Chapter 4

Marian had intended to kiss Reyland’s forehead or cheek, but with all the attention and unnecessary silent commotion, she was moved to do something more worthy of their eyes and whispers.

Her lips met his, and he gasped.

She licked the inside base of his parted lips, and his hand tightened on her arm.

She nearly winced.

She opened her eyes, surprised by the force he had used, and was stunned by the wide grey eyes staring back at her.

Grey with yellow flecks.

Were his eyes ever such a color? She pondered, staring back into his eyes.

She had never really related with Reyland; she couldn’t even say that she knew him.

When she was growing up, he was an unknown son of her father’s friend, almost a secret child. Rarely seen anywhere, and only for short periods of time.

It was only when his father had risen to Alpha that people started to see him more often.

The pack was familiar with Alpha Dax’s other two sons, and they knew his adopted son extremely well.

Dorien had been popular since he was a pup, but this one had basically been hidden until his father’s strength could be used to shield him.

Marian stepped closer to the weak giant, her eyes on his, as she licked the inside of his upper lip.

His eyes shut tightly and Marian kissed him, her tongue pushing through his gritted teeth.

A loud noise filled her head, and it was not the collective gasp of the pack or the deep growl from Alpha Dax’s chest.

It was the blood that was rushing to her head.

She pulled Reyland closer and moved her hand to the back of his neck, pressing him down.

There was a loud roar beside her, and she was flung backward, away from the sweet taste she was devouring.

She landed on all fours, opening her eyes, which had turned black thanks to her wolf, Dinka, pushing forward.

“You dare! You mutt!” Alpha Dax spat.

Marian did not look at her Alpha; she stared at his son, Reyland, who was down on one knee, his mouth covered with a cloth that his father had placed there before spinning around on her.

The scent of Reyland’s blood filled the room, but no one was reacting to it.

Am I the only one who can smell this? She wondered as she fought to pull Dinka back in.

==========

Dinka was growling, deep and loud.

Marian was sure this seemed aggressive to others, but she knew that it was not aggression that Dinka was feeling.

Did I do that?

When did I do that?

I –

Her musings were interrupted by an enraged father.

“Seize her!” Alpha Dax bellowed, and three warriors rushed forward.

Dorien was standing beside his brother, a strange expression on his face as he gazed down at Marian, who was still crouched in an attack position.

Her eyes went around the crowd.

Damn it! She spat in her mind.

Marian felt it before she heard it.

Her father, Corien, had moved to stand in front of her, facing her and blocking her from the approaching warriors.

His deep green eyes stared gently at her, his handsome face was relaxed.

“Come, Child,” he said quietly, his deep, calm voice reaching the end of the hall, vibrating in the air around the whole room.

Every wolf below the gamma class, clan member or not, chuffed at the sound, feeling the sensation of someone petting their wolf fur.

Alpha Corien rarely spoke. But when he did, people listened.

His pack members still remembered their lives under his rule, and the guests still remembered his leadership.

Everyone loved this wolf, every single one of them.

That love kept Dax from ripping off Marian’s head right there and then.

Marian blinked at her father and stood upright, sliding up to him. He placed a hand on her shoulder and wiped her lower lip with his thumb.

She flicked her tongue to her lip.

There is blood on my lip! She exclaimed in her mind, her eyes going wide.

She raised her fingers in alarm to check, while licking wildly at the same time, not wanting any of the delicious sensation to go to waste.

It felt as if her mind and her body were working from different commands, and her confusion made her stomach churn.

She gazed up at her father, and he smiled steadily at her.

Calm yourself, Minnie, he coaxed, speaking to her in their mind link.

She saw her reflection in his eyes, her slightly scattered hair, and her wide eyes, green just like her father’s.

She steadied her breath and arranged her hair and dress, using her father’s eyes as a mirror.

Breath steady and appearance reset, she nodded at her father.

He moved to the side and faced Alpha Dax and his brood.

The pack Alpha took a step forward, and Reyland grabbed his wrist.

Alpha Dax did not move as he helped his son stand; Reyland’s large size meaning nothing to a wolf who could throw a minibus with one hand.

The bleeding had not stopped.

Why hasn’t it stopped?

It’s been a full two minutes!

How weak is he?

...When did I bite him?

Marian mused, staring at Reyland as he whispered to his father, who reluctantly stepped toward his son, his lips pressed tightly together.

Gazing back at Alpha Corien, Reyland smiled, his mouth still covered, but his eyes crinkled.

“I’m sorry, Alpha, I was so surprised that I bit myself. Sorry for the misunderstanding,” he explained, still smiling, his voice muffled by the cloth covering his mouth.

“Sorry, everyone! I jumped a bit there! Sorry!” he called out, raising a hand and turning around.

He was taller than everyone, so could see all their faces as he smiled and apologized.

“It’s Christmas, everyone! Come on!” he yelled pleasantly to the crowd.

His eyes moved to the master of ceremonies and he waved at him.

The MC glanced from Reyland to his Alpha. Alpha Dax, still gazing at his son, said something to the man in the mind space, and his nervous expression dissolved. His lips broke into a wide grin.

“Well? What are you all waiting for? The mistletoe ceremony has not ended! You have five more minutes to kiss your partner!” The MC called out boisterously as the music started up again, loud and energetic.

Reyland spoke quietly to his father and other family members who had gathered around him.

Everyone else in the hall went back to what they had been doing – being shy, nervous, or curious about who they had to kiss.

Marian, holding her father’s hand, stalked out of the hall, dragging her father with her.

==========

“What was that, Dad?” Marian growled in a low tone, her wolf showing its black eyes again as she whirled around to face her father.

She had walked them to the edge of the clearing where the large pack hall was located.

“He taste–” she stared, but her father interrupted her.

“You haven’t held my hand in a long time, Minnie,” her father remarked softly, gazing down at their hands.

“Dad!” she huffed, rolling her eyes.

“I haven’t seen you in eight months, and the first thing you do when you get back is try to eat Dax’s son, right in front of him?” her father continued, a mischievous smile on his handsome face.