Chapter 5: mine To Fuck.

Darian POV.

Sven leaned back in the booth, glass of blood-laced whiskey in hand, and stared at me like I’d lost my fucking mind.

“You marked a human.”

It wasn’t a question.

“I did.”

“You can’t hide that forever. Your father probably already felt the shift in the bloodline the second your teeth broke her skin. And once he confirms it, that girl is in real trouble.”

I turned the glass in my hand, watching the dark liquid catch the low light of the private room. The underground club pulsed below us—shifters tearing into each other in the cage, money changing hands. This place was one of my favorite playgrounds. Noise, blood, and people who knew better than to ask questions.

“I know.”

“Do you?” Sven leaned forward. “Marking a human isn’t just claiming her. It’s tying your life force to hers. The Council sees it as contamination. Your father sees it as weakness. An heir doesn’t bind mortals. He’ll have her erased before the bond settles fully. Quietly. Permanently.”

“I’ll handle it.”

“Handle it how? You think you can just hide her?”

“I take her somewhere safe. Somewhere no one touches her or even gets close to her.” My voice stayed flat. “If keeping her alive means locking her up forever, then that’s what I’ll do. She doesn’t leave. She doesn’t run. She stays where I put her.”

Sven exhaled hard. “Hell. You’re already that far gone. Doing that might actually make her hate you.”

“I marked her. There’s no halfway. The second her blood hit my tongue the bond locked in. I couldn’t stop it. I didn't want to. She’s mine now. Anyone who tries to take her dies. Including him.”

We left the private room and took the stairs down to the main floor. The air was thick with sweat, blood, and the sharp edge of adrenaline. Two shifters were going at it in the cage—one wolf, one fox. Bets flew. I barely registered any of it.

Three females found us near the bar. One of them was bold enough to slide into the seat next to me, fingers trailing along my arm like she had the right.

“Darian,” she purred. “It’s been a while. You look tense. I can help with that.”

I didn’t look at her. 

The female’s hand moved higher, fingers sliding under the edge of my sleeve.

I caught her wrist hard enough to make her flinch.

“Not interested.”

She tried again, voice softer. “Come on. You never used to turn us down—”

I turned my head just enough for her to see my eyes. Whatever she saw made her freeze. I didn’t let go of her wrist. I looked past her to one of my men standing a few feet away.

“Take her.”

He stepped forward without a word.

“She touched what doesn’t belong to her,” I said, voice flat. “Make sure she understands. Right here.”

The female’s eyes went wide. “Darian, wait—”

My man already had her by the arm. He bent her over the edge of the nearest table, yanked her dress up, and fucked her hard and fast while the rest of the floor kept drinking and betting like nothing was happening. She cried out once. He didn’t slow down. When he finished he pulled out, wiped his cock on her thigh, and left her there shaking.

I didn’t look at her again.

Sven watched the whole thing without comment, then glanced at me. “You’re completely gone on her.”

I didn’t answer. Every time Lila’s thoughts brushed against mine I had to lock my jaw to keep from leaving the club and going straight to her.

I hadn’t planned on marking her.

That first night I only meant to take what I wanted and leave. Feed a little. Fuck her until she couldn’t think straight. Humans were temporary. Easy. Forgettable.

But the second my teeth broke her skin and her blood hit my tongue, something ancient and vicious rose up and took over. The bond slammed into place before I could stop it. My body decided she was mine and there was no undoing it. I could still taste her—warm, addictive, already changing under my claim. I’d never felt anything like it. And the second it settled I knew I’d kill anyone who tried to take her from me.

Including my own family.