Share

The Alpha’s Temporary Mark
The Alpha’s Temporary Mark
Penulis: Shirley

Chapter 1

Penulis: Shirley
After so many years by Alpha Kade's side, I thought the mating ceremony I'd longed for was finally within reach.

But when Chloe's mind-link crashed through my mental barriers like a lightning strike, I learned I was nothing more than a stand-in.

"Anya, the pack is buzzing! Can you believe my heartless brother actually found his fated mate and didn't tell a soul?"

The hand gripping my silver dagger trembled. The problem was, I was the subject of her gossip.

Her brother, Alpha Kade of the Black Moon Pack, and I had been secret mates for four years.

At first, I never told Chloe about our secret relationship.

It was partly because of our friendship, and partly because Kade and I had marked each other in secret right after he came of age and became the Alpha.

I just never imagined that as soon as he secured his position, he would publicly claim another she-wolf.

The thought forced a bitter smile to my lips. "Did he tell you himself?"

"Hell no." Chloe's mental voice crackled with excitement. "His precious mate just came back to the pack from the human world today. He threw this huge welcoming ceremony for her in the Elders' Hall..."

I cut her off. "Are you sure you didn't mishear?"

"No way. My brother plays the part of the stoic, unfeeling Alpha with everyone, but tonight he personally fought off a challenger from a rival pack for her, then gifted her a priceless moonstone necklace."

Chloe kept chattering on through our mind-link, but I couldn't hear a thing anymore.

My wolf howled restlessly within me, a wretched sound I couldn't suppress.

I even began to wonder if I was losing my mind.

I forced myself to calm down, trying my best to steady my trembling thoughts as I asked with feigned indifference, "How long has their mate bond been established?"

"That, I don't know. But from what I can see, he's pretty obsessed with her."

"You know, I seriously never thought my brother had it in him to be so devoted."

"He's been after her since he was a teenager. He was even willing to give up his claim to the Alpha position for her. And guess what happened?"

"The little beauty was in love with someone else, a half-breed, and followed him into the human world. Kade's wolf went absolutely feral for a long time after that."

"Later, the she-wolf was attacked by hunters in the human world. The moment he heard, he went after her that same night. The whole thing nearly sent the entire North American werewolf community into a panic..."

"I only heard all of this from our mother later on. I was always so curious about who this girl was."

"To have Kade obsessed with her for so many years... and when I finally saw her for myself today, you'll never guess what I realized."

After a beat of silence, I barely managed to force the words out. "What?"

"She looks just like you! It's the eyes, especially."

Every word was a silver blade stabbing into my soul, making my wolf howl in agony.

A terrible suspicion began to take root in my heart.

I felt the blood in my veins turn to ice, a chilling cold seeping into my bones.

I remembered the day Kade took his place as Alpha. He had gotten blackout drunk at the pack's full moon celebration.

Chloe was out patrolling the border and asked me to pick him up.

I finally managed to get him back to the Alpha's residence, only to have my lips captured by his the moment we stepped through the door.

His body was like a furnace, his movements possessive and rough, leaving me no room to escape.

The unique scent of a young Alpha, a mix of cedar and whiskey, completely enveloped me.

That dangerous, masculine scent clouded my mind, and my wolf clawed for control.

But my fumbling response earned a low, rumbling laugh from him. "First time, little wolf?"

I snapped back to my senses and shoved him away. "Kade, sober up. Look at me."

Kade didn't seem to care. He closed the distance with a wicked smirk, his heated body pressing against mine. "I'm perfectly sober, little warrior. And your wolf is crying out for me."

That was it.

Whether as a pack warrior or as his sister's best friend, I had thought my love for him was perfectly hidden, that no one could see it.

But Kade's tone was utterly certain.

He had seen right through me. I lowered my gaze, ashamed and indignant. "No, she's not..."

"Don't be so quick to deny it, little wolf..."

Kade casually tipped my chin up. The moment our eyes met, I saw the young Alpha's gaze, as bright as the stars on a moonlit night.

"Don't you know? Your pretty eyes never lie."

"I'm giving you one last chance. You can push me away..."

The smell of alcohol assaulted what little reason I had left.

Strangely, my once-frantic heart suddenly grew still.

I boldly met the young Alpha's gaze and pressed my own lips to his.

Kade held the back of my neck, leaving no room for refusal, and leaned in to kiss me deeply.

I gradually lost myself in that possessive kiss, my wolfish instincts surrendering completely.

That was the night we marked each other.

Kade was a tireless beast, claiming me through a night of wild abandon.

At the peak of our passion, he leaned down and kissed my eyes, his voice low. "Good girl, open your eyes and look at me. Your eyes... are so..."

I didn't hear the rest. In the haze of the moment, I just assumed he was going to say they were beautiful.

Now I understood.

That night, he hadn't said "so beautiful." He had said, "so much like hers."

He had drunk himself into a stupor because the woman he idealized, the love of his life, had left the pack for a human.

Our entire night together was nothing but a drunken impulse.

Even his obsessive need to gaze into my eyes while we made love... it was all because he was seeing her.

The tears I had been holding back finally broke free.

I desperately tried to stifle my sobs and cut the mental link.
Lanjutkan membaca buku ini secara gratis
Pindai kode untuk mengunduh Aplikasi

Bab terbaru

  • The Alpha’s Temporary Mark   Chapter 23

    "Luna, Selena's stepfather, Liam, is here at the Silver Crest Pack. He's demanding to see you."I froze, looking up from a pile of pack documents.Before I could speak, the office door was thrown open from the outside.My assistant moved to block him, but I stopped her."You may go.""Yes, Luna."I poured him a glass of water. A moment later, he threw it in my face.As if that wasn't enough, a stinging slap cracked across my face.The taste of blood exploded in my mouth."Bitch!"Liam jabbed a finger in my face and cursed, "Who gave you the guts to seize the Black Moon Pack's assets?!""The Black Moon Pack was an empty shell. It's better that I control its wealth than let it fall into the hands of outsiders."I pulled out a few tissues and slowly wiped the water from my face."Besides, I don't think you understand the situation. There is no Black Moon Pack anymore. If I wanted, I could have its name changed by tomorrow."Liam pointed at me, trembling with rage."You ungrateful wolf! Se

  • The Alpha’s Temporary Mark   Chapter 22

    Selena suddenly collapsed onto the floor.She looked at me as if I were the goddess of vengeance, come to claim her life.The news of the marriage alliance between the Alpha of the Silver Crest Pack and a warrior from the Black Moon Pack sent shockwaves through the entire northern werewolf community.Everyone knew the Black Moon Pack had been in decline for years, and that Beta warrior had just been publicly rejected by an Alpha, her reputation in tatters.No one could understand why the powerful, pure-blooded Alpha Jasper would choose a rejected Beta as his Luna.Even Kade was confused.He couldn't figure out what game Jasper was playing.Before Kade could react, the sacred hymns for the Luna's coronation suddenly began to play.He looked up at the sound and saw the doors to the ceremonial hall open.A woman in a silver-white Luna gown walked slowly toward the altar.When he finally saw the woman's face, Kade's mind exploded.Kade couldn't hear a thing. He shot to his feet and began t

  • The Alpha’s Temporary Mark   Chapter 21

    I don't know how much time passed. I felt like I was about to drown in that long, deep kiss.A second before I suffocated, Jasper moved his lips away slightly, but he was still reluctant to leave, gently pecking at the corner of my mouth."You don't want me?""I do."His voice was like sandpaper against my ear, his Alpha's breath sweeping over my heated neck. "But not now.""You know what I want, Anya."I forced a smile. "I have nothing to offer but revenge."His Adam's apple bobbed under his pale skin. His Alpha instinct urged him to mark me, but his reason held him back. "All you need to consider is whether you're willing. I'll handle the rest.""Don't forget, besides being the Alpha of the Silver Crest Pack, I also control the largest trade network in the north. I don't need to depend on any pack.""So, trust me this once. It doesn't matter if you're using me or treating me as a stepping stone. Whatever you want, I can give you.""What if I want to be your Luna?"Right now, I wanted

  • The Alpha’s Temporary Mark   Chapter 20

    The funeral was held three days later.Not many people came, mostly my father's old comrades-in-arms.I stood silently before the tombstone, dressed in black formal warrior's attire."Sister, my condolences.""Anya, don't be too sad. The fact that your father held on this long is a testament to your filial piety. But from now on, you still have us as your family."Hearing this, I shot my lavishly dressed mother a cool glance.Selena, however, gritted her teeth and hissed in a tone only I could hear, "Anya, don't even think about joining our family. You're a jinx. You cursed your own father to death, and now you want to bring disaster to us?""If you had just stayed a lowly Beta with your tail between your legs, maybe your sickly father could have lived a few more years. But no, with a troublesome daughter like you, he must have thought his life was cursed."My eyes snapped up, staring daggers at Selena.The empty, numb look of the wolf in my eyes made Selena's heart jump, and she let o

  • The Alpha’s Temporary Mark   Chapter 19

    The words were barely out before Jasper cut himself off, annoyed.Hearing me belittle myself with such feigned indifference had triggered his Alpha's protective instincts.I sat frozen, speechless."I'm sorry."His Alpha's low rumble was solemn and serious.It was my turn to be flustered. I waved my hands frantically. "No, no... it's not...""I never knew how much hate you endured because of those rumors."The expression on my face froze."I never explained because... I enjoyed the feeling of our names being linked together.""It felt like it connected us, making me feel special to you in a way other Alphas weren't.""I left you a letter before I went to the other continent for training, but you never..."An urgent communicator alert interrupted him.It was the pack clinic.I couldn't care about anything else. I answered the call immediately.After listening to the healer on the other end, I remained in the same position long after the call ended, my fingertips trembling slightly."Wha

  • The Alpha’s Temporary Mark   Chapter 18

    Before the silver ashtray could land, I spun around and kicked Selena square in the stomach.The pain made her double over instantly."Everyone saw that. I was acting in self-defense."I leaned close and whispered in Selena's ear, "You called me a savage warrior, didn't you? Fine, I'll settle this like a warrior.""You love playing the victim, twisting the truth? I'll give you a real reason to cry."I had practiced combat with my father since I was a child. My strength far exceeded that of an ordinary she-wolf.Dealing with two pampered Alpha daughters was easy.When the pack's enforcers arrived, I had my left hand tangled in Selena's hair and my right foot on her friend's back.They were a pathetic sight, their faces a mess of snot and tears.Selena clutched her face and wailed, "I knew you were faking it all along! You think Kade and Jasper will still want a worthless Beta like you after they see how savage you really are?!"Her friend, Mia, lay on the floor and snarled, "You savage

Bab Lainnya
Jelajahi dan baca novel bagus secara gratis
Akses gratis ke berbagai novel bagus di aplikasi GoodNovel. Unduh buku yang kamu suka dan baca di mana saja & kapan saja.
Baca buku gratis di Aplikasi
Pindai kode untuk membaca di Aplikasi
DMCA.com Protection Status