Marked by betrayal, bound to the Lycan Lord.

XENA'S POV. 

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, the blanket pulled up to my chin even though the room was warm, I felt cold inside. 

It had been weeks since my mother died, but the ache hadn’t lessened. If anything, it had gotten worse.

Since her death, my world has turned into a nightmare. My stepfather, once pretending to be kind, showed his true face and my stepsister Chloe always sneered at me and mocking me in every opportunity they got. 

They made it very clear, I wasn’t wanted. To him, I was a stain on his perfect life. He said I tarnished his image, an image he never knew was "dirty" until my mother was gone. 

The only thing keeping me from breaking completely was the thought of my wedding in three days. My fiancé... the one person who saw more in me than the blood in my veins. 

It was a small ceremony, barely a celebration, his parents insisted on keeping it that way for reasons best known to them and since my mother saw the love their son had for me, she didn't oppose the idea.

 As I sank deeper into my grief, I heard the front door open. I knew at once who it was. It was my step father. 

 I had been ignoring him for days. I prayed he would just pass by my room and leave me alone.

Then I heard another voice. It was a woman. 

They were laughing, giggling, their heavy footsteps moving through the living room. I heard something crash to the floor and break, followed by more laughter.

"You're the only real woman this house has ever seen," he said loudly, his voice like poison.

"Not like that dead whore," the woman answered, her words dripping with scorn.

I sat up in bed, my heart pounding. My fists clenched tightly, gripping the sheets tightly. It was one thing to mock me but it was a completely different situation when it comes to my mother. 

"Her daughter’s no better," he added, his voice thick with disgust.

I couldn't take it anymore, I threw off the blanket and stormed out of the room. I found them sprawled on the sofa, laughing as if the world was theirs.

The woman was draped over him, her lipstick smeared across his mouth, her heels digging into the couch cushions.

“What the hell do you think you are doing?” I snapped, as soon as I got down the stairs. 

They both turned to look at me like I was an annoying bug.

"Who I am doesn’t concern you," the woman said with a cruel smile. "But since you asked... I'm your stepmom,” she paused, exchanging glances with my stepfather. 

Her words hit me harder than any slap.

"You..." I struggled to find my voice. "You dare to bring a stranger into this house? It has just been three weeks since my mother died,” I paused, tears choking my words. “How dare you?”

"Watch your mouth," my stepfather growled. “And who said she is a stranger,” he turned to her, holding her hand in a romantic way. “She is the love of my life, the only one I have truly loved.”

I froze. It was like watching your world come crashing down before your eyes. “What?” I muttered, my mind filled with different thoughts. “How could you do this to my mother?” I snapped. 

“She gave you a name, she gave you a house…she…” I paused, swallowing hard, unable to believe what was happening. “How could you do this to her?”

“Please, don't be too dramatic, I gave your mother attention in return, do you know that so many men were scared of approaching your mother because of her status,” he stood up, pointing to his chest. “I became a Father to someone's else's child, to an Impure wolf, do you have any idea what that did to me?”

I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. “You were the one who approached my mother,” I eyed. 

“Hey, you should be grateful I kept your secret,” he eyed, his voice filled with pride. “Do you still remember what they did to the last impure wolf?”

I swallowed hard. Whatever confidence that was left in me, came crumbling down. The last impure wolf was killed brutally. She was torn into pieces during a gathering under the full moon. 

“Are you seriously threatening me?” I said, my voice low as tears flowed down freely. 

“You should be grateful I'm still keeping you here, so I suggest you don't provoke me,” he eyed, wrapping his hand around the woman's neck. 

I opened my mouth to throw back another insult, but froze, seeing what was around her neck. 

My mother’s silver chain, the one she wore every day, now dangling proudly around this woman’s throat like a trophy.

My patience snapped and without thinking, I lunged forward and yanked the chain from her neck.

"How dare you!" I screamed.

The woman staggered back, clutching her neck in shock. My stepfather’s face twisted in anger. 

Before I could react, his hand struck me hard across the face.

I stumbled, tasting blood.

"You disgusting little mistake!" he roared.

I tried to stand, but he hit me again, harder this time. I crashed into the wall, my head spinning.

"You think you can disrespect my woman?!" he shouted, spitting on my face. “You worthless piece of shit, don't make me call the sentinels on you,” he spat, yanking the chain away from me and pushed me to the floor. 

The woman smiled, placing the chain in her purse before following my step father upstairs. 

I sat on the floor, crying for hours. I couldn't take it anymore. I clutched my bleeding head, thinking of what to do before I bled to death. 

The only person I could think of was my fiance. I rushed to the drawer in the kitchen and sprayed the werewolves scent on myself, it was a potion that hid my impure scent. 

Without it, I wouldn't have survived at all. 

I placed the bottle in my pocket and ran into the night, heading for the only place and person that could comfort me. 

When I got to his house, I knocked hard but there was no response but the lights were on. 

Desperately, I pushed the door opened and walked in. The first thing that caught my eyes was the purse lying on the table. I flinched as a loud bang was heard from upstairs. 

“Mark,” I called, running upstairs, immediately I got to his room, I flung the door open and walked in. 

Immediately my soul felt my body, my jaw dropped open in shock. 

Mark was in bed with another woman, they were still fucking like I wasn't standing right there. 

Slowly the lady turned to me, a small smirk appearing on her lips. 

It was Chloe, my step sister.