Chapter 13: Did He Mark Me?

Lena’s POV:

I gaped at Zephyrus, his words sinking inside my head slowly. So, he knew my mother!

“How do you know that? Do you know her?” He frowned in silence as he fried the eggs.

“Yes. Your mark is identical to the one on Syble’s forehead. She was Beta Michael Tremblay’s wife when my father was the Alpha of the Luceres Pack. When I saw your mark, I knew who you were.” His mood had soured, as if it was something new, and he avoided looking at me. Now I knew the answer to my question. So that was how he knew my identity!

I was glad I was a Lucerian and not a member of the Whiteridge Pack. Even after knowing my identity, I wanted to know more about my parents. Now I wanted answers to the other questions that remained unanswered. Where were my parents now? Were they killed in the battle, too?

“I don’t know them, Zephyrus. Please, can you believe me?” I held his gaze for a second, begging him to believe me. At that moment, his acceptance meant a lot to me. I somehow wanted him to end this enmity between us and set me free. Maybe I would seek the answers to my questions one day! Maybe I would find my parents if they were alive!

“Stavros, my Beta, had a word with your trainer and his wife at the academy.” His grim tone told me he was still annoyed with me, but why? I hadn’t harmed him. I just wanted to be set free.

There was something in his swirling, angry eyes that spoke to me. It seemed I was looking into his soul. The intensity of his emotions mirrored there confused me. I had grown up without the love of my family, and pack. I was an unloved, unwanted being who had to fend for herself. My trainer and his wife had employees to provide us with necessities. As we grew, they offered those necessities in return for services given. Without excellent performance, they would snatch away the benefits for days! It was a tough battle for survival. Yet I considered myself lucky to be alive, to get a roof over my head and food in my stomach. There was no scope to explore emotions, so, even at twenty, I couldn’t decipher them.

“Oh, so will you set me free?” His jaws clenched as he walked out of the kitchen, without a backward glance at the breakfast he made. Confused by his behavior, I followed him out.

“No, you will stay with me.” What? My jaws dropped at his words which were more of a command than a request.

“No, thank you. It’s true I don’t have a home, but I wouldn’t want to impose. You don’t have to take care of me.” He stopped in his tracks, whirled, and scowled at me, expressing his annoyance at my words. It confused me further. Why was he so adamant about my staying here in his house? Surely he wasn’t taking this seriously?

Maybe I could tell him my thoughts on mates. I didn’t believe in mates or love. I knew Xara feared his aura, his wolf. He always left her tongue-tied and apprehensive. He and I couldn’t be fated mates. I was the daughter of a wolf he hated!

“You aren’t going anywhere, Lena. That’s an order. Am I clear?” He punched the nearest wall to vent out his fury.

“Why do you want me to stay when you know you hate me and my parents?”

He glared at me, my question taking him by surprise.

“Who told you I hated you?” He left the table and stormed into his bedroom while I stood there thinking about what he just said. So, he didn’t hate me. Then wasn’t I his enemy anymore? I went back to the kitchen to serve the breakfast and carry it to the table.

‘It means he likes you,’ prompted Xara.

Before I could argue with her. Zephyrus stormed out of the bedroom, wearing a crisp white linen dress shirt and a pair of well-tailored slacks. With his damp dark hair freshly combed, and his tingling scent hovering in the air, he was a sight to behold. How in the world did he get ready so fast?

I could feel the drool drip down from my mouth, literally. It was a sin to be so good-looking. I had never seen such a gorgeous specimen in my entire life, let alone live with one. The air suddenly felt heavily charged, and I had to look away to stop myself from jumping at him. I had to remind myself I hated him.

‘Ooh! He’s so sexy!’ whispered Xara.

A blush crept up my cheeks at being caught checking him out.

He stopped in front of me and gazed down at me for a split second, as if in a dilemma.

“I have to go out. We’re planning to start a few business ventures here in Lucania to provide a stable livelihood for the people. I have three meetings at the pack house today. I want you to get ready in five minutes. You’re coming along with me.”

I gaped at the impossible creature. What the hell! How could I go out wearing his shirt?

“Get ready in what, exactly? I can’t go out wearing your shirt!” I snapped, and he stood gaping at me. Maybe he hadn’t thought of it earlier.

“I can’t cancel my meetings, Lena. I’ll ask one of the pack members to get you clothes.”

“Who’s stopping you from attending your meetings? Why do I need to tag along?” He scowled, not liking the idea at all.

“I can’t leave you alone here. You’ll escape again.” My eyes glittered at the opportunity. Of course, I would escape! I stood up with a triumphant look on my face while he growled menacingly.

He closed the distance between us, and I took a step or two backward. What was he up to now? My back touched a wall, and I held my breath, expecting him to attack me.

He stopped inches away from me, his hot breath fanning my face. It made my breath hitch as I waited for his assault. Would he hit me to make me surrender to his will? Or would he dump me back into the dungeons? My eyes widened when he just placed his hands on the wall on either side of me, trapping me against him. I could see his muscles straining against his shirt while his eyes held my gaze in a hypnotic stare. I could feel my heart thump wildly inside my chest with every passing second.

“Zephyrus..” I started, licking my parched lips nervously. I had learned to fight, to kill, but never to deal with a smoking hot alpha who was my fated mate! All the fight flew out of the windows at his nearness as I waited for his punishment.

He leaned forward. His obsidian irises flickered again, and I had the fleeting feeling he would kiss me. Having never experienced a kiss in my twenty years of life, I panicked. But he didn’t kiss me. He dipped his head and licked the mark on my neck, making a shudder go down my spine. Before I knew what was going on, he bit me, sinking his canines deep into my skin, at the place just below my mark, where the neck met my shoulder. I winced, but not in pain. A strange flutter of arousal shot down my body, making me swoon.

He raised his head and gazed at me while I drowned in his dark eyes!

“Mine!” he whispered hoarsely. I stared at him, feeling strangely delirious and euphoric.

“If you escape, believe me, I’ll hunt you down and bring you back from the end of the earth. Now, I have embedded your scent in my soul. I have marked you as mine. I can seek you out easily with my special powers. Once I find you, I’ll punish you, and claim you until I implant my very essence inside you. So, think twice before escaping me, little mate!”

A gasp escaped my mouth, but before I could answer him, he eased off me and stormed out of the house. Tongue-tied and shocked, I stood at the window to watch him climb into his car and disappear into the horizon.

‘Yay! He acknowledged us as his mate! He has marked you,’ exclaimed Xara but I sat at the breakfast table, chewing my lips absent-mindedly. His threat echoed in my head! I knew he meant every word he said. Would he really claim me and get me pregnant with his pups? A strange tremor went down my body at the thought.

‘I’d love it, Lena! I can’t wait for Zeus to claim me!’ sang Xara.

‘Shut up, Xara! Don’t you remember we hate him?’ I groaned.

‘No. I’ve forgiven him,’ sighed Xara.

‘I haven’t. Anyway, you’re the one who’s shit scared of him.’

‘I’m not scared. I’m just crushing on him!’ she corrected me with a purr.

‘Whatever! I’m now free to escape!’ I sang, getting up and stretching lazily. It was easier said than done. I just couldn’t get Zephyrus out of my mind. The thought of escaping him made my heart sink. What was happening to me? Was it because he had marked me?

‘Don’t Lena. Don’t you realize what marking means? It is the first step of the mating process. Zephyrus can read your thoughts and emotions now, unless you consciously block him out. It’s difficult to do because he’s our mate. He would know our whereabouts and seek us out from anywhere on the earth. It’s futile! We can’t escape our mate.’

Realization hit me, and I sank back into the chair. I was now his for life. I didn’t know if I should be happy or sad about it. Strangely, I was neither! Instead, I was excited! A peculiar throbbing started between my legs at the thought of Zephyrus. How could it be when I hated him so much? Was it because he marked me?

“Come to me, Lena!” said a wispy voice from far away, beckoning me towards it. I covered my ears! No, I didn’t want to leave my mate.

“I need you, Lena!” urged the voice. I couldn’t ignore it anymore as it echoed inside my head.

I fought my feelings. A sense of panic rising inside me. I had to get away! I needed my freedom! How could I trust the stranger I hated so easily?