Chapter 3:

DARLA

The worst feeling in the world is being rejected by your mate but the most worst thing is to see your own dad using you like an object. An object of interest.

I stood in the office room motionless. My eyes casted down as I waited. I waited to see my dad again use me for his interest. I wanted to kill myself. I even tried last night but every poison in the pack is useless to me. Nothing works on me. Our pack is best known for making poisons but no poison works on me. Even the strongest poison is useless to me. Whenever I tried to hurt myself, Ashlyn stopped me. Because if I die, Ashlyn will die as well. She needs me, my blood for her survival.

"Dean and Ashlyn, are you both ready?"

I heard them say yes in unison. A joyful touch in their voice.

"Darla and….."

"Ken!"

I looked beside me. In 20 minutes of being in this room, I finally took a look at my future exchange mate. He is tall, taller than me by a foot I guess. He is maybe 6'2 or 6' 4. His voice is rich, deep and alluring. I looked at his Adam's apple as he again talked.

"My name is Ken, Alpha."

Dad nodded at him. He didn't acknowledge both of us again. We both stood with a few inch gap between us. And Dean and Ashlyn side by side, they don't seem to get enough of each other. After last night, after Dean rejected me, I stopped feeling anything for him. I was surprised at how easy it was for me. I wasn't hurt because of his rejection rather I was more hurt because of my dad's indifferent behavior. How he sees me as nothing more than a blood transfusion machine.

"Dean and Ashlyn, you both can mark each other. Ashlyn informed me that you rejected Darla last night. I'm happy you prioritize your pack before your mate."

Dean smiled at him and I couldn't help but scoff internally.

I looked up at them. They both smiled before Dean leaned down and pressed his canines in between the junction of her shoulder and neck. Ashlyn cried a bit but then she purred which made me disgusted. When Dean parted away, there was a new red mark on Ashlyn's neck.

Dad smiled at both of them before turning towards us. His smile erased as soon as he looked at us.

"Ken, it's your turn now."

My breath hitched and my chest tightened. He nodded at dad before turning towards me. And I found myself lost in his eyes. So deep, mysterious and beautiful. He leaned down a bit before saying softly,

"Can I?"

I averted my eyes to dad and then again at him before nodding. He gently removed my hair from my shoulder. Pulling my dress from my shoulder a little bit to expose my neck. He bent down, letting out a canine and sinked them there. I yelped and held his shirt tightly in my hand. He held my hand where it was on his shirt and rubbed his thumb on my hand. He kept his canine there till I was marked properly. When he removed his canines, I felt different, strong and fresh. Is this how it feels to be marked?

Dad walked towards Ashlyn and Dean and started talking to them while ignoring us completely. I went directly out of the office to the forest. I need fresh air.

I turned into my wolf and started running but I couldn't run fast. I again turned into my human form and wore my clothes again. I sat by the lake and laughed at myself. I'm so useless. I can't even run without tiring myself. I find myself getting tired. My wolf gives up easily.

"Darla,"

This voice?

“Ken!”

I turned around and found Ken standing there. I again turned towards the lake. He walked towards me, the grass under his shoe getting crushed. He sat beside me and stared at the lake as well.

"Why are you here?"

He was startled by my question.

"Because you are my mate."

He answered and again kept quiet.

"Why did you mark me, Ken? Is it because I saved you?"

He was quietly giving away his answer. He didn't mark me because I saved him. He marked me because his new Alpha ordered him to. He doesn't even like me. I chuckled sadly. How unfortunate I am.

I stood up to go away when I felt a grip on my hand.

"Can I talk to you for a while, Darla?"

My name from his mouth sounded different and gave me chills.

"Why do you want to talk to me?"

He stood up and came in front of me.

"I know I don't like you but you are my mate now Darla. But I promise to be loyal to you, unlike Dean."

Dean's name made me stiff. I removed my hand from his hand.

I don't know if I should trust him. He is speaking like Dean but again not speaking like him. Dean promised to be with me but he is promising to be loyal to me. Should I trust him?

"I need to go now."

I made an excuse before turning away and walking as fast as I could. His presence was doing weird things to me.

Today there was a lot of work to do in the pack house. School is starting and the parents are busy getting their children ready for the day. I and Jennie were getting their tiffins ready.

"Is it true you and Ashley exchanged each other's mates?"

I stopped my work for a bit before starting again.

"Hmm!"

I hummed to her as an answer and again resumed my work.

"Darla, I don't understand why you let your dad control you. Why can't you just leave the pack?"

"If it was in my limit, I would have left this pack as soon as I turned 16."

I took the tiffin boxes and left for the kids. I found them all gathered up in the hall. The parents helping them to put on their shoes. The pack members whose male werewolf is a warrior lives in the pack house. The rest of them have their own houses. Like the Beta family, delta family and healers. The omegas, warrior families and the unmarked werewolves live in the pack house.

I heard a commotion just above the stairs and found Ashlyn and Dean standing there holding hands. Dad was standing just beside them. And Laura beamed at her daughter.

"There is happy news for everyone. The pack has found its new Alpha who will replace me. Here I present to you your future Alpha Dean and Luna Ashlyn."

Everyone applauded at them. Ashlyn gave me a smirk but I averted my eyes and gave the kids their tiffin boxes.

"After two days, their coronation will take place. And Dean will be officially the Alpha of the pack."

I gave the last kid his tiffin box and turned around only to bump into him. My mate. He smells different to me now as he marked me. He smells like cinnamon. He stared at my face before asking,

"Will you come with me for a second?"