Chapter 26 Purple-Red Mark
Seara had just woken up. Beside her, Austin was still fast asleep. His breathing was steady, a far cry from the image of the hot-tempered Alpha who had smashed down the door with a single blow the day before. Seara fell silent, studying Austin’s chiseled yet serene features as he slept.
A strange sensation pulsed at the nape of her neck from the permanent bite mark that now bound her soul to this man. Through that bond, Seara could feel Austin’s calm, steady heartbeat.
Despite his often flamboyant, narcissistic, and infuriating demeanor, Austin had proven himself a protector. A sense of pride crept into Seara’s chest, the Alpha Lycanisius had marked her as his absolute possession.
Seara tried to move slowly so as not to disturb Austin’s sleep. However, a loud knock on the door shattered the morning’s silence.
“Alpha? Sorry to disturb you, but I have something I need to tell you,” the Alpha’s Beta’s voice sounded hesitant from behind the door.
Seara glanced at Austin, who only let out a small groan without opening his eyes. On tiptoes, Seara slipped on her satin nightgown and opened the door slightly.
“The Alpha is still sleeping,” Seara whispered. “I didn’t dare wake him. He looks exhausted.”
Alex froze. His eyes inadvertently caught the striking purple-red mark on Seara’s neck. The Beta immediately looked down, her face flushing with embarrassment. “Oh, my goodness. I… I understand. I’m sorry, Luna.”
“Don’t call me that yet. The ritual is still seven days away,” Seara said softly.
“But that mark is already valid under the laws of nature,” Alex replied awkwardly.
The sound of haughty footsteps echoing down the corridor cut off their conversation. From the end of the hallway, Elder Stroud appeared with a stiff expression, accompanied by Delcy, whose eyes were still swollen but glistening with rage.
“Step aside, Beta,” Elder Stroud ordered without preamble. “I need to speak with Alpha Austin immediately.”
Seara stood tall, blocking the door. “Elder Stroud, is there an emergency that requires you to come this early?”
Elder Stroud completely ignored Seara’s question. His cold eyes stared at Seara as if she were nothing more than a stain on the marble floor.
“I don’t speak to outcast wolves who lack manners,” Stroud hissed angrily, his face growing stiffer.
Delcy stepped forward, pointing at Seara’s neck with a trembling finger. “Look at that! You really did it, didn’t you? You tricked Austin into marking you before the council gave its approval!”
Seara deliberately ran her hand over the mark on her neck, offering a provocative, thin smile. “Tricked? Austin asked my permission, Delcy. And as far as I recall, this mark isn’t the result of the fainting act you accused me of yesterday.”
“You’re a snake woman!” Delcy screamed. “You must have used black magic to cast a spell on Austin’s mind!”
“Don’t make baseless accusations if you have no proof!” Seara retorted more sharply.
“Enough!”
A hoarse yet authoritative baritone boomed from inside the room. Austin emerged behind Seara, wearing only black jeans and no shirt. His hair was disheveled, yet his Alpha aura instantly thickened the air in the corridor. He wrapped his arms around Seara’s waist, pulling her close to his broad chest in a possessive, fiercely protective gesture.
Seara could feel Austin’s anger beginning to boil through their mental bond. It felt like a wave of heat spreading down her spine.
“Elder Stroud, have you forgotten how to knock on a door?” Austin asked coldly, his gaze sharp.
"Alpha, this is outrageous. Marking this woman permanently without a council hearing is an affront to tradition," Elder Stroud declared, pointing an accusing finger. "I’m certain she’s cast a spell on you. No sane Alpha would lay claim to a healer whose powers aren’t yet stable this quickly." He spoke with his index finger pointed at Seara.
Austin chuckled, a sound that sounded more like a low wolf’s growl. “Black magic? Seara can’t even mend a severed worm. She doesn’t have the energy to cast a spell on me, Elder.”
Austin turned to Delcy, who was still staring at him with a wounded look. “And you, Delcy. Don’t you have anything better to do than lurk outside my door? Go find a new hobby, maybe learn how to speak politely so you don’t sound like a whinnying horse.”
“Austin, you’re insulting me,” Delcy whined angrily.
“I’m not insulting you, I’m offering career advice. If you have a good voice, you could be a contestant on Werewolf Got Talent,” Austin replied casually. He then looked back at Stroud. “Elder, I don’t want to ruin my morning with political debates. I’ll explain everything after we’ve had breakfast. Now, leave quietly, or I’ll have Beta Alex drag you out roughly.”
Elder Stroud snorted, but he knew when to back down when he saw Austin’s eyes begin to glow a faint gold. He turned to leave, followed by Delcy, who stomped her feet in annoyance.
Austin shifted his gaze to Alex, who was still frozen in place.
“Alex,” Austin called out in a feigned angry tone. “What am I paying you for if you can’t keep those two troublemakers down on the lower floor? You’re making my Lunaku candidate lose his morning energy.”
Seara sensed Austin was deliberately provoking her. Sure enough, Seara immediately interrupted. “Don’t scold Alex. He tried his best. Who could possibly hold back a stubborn Elder like that?”
Austin immediately puckered his lips, pretending to pout. “Oh, so now you’re defending Alex? I just marked you, Seara, but your loyalty lies with my Beta?”
Alex grimaced. “I think I should go now. Excuse me, Alpha. Luna."
Austin gave a nod to signal Alex to disappear from sight. Once the corridor was empty, Austin closed the door and pinned Seara between his body and the doorframe.
"You’re too nice to Alex," Austin whispered in Seara’s ear. "I want it to be just the two of us this morning. Without the Elder or Delcy. Just your breath."
Seara, who would usually respond with a tease, now felt much calmer. The effect of that permanent marking made her want to be close to Austin all the time. She gazed into Austin’s golden eyes and felt her heart racing uncontrollably.
“Do you want breakfast or just keep standing here?” Seara asked softly, trying to shift Austin’s focus.
Austin smiled meaningfully. His hand began to trace the line of Seara’s neck, right above the mark he’d made the night before. “Breakfast can wait. But my desire to keep claiming you seems like it can’t.”
Seara felt a strange urge within her. That bond made her feel as though she had to obey every one of Austin’s desires; she even felt far more aggressive than usual. She tugged at the collar of Austin’s pants, pulling the man closer.
In Seara’s mind, her wolf’s voice—which had always been weak, suddenly roared with overflowing passion.
\[Seara, listen to me,\] Arach’s voice echoed with a seductive, raspy tone. \[Don’t play games anymore. That Alpha belongs to us. His scent… his passion… I want you to let him do it again. I don’t want to be passive. Just pounce on him, before he gets a chance to say much more!\].
Seara smiled mischievously, snatching Austin’s lips before he could utter another narcissistic line. That morning, the commotion in the pack house seemed to vanish, drowned out by the moans and groans of their new Alpha and Luna couple.