Chapter 43

(Him)

The last days were crazy! Thank goddess it ended well. Asher and Mari are marked but not mated yet and Mari is coming back with us. Her parents were not really happy but she has marked him too so they don’t really have the choice. I was wary too because I don’t think it’s a good idea to be marked before fixing your problems but I saw them together and they looked so happy. Seeing them made me realize they’re going to be okay.

Before leaving the castle, Selina asked to meet us. She explained it was about Alpha Will and Liv told us that she didn’t want to be involved in the meeting. It’s too stressful for her. But I’m not going alone, dad is coming with me. As he knows it’s a sensible subject, he prefers to accompany me. Moreover, since we find out who that bastard is, we are working together and he’s supporting me.

When I enter Selina’s office, I’m surprised to see the queen and the king with her and Noah. Thank goddess, my dad is with me! We’re both bowing in respect in front of them.

“Please don’t! We are not in an official meeting, you don’t have to bow.” Queen Anna-Lynn says.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, my Queen, my King!” Dad replies.

“Elijah, Ezra! You can call me Anton and her Lilly.” King Anton greeds us. It’s common knowledge that the Queen and the king never use titles when they don’t have to.

“So if you’ve finished with the presentation maybe we could start.” Selina says.

“ Right... As you know we can’t be officially involved for a lot of reasons, the first one being Olivia’s death if we kill Willam Stewer.” King Anton says.

“When Selina told us who it was. I did some research about that Alpha and something is not right here. All the people who have challenged him died before the challenge.” Queen Anna-Lynn adds.

“What do you mean they all die?” Dad asks.

“The 5 men who challenged him were killed before the challenge’s day.” Queen Anna-Lynn replies.

“Not by him. He always has a good alibi with people who can prove it. Which means someone is doing the dirty work for him.” King Anton comments.

“This is complicating everything!” Selina sighs.

“I know. Our worry is if you challenge him, you will be in great danger.” Queen Anna-Lynn tells me.

“Do you have an idea of who is killing them for him?” Dad asks as I’m voiceless by all this information. My wolf too, it’s rare that he is not commenting.

“We think it’s Bill Forry or/and Phoebe Warren but we have no proof.” King Anton replies.

“Olivia’s parents... Why?” I finally find my voice back.

“We should kill them too!” My comments. Apparently, he found his too.

“This is the thing, they have nothing to win doing that. I think William is blackmailing them. And what he has against them is big enough for them to give up her daughter and to kill anyone who challenged him.” Queen Anna-Lynn replies.

“How can you be so sure? My mother always says they both are power angry.” Noah asks the queen.

“Phoebe and your mother never got along. Bill is too proud for his own good and Phoebe always had been jealous of your mother’s power but not at the point to sacrifice her own daughter. There is something else, something we don’t know. I can feel it!” Queen Anna-Lynn replies.

“Well, what do we do then?” I ask.

“You wait for him to challenge you.” King Anton says and Selina’s face enlightened at that idea.

“Yes, we let him believe Olivia doesn’t remember anything and that we have no idea what that mark is. The Alpha mark is unknown nowadays so it’s possible. We let him believe we don’t know. He is getting old and if he wants an heir it’s now. Also, he’s also very proud so he would want to challenge you.” Selina says it’s exciting now.

“Exactly we let him believe he’s in control. If he wants to have Olivia back he has to challenge you for her and win.” Queen Anna-Lynn says.

“That’s correct! If Ezra is killed before the challenge then Olivia will be protected by the pack as she is their Luna.” Dad says.

“Yes, but you will have to stay on alert. He might try something like kidnapping her.” King Anton says.

“But that would be a war between our pack.” Dad comments.

“I know, and I don’t think he is stupid enough but you need to stay alert just in case.” The king replies.

“Also Logan, Asher, Angie and now Mari need to keep a low profile. He will not act the same if he knows you have Lycan’s friends. Once you have marked each other, Logan will stay here until the challenge. Asher can stay, few are the ones who know he's Lycan now.” The Queen says.

“Good! I will have some time with that boy who stole my last daughter.” King Anton mutters.

“Careful, love. Don’t intimidate him or Angie will be pissed at you.” Queen Anna-Lynn tells him.

“We both know I’m not the bad cop here.” He replies, making Selina laugh.

“Back to the main issue: how will he know where she is and who he has to challenge?” I ask.

Selina smiles:” We will do an official announcement about your mating, the old fashion way!”

“Great...” I mutter.

“At least, Liv will be happy. She likes the old fashion way...” My wolf comments with sarcasm.

When I come out of the bathroom, Liv is waiting for me on the bed. Why did I smell her before?

"Because she is hiding her smell again!" My wolf replies, annoyed.

“Don’t worry, it’s temporary. I want to show you something.” She says, smiling but it’s a nervous smile.

“What’s going on?” I ask her, suspicious.

“Trust me, please? I don’t want to back down.” She begs, extending her hand toward me.

“I do trust you!” I reply, taking her hand.

In the blink of an eye, we are in another place. We are in the woods in the pack territory. But we are in a bubble. I know nobody can see us or hear us. There are candles and roses everywhere and a blanket in the middle of the bubble.

“What’s that?” I ask.

“I want us to finish what we started a few days ago. I want you to mark me.” She says.

Like now?Now? With all that I have just learned today!

“Are you sure?” I ask and she nods.

"Don’t be a chicken! Mark our mate!" My wolf order, impatient.

“Why now? Why not wait until tomorrow when we are coming back to the pack, I mean here?” I ask.

“Because I don’t want to wait. I will always be scared and if we do it tomorrow or in 2 years will change nothing, the consequences will be the same. You’re my happiness and future. Seeing what happened between Ash and Mari made me realize that if I want an excuse to not let you mark me, I will always have one. I can’t let my fear guide me not anymore, not when you’re here. I love you, I want to be with you. I want my wolf meeting yours. I want everything I can have with you. I want the world to know we belong to each other. I want all of you.” She explains.

How can I say no to that? She is totally right! I smirk: “So you ready to bear my mark?”

“Actually, I was hoping you will make love to me before marking me as once you will mark me I will have my first shift...” She says blushing and revealing her smell. I growl, she smells so good and I can smell her arousal.

“What has excited you like that?” I ask closing the small gap between us.

She bites her lips. She is going to the death of me.

“I was thinking of all the things you’re going to do to me... What it would like to feel you inside me...” She whispers and I kiss her with all the desire I have for her.