Chapter 3: Marcus's POV

My mate offered almost no struggle, following me out quietly. My father’s words occupied my mind like weeds, too stubborn to die down, but the bond chased off the echo quickly.

We walked toward the edge of the grounds where the convoy of my pack was. In the harsh sunlight, the bruises that painted her trembling skin were even more evident, spiking an anger that felt foreign to me.

I was almost tempted to return to the pack house to break the hand Alpha Mattias had used to strike her delicate face, but that would mean leaving her side. Her scent.

It was even stronger than it had been in the hall, and that had been enough to drive me away from my father’s side to the corner where that alpha had been harassing her.

Something had flared inside me then. A deep and possessive feeling that had cleared all logical reasoning. My wolf howled for me to save the omega girl dressed in rags instead of silk.

“What is your name?”

Her gaze snapped away from the ground to face me, distant like her mind had drifted. She hadn’t resisted my grip before, but in that moment she tried to pull away. Almost on instinct, my hand tightened around hers, thin and fragile.

“Don’t run from me. If you do, I will chase you. And if I chase you, I will catch you.” Her blue eyes flickered, glassy and terrified. “Your name.”

“Alexandra.” Her voice was so quiet, it nearly disappeared in the wind, already used to silence and submission.

“You have a beautiful name. I apologize if I caused you distress, but they were going to harm you otherwise.” Perhaps that was the cause of distrust in her eyes, or maybe it was my father’s warning.

The curse of the demon eye had skipped generations of our family, yet now I bore it, and she would bear it as well once claimed as my mate.

“Do you fear me?” My feet came to a halt in front of the high inner gate of the pack.

Her eyes widened as she shook her head, still avoiding my gaze, though I was desperate to meet hers. “I fear what I’ve heard about you, but I do not know you, Alpha, so I do not fear you.”

My fingers found the base of her chin, tilting her head up until our eyes locked. “And what is it that you have heard about me?”

She hesitated, drawing in a breath while struggling to hold my gaze. “Sometimes, on the nights I spent in the servants’ quarters, the older maids told stories about your pack.”

“And what do they say, little mate?” She gasped when my hand yanked her closer, then wrapped around her waist to hold her against me.

“They told me a story about your pack once. They said you possessed a gift that made you flourish for generations, and also a curse borne by the alpha. Your father also mentioned a curse.”

“You will know the truth once we reach Ashclaw and I claim you as my mate.” My fingers shifted to cup her cheek. The bond demanded for me to take her right there, to make her mine, and it took sheer force of will to resist. “No one will ever harm you again, Alexandra. I swear it now under the sun, and I will do it again beneath the moon so the goddess will be my witness.”

Her blue eyes glistened, then she raised her arms, wrapping them around me and burying her head in the crook of my neck. “I’ll try my best as your mate, but I know nothing about being a luna. I am not fit for the role, Alpha.”

“Marcus.” My teeth ached from how hard they were clenched. Whatever she needed to know she would learn, and the first thing was that she addressed me as an equal, not a master. “You can call me Marcus.”

Footsteps approached, and I turned immediately, pulling away from Alexandra while shoving her behind me protectively.

My father approached, clearly displeased. Alexandra shrank behind me, gripping my arm tight.

“Marcus, we need to talk.”

“There is nothing more to discuss.” Our eyes locked, a silent threat floating between us. “I assume we are no longer welcome to this pack after the incident that just occurred. My mate will go to gather her belongings, and then we can be on our way.”

He pressed two fingers to his temple, staring at Alexandra, who was peeking from her hiding place behind me. If it wasn’t so heartbreaking, her skittish attitude was almost cute.

“You are right. I doubt we will have reason to set foot in the Moonridge Pack again.” His gaze shifted back to me. “That stunt you pulled inside is already starting to stir up people’s interest. The other packs will truly begin to suspect if the rumors are actually true. You couldn’t kill him without using the demon’s eye to mess with the weather?”

“I lost control of it for a second. The rumors about me will all die down soon enough. It always does.” I turned away from him to Alexandra, whose eyes were darting between us, clearly confused. “We’re going to get your things, then we ride home.”

“Does she even know what you’re about to push her into? The responsibility she’s obviously not trained for will weigh her down and crush her.” My father’s fingers curled into fists, though they did not threaten me.

Alexandra was coming back to Ashclaw, and there was nothing my father or anyone else could do to stop it.

She tugged at the sleeve of my black shirt gently, staring up at me with soft blue eyes that might have been able to get me to do anything. I didn’t understand what she wanted immediately, but then she pointed toward the direction of the pack house, her short nails digging into my arm.

Her voice sounded louder compared to the delicate whisper from before. The only thing similar between the two tones was that they were both laced with fear when she spoke.

“They’re coming.”