40. Stand My Ground.

It was Valentine's Day, and Pack had just learned that Mimi had been released and had walked away. Damon had not asked anymore about her. It was painful for Mariella to witness the raw pain in his gaze. However, when Mimi had destroyed and burned the entire hive, it had affected her deeply. Damon didn't feel anything for Mimi and wasn't sure if he wanted her to be part of the Pack.

Despite Mariella's increasing struggles to control her alpha power, Damon was hesitant to consider the possibility of taking Mimi back and finding some kind of compromise or rebuilding the hive. Damon's mood had fluctuated drastically after that. At times, he believed he deserved the pain he had caused Mimi, while other times he would tell her Mimi had made her choice and he wouldn't force anyone to be with him if they didn't want to.

Mariella had tried to talk to Wulfe, but he was too hurt by Mimi's accusations and screaming to say anything about it. He had stopped giving magical lessons and would wander alone in the forest, speaking in a language Mariella didn't recognize. She assumed it was an old language that only existed in Wulfe's mind.

Magnum and Alaric had focused on their work, as Mimi's actions had affected them as well. Mimi had also screamed at Magnum, accusing him of betrayal and wanting to be with Mariella. Magnum, being a ladies' man, couldn't outright deny it, as Mariella was attractive and willing. He told Mimi that he was tired of waiting for her to choose him over Damon or Wulfe. He also mentioned how much Wulfe desired Mimi's presence in his bed, but Mimi, being emotionally closed off, couldn't be a real woman like Mariella. 

Of course, Magnum also regretted his outburst. However, he didn't really remember that Mimi wasn't feeling well and that his words had slipped out without much thought. Everyone had been caught up in their own thoughts, including Mimi, who had been trapped in that awful cube. It wasn't just Magnum who had said and done nasty things, but everyone else, too.

Meanwhile, Mariella was sitting in one of the green rooms, surrounded by roses that the men had bought for her and the other ladies on Valentine's Day. They weren't just simple bouquets, but actual rose bushes. She was already planning where to plant them in the castle yard. They had a large yard, but they hadn't done much with it before, as their focus had always been on more carnal desires. Valentine's Day had been both wonderful and less so in the past, but Mariella didn't let the past disrupt her. She was ready to have the ultimate romantic day this time.

Regardless of what Mimi had done or what they had all done, perhaps someday, they would meet her and things would progress from there. However, Mariella wasn't setting any goals for herself. She was a little excited because Colin was returning. She hadn't had much time to get to know him, and she was eager to show him the castle, too.

They hadn't ventured outside much because of the cold weather, and they weren't in the mood to play in the snow. It was much nicer to be inside, looking out the window at the snowfall, with a cozy fire in the fireplace and cuddling next to Damon or someone else, feeling safe and loved.

Mariella was a simple creature in terms of what she needed. Of course, many men were not obstacles but opportunities. She wasn't just driven by lust; she enjoyed talking and listening to their stories from old times and more. It made her feel at home. Mariella hadn't even tried to guess if Damon had planned something special for Valentine's Day or not. She wasn't expecting anything, considering the situation with Mimi. But if there was something, it would be even better. She was always ready for some romance in her life and to have a lot of fun.

She was Damon's wife, the wife of every Salvatore, except for Adam, Charles, and even the boys. She realized this too. Well, maybe someday it would be time to correct that, but then again, it wasn't that important for her to have them all marry her. As long as she had Damon, she was happy, and her life was pretty damn perfect. 

She had also noticed how much more civilized everyone spoke when Mimi wasn't around. Their vocabulary became less crudely descriptive, and they refrained from using profanity. As an example, everyone was engaging in very civilized conversations. Mariella observed this while she cursed silently in her mind, finding it somewhat amusing. She knew she shouldn't be doing that.

Shaking her head, she muttered to herself, "If I want to curse and swear, I will do it, Mimi or no Mimi!"

Mariella walked into the green room, even though it was mostly Shadow's territory. She also had a fondness for plants and enjoyed the scent of the various roses. She couldn't decide which one smelled the most wonderful or which one had the prettiest flower. She didn't want to make that kind of selection because, in her opinion, every flower, even what someone would call a weed, was beautiful and perfect. Perhaps she was similar to Shadow, almost like a flower girl.

Colin entered the castle feeling tired after his long stint in India. He wanted to relax and somehow missed being near Mimi, although he wasn't sure why everyone was in Castle Ireland. According to Mimi, it was the last place she would be welcomed. But maybe, just maybe, things would be different because of this bigger pack.

The castle was big, bulky, and grey, constructed with large stones. It was evident that it was originally built for war, as there were small holes lining the upper walls near the roof. Its strategic location near the coast allowed for a view of the sea. The castle yard was covered in snow, but it didn't resemble a winter wonderland due to its size and bulkiness.

Colin parked his SUV in the courtyard where other vehicles were also parked, but he didn't see Mimi's car. Well, there was a portal room, so maybe she had arrived through there. In the distance, as he walked towards the main door, he noticed the shimmering magic house and the protective bubble in the air.

It resembled a huge soap bubble and was still in a soft mode, indicating that it saw him as a friend and he could pass through it. He sighed as he trudged through the snowy yard, almost slipping because his shoes lacked traction and the yard wasn't well-maintained. It seemed like they didn't venture outside that often, but Colin couldn't help but grumble under his breath, uttering old Irish curses. Somehow, he knew that these walls and this castle had heard those curses before. 

The heavy door posed no hindrance to his robust werewolf physique, and as he entered the dim room, he let it close behind him. Walking on the stone floor, he reached an alcove where one would leave their jacket and shoes. Embedded into the walls were small lights that provided enough illumination to navigate.

As he made his way through a short corridor, he felt a slight tingle of magic and soon noticed a big map displaying all nine floors and several wings of the castle. Different colored dots moved across the map, with his dot being bright green. However, he couldn't see Mimi's dot anywhere. While examining the map, he noticed a black dot labeled number one moving towards him. Perhaps Number One could explain what was going on and whether Mimi was on a mission.

Colin believed that she deserved to have a life outside of work. He was still wearing the thick woolen sweater that Mimi had bought for him. It was made of actual wool and was handmade. Mimi had talked about knitting one for him herself, but her busy life had delayed that plan. The sweater had long sleeves that covered his wrists and arms, which were still healing.

Due to his condition, he couldn't sense anything through their mating bond. Colin had recently suffered from a severe illness, which required Samuel's expert care and medicine. He hadn't informed the pack about it because he wasn't sure if it was contagious to Mimi and others. He didn't want to put anyone at risk. Although he was no longer contagious, his healing process was not yet complete.

Continuing on, he entered a large hall and spotted Damon walking toward him. Damon was dressed in black jeans and a white t-shirt, seemingly unaffected by the chilly temperature. As an energy creature, he used his energies to regulate his own body heat.

When Damon came close enough, he greeted Colin and said, " Hello there, how good it was to see you at last in here. Come on, let's have a chat first and then see how we would spend Valentine's Day."

Colin nodded in agreement, choosing not to disclose any information about Mimi or his condition. He simply didn't want to be pestered with questions and examinations. He kept his curiosity under control and he was just briefly thinking what this was all about.

Damon led him to a room that resembled a man cave, filled with the scent of expensive cigars, bourbon, and leather. The atmosphere exuded an old-fashioned yet sophisticated vibe. In the center of the room sat a large leather chair, fitting for such a space. Damon took a seat while Colin positioned himself across from him, maintaining a neutral expression.

As Damon began to recount Mimi's situation, he described how she had become addicted to powerful blood and how their actions had led to their capture, resulting in their public exposure. He briefly touched on the difficulty they faced during their recovery and the subsequent imprisonment of Mimi in their hospital, in an attempt to free her from her addiction.

Damon also shared how Mimi's rage had ultimately destroyed their bond, severing any connection they once had. Throughout his narrative, it was evident that Damon harbored a strong hatred towards Mimi and was trying to convince Colin to share his sentiments. He emphasized how Mariella, who missed Colin and desired to meet him, could potentially fill the void left by Mimi.

Maintaining a composed and neutral expression, Colin listened attentively, his right hand brushing against his left as regret consumed him. He had failed to support Mimi when she needed him most, and now it was too late to do anything. He realized there was nothing he could do to help her. Frustration welled up within him, but he knew expressing it would be futile. Damon's words only served to reinforce his animosity towards Mimi, and his attempt to recruit Colin onto his side.

Damon interlocked his fingers and addressed Colin, stating, "As you can see, Ferrell, the situation is far from ideal. I was hoping to gain your insight on how we can help Mariella become a better alpha female. Her powers are not under control, despite my attempts to confine her."

Feeling exhausted, Colin responded, "I am rather tired, and I have no interest in teaching someone who isn't a true alpha how to become one. It's impossible. Let's see if she learns to behave on her own, and perhaps, in due time, I can consider if there's anything we can do. But for now, I need some time for myself."

Damon nodded and remarked, "It's not easy coming to terms with the fact that Mimi is no longer a part of our lives. But life goes on. The fact remains, that Mariella is now the Alpha female of our pack and it is our duty to support her in her tasks."

Colin's hands clenched into fists, yearning to reveal the extent of their grave mistake to the oblivious Damon. However, he knew it would be futile.

Instead of speaking, Colin kept his thoughts to himself. He felt the pain of his leprechaun, just as he felt that he had let Mimi down. Rising to his feet, Colin walked away and teleported to one of his houses in Ireland. He grabbed a large bag and filled it with a variety of strong booze. He had quite a collection, then teleported back to the wretched castle.

He entered a dimly lit room filled with books, but it seemed that not many had been there before. Mariella had stolen Mimi's books in the past and left them here, without bothering to read them. He had seen so many examples of the pack's lousy treatment of Mimi, and it all gave him a reason to drink more.

Colin opened the bag, took a bottle, and took a swig. The alcohol burned his throat and warmed his belly, but it only added to the bitter feeling he had. He realized that Mimi wouldn't feel anything, not a damn thing, for a long time, and Damon didn't see it or care.

Colin bitterly thought that it was all fine. He looked like damn Colin Farrell. Mariella was a duplicate of Vivian Leigh, Adam resembled Goran Visnick, and the others were a mix of various actors and actresses. The only true one was Mimi, whose face didn't resemble any actress, but she looked like a goddess, at least in Colin's eyes.

Her expressive dark blue eyes, high cheekbones, kissable mouth, pale perfect skin, arched brows, and dark thick lashes, all made her perfect. And now, his perfect creation was out there, suffering with no help, and he was too weak to go to her. Damon didn't want him to go anywhere but stay in the castle, and sure, he could stay there.

Swig after swig, the bottles emptied, and Colin wasn't sure when Number Four had come to sit next to him, also drinking. Somehow, he knew about Mimi and the mistake they had made, but Colin couldn't remember if he had told him or if Number Four had read his drunken mind. He was too consumed by self-hate, regret, and disdain for Number One's foolishness.