CHAPTER FOUR THE MARK

Zara’s POV.

“Jade! Jade! Wake up!” I shook Jade vigorously to wake her up. Jade grumbled and rolled away from me. “Oh for Moon's sake! Wake up!” I went to shake her again.

“Zara.. I will tear your throat out if you shake me again.” I paused my hand inches from her arm. Laughing, I grabbed her and shook her violently.

“AH!” I yelped, jumping back from Jade's snapping wolf teeth. “Come on, wake up! It's important!” I whined playfully as Jade rubbed sleep from her eyes.

“If you woke me up to tell me about the sex you had last night it had better have been amazing or really awful. It is so early, Z..” Jade's playful whining was making me giggle so much, it was hard to talk.

“I want to know what you did! I want to know what happened!” I wasn't going to talk about what had happened with Dexter and me last night. I felt dirty and weak.

"Z.. Are you kidding me? Here, We had awesome sex and he marked me. That's it.” Jade spoke into her pillow, Hiding her face from view.

“What! He MARKED you?” Damien marked you?!” I was shocked.

“Yeah..” Jade sighed heavily. “It was nice, of course, but I felt rushed… You know this stupid mate business with my parents is so difficult.” Jade stretched and looked out the window at the sky. Suddenly Jade exclaimed loudly, “Zara! Your raven is back! It must be from Thorn or Flame!”

“Oh! Thank moons!” I opened my window and my sleek raven, Diablo, glided in, landing gracefully on my nightstand. “It's from Ember and Smolder, Flames head warriors..” I trailed off reading the letter quickly. “They say that the moon festival for the dragon shifters has been canceled. And that everyone has been in a lockdown since Thursday..”

Jade nodded. “Yeah, my cousin called Thursday saying the witches and Goblins are in lockdown too..”

“It's strange Jade..” I said as I scratched Diablo's head. “The witches, Dragons, goblins and more are on lockdown or preparing for one. Why aren't we?” Jade and I thought for a minute.

‘Hm.. Maybe you should ask your dad about it.” Jade said slowly.

“Are you insane? That man is one irritating interaction with me away from locking me up in the cells for a month.” Jade nodded her head in understanding. We went quiet again, both thinking hard about what we could do to figure it out.

“Oh! Ask Dexter about it! He will know! He is in the meetings with your father!” My raven jumped, squawking loudly in disapproval at the sudden noise.

“You're right Jade!” I grabbed my phone and sent Dexter a text, asking if he could come to the pack house to talk to us. “He is on his way.” I smiled at Jade's brilliance and sat down on my bed, petting my raven gently.

*****

Dexter arrived half an hour later. Jade and I sat on my bed going over the various letters and text messages we had from the other races with Dexter.

“So wait, You're telling me that all of the other races are on lockdown because Medusa and her army are supposed to wake up this blood moon and we are the only pack who hasn't begun the lockdown process and are still taking part in the moon ritual?” Dexter asked, exasperated at the insane news.

“Yep. That's what it looks like.” Jade said.

“Dexter I need you to get My dad and genie out of the house, so I can get into his study and look around. All of the packs have contacted my dad about this. I know because they sent me ravens too.” I continued to pet Diablo. “Unfortunately for my father the rest of the world knows I am to become Alpha when I find my mate. Which I have…” Dexter smiled at me as I spoke.

“You know Z, If Dexter marked you, you'd be alpha. You could put us in lockdown and cancel the festival.” Jade said.

“You're right!” I exclaimed. “Quick! Mark me!” I threw my head sideways, presenting my neck to Dexter. He looked at me in shock.

“Uh.. right now?” Dexter suddenly looked excited and nervous. Jade began to giggle.

“I don't want it to just be because you wanna be alpha. But if that's what we need to do to keep the pack safe, then let's do it.” Dexter smiled at me, but his eyes were sad. His sad eyes made me hate myself slightly. But it is for our safety.

“Why don't we wait and do it tonight?” I smiled at him hoping he would understand my haste, but also my want for his mark. I only needed it to become Alpha but he didn't need to know that. Jade left to go get ready for the lockdown. Dexter and I lay down in my bed, to watch a movie together.

“Zara?” His voice was soft.

“Hm?” Dexter took my face in his hands, he rubbed his thumb over my lips and stared into my eyes lovingly. His soft brown stare gave me butterflies. I turned my face away blushing hard. Dexter took the opportunity to kiss my neck. I moaned in pleasure as he kissed and nibbled at my neck. His hands wandered down my body, searching for the hem of my shirt. When he found it he slid his hands up my sides and around to my bra clasp. I barely noticed as my shirt and bra flew off me and across the room. He kissed from my neck down to my nipples, then he began licking and sucking them causing me to exclaim loudly in pleasure.

“Roll over for me, angel.” Dexter's voice came out in a low growl. I flipped myself over, ripping my pants and underwear down. Dexter grabbed my hips and yanked me to the edge of the bed, up against him. He slid a finger in me making me moan loudly, my response to one made him add another finger. He pumped his fingers in and out faster and faster as I moaned in pleasure. I could feel my orgasm mounting. Right as I was about to cum he pulled his fingers from me and undid his belt, he pulled out his cock, rubbing it against my pussy. He felt so good. I wanted his cock in me desperately.

“Please?” I whimpered. “Fill me with your cum..”

“No. Not so quick, angle. Flip over again for me.”

I rolled and spread my legs wide for him. Dexter slid his cock slowly into my pussy. I let out a loud moan. He began to pump into me fast and firmly. Each thrust was punctuated with a moan from me. Dexter leaned down, grabbing my hair and yanking my head sideways, exposing my neck to him. He licked once and bit down hard.

“Ah~ Please fill me!” I screamed in pleasure as my orgasm exploded from me. I writhed under him trying to catch my breath as he continued to pound into me. Wrapping my legs firmly around him, I grabbed his neck and pulled him back down to me, I bit down hard on his neck, marking him.

“Zara~!” He exclaimed as he spasmed, fighting my legs. He came hard, his cock twitching and pulsing inside of me as he filled my pussy with his cum.

“Fuck, angel. You weren't supposed to do that..” Dexter kissed my mark and pulled my legs off him, and slid out of me.

BANG! The front door slammed hard. “Zara? Are you home?” My dad's angry voice came from downstairs making Dexter and I jump.

“Shit!” I whispered. I rushed into the bathroom pulling Dexter with me. Turning the shower on. I had just climbed in when the knock I had expected came.

“Coming!” I yelled as I climbed back out and put my robe on. As I went to open the door I kicked our clothes under the bed.

“Yeah?” I said as I opened the door to my father's angry face.

“Where is-'' My father's face went blank and his eyes narrowed at me.

“What's up Dad?”

“Who the fuck marked you?” His voice shook with malice.

“Dad, I told you who my mate wa-” I didn't even finish my sentence. My dad and I both jumped at the sound of a new speaker's voice.

“Hello, Lucious.” Dexter stood in the bathroom doorway with a towel wrapped around his waist.

“Dexter?” My dad yelped in shock. “You accepted her?” my dad's questioning tone saddened me.

“Obviously. Why wouldn't I? Dexter's tone was cold and angry. I turned, walking back into the bathroom, tears streaming down my face. My father and Genie will pay for the hell I have lived.

*****

After Dexter left, I sent out an email to the pack's news station explaining the next few days to the pack. The festival was canceled and we all were to relocate due to an emergency.

“What! You can't CANCEL the festival!” I rolled my eyes at my dad as he yelled.

“I am Alpha. Yes I can.” I yelled back. Genie sobbed on the sitting room sofa, her head in her hands. Felix and Alix sat next to her silently, unmoving.

“Why?” my father looked deranged, yelling while pacing back and forth. “Why are you canceling it? And a lockdown? What is wrong with you?”

“All of the other tribes and packs are in lockdown! You are endangering our pack! Our family!” My father's face went white.

“How do you know that..?” I raised my eyebrows at my father.

“How could you not know that I was sent the same letters and inquiries as you? You put me in charge of keeping the peace between the tribes and packs!” I was annoyed at my father's bad leadership skills. He was an awful Alpha and I wasn't going to repeat his lousy attempt.

“You are dooming us all!” My father's shriek of terror caught me off guard. Genie's sobs became louder. “We are descendants of Medusa! She will come to find us! She will see how you've shut the festival down! How you are disrespecting her! She will kill us all!”

I laughed derisively at my father. “Lock them both up please. They are a danger to us all..”

“No! Unhand me!” Genie shrieked and fought the guards. My dad went willingly. He stopped at the door and looked back at me.

“You will come for my help in the end. You need the knowledge I have.” I turned my back on him and walked into the kitchen ignoring his words.

“Zara..” Felix spoke timidly “You two have nothing to worry about. What do you want for dinner?” I opened the fridge pretending to look at the food but really I was hiding from the twins. Their fear and sadness was hard to handle. “How about pasta?” I turned around when they didn't answer. They were gone.

“Felix? Alix?” Tears dripped down my face as I realized they would not be talking to me any time soon. I sighed, Walking up the stairs. I hoped the twins would eat when I wasn't down there. When I got upstairs I sent Diablo back to Flame with a message.