CHAPTER 3 — Marked

Kaia’s POV

“She will not be your concubine,” Vivienne said sternly.

I lowered my head right away, was afraid to even breathe.

He was calm on his throne, Alpha Draven. He did not show any surprise at his mother's reaction as compared to the rest of the room.

“Why not?” he said evenly.

Vivienne’s jaw tightened. Because it doesn't feel right.

My stomach dropped.

I thought for one frightful instant she knew something I didn't.

Her piercing eyes locked on to me. “This girl has nothing to do with what she looks like.”

The nobles around us glimpsed at each other with nervousness.

Draven took a slight back seat in his chair. “You're assuming things.”

“My instincts are telling me to go with it,” Vivienne said coldly. 

“Why?” Draven asked.

“She is unsuitable.”

Draven's golden eyes became more glassy.

“She's the one I picked.”

The hall was once more silent.

No one dared to break into the escalating dispute between the Alpha king and his mother.

Vivienne stepped closer. “Be careful not to make any errors that you won't be able to fix, Draven.”

“What is the error?” he asked in a quiet voice.

“That girl. She never even wanted to be here!”

I felt my face getting hot.

I lowered my eyes and wished for the ground to swallow me up.

Slowly Draven rose from his throne.

The sound of the movement alone was enough to make everyone go silent.

“My decision is final,” he said quite strongly. “The ceremony has come to an end.”

Vivienne was seething with rage, but Draven had already turned away.

The royal guards immediately started to escort nobles out of the hall and servants hurried to clear the area.

I just stood there in a stupor.

My mind was jumbled and disorganized.

This was wrong.

All was falling apart.

I was approached by a middle aged black woman.

She politely introduced herself as Head Maid Serena. “Please follow me, Lady Selene.”

The false name twisted painfully in my chest, making me feel guilty.

I tried to follow her, however, I walked after her. 

She walked me through several big halls further into the palace, bowing at the appropriate times as we walked through the servants.

I was absolutely thrown for a loop.

“Since His Majesty has decided to take you into his household,” replied Serena in a calm manner, “you are now a member of the royal family.”

I swallowed nervously. “What does that imply?”

“So you'll live with your family for the time being,” she replied. “But you can be called to the palace anytime.”

My chest constricted in an instant.

“At any time?”

“Yes.”

I gazed at the smooth marble floor and calmed myself down.

Serena kept discussing things in a professional manner. Your role as the Alpha's concubine is to be present at official events with him, attend and participate in gatherings at the palace when called upon, and obey his royal summons at once.

The more she spoke the more trapped I felt.

None of this was my intention.

Finally we arrived at the palace entrance, where my parents were waiting with a smile on their faces, but a smile that was forced.

As soon as we passed through the palace gates, my mother seized my arm.

“What was going on in there when we were gone?” she demanded.

She gripped me tightly, and I flinched a little. “The Queen Mother is against the choice.”

My parents both froze.

“What?” Father asked sharply.

My mother's face went white.

“However, the Alpha explained why the decision was made,” I hurried to say.

The worry subsided somewhat.

Father nodded slowly. “Good.”

That was all.

No questions as to whether I was okay.

Only relief that the lie didn't get detected.

As soon as we got to the mansion we heard a lot of laughter.

I squinted my eyes in bewilderment.

Celebrating?

We went into the dining hall and I just stopped walking.

There was already a feast in the family.

Selene sat majestically at the middle table, resting her injured leg on a cushion as though she were royalty.

She smirked when she first caught sight of me.

“There she is,” she said cheerfully. “What a good girl.”

I looked at her and was taken aback.

My mother was quickly seated at the table, where my father poured himself wine.

“To the Ravencrest family's future,” he proudly declared.

All raised their glasses.

Everyone except me.

I stood quietly near to the door, feeling the same way I did when I was a kid, invisible.

Selene was happy. “As soon as I officially move into the palace then all things change for us.”

Father nodded approvingly. It will be the Blackthorn family's influence that will make us greater.

“And the gifts,” my mother said with satisfaction. “It is said that jewels are the source of immense wealth.”

Selene laughed softly. “And I’ll bring that to us…”

I frowned immediately. “That’s dangerous.”

Silence fell on the room.

Slowly, Selene cast her gaze on me. “What?”

I carefully explained that it wasn't right to steal from the palace. “If they find that there is missing gifts—”

Selene rolled her eyes and replied, “Oh please…” Don't be afraid to do anything.”

Father looked irritated. “You weren't asked.”

I lowered my eyes again.

Of course.

Then why should they listen to me?

All at once, there was some loud knocking heard in the mansion.

Everyone froze.

The servant ran quickly to the door.

Moments later his shivering voice rang out in the hall.

“Royal guards are on the way.”

Selene's expression shifted from being placid to one that was filled with panic.

Quickly, she grabbed her dress and ran up the stairs as fast as she could with her injured leg.

I was stunned as I looked at her.

She was leaving me alone again.

The front doors opened up just a few seconds later and three royal guards walked into the mansion.

The chandelier lights illuminated their silver armour.

My father was respected with the lead guard bowing down.

“Magnus.”

Father straightened immediately. “For what purpose do we owe this visit?

The guard replied in a quiet voice.

“Tonight, the Alpha calls for his concubine.”

My heart stopped.

Tonight?

My mother took in a deep breath.

A moment passed and no one spoke.

Then slowly, both of my parents turned to me.

I felt ill all of a sudden.

The guard's eyes were staring at me. “Lady Selene, preparations are already underway, you're coming.”

I was barely able to breathe.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

I believed that I will have more time.

My mother forced a smile onto her face in no time at all. “She will do it right away, of course.”

I was dragged towards the hallway by Helena, while the guards waited outside.

As soon as we were left alone, her face grew cold once more.

“Hear me! she hissed.

I stared at her nervously.

“You are only a substitute.”

They stabbed the words deeper than they were meant to be stabbed.

“You are to go there tonight and perform your duty and be quiet and go.”

My throat tightened.

“And remember," she snapped, "belong to Selene. Don't forget that.”

I nodded weakly.

“And don't get attached.”

Attached?

I was so frightened I couldn't think straight.

Yet, I said to her softly, "I know what you mean. I won’t have sex with him.”

Some hour later, I was seated in another royal carriage, on the way to the palace.

I had shivering hands all the way.

So what were my plans for tonight?

What if Draven found out what it was?

What if he touched me and knew that I wasn't Selene?

This late into the night, the palace was quieter than ever.

I was led through a number of very large halls until I arrived at the exterior of large black doors.

Head Maid Serena was waiting there.

“Selene,” she whispered soothingly. “The alpha asked you be taken to his chambers immediately.”

I swallowed hard.

I saw a more tender expression on Serena's face than I had previously. “Relax, Lady Selene, his Majesty asked for dinner first.” 

Dinner.

It somehow made things even more nerve wracking.

The doors opened slowly.

I stepped inside.

This was a large room.

The elegant rooms were lit by warm candle-light and a long dining table was placed close to the windows overhanging the kingdom below. Dishes of high-priced food had already been prepared.

At the opposite side of the room was Alpha Draven.

It was only when I walked in that he looked up.

I don't know why but his eyes made my heart race.

“Selene,” he said coolly.

I lowered my eyes. “Alpha…” I said as I bowed.

“Come sit…” he said with a smile.

Draven stood and made the room a place for me to sit with a chair of his own.

Carefully I sat down before I did something stupid and irked him.

The dinner began quietly.

I didn't quite eat my food at first.

Draven noticed immediately.

“Is the meal not up to your expectations ?” he asked suddenly.

My eyes widened. “No!”

For the first time, a little smile came to his face.

“You look terrified.”

My cheeks were flushed.

I told him, “I’ve never been in the palace before.”

“That explains it.”

Before he spoke once again, a servant filled my glass with wine.

Draven looked at me silently across the table.

“You weren't like the rest of us today,” he said after a while.

I held on to the glass with my fingers. “Different?”

“You didn’t lie.”

I blinked slowly.

Most people were unable to be comfortable with silence.

Draven didn’t.

Strangely enough, the more time that passed, the quieter I got.

It was probably the wine that did the trick.

For the first time in years, someone was really listening to me and not insulting me.

Draven posed basic inquiries.

What foods I liked.

Did I like to read.

The lives of the people in Ravencrest.

But I didn't even have to think about it – I answered truthfully.

So the distance between us just sort of faded away.

There was a lull in the conversation.

More personal.

He studied me for a while.

Then my heart started pounding in my ears.

Then as if by magic, Draven's fingers touched my wrist lightly.

The touch was like a warmth that shot through my chest on the spot.

I looked up at him.

We didn't say anything to each other.

However, there was a change in our relationship.

Slowly, he stood.

But as he came closer, my breath stopped.

He said softly, “You should say to me to stop.”

I knew I should.

I recalled my mom's words.

The Alpha is a member of Selene.

However, when Draven gently touched my face, my mind instantly wandered.

I had never been touched by anyone the way I needed to be touched before.

And for one selfish moment…

I wanted this.

That night, I ended up in Alpha Draven’s bed.

Everything felt overwhelming.

His hands.

His voice.

He looked at me as though he was looking at only me.

His control was abruptly lost at some time.

A deep growl rumble in his chest as he pulled me closer.

Suddenly I felt a sudden pain that spread all over my neck.

I gasped in shock.

Draven froze instantly.

As I touched the burning skin around my throat, my breathing became irregular.

My trembling fingers came away.

The mark was there.

Real.

Permanent.

My eyes grew large, as if I were a baby.

“He marked me…”