Marked By The Alpha Layla Novels & Stories

He tries to knee me in the back, but I refuse to let him go. “Do you forfeit?!” I shout. There’s silence around us before he suddenly stops struggling, but it’s not by choice. He can’t fight me any longer. Where is your ego now, Logan? And then I feel it, the shift in power. My heart skips a beat as I realise I am the Alpha… “Rise, Alpha Layla Blackwell, Alpha of the Jade Pack!” Benedict shouts as the crowd erupts. “Soon to be bride to the Lycan King Quade Steele!”

I thought finding my mate would be the happiest day of my life, but it was quickly turning into a horrible nightmare as the fear of rejection loomed over me like a burble ready to burst anytime soon. He stared down at me with cold, impassive eyes. "Aren't you an audacious one? You can't be my mate, the rich and powerful have nothing to do with the poor and helpless. Damn any fucking mate bond you felt, I felt nothing." He said coldly, not making any movements to leave me. The others came and surrounded me, Alpha Zion squinted at my badge again and asked in a thunderous voice that could ring a bell, "What the fuck are you doing, Layla?"

"That is what she is. Everything she is follows from that, not from what other packs want to make of her." Cassian set both hands flat on the table. The gesture was deliberate—the body language of a man who was rearranging his strategy without showing it. "The lunar confirmation rite exists to protect the heir, Alpha, not to constrain her. It anchors her bloodline claim in law that other packs cannot challenge. Without it, she is vulnerable to exactly the kind of outside interest you're describing." Elara heard the architecture of it. The argument was not entirely wrong. That was what made it dangerous.

"I admit I was wrong in the past. I'll make it up to her slowly. But what does that make Jasper, taking advantage of her grief?" At that moment, the ceremony reached the exchange of the mating mark. The High Priest held up a moonstone and asked me, the future Luna, if I was willing to accept the Alpha's mark. Kade could no longer contain his raging wolf. He shook off Chloe's hand and lunged for the altar. But he was intercepted by enforcers who were already on alert. He struggled but couldn't break free. All he could do was scream at the top of his lungs, "Anya, don't let him mark you!"

“The four Alphas carry fragments of the First’s soul. You are the key that unites them—or destroys them. That is the purpose of the mark.” Vale turned sharply, his voice harsh. “Enough.” But Eryndor only smiled, eyes like dying stars. “You cannot protect her from destiny.” And with that, the being raised his hand. The forest exploded in light. *** Lyra screamed as the ground tore open beneath her. Fire and moonlight spiraled together, forming a vortex around her body. Her mark erupted, gold bleeding into crimson. She saw flashes—Ronan’s fury, Cassian’s smirk, Malachai’s silent watch, Vale’s hand reaching toward her through the storm.

Then she tried to hit Bella. The way Bella stood up to Father, made me proud she’s my mate…then I reminded myself she’s not. She was careful not to hurt Layla, but she wasn’t going to let her hit her either. I was impressed with how she handled herself there. The woman is an Alpha in every sense. Father’s wrong, she’d make one hell of a Luna. Just not mine. I need to keep to the contract. Layla’s IV bag empties and beeps. The nurse comes in and discharges her for the second time.

“Fuck, Alpha, I am-” The next strike lands square on my ass, louder, harder. My yelp cracks into a groan. He leans over me, warm chest pinning my back, his breath scalding my ear. “You’ll take every mark I put on you. And you’ll thank me.” “Yes,” I whimper, because the word is truth. “Yes, Alpha.” His teeth graze my jaw. “Say it.” “Thank you,” I sob, shamed and glowing. “Thank you for marking me.”

He stiffens a bit on the chair facing my desk where he is seated. “Markin has always been a thorn in my flesh ever since I stepped in as the Alpha of this pack after my father. I know he will play his cards once he finds out about Layla. But do you really think I’m going to let him succeed?” I throw at him. “You’re already playing into his hands by keeping that girl here." Theron snaps around at me, his eyes looking hard just like his stern face. "I'm afraid she is a pawn in this.“

I don't know if I should be happy that I get to leave this life of torment or I should be sad that I'm going to be mated to a tyrant for the rest of my life. “Now apologize” he growls at Layla. “I'm… I'm sorry” she stammers, unable to look me in the eye. “Good.” He retorts, a devilish smile on his lips as if all of this was a joke to him. He faces the crowd and holds my hand up. “I, Alpha Lucian of the Bloodmoon pack, choose Leah as my mate, and that is final. You may return to your dinner now. My mate and I have a lot to know about each other”.

“Seeing as you designed the entire system in the first place.” Layla laughed and walked closer. Her dark hair spilled over her shoulders. Her frame was petite - delicate, but Kadeem knew what she lacked in brawn she more than made up for in brains and political savvy. She was Alpha for a reason. “Oh,” she asked lazily, “Like the way you crossed over into Pack X territory back in May?” Kadeem felt the eyes of his pack members on him. He shifted uncomfortably before crossing his arms. “I plead the fifth,” he said, shrugging.