Marked

Nyx

My heart skipped two beats, before pounding against my chest again. It was so loud, I'm sure every wolf here already had sore ears. The current attention was a blur, especially when his voice dropped so low, so taunting.

For a heartbeat, there was silence, then the uproar began again. Overlapping voices laced with shock and disgust filled the room. Kyrell blinked as if he had just broken off from a trance. That's exactly what it was, a trance.

"What's going on here?" I didn't realize Vesper had already crossed the room and was now standing beside me. My eyes swept the room. The disgust of the wolves, the anger in the Alpha's eyes, and the confusion in the Luna's. 

I shifted my gaze back to Vesper, who looked like she was seconds away from tearing me apart.

"I don't understand. Why are you standing next to this human?" Vesper's voice cracked, like she was refusing to accept reality.

What the fuck is the reality? That I'm his mate? That's not possible. I'm not even a werewolf. I shouldn't have a mate. Plus, I don't feel a mate bond. Just a pull in my chest drawing me to him. That can't possibly be the bond.

I looked at the man in front of me. Disgust crossed his eyes, and his expression hardened as he opened his mouth to speak.

"You abomination of a mate," whatever warmth that was in his eyes a moment ago vanished. Unease washed over me like never before.

"I reject you, human."

An arrow to the chest couldn't compare to the amount of pain that pierced through me. It was so overwhelming that digging my fingernails into my chest couldn't stop me from crashing at his feet. Breathing was only possible through my mouth, even though my throat felt like lava.

"Pl...please make it stop." I didn't understand what was happening to me. Death shouldn't feel this painful. No one stepped in to help me. Everyone shifted their attention to Kyrell, who linked arms with Vesper and was now walking towards his parents.

The Alpha and Luna stood up and came down to stand in front of them, whispering words I couldn't catch.

I didn't even care to. I just wanted the pain in my chest to stop. Why does it even hurt so much?

"Y...why does it hurt so much?"

No one cared to help me up, and I didn't care to get up. Tears pooled in my eyes, my lips trembling for him to stop. I didn't know why, but I wanted him to stop claiming her as his Luna.

But it was too late.

The Alpha's voice filled the ballroom. "Ladies and gentlemen, your new Alpha and Luna."

Cheers and celebration rippled through the crowd. Vesper was smiling enough for the both of them. My eyes found his, but his expression was unreadable. After a while, the Alpha and Luna retreated for the night, leaving the new couple in charge.

My vision blurred, my breathing heavy.

"Please," I whispered as tears rolled down my cheeks. I slowly carried myself up to leave the room. My legs felt like jelly as I walked through the crowd. They didn't care to keep their voices low.

"Why does she look broken? Prince Kyrell did her a favor."

"Does she think she's fit to be our Luna?"

"How did she even get in here dressed like that?"

My fist clutched my chest as I walked through the mocking faces. I didn't even understand what was going on, why my body reacted the way it did. I didn't even know this man, yet I felt the strongest pain words cannot describe.

Just as I got to the exit, a sharp voice pierced through the air.

"Stop!"

I froze mid-step, then turned to look at Vesper walking towards me, her chin in the air, her steps graceful. She stopped in front of me.

"It's disrespectful to leave an event before the host." Her smooth voice cut clean, earning the support of every wolf in the room.

"You should wait until the celebration is over." Her lips curled up in a smirk, and she stepped forward. "You wouldn't dare disobey an order from your Luna."

I couldn't bring myself to speak. My gaze shifted to Kyrell, seated like the Alpha he had just been made, his expression unreadable.

"P...please, Vesper, I..."

Her slap cut my words short, sending my face to the side. I could taste something metallic on my tongue. I didn't need to spit it out to know it was blood.

"You filth," she spat, "how dare you refer to your Luna in that manner?"

At this point, I couldn't control the tears rolling down my cheeks. The physical and emotional pain was too much to bear. All I wanted was to leave everything behind and run away.

Kyrell suddenly stood up from his seat and walked towards us. The sight of him heightened my pain but also provided a strange relief.

The crowd made way for him, their eyes following his footsteps. He stopped beside Vesper and slid his arm behind her waist, pulling her close.

"It's time to leave." His voice sent shivers down my spine.

"She needs to be taught a lesson," Vesper snarled. She leaned into him, placing her hand on his chest. The sight of both of them together only made whatever was wrong with me worse. I didn't even know why I cared.

"I'll take care of her." Cullen's voice sounded behind me. I can't believe I'm even happy he came.

When he came up beside me, a sense of relief washed over me, even though he was the one who put me in this mess to begin with.

"Congratulations, Alpha Kyrell, and thank you for your hospitality. I'll take my sister home now." Something flashed across Kyrell's eyes, but it vanished before I could figure out what it was.

Cullen gripped my wrist and turned to leave before Kyrell's voice stopped him.

"I didn't give you permission to leave."

Cullen halted and clenched his jaw. "The hunt is over. My mate is already waiting for me."

Kyrell looked like he had something to say but decided against it. Cullen gripped my wrist again, attempting to leave.

"You may leave." Kyrell's voice stopped him mid-step. This time, he walked up in front of us. "But she stays."

My heart dropped. There's no way I'm staying here after everything that happened tonight.

Although Cullen was tall, he had to tilt his head up to meet Kyrell's eyes. "She's my sister, and I decide if she goes or stays," he said flatly.

The look on Kyrell's face told me the situation was quickly getting out of control.

I stepped in front of Kyrell. "Please let me go. Please." I couldn't even recognize my own voice.

Kyrell ignored me, his eyes focused on Cullen. "She was my mate, and I say she stays." I could see Cullen's eyes waver, like Kyrell was using his Alpha aura on him.

Yet Cullen refused to back down. "She was your mate, Alpha Kyrell. Not anymore..."

Before I could blink, strong arms wrapped around my waist, and a sharp pain stung the side of my neck. No, not a sting, it tore through my entire body. My eyes shifted to the man who had just delivered this monstrosity.

Before my eyes shut completely, I saw Kyrell's fangs retreating slowly. His amber eyes were blood red, and his voice sounded like a beast was speaking through him.

"She's mine now."