Chapter 60 Mark me or reject me
Derek paced his office, the echo of Clara’s ultimatum ringing in his ears. “Your title or your mate.” Her words lingered like a storm cloud, casting doubt over every decision he had made. He raked his fingers through his hair, trying to shake off the frustration gnawing at him. But there was no escaping it—Clara’s demand had thrown him into a whirlwind he wasn’t prepared to handle.
Still, his duty as an Alpha came first. He needed answers, and Kevin was at the center of it all. He couldn’t afford to let emotions cloud his judgment, not with the safety of his pack at stake.
He made his way to the war room, where his beta Alex and Gamma Rafael were already waiting. The tension in the air was palpable as Derek entered, his Alpha presence commanding their immediate attention.
"Alex," Derek said, his voice low and firm. "Have you found anything on Kevin?"
Alex exchanged a glance with Rafael before replying. "Not much yet, but there’s something strange. His pack’s movements are unusually quiet for this kind of turmoil. It’s almost like... they’re waiting for something."
Rafael leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "And it gets worse. One of our scouts reported seeing Kevin’s men near the northern border earlier today."
Derek stiffened. "The northern border? That’s neutral ground. They have no business there."
"Exactly," Rafael agreed. "We sent a patrol to investigate, but by the time they arrived, Kevin’s men were gone. It’s almost as if they were testing our defenses."
Derek’s jaw clenched. Kevin’s calculated moves were starting to paint a clearer picture. He wasn’t just biding his time—he was preparing for something.
"We can’t let this slide," Derek said, his voice cold and resolute. "Double the patrols near the northern border. I want eyes on Kevin and his pack at all times. And bring me the scout who saw them—I need every detail."
Alex hesitated. “And Clara? She’s back… Does this change anything?”
Derek’s jaw tightened. “Clara will have to wait. The pack comes first.”
The Beta nodded, though his eyes betrayed unease. “Understood, Alpha. I’ll assign our best trackers to keep an eye on Kevin’s movements.”
Rafael lingered, his expression troubled.
"Alpha," Rafael said quietly. "Is she... part of this?"
Derek froze, the question catching him off guard. He turned to Rafael, his eyes hard. "Clara has nothing to do with Kevin. Whatever her motives for returning now, they’re personal, not political."
Rafael held his gaze for a moment before nodding. "Understood. But Alpha... you need to resolve things with her. A divided leadership weakens the pack."
Derek sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I’ll handle it. Focus on Kevin for now.”
And please…” Derek’s tone softened, a rare moment of vulnerability escaping him. “Keep this between us. I don’t want anyone else involved until we have concrete evidence.”
“As you wish.”Rafael and Alex bowed and left, leaving Derek alone with his thoughts once more.
Derek strode back to his chambers, the weight of the day pressing heavily on his shoulders.
He stopped abruptly as he caught the faint hum of voices coming from within his chambers. Frowning, he eased the door open, his heightened senses immediately locking onto the familiar scent of his Beta, Alex. The sight that greeted him only added fuel to the fire already burning within him.
Clara stood by the fireplace, her arms crossed, while Alex sat stiffly on a nearby chair, his face a mask of discomfort. Both turned to him as the door clicked shut behind him.
"Derek," Clara said smoothly, her voice like ice. "I thought it was time we had a proper conversation. Alex was kind enough to join me."
Derek's eyes narrowed, his patience fraying. "Alex, leave us."
Alex hesitated, glancing at Clara. She waved a dismissive hand, her smile tight. "Go ahead, Beta. This is between Derek and me now."
Once Alex was gone, Clara turned her full attention to Derek. Her expression was cold and calculating, a stark contrast to the woman who had broken down earlier.
"You’ve been busy," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Calling secret meetings with your Beta, investigating Alpha Kevin... Do you even remember you have a Luna?”
Derek’s jaw tightened. "Clara, you don't understand the stakes here. Kevin is a threat to the pack—"
"Don’t patronize me," she interrupted sharply. "I know what’s at stake, Derek. I came back to support you, to stand by your side as your Luna. But all I’ve found is a man who doesn’t even want me here."
Derek took a step closer, his voice low and firm. "This isn’t about you. It’s about the safety of the pack."
"And what about me?" Clara snapped, her composure cracking. "Am I not part of this pack? Or have you forgotten that I’m supposed to be your Luna?”
Derek sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Clara, this isn’t the time—"
"It’s never the time!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the room. "Do you even care, Derek? Do you care that I’ve been waiting for five years, clinging to a promise you made to my father? Do you care that I’ve been nothing more than a placeholder, a figurehead while you pine for someone else?"
Derek froze, guilt twisting in his gut. He didn’t have an answer—at least, not one that would soothe the storm in her eyes.
Clara stepped closer, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion."You sent me away under the guise of protecting me from the plague. But we both know the truth—you wanted me gone. You never called. You never checked on me. And now you stand here, expecting me to just accept that?”
Clara’s voice dropped to a whisper, the final nail in the coffin. "Mark me, Derek. Or reject me. But this limbo ends tonight.”
And with that, she turned and strode out of the room, leaving Derek alone with his turmoil.
Unbeknownst to them, a shadow moved in the distance, watching them from the tree line. The figure slipped back into the darkness, disappearing into the night.
Clara’s footsteps echoed in the quiet halls as she made her way to her chambers. Her confrontation with Derek replayed in her mind, each word cutting deeper than the last. She had poured her heart out, laid bare her vulnerability, and still, he had hesitated.
Her hands trembled as she closed the door behind her, the weight of her actions finally settling on her chest. She had played her hand, pushed Derek into a corner, but the uncertainty of his choice gnawed at her. She hated feeling like this—weak, unwanted, a mere shadow of the woman she once was.
She moved to the window, staring out into the night. The moon hung high in the sky, a silent witness to her turmoil. For years, she had waited for Derek to see her, to choose her. But tonight, she had taken the reins of her fate, forcing a decision that could either bind them together or shatter their bond completely.
A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to see Alex standing there, his expression unreadable.
"What do you want?" Clara asked, her voice cold.
Alex hesitated before stepping inside. "I came to check on you. I know things are... tense between you and Derek right now."
Clara arched an eyebrow. "Tense? That’s an understatement."
Alex sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, Clara, I know you’re frustrated. But Derek isn’t the enemy here. He’s doing everything he can to protect the pack."
Clara crossed her arms, her gaze piercing. "And what about me, Alex? Who’s protecting me?"
Alex didn’t have an answer. Clara shook her head, turning back to the window.
"Leave," she said quietly. "I don’t need your pity."
Alex lingered for a moment before nodding and retreating, leaving Clara alone with her thoughts.
Somewhere far from the pack lands, Alpha Kevin sat in his office, a sinister smile playing on his lips. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming against the polished wood of his desk.
"Everything is falling into place," he said, his voice a low rumble.
The doctor standing before him shifted nervously. "Alpha, what about the Moonstone Pack? They’re onto us. If Derek finds out—"
Kevin silenced him with a sharp glare. "Derek is too distracted to pose a threat. His precious Luna just returned, and she’ll keep him occupied. By the time he realizes what’s happening, it will be too late."
The doctor nodded reluctantly, his unease clear. "And Dr. South? She’s still a wildcard. If she—"
"She's been captured by the vampires," Kevin interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "She won’t be a problem for much longer."
The doctor bowed and left the room, leaving Kevin alone with his thoughts. He picked up a small vial from his desk, holding it up to the light. The liquid inside glimmered ominously.
"Soon," he murmured, a dark grin spreading across his face. "The Moonstone Pack will fall and other packs too.