6- Mine to mark

Kael.

I hadn’t been able to get her out of my head since that night. Scarlet Red.

A name that sounded like sin and burned into my skull every time I closed my eyes. It didn’t matter how much I drank or how many times I tried to bury myself in other things, she haunted me like a ghost lingering in the deepest part of my veins.

It was infuriating because I wasn’t supposed to crave anyone. Not as Alpha. I was supposed to be untouchable amd cold and untamed by any single woman. And yet here I was restless and pacing the corridors of the pack house with my wolf breathing down my neck whispering her name like a curse.

“Pathetic. You can’t sleep because of her. Because of a mouth and of a body. Weak.” the wolf growled in my mind and the voice was too deep and guttural mocking me.

“Shut up.” I snarled under my breath shoving past a guard who lowered his head as I walked into the east wing where the harem chambers lay.

The air was thick with perfume amd soft laughter spilling out of the curtained doors. I hated that I was here but I hated even more how badly I needed something anything to take the edge off.

The moment I stepped inside silence fell like a heavy curtain. They all knew when I arrived. Women in silk and lace scrambled to their knees their eyes glowing with desperation amd voices soft as they greeted me.

They always tried to outdo one another hoping for my attention. I sat on the carved throne at the far end of the chamber, the weight of my presence enough to make them quiver.

One crawled forward witj her hands reaching for my thighs and another pressed a cup of wine into my hand, her fingers brushing too deliberately against mine. They thought they could distract me. They thought they could erase the gnawing emptiness inside me.

But it was nothing. Their touches were empty amd their perfumes cloying. When one dared to straddle my lap and grind against me I shoved her aside with one hand. The entire room went silent again.

“Why are you here if you won’t take what’s offered?” my wolf rumbled his laughter thick with mockery.

“Because I need good release.” I growled back inside my head.

“You need her.” He answered without hesitation his voice low and still fuckinh taunting.

“Go to the club. Drag her here. She’s pack and whether she likes it or not she must obey her Alpha.”

My jaw clenched. The thought of her kneeling in this room with the rest of them made me see red. I didn’t want her here. I didn’t want her to be like them but I wanted her so bad. And that contradiction alone made my blood burn.

The first night I left in fury storming out with my cock still hard ignoring the shocked stares of the women who thought I’d finally grown bored of them.

But I returned the next night because I was a fool and because my wolf wouldn’t let me rest and because every bone in my body was straining with frustration. I told myself maybe I had just needed to try harder that someone else’s mouth could erase her taste.

It was Jasmin who came forward this time as bold as ever, the one they all thought I favored because I had taken her more than the rest. She was beautiful, yes wirh silken hair and sharp cheekbones and lips painted red but when she pressed her body against me, it was like touching wax.

She leaned close voice purring against my ear.

“It’s been too long Alpha. You shouldn’t deny yourself when I’m right here for you.” Her hand slid down my chest then lower and she was on her knees before I could answer her tongue wet against my skin as she tried to take me in her mouth.

For a moment I closed my eyes and let her. I wanted to believe it would work and that the ache in my gut would ease. But the moment her lips wrapped around me, the moment her throat tried to swallow me down bur it felt wrong.

Wrong because it wasn’t her. It wasn’t Scarlet Red. Jasmin’s mouth was shallow and careful and predictable. Scarlet had taken me like she wanted to ruin me and she was built to destroy men with her eyes locking with mine as if she dared me not to lose control.

Jasmin gagged then pulled back for air then went back down again but the more she tried the more disgust clawed up my throat.

“Not her. Not even close. You’re wasting time.” My wolf hissed.

The rage that burst out of me was sudden and sharp. I fisted Jasmin’s hair and yanked her head back so hard she gasped her lips swollen and wet.

“Get off me.” I growled shoving her away.

She tumbled shock flashing across her face but I didn’t care. The chamber fell silent, the rest of the women staring wide-eyed and none daring to move.

“Alpha -” Jasmin’s voice trembled as she pushed herself up adjusting the strap of her lingerie that had fallen. “You don’t have to -”

“I said get out.” I roared the sound echoing off the marble walls, thic with fury. She froze then scrambled to her feet and ran tears threatening her painted face.

“You’re pathetic. You can’t even stomach another woman because of her. You’re bound and you don’t even know it.” The room reeked of fear but my wolf was laughing again.

My hands were shaking as I gripped the arms of the throne the wood cracking under my strength.

“She’s mine now.” I snarled under my breath.

“Yes. She’s pack. She must obey you. Drag her here and mark her and make her yours.” my wolf whispered with satisfaction.

My chest heaved. The thought of Scarlet Red kneeling in front of me wirh her throat exposed and the scent of her submission filling the room made my cock ache all over again.

But then I imagined her in this chamber with the others watching and rage blackened my vision. No. I wouldn’t share her eyes or her sounds or her body with anyone else. She wasn’t like them. She couldn’t be.

I stormed out of the harem that night, the women parting like shadows as I passed. My blood was boiling my wolf pacing inside me restless and snarling. I didn’t know how much longer I could last like this.

Every second that passed without her was a torment amd every attempt to bury the craving ended with my body wanting her more.

And one thing was certain is I would find her again. I would drag her into my world if I had to. She belonged to me even if she hadn’t realized it yet.