Word Count: 2326

~Dove

I gape at my leg and at the mark now tainting my skin.

I can feel my blood pumping against my skull, my vision blurring at the edges. My orgasm has dissipated, the cold claws of dread replacing it.

He just marked me...he's bonded me to him in a metaphysical, intangible way.

The implications of this clash in my mind I as struggle to comprehend how this could have happened.

One moment I'm engulfed in bliss, and the next he's sunk his teeth into me and claimed as his.

"Do you...do you know what you've just done?" I gasp, flattening my back against the wall. I can't take my eyes off it, off what can't ever come off.

He stands in once graceful movement. "Of course I know."

"You've bonded us forever!" I shriek, scrambling to pull my panties back up my thighs in an attempt to salvage some of my dignity.

"It's for your—"

"Get it off!" I yelp, panic surging through me as I hop up in down as if the mark may melt into my skin and disappear forever.

This can't be happening...this can't be happening.

"Okay, calm down Dove." Varian presses his hands down on my shoulders in an effort to stop me shaking. "Let's talk this through."

"No! Reverse it, please!"

I can't be connected to him. I can't bear him mark forever...I'll never be able to take another man to bed without him seeing it. I'll never been able to think of anything else when I look down at it marring my skin.

He takes either side of my face in gentle hands, forcing me to look up at him.

"It's for your protection," he assures me softly but firmly, his fingertips pressing into my cheekbones.

"My protection? You did this to spite Matthias," I hiss, breaking away from him.

I can't believe he would do this. How could he possibly think this would do anything but put me in more danger?

If Matthias see's this...I can't even imagine his reaction.

Varian lets me go, watching me tug my pants back up over my hips. "Two things can be true at once."

"I only need protecting from you!"

"That isn't true," he states firmly, his eyes flashing. "Matthias isn't going to value you and your father the same if you choose to return to his pack."

I grind my back teeth together, anger prickling against my skin. I'm seconds away from exploding, but my confusion is giving me a moment of clarity.

"What does that even mean?" I growl.

"This mark gives you options, it's a just in case," he insists, looking down at my thigh as if he can see it through the fabric of my pants. "This mark will show him you are mine, yes, but it's assurance that he can't act against you. And by act against you, I mean kill you."

I flinch. Matthias has never laid a hand on me in the entire time I've known him. Nor has he ever turned on his staff, even if he has a hot temper that's been known to flare unexpectedly.

"Kill me? He would never..." I rest my palm against my forehead, which is red hot. "Not until you marked me, anyway."

"No Alpha is entitled to sever a marking bond established by another. By killing you, he would be doing so, and that would entitle me to retaliate however I see fit."

I'm blinded my rage. It tastes metallic on my tongue, like blood.

"Don't act like you did this for altruistic reasons...you're a monster!" I snap, shoving at his shoulder. Not because he is close to me, but because I can barely contain my anger.

Varian rubs his jaw, frustration and uncertainty apparent in the way his brows press together.

"Does the thought of him seeing my mark on your body please me? Absolutely. Does it benefit me to know the daughter of Matthias' war advisor has been compromised? Certainty," he admits. "But on equal footing, I feel glad that I can send you back to his pack without risk of him killing you."

"Why should that matter to you? I don't see you marking my father to save his life." If Varian truly see's me as a spy, saving me should be the last thing on his mind.

There is something else going on. I feel like blind prey stuck in an intricate web I can't fight my way out of.

"There are reasons for keeping you alive. Reasons far more compelling than keeping your father alive," he admits.

"What reasons?" I ask warily.

A shadow passes over his face. "Now is not the time for such revelations."

My fingers curl up into fists, nails pressing into my palm. No matter how much I push, he's only going to tell me what he doesn't think will make it back to Matthias.

"I wouldn't be in this position if it weren't for you," I hiss, still feeling the throbbing ache from his bite.

"I never expected your father to agree to my terms." He shakes his head, something building in the starless dark of his eyes. "I was running out of options. Let you go, and Matthias uses my weakness against me. Or I do fuck you, and there's a chance, due to your personal connection, that he kills your. Marking you isn't ideal, but it's a guarantee you won't die."

I'm spiralling so wildly I'm almost starting to hope Matthias would kill me so I don't have to bear his enemies mark.

"This is the last time we ever see each other." I shoulder past him, knowing there are no more words strong enough to convey my anger.

He turns, watching me as I approach the door. "That wouldn't be the first time you've said that to me."

I ignore him, charging from the room and back downstairs again. I'm not sure what my options are, but my thigh is throbbing and even out of Varian's view, I can feel a piece of him like it's buried under my skin.

Which now, I suppose it is...

I make it to the front hall, where the main festivities occur when Varian hosts his parties. The room seems so much vaster now, emptier. What pleases my eye more than the glittering chandelier above my head, is the massive front door I once would have given anything to get through.

"Prepare a transport for her and the prisoner," Varian demands from behind me, scaling down the stairs, his focus on a cluster of guards near the door. "I want them returned to Matthias' pack immediately."

My eyes widen. He's letting us go?

The guards exchange glances, unsure of whether they heard right or not. "Are you sure sir?"

"I am," Varian affirms, looking at me as he stalks over.

The guards launch into action, sweeping down the corridor toward the sitting room to fetch my father. I stare at their Alpha, utterly bewildered. I thought he may let me go after our conversation, but I figured my father would be locked up and questioned for a while longer before either being released or killed.

"You're just letting us both go?" I ask in disbelief.

"If you're not enough for your father to sever his loyalty to Matthias, then nothing is." Varian's gaze lowers to take me in. "He's of no use to me."

My chest deflates, my relief palpable. Varian is going to focus on bigger targets, and father and I can make departure from this mess.

"So...you're sparing him?"

"For now." He waves his hand dismissively. "I'm not in the mood for killing today."

The sound of clattering footsteps down the adjoining hallway draws my attention. To my surprise, my sister is rushing toward me, her face stricken.

"Dove!" She launches in my arms, nearly knocking me down.

"Oh Eden," I breathe into her hair, relieved to be in the presence of someone I can trust. "You won't believe what happened."

"I know, I've been told." She pulls away to inspect me thoroughly, shifting me in her grip so she doesn't miss a spot in her examination. "Varian is going to free you both though, right?"

She glances over her shoulder at Varian, who nods affirmatively.

"I am."

"Come with me to Ciella's. You two can stay there—"

"Stay there? Eden...I'm going home," I deadpan, shaking my head.

Why on earth would I stay here? I need to put an entire pack border between Varian and I and then work out a way to rid of this mark...if it's even possible.

"Home? I heard what Matthias did." Eden's eyes dim, as confused as I am, but for reasons entirely different. "I always knew he couldn't be trusted."

I'm still reeling from Matthias' apparent betrayal, but I'm holding out for an explanation. Anything could have gotten in the way of him bringing us to his safe house. I must know the truth before I can consider cutting him off entirely.

It is easy for Eden to turn her back. I thought she was loyal to our pack, but her attending Varian's parties in secret is a clear indication of restlessness.

My connection to Matthias makes this far more difficult. I can't accept that he would turn on me, someone he's shared a connection with for nearly two years.

"He's our Alpha," I say carefully, aware of Varian's pressing gaze.

"Not mine. I'm moving here permanently," Eden announces. She doesn't sound entirely at ease with her decision, but Ciella clearly means more to her than her own family.

"What?" I hiss. "What about looking after father?"

"I changed my mind." She looks away, her jaw tightening. "If father wants to return to the monster who abandoned him and left him for dead, then he can do that. But I won't support it."

"In other words it's my responsibility now." My voice cracks, the betrayal pressing down on my chest.

Varian steps forward. "Do you really want to look after a man who sacrificed you and your dignity to me?"

"What?" Eden's eyes widen.

"Quiet," I snap at him. Him and my sister can have it out without me. "I'm going home, and I'm going to sort this out. What happened with Matthias must be some kind of misunderstanding."

We'll return and he'll clarify the mistake. He will assure me that he intended to save myself and my family from Varian's soldiers, and all will be well.

And if I am lucky enough, Matthias will look past this mark, help me get it removed and we can be together. Properly.

"We can look after you here," Eden insists desperately, emotion welling up in her voice, in her eyes. She wants me to stay, but there is no amount of pleading that can be done to change my mind.

"I can't be here. Not with Varian." I gesture at him. "Your lover may trust him, but I don't, and neither should you. In fact you shouldn't trust anyone in this pack."

"I trust Ciella. I love her," Eden whispers. "Come on Dove, rethink this—"

"Father and I are going home. If you want to come, you can, otherwise this is goodbye." I stride toward the door, trying not to catch more than a single glimpse at the pity of Varian's face.

Eden follows. "Don't be like this..."

"You've chosen your side, and I have to choose mine," I tell her.

I take in the tear spilling down her cheek, her creased brows and utter desperation. My heart aches, feeling close to failing me.

This is my sister, and this may be the last time I ever see her. I love her — nothing can change that — but someone must care for our father now.

Only a handful of guards follow me down Varian's steep driveway and onto the road. I swipe at the tears that fall, trying to right myself as I'm ushered into a large transport awaiting me.

Father joins me a few minutes later. Whether he spoke to Eden, he doesn't say, settling in opposite me, his expression guarded. I take in the bruising, the swelling, and silently wonder if he thinks this was worth it.

He handed me over to our enemy, his loyalty to our Alpha unflinching. I may love him, but I am betrayed, and I'm uncertain if I can forgive him.

We don't speak. Hours persist as we are taken through Varian's pack before crossing the border into Matthias'. We pass by the ruins of his old estate, making our way toward the city.

"Thank you for your loyalty, Dovely," father says after a while.

"What information is so important to hide?" I ask warily, swallowing the emotion that threatens to rise.

He looks out the transport window. "Nothing I can speak of."

"Not even to me?"

He doesn't speak for a painful few moments. He stares at me, a cold storm gathering in his eyes as he takes me in.

"I'm afraid you've been compromised," he murmurs.

My jaw settles into a hard line. I'm sure he has noticed my shift in scent, sensing that Varian did something to me. My hurt only lasts a moment, replaced by the hard bite of anger and determination.

"You should know that Matthias and I had a relationship for some time," I throw out casually, wholly uninterested in keeping up the guise a moment longer. "When we return, I'm going to demand he take me as his or I'm leaving."

Shock ripples across his features. "Dove—"

"I've proven my loyalty to him, and now he must prove his to me," I state decidedly, turning to face the window entirely as I disregard any further conversation with my father.

🤎••🤎

As always, you can read this book 16 chapters ahead on Inkitt and 10 chapters ahead on Radish!

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~Midika 🐈‍⬛💜