Marked by the Alpha King

Baka woke up early the next morning intending to set out into the woods. It occurred to her that she shouldn’t be prowling about on a morning like this after the death of the Luna queen. But she had left mouse traps in the woods and was afraid that they would turn bad. Besides, she had never tried to escape before. She had to scout the area herself to see what she was up against.Their settlement was surrounded by a thick, wide wall with iron spikes sticking out of them and barbed wires perched on top of the walls.There were only two exits, one that led to the woods and another that led into Khandom City where the werewolves lived. A guard was stationed at each exit, Beta’s from either packs who stood watch. They rotated every two days, that much she knew.But it wasn't enough.One particular Beta guard had been kind to her once. Thorin. She hoped it was his shift today. Or better yet, no one at all as they might be too busy grieving over the death of their Luna Queen and heir or ga

“Who is there?” came the bold question from Healer Freya.With trembling feet, Baka walked the rest of the distance slowly and stood at the entrance of the small shop.“It’s Baka.” Her voice sounded feeble even to her.“Come in, Baka,” Freya ordered, her voice changing tones expertly into a warm welcome. Yet Baka noticed the slight tremor in it. As she took a step in, she noticed a dark, cloaked figure standing on the other side of the room. He made no sound, but Baka could feel the energy exuding off him in her very core. It was almost magnetic. He stood in the shadows, the hood covering his face, stopping at the bridge of his lips which were pressed into a thin, hard line.She let her gaze fall on Freya’s brown eyes, trying not to let her fear get the better of her. “Forgive the interruption,” Baka began, sounding braver than she felt. “What do you want?”Freya was human, short and stout in build. The werewolves found out she had more knowledge of herbs than their own people. So

“I can hear your heart racing,” the Alpha King spoke without turning. His tone wasn't menacing, but it wasn’t friendly either. “Do I scare you?”That seemed like a trick question. Surely, he knew the answer.“Yes, my lord.”“Your heart tells me otherwise.”What was he driving at? She didn’t like how his presence made her feel at all. It was the same strange feeling she had felt when they were in Healer Freya’s shop. A strong magnetic force tugging at her.She had no doubt in her mind that he was the cloaked figure making demands at Freya. Standing still, she waited for him to explain why she was summoned. “I don't think you fear me. I think you fear what I can do.”Weren’t they the same thing?He still had his back to her. She refused to be cowered by a king who wouldn't give her the courtesy of facing her when they spoke.“No words? Earlier today you had a lot to say.”She blinked, shocked that he brought up their meeting. “Don't be so shocked. I know you recognized me the moment

Tatum watched her leave his room, her dark, curly hair flowing behind her. She had secured it neatly in a bun but they had come slightly undone.Her scent was like a cooling balm to his rising temper. How could she smell so right?Half the time, he had to move away from her for fear of sniffing her like an animal. He sat down dejectedly on his chair, cradling his head in his palms. Something wasn't right. It hadn't been since he met her at Healer Freya’s shop.First, her scent had hit him like a moving truck. Then she'd looked at him with her stunning dark brown eyes and he had felt instantly drawn to her. It was like nothing he had ever felt before.Then the most unseemly thing had happened— his splitting headache ebbed away slowly into nothing. A headache he had been wrestling with since he had his first shift five years ago. A headache so terrible that he would black out for days on end. A headache he had sought remedies for countless times at Healer Freya’s shop, and while it ha

Sleep eluded Tatum that night as he tossed and turned in bed. Feeling morose, he finally gave up and got up from his king-sized bed.He walked to his mini freezer and took a bottle of wine. Pouring some in a wine glass for himself, he downed the drink in one go.He poured another and downed it with as much speed. Baka plagued his mind. Everything about her plagued him.He was plagued by her tears, by her sad brown eyes that held untold secrets and lifelong pain. He’d felt an innate urge to console her and hated himself for causing her tears.But she had gone. To meet with her lover. And the headache had returned.His hands balled into fists. More angry at himself than her, he poured himself another drink.Is this what he had been reduced to? The powerful Alpha King feeling jealous over a slave? His laugh held no humor.But he was. Jealous of her tears over him. Jealous over someone he didn't even know. He had wanted to demand her to give him his name and then have him brought over for