CHAPTER 9- MARKED

Verya slowed down when the borders of her pack came into view. The sun was out, but barely, its light was dimmed awfully low, the night hadn’t much long turned to dawn after all.

Her paws trotted forward, the beautiful silver fur now tainted by the brown dirt she had ran through. Pass the borders she went, passing the red cloth that marked the very start of her pack’s land.

She was nervous, she didn’t know what her father would say, he didn’t permit her to go on the hunt, he had told her not to go and she sneaked out and was now coming back in with a guest that was probably uninvited.

Sighing, she stopped when the pack members, the ones on patrol surrounded her. “Jonathan was worried, he sent pack warriors to look for you, yet here you are unscathed.”

Verya glared at the man that spoke, she’d roll her eyes if she could. ‘Move…’ She mind linked him.

“Your father said to lead you to his office the very day you make it back.”

‘Both you and my father can go f*ck yourselves. Get me a robe or something to put on so I can transform.’

The man chuckled, he was one of the top warriors here; Jake, and he hated her because she had beaten the sh*t out of him once and was grounded right after. It would be nice to beat him again.

Turning, he beckoned someone forward, a she-wolf who was indeed carrying a red robe. It seemed they had prepared thoroughly for her return. Her father must be really angry this time.

Crouching, she waited until Sathe got down before transforming back into her human form. The robe was thrown over her shoulder and she tied it around her immediately, reaching for Sathe’s hand. She could sense his nervousness, it was almost palpable. “Come on.”

Sathe took her hand, and hand in hand, they walked through the forest until they were out in the open. The men surrounded her as though she was wanted, all leading her straight to her father’s office. They stood outside as she went in, blocking Sathe’s path when he attempted to follow her. “No need to go in, stay out with us for a minute.”

Verya pushed the warrior aside. “He has every need to go in, don’t touch him.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll break your f*cking fingers…should’ve done that back then.”

The man’s eyes twitched in anger. “I swear to god, I~”

“Let them in Jake, both of them.”

At the sound of Verya’s father’s voice, Jake stepped aside letting them in. “You got lucky today.”

“You too.” Verya replied before walking pass him.

Sathe followed her, fear arousing in his heart as he looked at the man who sat down on a spacious sofa in the room. A long scar travelled from his hairline straight down to the side of his lips, he looked scary, his scent was strong and dense too, and when he spoke, Sathe knew he wasn’t just an ordinary alpha.

“What did I tell you, Verya?”

Verya shrugged. “I don’t remember.”

The man pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head in what seemed to be disbelief. “I heard about what you did, it was courageous, but you could’ve been killed. I told you that women weren’t meant for war, I told yo~”

“Why? Cause you can’t forget that mother died in a war? I’m not my mother Jonathon, I won’t die, not as easy as she d~”

“Shut that little disrespectful mouth of yours!” He stood to his feet. “You’re not allowed to cross the borders for a week, and why is it necessary to bring that omega with you?”

Verya folded her arms behind her back, looking away from her father. “He’s my mate.”

“Your mate? You must be lying to get on my nerves, Get rid of him this instance.”

“It’s not a lie, I wouldn’t lie about something as serious as this.”

“So he’s your mate, huh?”

Verya nodded.

“Reject him this instance, two more candidates will be coming in tomorrow, pick one of them. An omega can’t lead the pack and a woman can’t either. Choose an alpha, that’s the only way I’ll approve.”

“I didn’t come here for your approval father. I’m not rejecting my mate under your orders, you can keep me grounded for a month, a year…I won’t do it.”

“Verya~!”

“No father, go ahead and give up the f*cking pack to one of those stupid alphas that you keep setting me up with, none of them will ever mark me. I won’t get my position as alpha anyway, so it doesn’t matter, I’m done trying. You and this pack can go f*ck yourselves. Come on, Sathe.”

Sathe’s hands shook as he turned to face her. He didn’t fully understand what was going on here, but with the bit of common sense he had, he got that Verya’s father didn’t want her mated to anybody weak, and he also got that if she didn’t acquiesce, her title would never be hers…

But why was she willingly giving it up? Giving it up for somebody like him?

He wasn’t all she had or rather all she could have. She was beautiful, she could get anybody she wanted, so why give up her pack for someone as worthless as him?

Clenching his hands, he looked over at her. He wouldn’t let her do it, he couldn’t... “Reject me, Verya…I-I…”

Verya glared over at him. “Shut up and follow me.”

“Bu…But~”

“You reject her…” Both Verya and Sathe froze when the man spoke again. “Omegas are worthless anyway, you have no reason to be by her side, reject her then leave. If you don’t, I’ll kill you myself.”

Sathe’s heart procrastinated for a second, ceasing to beat until the words Verya’s father said registered in his head. He should reject her…? How could he ever reject her?

He had hoped that things would change once he got here, but it was all just the same. He was still being walked on, still being thought of as a fool. Probably it was even worst…for Verya…

If she remained stubborn, then she’d lose the pack and he would die. But since he was going to die miserable either way, it was best he rejected her so that she wouldn’t be abandoned by her father like he was.

Taking a deep breath, he clenched his fists tighter. “I-I’ll do it.”

“Do what?” Verya asked.

“Reject you.”

“Reject me?” He didn’t know why, but his words had a dark chuckle climbing up her throat. “I dare you, Sathe…reject me.”

“I-I…I; Sathe Burn reje…” Sathe shook his head. “I can’t do it.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly what I thought.” She reached for his hand, roughly grabbing it and pulling him over to her. “I won’t let you control me anymore, father.”

With her free hand, she grabbed Sathe’s face, cocking his head to the side and with no hesitation, she sunk her teeth into his neck, deliberately looking right into her father’s eyes as she marked him.