Marked

[ Calantha ]

“Go get the head priestess. Tell her we’re here.”

Kaiden ordered his guards and they immediately obeyed, disappearing into the head priestess’s house.

I stood beside him, my heart pounding as I scanned my eerie surroundings. The air smelled of damp earth and something faintly herbal.

A minute later, the guard returned, followed closely by an elderly woman with white long hair, and an air of mystery around her. She was the head priestess. I had only seen her only once or twice at the full moon festival.

As soon as she reached us, she bowed deeply before Kaiden.

“My King.”

“Tara,” Kaiden acknowledged.

Tara’s eyes flickered to me for a brief moment before returning to Kaiden. There seemed to be some kind of understanding in her eyes and it made me realize that she was in this plan too.

“Let’s begin the mating ritual.” Kaiden said and without any hesitation, Tara turned and led us inside.

The small wooden house had a cozy but peculiar atmosphere. Dried herbs hung from the ceiling and candles flickered in the dimly lit space. Strange symbols were carved into the floor where Kaiden and I were made to stand side by side.

Tara began the ritual, chanting under her breath as she lit a small bowl of incense. The smoke curled around us and she dipped her fingers into a golden bowl filled with an unknown mixture, then gently traced a pattern on Kaiden’s forehead.

When she turned to me, I swallowed hard. She dipped her fingers again and reached for my forehead, but the moment her fingertips touched my skin, her eyes widened in shock and her body jerked as if struck by an unseen force.

A sharp gasp escaped her lips, and she staggered back, gripping the altar for support. If she hadn’t, she would have fallen.

Kaiden’s face hardened, his cold mask cracking just enough to reveal confusion.

“Is something wrong?” His voice was firm, but I could hear the slight edge of concern.

Tara didn’t answer immediately. Instead, her wide eyes remained locked on me as if she had just seen something impossible.

My stomach tightened into a knot. What the hell was that about?

“Tara,” Kaiden repeated, his patience thinning.

She blinked rapidly, as if shaking herself out of a trance. “Y-Yes. Everything is fine, my king. Forgive me.”

Quickly, she continued the ritual. As she reached for me again, her eyes met mine, and suddenly, I heard her voice inside my head as she communicated to me via mindlink.

"Who are you, really?"

I stiffened.

What? What kind of question was that?

I opened my mouth to ask what she meant, but before I could, she looked away and continued with the rites as if nothing had happened.

Well, that was… weird.

After a few more murmured incantations, she stepped back and turned to Kaiden.

“My King, it is time to complete the ritual. You must mark her.”

The moment the words left her lips, my stomach flipped. My hands clenched around the fabric of my cheap dress as Kaiden slowly turned to me.

His sharp gaze held mine, cold and blank, yet intense.

My throat went dry instantly.

Would it hurt?

From what I had heard, marking was painful at first, but the moment the bond solidified, the pain would be replaced by overwhelming pleasure.

But this wasn’t a real mating bond. Would it feel the same?

I barely had time to process my thoughts before Kaiden stepped closer. His fingers slid around my neck, his touch surprisingly gentle. I could feel the warmth of his breath against my skin.

Our faces were so close now, such that our noses almost touching and our lips were just inches apart.

“I’ll try my best to make sure it doesn’t hurt too much.” He murmured, his deep voice softer than I had ever heard it.

I swallowed hard and nodded slightly. “Okay.”

He hesitated, just for a moment. Then, he leaned in.

I shut my eyes tight as I felt his fangs graze my skin.

Then the pain came. Sharp, burning, and painfully consuming.

His fangs sank deep into my neck, and my body jolted as a searing heat spread through me. It was as if fire had been injected straight into my veins.

My breath caught in my throat at once and my vision began to blur. I wanted to scream, but no sound came.

Instead, my mind exploded with memories —visions flashing before my eyes so fast I could barely comprehend them.

My adopted parents sneering at me, calling me a mistake and a witch.

Ryker and his friends laughing as they humiliated me at the party.

The Grants treating me like dirt.

And then…

A woman. A beautiful woman cradling me in her arms.

Who was she?

Before I could make sense of it, the pain vanished.

In its place, a scent filled my senses— intoxicating, rich, and impossible to ignore. Cinnamon. Sweet herbs. Wildflowers.

It made my mouth water. The space in between my legs clenched tightly as my body heated up immediately. I felt my wolf stir deep within me.

Kaiden pulled away, and my knees buckled beneath me. I collapsed, panting, my fingers trembling as they touched the spot where his fangs had pierced me.

The wound had already healed and in its place was a scar—a bite mark.

“The bond will last only a year,” Tara’s voice came above me. “By then, you must be separated.”

“Thank you, Tara,” Kaiden said and Tara bowed again.

“The pleasure is mine, My King.”

Kaiden extended his hand toward me, and I hesitated for a brief moment before placing my palm in his.

His hand was warm and strong in a way that made me feel momentarily grounded. With a gentle pull, he helped me to my feet.

As I steadied myself, I noticed one of the guards standing off to the side, holding a phone. That was when I realized he had been recording the entire ritual.

Kaiden turned to him. “Post the video. Let the entire pack know I have a mate and Luna now.”

The guard nodded immediately.

“Yes, My King.”

And just like that, he pressed the post button.

As we stepped out of Tara’s house, my phone vibrated ceaselessly in my dress pocket.

I pulled it out, and my breath caught in my throat as I saw the screen flood with notifications. In less than a minute, the mating ritual video had already gone viral.

My eyes moved to the comment section.

‘Who is she???’

‘Wasn’t the Lycan King supposed to be betrothed to Isadora Grant? What happened?!’

‘Wait… isn’t that the slave girl who crashed Ryker’s party?!’

‘Lycan King Kaiden choosing a slave as his mate?! This has to be a joke!’

And then, to crown it all, my phone rang.

The name flashing on the screen made my heart stop momentarily.

Ryker.

What did he want now?