Chapter 5 - The marking

Amara POV

“You will trade mates Amara, Catherine will mark Jason once and for all.” Stepmother giggles

out, clapping her hands together in excitement as if my heartbreak was a romantic notion for

her to witness.

As if I could bare to witness Catherine marking my mate before my very eyes.

“What, now?” I gasp out, tearing my eyes away from the rogue…a strange frenetic energy

buzzing between us.

“No time like the present.” Stepmother manoeuvres over to Father, her arm hooking around his.

Father’s cold expression leaving no room for negotiation. Not that I would even try, I was merely

their puppet, my fate in their hands.

My eyes frantically glance to the office door, if I dart for it now, I can escape.

I can’t watch this; I can’t be a part of this.

But one alpha command from father and my legs would stop, each footstep like stepping

through thick mud. He truly had control over me.

“Get on with it.” He grunts out, his eyes flickering to the rogue stood next to me.

“I, Catherine Bloodstone, reject you…” Catherine starts, but suddenly stops when it dawns on

her that she doesn’t even know the rogue’s name.

He never really stood a chance either, we were both pawns in their powerplay.

“Erik Helmswood.” He states out, his tone void of emotion.

“I, Catherine Bloodstone, reject you, Erik Helmswood, a rogue.” Her eyes narrow as her tongue

bitterly mentions his name and title.

Erik Helmswood, a rogue that has met the same fate as me.

I tilt my head in sympathy, expecting him to be hit with the same pain I had been only minutes

before when Jason rejected me. But he doesn’t, he was expressionless. If anything, I believe I

hear a soft scoff escaping his mouth.

“I accept your rejection.”

I wasn’t the only one to notice his lack of emotions, his ease at rejecting Catherine. Even she,

the maker of all of this, seems shocked by his lack of expressions.

I expect the severed mate bond to tear at her chest, like it had done me. For her legs to tremble,

but there was nothing. No sign that is had affected her at all, or him.

I guess I really was weak, for in comparison I was the only one that could feel that bond between

Jason and I break.

“Jason, Head Warrior of the Mystic Hallows pack…”

Head Warrior, since when was Jason promoted to that honourary title.

“..I permit you to mark your mate, my daughter and future alpha of this pack.” A pride smile

forming upon Father’s face as Stepmother’s head rests against his shoulder.

Catherine twists her body in Jason’s arms, her face tilting up to look at him as her hands snake

around the back of his neck.

“I’m ready Jason.” She acts all coy within his hold, as if she didn’t expect for this to be

happening right now. She had already claimed him sexually, taken him from me that way, but

now she would land the final blow, she would let him mark her in front of me.

“Jason…” One final gasp escapes me, one final chance to reason with him. I take a step forward

only for the rogue to place his arm out, preventing me from moving any further.

I watch on in horror as Jason sweeps Catherine’s blonde hair away from her neck, her eyelashes

fluttering up flirtatiously as she tilts her neck for better access.

Jason’s mouth opens, his fangs protruding slightly before he sinks them into her neck…a

pleasurable moan escaping Catherine as she pulls him closer towards her.

I force myself to keep watching, because I need to witness this. No matter how hard it is to see,

how much I want to tear my own eyes out, I need to see it, to remember this betrayal. This the

final tip of the iceberg in what they have done to me.

His teeth extract too fast for Catherine, the motion causing her to wince out unexpectedly. His

eyes lock on mine, the shattered pieces of my heart now burning to ashes from his actions. He

had cremated our bond once and for all.

I could feel my own face turning stony, an icy gaze now returning to him as Catherine pulls his

head down, her teeth sinking into his neck, yet his eyes remain fixed on mine.

“Congratulations darling!” Stepmother gleefully blurts out as Catherine removes her lips from

his neck.

“Congratulations to you both.” Father extends his hand out to Jason who takes it, his eyes

focused back on his mate’s parents.

Mate…they were mates.

“We will sort out the minor details, but I am happy for you to take on the alpha role from me now

Catherine, knowing you have a strong warrior of a mate by your side puts your old man’s anxiety

at ease. Don’t let me down.”

“Thank you Daddy. ” Catherine squeals out, my eyes slamming shut at the mention of the word

Daddy. Something I never was allowed to call him.

“With the moon goddess’ blessing, you will have a happy life together.” Stepmother smiles out,

my presence in the room now feeling like an intrusion.

“A picture of happiness.” I sarcastically murmur out, the words not meaning to leave my lips but

to remain in my mind.

My blood runs cold when I realise what mistake I just made, when their eyes turn to me like

daggers.

“Amara!” Father scolds out at me, his angry alpha aura from lack of respect ploughing into me.

“You will now accept Erik’s mark!” He barks out at me.

So, this was their plan, this is why I am here. This is what Catherine meant when she said I

would help cement her bond with Jason. Not only did she take him from me, but she also wants

me as a potential threat, eradicated. The best way in doing that was for me to be marked by

another.

“Erik, in marking her I grant you permission to remain within this pack, you will no longer be a

rogue, but a pack member of the Mystic Hallows, the strongest pack in existence.” Father offers

out a deal in return for marking me. A business contract, as if it were they only exchanging

goods.

“As the alpha Amara I promise you a simple life, that’s what you’ve always wanted isn’t it? A

small cottage in the outskirts of the pack grounds…I mean it’s not like you can stay in this house

is it? We won’t have room for you with all the babies I want to make.”

No, quite right that I would move out. The thought of being free to live near the borders does

appeal to me, perhaps they will leave me be once and for all.

I take a step closer to Erik, my fingers stroking the black raven hair away from my neck as I

present the unmarked flesh to him. I didn’t know him, but I couldn’t expect him to return to

being a rogue, a life nobody dreams off.

I close my eyes as his heavy steps echo out towards me, hands gripping tightly around my waist

as he yanks me closer into him. His body built like a brick wall.

I take a deep breath in, preparing myself as his warm breath fans against my neck. When his

teeth sink into me, I bite down to muffle my scream.

His aura, stronger than that of my Father’s, ploughs into me. I feel as if I am being mauled to

death as his teeth remain in my neck, biting down onto the bone.

It is all too much as hidden emotions and memories imprint on to me. His hands firmly hold me

upwards, without them I would have collapsed. Unbearable shooting pain travels from the bite

mark and into my chest…no wonder Catherine winced out. I had no idea marking caused so

much pain.

As he retracts his teeth from my neck, I feel the warm wetness of his tongue run across my

mark.

“Amara.” I hear Father growl out in warning, as I am reminded that it was now my turn. But I can

barely stand and the call to sleep was too much. Erik’s marking having taken any last energy I

had today.

I waste no time, letting my teeth sink into his neck, letting their plans for me come to fruition. I

bite down into bone, a growl escaping him as his hands roam up my body. I pull out, my eyes

locked on his facial expressions, fearing I had hurt him also.

As his eyes reopen, red crimson pupils stare out at me…a cold expression fixed on his face.

He knew, he knew know that he had been conned, he knew my wolf was defected.