Chapter 13 THE MARK HE REFUSES
Varkos
“You’ve delayed this long enough.” My mother’s voice cut through the dining hall like a blade, sharp and unforgiving.
Across the table, Lady Ravena Draven—my mother, sat at the head of the table, her silver hair pinned flawlessly, those dark eyes burning with expectation and threat in equal measure.
I didn’t bother looking up from my plate to know what she was talking about, “Lower your tone,” I shot back coldly. “You’re addressing your son, not the council.”
For a moment silence followed —brief, but the scrape of cutlery quickly shattered it as Kenna shifted beside her.
“You are the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack,” she continued, nothing calm about the tone of her voice, “And you are already engaged to Kenna…so I don’t see a reason why you don’t want to mark her by now.”
Kenna sat right next to her, her expression carefully composed, though I could smell her frustration beneath the calm composure she was trying to put up.
I finally lifted my gaze. “I don’t recall asking for your opinion,” Mum,” I said evenly.
“This is not an opinion, Varkos.” My mother’s jaw tightened, “It’s your responsibility.”
I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms slowly to meet her eyes. “I will mark Kenna when I decide to.”
“Why the hell are you being so stubborn!” She barked, slamming her palm against the table. “The council is already whispering, and everyone in Bleeding Rose is talking. An Alpha without a Luna is vulnerable and you know that.”
A humorless smile curved at the corner of my lips, “Anyone who thinks I’m vulnerable is welcome to try me.”
“That arrogance will cost you your throne,” she snapped. Her eyes flashed with something close to rage at the sound of my tone. “Looks like you forgot who secured that throne for you.”
“I claimed it myself,” I corrected, “With my blood and sweat…so don’t you dare confuse your support with ownership.”
“Why are you doing this?” Kenna’s voice cut through the tension, turning to face me fully with an expression that showed she could no longer hold her tongue. “Everyone in Bleeding Rose knows that we’re already engaged. Yet you refuse to seal it…hell, you don’t even want to touch me.”
I met her gaze, unflinching. “Watch your words.”
“What if I don’t?!” She snapped, her lips pressed together, then curved into something ugly. Not quite a smile, “So it’s because of that stupid human, isn’t it?” The word human left her mouth with disgust. “That filthy little thing that you dragged out of the dirt and chained to your side.”
The words hit me like a punch to the face, but before I could part my lips to speak, my mother’s voice thundered across the dining room.
“What?!”
“A human slave, Ginnie,” Kenna went on, enjoying every bit of attention she was getting from Ravena. “Varkos has reassigned her to his personal slave.”
Ravena’s gaze snapped to me, sharp with disbelief, “You did what?”
“Yes,” I said coldly, rising slowly to my feet. “I assigned her to be my personal slave.”
Ravena stood as well, her restraint cracking little by little. “Have you lost your mind, Varkos?” she hissed, “Why in the world would you make a human your personal slave?”
“Because I’m Alpha…and I make my own decisions.”
“That has never been done,” she shot back, “No Alpha in the Draven bloodline has ever done such with a filthy human. Do you realize how that makes us look?”
“I don’t give a fuck how it makes us look!” My voice echoed through the entire dining room, sending a chill of fear through Ravena.
A bitter laughter escapes Kenna. “So you deny me my mark, but you elevate a human?”
“She is nothing to me” I said sharply, “Don’t dare try to twist this into something—“
“Then why her?” Ravena cut me off before I could finish. “What you just did would only invite more scandal. And you damn well know your position is being threatened.”
I slammed my fist down on the table in an instant, the sound rattling the plates and cutlery. Kenna flinched violently. My mother stiffened, her eyes wide for just a second before they were replaced with rage.
“I am the Alpha!,” I growled, “Not you, not the stupid council! Certainly not my fiancée!. You will not threaten me in my own house,” I continued, my voice lethal, “And neither will you dare dictate to me when or how I mark anyone.”
For a moment, Ravena didn’t speak, but then she straightened, cold fury settling over her face. “You have only three days, Varkos… three days to mark Kenna or I will personally move to have your authority challenged. I will remind the council who truly holds influence in Bleeding Rose.”
My lips curled into a snarl. “Try it,” the threat hanging heavy between us, “I’ll be more than happy to watch you succeed.”
She met my glare without flinching. “Oh, I will.”
Kenna sat there, her eyes drifting between us as panic flickered across her face. “Varkos, please—”
“This conversation is over.” I cut in before she could finish, turning away as I began to make my way out of the dining room.
“Varkos!” my mother called out sharply as I strode from the hall. “Do not walk away from me!”
I didn’t turn back to spare either of them a single glance, their voices fading behind me as I climbed the stairs, rage boiling under my skin.
Why did everyone think they could control me?
Varkos freakin Draven!
“Fuck!” I cursed under my breath, the word ripped raw from my throat as I dragged a hand through my hair in frustration. My wolf snarled, restless, wanting to tear everything apart just to remind the world who stood at the top.
“What the hell—“
My steps slowed as I reached the door leading to my study, irritation flaring across my face the moment my eyes fell on a small body crumpled near my study door.
For a split second, I didn’t recognize her.
Then it hit me.
“The human slave child,” I muttered.
Lily.
She was pale, her breathing coming out in weak gasps. “What is she doing here?” I snapped, bending down, “Hey. Wake up.” I touched her shoulder, rougher than necessary.
Her lashes fluttered open, suddenly shut back as she gasped, sucking in air like she’d been drowning. Before my brain could give any thoughts, I pulled my phone from my pocket immediately.
“Doctor Hale,” I barked the moment the call connected. “I need you at the Blood Moon Pack Villa. Now.”
“Alpha—?”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
I ended the call before he could say anything more, and looked down at the unconscious human child again, irritation mixing with something darker as I scooped her into my arms.