The Arrangement

Zareth’s POV

I awoke with a headache pounding and the dread that something was so, so wrong.

I remained motionless under the thick blankets for a few seconds, gazing at the ceiling above me, which I didn't know, and flashes from the previous night came one after another.

The club. The private suite. Silver eyes. His hands. The mate mark…

I had to sit up quickly and immediately regretted it as pain shot through my body. Every muscle ached. My legs were shaky, and my head was wobbling so much I held on to the edge of the bed to stay upright.

“Oh, goddess…”

Last night's dress was thrown by my side of the couch and my other clothes were all spread out on the floor, and my face burned instantly.

I checked around the suite in a rush. Empty. The stranger had left.

There should have been relief after that realization, but there wasn't. Somehow, the silence made everything worse.

I carefully got out of bed, not thinking about the disorganized recollections in my mind. His deep voice in my ear. His lips on my neck. The sense of being completely out of control.

I tripped toward the bathroom.

As soon as I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I froze. A dark bite mark was there, just above my collar bone. Fresh. Visible. Terrifying. I lightly touched it, my fingers shook.

“No…”

The term barely came out of the mouth.

I looked at the mark and was in disbelief, and every second, panic was driving me further and further. Only mates were marked by wolves. I started to breathe irregularly. This couldn’t be happening.

I didn't even know him. I can only recall half of the night. How could some man I never met claim me as his own?

And worse…

Why had I let it in?

I grabbed the sink for support as another memory came into mind. His lips to my neck. His hand gripped my waist and his voice was rough and near my ear.

Mine.

In the face of fear, heat rushed into my face.

“No, no, no…”

I repeated the process of turning on the faucet and splashing cold water on my body over and over again, hoping to blot it out somehow.

It didn’t. The mark remained. Bright. Obvious. Real.

I tried to keep my cool to think clearly. Fighting in the bathroom would do no good. I had to get away before anyone could see me. If Maevyn found out, she would ask questions I can't answer.

Questions I didn't even know how to answer myself.

I looked in the elegant bathroom, and I found some makeup by the counter. Most likely left behind for guests. Goddess bless rich people and their vanity.

I carefully applied make-up over the bite mark so that it was not noticeable anymore but still under my collar. I then put on last night's clothes and tied my hair up around my neck for extra protection.

Despite all this, I felt guilty.

I looked ruined.

Taking one last horrified glance at the mirror, I hurried out of the suite.

Outside the hallway, there were only two guards standing by the elevator. But neither of them stopped me and one looked at my neck for a moment before looking away quickly.

I was humiliated in an instant.

Did they know?

Did they smell what occurred?

I lowered my head and ran out of the building.

As soon as I walked outside, the cold air hit my face. The early dawn fog had settled over the city streets, and a few lonely wolves wandered through the quiet morning. I was still feeling my head pounding as I ran along to the transport station close to the club area.

The further I walked, the more my heart was filled with dread.

What had I done?

When I got back to the Black Hollow land, it was just starting to dawn on the mountains.

The pack grounds were very desolate.

The servants moved around quietly, packing up the luggage and sealed boxes without making eye contact with me whatsoever. The air was electric!

The news had already reached the area.

We were all aware that the Alpha had banished us.

I quietly entered through the side door, hoping that no one would notice my raggedy appearance.

Unfortunately, Maevyn noticed right away.

I was in the hallway, and she said, “There you are!” I was beginning to wonder if you've been kidnapped.

I flinched slightly.

Maevyn scrunched her face at me. “Are you okay?”

I replied too soon, "Fine.

She glared at him with suspicion. “You went out for hours last night.”

“Upstairs I went to sleep.”

Not really a lie, but...

Maevyn studied me for several seconds before taking a dramatic breath. “Well, next time you want to disappear when you're intoxicated, at least give me a heads up. I almost started a fight with one of the bartenders.”

I managed to smile weakly, anyway.

My sister came closer before she lowered her voice. “You really do look awful though.”

That was because I had slept with a stranger and been marked like an idiot.

But, of course, I couldn't say that.

“I’m just tired.”

“Fair enough.”

Fortunately she forgave.

Mom appeared out of the study a few minutes later with a few papers in her hands. Selene was not in the same condition as Maevyn, she looked completely worn out. Dark circles under her eyes and her usual calm expression was delicate this morning.

She quietly said, “Breakfast is ready.” Let's head off in the hour.

Those words were heavy on me, and I knew what they meant.

Leave.

Permanently.

I took my time to slowly survey the house. It was never really warm here, but it was my home. Each hallway was loaded with memories. Each room contained a part of my childhood, including the painful ones.

Now we were strolling away from everything.

It took nearly a whole day to get to Ashbourne territory.

The journey was mostly silent.

Maevyn attempted to keep things light by discussing a few things that she recalled from childhood trips to our grandparents' home, but finally, even she was too exhausted.

For my part, I spent the bulk of the trip gazing out the window of the carriage, as if I weren't thinking about the stranger from the club.

I couldn't get my mind to cooperate, though.

Occasionally, there were reminders of the night before, which came back out of nowhere. I was looked at by silver eyes. Strong hands at my back. His lips on my neck.

Each time I went to the mirror, my face burned.

I accidentally touched my hidden mate mark under my collar.

What kind of man marks a woman who he doesn't even know?

Why couldn't I not think about him?

At dusk, the carriage had finally reached Ashbourne land.

Black Hollow and Ashbourne were instantly distinguishable.

The guards at the gate were welcoming us, rather than pitying us. As soon as we reached the estate, the servants came forward to assist us in unloading our luggage. No one complained that I'm not a wolf. No one was revolted at my very presence.

It felt strange.

Almost unreal.

The Ashbourne estate was enormous, and the snow-covered forests, as well as the tall silver gates, were all around. The lights were lit in the mansion windows, and smoke rose from a few chimneys into the evening sky.

As we were just about to get out of the carriage, the front doors opened.

“Selene.”

My grandfather's voice boomed through the courtyard.

When I was seven years old, my mother was pulled into a tight embrace by a man named Alpha Torin Ashbourne, who was a lot older, as he quickly came down the front steps of the house. Finally, my mother broke down in his arms.

“You ought to have been at home years ago,” Torin whispered.

My grandmother Lyra Ashbourne was standing beside him and as soon as I came up to her she gently cupped my face in her hand.

“You're getting too thin,” she said disapprovingly, before hugging me tight.

I was choked with emotion at an unexpected moment.

This was supposed to be the kind of family.

Not fear.

Not shame.

Warmth.

It was almost breaking my heart, when I realized.

We all had dinner that evening in the great Dining Hall. For the first time in what seemed like an eternity, no one protested. Nobody insulted me. No one ever made me feel like I wasn't welcome because I just happened to be there.

While my mother was explaining to Torin all the things Garrick had done, he listened attentively.

At the end of this tale, my grandfather was in a rage.

“That man was no good for you,” my mom's man said to her bluntly. “Twenty years ago I told you so.”

Selene gave a tired smile. “It was my hope that he would change.”

“No,” Lyra said firmly, “he won't.” “Men like Garrick only love power.”

Maevyn took hold of our mother's hand and squeezed it lightly. “It’s going to be rebuilt,” she said softly. All that he sought to destroy.”

Torin nodded slowly.

“As a matter of fact,” he said, calmly, “I've already started to deal with that.”

There was silence at the table.

I frowned slightly. “Handling what?”

“A new alliance.”

Maevyn looked at him blankly. “Grandfather?”

Torin folded his hands together. “One strong enough to bring the Ashbourne name back to its full glory.”

His tone made me uneasy all of a sudden.

He then fixed his gaze on Maevyn.

“Well, I've made a mating alliance with the Crescent Veil kingdom.”

The shock rippled through the table in an instant.

Maevyn almost spilled her drink. “What?”

“The royal bloodline of the Lycans has agreed to it,” Torin continued evenly. Specifically, the youngest Lycan Prince.”

My stomach clenched in a way that it shouldn't have.

Maevyn looked stunned. Nervous too.

“Tomorrow evening,” Torin replied in a quiet tone, “you will be introduced to the official banquet.”

There was a hush as the room fell silent.

Then for some reason I couldn't explain, dread suddenly ran down my spine.