella become agitated, creating a win-win situation. You have the opportunity to ensnare them, while we enjoy seeing Mariella get worked up. Let your life imitate the drama of a soap opera like Bold and Beautiful. You can be Brooke, and Mariella could be Caroline or Taylor."

I smiled and replied, "I didn't realize you watched that series."

He tapped his temple and playfully said, "Oh, my love, I simply observed it from your thoughts."

I laughed and cautioned, "Be careful, I have some dirty secrets and embarrassing ones too. There's no need to dig up all my dirt."

Number two turned to me and said, "Come on, shock me with your ideas. Not anything nasty, just the dirty thoughts in your mind. Make me gasp."

I rolled my eyes and replied, "You don't really want to hear about my fantasies or plans."

He nodded and insisted, "Go on, tell me. I'm a creature of lust. Can you truly shock me?"

I hesitated, unsure if I should, but finally decided to share.

Speaking in a husky and quiet voice, I hoped no one was nearby to overhear. "Imagine waking up after being knocked out, your mind blurry. As you regain consciousness, you realize you're naked and unable to move, standing up."

Number two interrupted, saying, "That's an old one. Come up with something better, something I haven't done to you before, or something number one hasn't done."

I rolled my eyes again and continued, "Let me finish. As I wake up, I find myself strapped to a frame, completely exposed and unable to free myself. The room is dimly lit, and I can see other women in similar racks, each with a different body type. Some taller and fuller, others similar to me, but I'm the smallest and thinnest. Suddenly, the door opens and a group of men enter. The leader is dressed in leather pants and a tight t-shirt, with the others following behind him. He carries a flogger on his belt. One by one, the men evaluate each of us, determining our cup size and how we can be used - breeding, sex slavery, spying, or as test subjects. The leader looks at us like we're cattle and uses the flogger to strike me sharply on my exposed cunt from behind. Burn makes me cream myself, causing a mixture of fear and pleasure. Another man approaches and bites my nipples, instructing me to learn to lactate for him, as his slave..."

Number two interrupted again, saying, "Oh, go on. You're really getting into it."

His voice was husky as he added, "You know I can easily get a flogger myself..."

I realized that this conversation could lead to some intense action if given the opportunity. Not that it would be a bad idea. I was actually quite ready for it to happen.

After all, I had plenty of bedrooms available for use, and despite my best efforts, my pregnant body still had a strong libido. My hormones would be thrilled to receive some attention from one of my husbands. I was getting ready to continue with my fantasy and see where it would take us.