Four

“What the hell did you do?” Xander snapped the moment Everett slammed the door shut.

“What do you mean?” Everett echoed, eyes flaring. “What makes you think it's my fault?”

“Because I know you,” Xander's eyes narrowed, folding his arms. “And I know Jeremiah. Whatever happened had to be your doing.”

Everett scoffed. “All I did was ask questions. Since when is that a crime?”

Xander’s gaze flicked toward Jeremiah’s closed door. “What kind of questions?”

Everett growled, defensive now. “I just... I was curious to know I didn’t expect him to panic.”

“Of course he panicked, you idiot,” Xander hissed. “You’re a stranger. You can’t just show up demanding he begin trauma dumping.”

Everett’s fists clenched. “What was I supposed to do? Pretend I didn’t just find my mate covered in scars and choking on his own blood?”

Silence. A long one.

“What?” Xander gasped. “He’s human and your mate, he already died, remember?”

“Thanks, bro. I couldn’t tell,” Everett sassed, rubbing a hand over his face. 

Xander sighed, his tone softening. “I shouldn’t have brought it up like that. I apologise.”

Everett looked away. “Whatever. It doesn't matter anyway, he's already marked.”

A tense beat passed between them before Everett broke it. 

“Do you have any idea what could have happened to him?”

“No clue.” Xander shrugged. “And he's a very guarded person, I doubt he would tell us anything and I don't think we can get it out of him by force either. But we could ask his girlfriend, he mentioned something about visiting her before he left the house.”

“Girlfriend?” Everett groaned. “The moon goddess must be punishing me, I mean why else would she create a bond between me and a human that is already mated to his fucking girlfriend.”

“His girlfriend is clearly not responsible for the mark, she's human,” Xander stated matter of factly.

“Is that supposed to make it better?” Everett retorted dryly, glaring at Jeremiah's door.

“I guess. But it is obvious he does not know anything about the mark or about our kind.”

“Is that even possible? No one gets marked by accident.” Everett looked up at his brother, watching him squirm uncomfortably under his gaze. “What do you know, Xander?”

“He thinks the mark is a scar which I find odd,” Xander began.

Everett's frown deepened. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“I think someone took advantage of him,” Xander said quietly.

Everett went still, rage boiling in his blood. “I am going to kill that bastard. I am going to find that bastard and make them wish they were dead.”

“Everett,” Xander warned, glancing at Jeremiah’s door. “Keep your voice down. You’ll make it worse.”

Everett growled, slamming his foot against the table leg. “What could possibly be worse than a marked mate?”

A knock echoed through the house, causing both brothers to still.

Xander groaned, rubbing his temples. “Why do I have the feeling you just jinxed it?”

Everett sniffed the air, his expression tightening. “It’s Baxter and someone else.”

“Someone injured,” Xander chipped in, anxiously following his brother to the door.

The moment Everett opened it, his eyes dropped to the bleeding figure at Baxter’s feet. “Who’s the rogue?”

“Alpha. Xander,” Baxter greeted, bowing briefly. “I caught him sneaking around the border.”

Everett glared, shielding his brother from the sight. “And you brought him here?”

“It’s urgent,” Baxter said, glancing apologetically at Xander, “And he won’t last long.”

Xander stepped away. “I’ll check on him.” 

Once he was gone, Everett turned on his beta. “Start explaining. Why would you bring a rogue to my brother’s home?”

“I apologise, Alpha, but I think it's of importance you listen to what he has to say,” Baxter replied. “He wasn’t just attacked by humans. He said he was running from wolves and begged for protection... from the Alpha King.”

Everett's brows drew together, “That’s a myth. He's probably just trying to seek refuge from hunters ”

“Maybe. But he smelled odd,” Baxter trailed off, “Like something old but I couldn't place what it is exactly.”

Everett's jaw clenched. Whatever it was had to be very serious to have left his beta anxious, which was unfamiliar for someone like Baxter who was always in check and calm. He knelt beside the rogue and tore the tape from his mouth.

The rogue started laughing immediately. “You reek of that little wimp.”

“I don't have time for your jokes,” Everett sneered, grabbing the man by the jaw. “Who did you say is after you?”

The rogue coughed blood, grinning wickedly. “Guess the brat didn’t die after all. He is here, isn't he?”

Everett’s blood ran cold, his heart twisting with realisation. One thing was clear. The connection between the rogue and Jeremiah.

“You were the one who shot him.”

“He thought he could play with me and get away with it,” the rogue growled, his nose scrunched with anger. “I made sure to show him who the boss is.”

Everett’s rage ignited. His grip on the rogue’s jaw tightened, bones creaking under the pressure.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Baxter scolded, shoving Everett back. “We still need answers.”

The rogue crumpled, wheezing. “You’re all dead anyway. He’s coming. For the boy.”

“Who?” Baxter demanded, grabbing the rogue by the hair.

“The boy belongs to someone, and soon you're going to wish he died.”

Everett lunged forward, grabbing the man’s jaw, “Who is coming?” Everett yelled, authoritatively.

“I don't know who he is but he called himself the Alpha King,” the rogue whimpered. “He was angry and said I messed with his property and started shooting. It had to be the boy, I knew he was trouble the moment I saw him.”

Everett released the rogue, his face drained of its colour. 

The Alpha King.

A name from fairy tales and warnings. But if he truly did exist and if the rogue was speaking the truth then Jeremiah wasn’t just marked.

He was hunted.