Chapter 12

ZAREK’s OFFICE 

“How do you know she has the mark? The mark Selene has could be from any childhood injury.” Leila said, her arms moving as she kept speaking. “You said it yourself, didn't you? Evelyn was the childhood sweetheart you have been searching for.” 

“That mark on Selene’s neck….” Zarek leaned forward, his elbows on the edge of his desk, his eyes locked on Leila. “It’s not noticeable but I saw it when she packed her hair up, and that mark….she covered that mark with a butterfly tattoo.”

Leila shifted uncomfortably in her seat, glancing toward Zarek who sat on the leather armchair beside the window. “I did,” she said finally, her voice low. “It’s identical to the one you used to draw on that girl’s hand when you were kids. The three crescent lines? No one else knew about that.”

“No one.” He said firmly.

Leila scoffed, not looking up from her phone. “Except Evelyn,” she said flatly. “Zarek, you’ve known Evelyn your whole life. You did that mark on her too. Don’t act like you didn’t.”

Zarek’s eyes narrowed. “No…this is strange, why would Evelyn have the mark and Selene has it too?” 

Leila shifted in the seat above the desk, her arms crossed, her tone was cool. “Because Evelyn is your mate, the mark on Selene is probably a mark that is none of your business. You marked Evelyn a few years ago,  during the first shift. You’ve always had a bond with her—”

“No,” Zarek cut in sharply.

“No? What do you mean no?” she asked, her voice sharper and louder then she lowered her voice. “What does that mean?”

Zarek rolled his eyes and gestured with his hands. “Why would I have two mates?”

She laughed, bitter and low. “You’re not even denying that you marked Evelyn.”

He didn’t speak. His silence made it clear that he marked Evelyn.

“You did mark her.”

His gaze dropped briefly, then returned to hers. “Her father forced me, and again I didn’t claim her. Not the way I claimed Selene now.”

“That’s not an answer, Zarek.”

He glared at Leila. “I marked her years ago. Before I knew Selene existed.”

Leila stared at him. “And now? You brought Selene home yourself.”

He nodded slowly. “Yes I saved her because when I saw her, I could smell her but she couldn’t smell me.”

“And now, she is conveniently flashing her mark like it’s a trophy?” Leila folded her arms. “Does she know you and Evelyn are married?” She asked.

“She didn’t flash her mark, Leila, I saw it myself when she was packing her hair up and you still haven’t answered my question, I said why would I have two mates?.” Zarek said, his voice deep and husky.

She chuckled aloud, only for a few seconds and then said “I don’t know, you are the Alpha, you tell me because I can’t imagine that right now.” 

“Leila, I think we are done with this conversation, it’s getting late. Have the maids set your room and sleep, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.” Zarek said, setting his table.

Leila just scoffed. “You better think about it again, you can still take Selene back to where you picked her, or you reject Evelyn and stop causing her pain.”

“I only marked Evelyn and proposed to her, she is still a beta and Selene is the Luna, there is a difference, besides my bond with Evelyn is getting weaker everyday.” He said, his voice deep and firm.

“You are not thinking straight Zarek.” Leila said, standing up slowly, her voice calm but her eyes were sharp.

Zarek didn’t respond, and then she walked away, slamming the door behind her.

Leila stormed down the hallway with her shoulders down and her expression was neutral, every step was controlled with stress. She needed to sleep. 

He had been making dangerous decisions which would affect the whole pack.

But that wasn’t Leila’s problem tonight.

Tonight, she just wanted to close her room door, throw off her heels.

She reached her quarters and opened the door.

Then she frozed.

“What the hell?” Leila said, her voice firm and cold.

Two girls sat comfortably on her bed, their legs crossed, like they’d lived there their whole lives. A pair of robes hung behind them, and makeup bags were spread open on her dresser.

Nina looked up first, blinking slowly like she’d just been disturbed from something serious. Mara, glared at Leila too.

Neither of them flinched.

They stood up slowly, in perfect sync, and walked toward the door, toward Leila, who hadn’t moved from where she was standing.

“What are you two doing in my room?” she demanded.

Nina gave a half smile, tilting her head. “I thought these quarters belonged to us now.”

“Well, you thought wrong,” Leila said, crossing her arms and then she pointed at Mara and Nina. “Hey, you are Evelyn’s friends, not part of this family. And this is my room. Weren’t you informed?”

Mara raised her brows. “The Beta didn’t mention it, the maids didn’t either.”

“She said the east wing was empty,” Nina said innocently, like she hadn’t just thrown Leila’s clothes out of the closet. “She said we could sleep in.”

Leila gestured around the room and the hallway.

“The Beta’s name,” she said tightly, “doesn’t come with authority to override mine. I was raised in this pack, I am the sister to the Alpha. My mother’s scent is still on that damn headboard.”

Mara didn’t look impressed, she wasn’t scared of Leila either . “Maybe that’s why they wanted a change.”

Leila took a single step inside, making them shift back.

“You’re standing in my mother’s room. Sleeping in her bed. You think you’ll stay here long? News flash, you two don’t belong here. You never did.”

“We were invited,” Nina said.

Leila scoffed. “By whom? The new Luna?” Her eyes darkened. “Or Evelyn?”

Neither answered. But the silence was sharp.

“Tell me something,” Leila went on, voice quieter now, more dangerous. “How long has the beta been making decisions Zarek didn’t approve of?”

Mara’s lips tightened.

Nina shrugged. “Afterall she is your brother’s mate.”

Mara scoffed.

The beta wasn’t just power-hungry. She was seizing the ground that didn’t belong to her. And now her little foot soldiers were nesting in Leila’s quarters like they owned the place.

Leila stepped forward again, toe to toe with Nina now. “You’ve got exactly two minutes to get out of my room before I drag you out myself.”

Nina and Mara glared at themselves but they didn’t move an inch.

“Trying me?” Leila yelled at them.

“We can only leave here if you find us another place to stay in this mansion.” Mara said firmly.

“This must be a joke right?” Leila said, her voice loud and heavy.