CH 5. MARKED?

AXEL'S POV...........

   I don't usually cry, infact I can't remember the last time I cried but at this moment, I could not help it. My two best friends were in terrible situations because of me and I was helpless about it, I needed to be strong because i was the Alpha Lord.

I wiped my tears, sighed and stared at Alia who just came downstairs and had examined Alia "Do you have any idea on what is wrong with her Alia?".

Alia shook her head "Unfortunately not..... She is not responding to any treatment".

I stared at her..... What exactly is wrong with her? If the moon goddess was down and out of commission, then many things could go terribly wrong and after what happened to Hunter and those innocent vampires, I was sure our previous enemies were arising......and Selena was the only person capable of sending them back to where they came from.

"I can walk on my own Mark, so stop treating me like a cripple" I heard Hunter say.

He was coming downstairs and Mark was walking directly and cautiously behind him to help him incase he slipped and fell or collapsed.

I stood up and rubbed my temples frowning "Please Hunter...don't make this any harder for yourself or us, you are supposed to be upstairs...resting in your room".

Hunter frowned at me "Seriously Axel, am fine.......

His voice trailed when he sighted Selena's unconscious body on the couch, he walked up to her couch and slumped beside her "Selena" he croaked but Selena did not reply, she did not even blink.

"What happened to her?" He asked no one in particular.

"She just entered the room and collapsed" Sydney explained.

"Am sorry Hunter" I apologized because I felt like it was the right thing to do.

He gritted his teeth "This is all your fault".

I nodded "I know, and that is why am apologising".

He stood up and then glared at me "Apologizing won't solve anything Axel".

"I know that...but if there was anything I could do, then I won't hesitate to do it".

He rolled his eyes "Yeah right! She is only in this mess because of your selfishness".

I frowned, also getting annoyed "She is also at fault you know....she is only in this condition because she did what she thought was right, she did what I did not support....she interfered in my life".

"ENOUGH!" He brought up his fist to hit me, but it never landed. Instead, he dropped his fist beside his body and shook in fury while I stood there completely shocked and frozen. In my whole entire life of knowing Hunter, we have argued, he has scolded me, but he has never brought up his fist to hit me...but today, he did just that.

"Hunter I......

I began to say but he brought up his hands as a signal for me to keep shut and that is exactly what I did.

" That's enough now Axel" He rubbed his temples and I became worried because he was still unwell "You should get some rest Hunter, you are still unwell". 

"Don't pretend like you care" He spat out and staggered but as I attempted to help him, he pushed me away abruptly "If you really care about me and Selena like you claim you do, then she won't be in this kind of condition".

My shoulders fell sadly and I nodded "I know Hunter......I really do".

He shook his head "No you don't Axel, No you don't......you are so proud and you care only about yourself....you are selfish".

I nodded "Yes I know am selfish and I agree I am....but I promise that am gonna fix this, am gonna bring back Selena.... Make her well again".

"DON'T" He yelled, pointing his fingers at me "Don't promise things you don't intend on fulfilling" Then he swirled his hands through his hair, biting his lips "You know what......I really despise you Axel".

He swayed as he turned and headed upstairs, using the staircase as a means to support himself. He suddenly fell but when Mark and Jude ran to help him, he snapped at them "I don't need your help...... I don't need any of your help". He got up by himself to continue going...but just then, he collapsed.

Everyone rushed to support him but I slumped on the floor beside Selena's couch, in utter shock of what just happened.... But just then, I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to see that it was Sydney "Axel....are you alright?".

It doesn't matter if I hated her...at this point, I only care about what just transpired between me and Hunter.

I shook my head "He hates me, Hunter said he hates me".

"Hunter doesn't hate you, he only said that out of anger" Sue defended.

I looked at them, they were not understanding anything "I have done so many terrible things in my life but he has never lashed out on me and he has never told me that he hates me....not once".

"It's probably the wolfsbane compelling him to act in that manner...but am sure he didn't mean whatever he said" Julia said trying to assure me but they still did not understand, they could not see it so I stood up.

"And where exactly are you off to?" Sia asked.

"Am going to my room to rest.... I need to be alone for a while" And I left.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ The next morning, I went to check on Hunter hoping he had calmed down and was no longer annoyed with me. I entered his room to see Alia there discussing with him, he was sitted attentively on his bed...but when he sighted me, he turned away almost immediately, as if he did not just see me.....that only meant one thing,....he was still annoyed with me.

When Alia saw me, she stood up immediately...and bowed to me "Good morning my Lord".

I nodded at her "Good morning Alia" Then I turned to face Hunter "How are you feeling now?"

Hr faced Alia, acting like he did not hear what I just asked him "Tell him that am fine Alia and he should stop pretending like he cares about my health".

It felt like someone had stabbed me with a knife and I suddenly had difficulty breathing.

Alia frowned at him "His your best friend Hunter".

He raised his brows at her "So........".

"So you should show him respect, he is also your Alpha...... You are not suppose to talk to your Alpha in that kind of manner".

He cocked his head "Oh".

He came down from his bed, walked up to meet me, and then he bowed to me "Am so sorry my Lord......am so sorry for speaking to you in that kind of manner".

I took some steps back, in complete shock, why was Hunter speaking in such manner?. He put his hands together in a pleading manner "Please can you leave now Alpha Axel?".

I nodded and I left the room, but I could hear their argument when I had left.

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HUNTER'S POV............

    It's been two days now and Axel has not yet come out of his room....he has also not eaten and drank anything for those two days. Although no one is putting the blame on me, we all knew that Axel was behaving in such manner because of me. Maybe I was too harsh on him...but what could I have done, he truly was to be blamed for the condition Selena is in.

Sydney told me that this morning she had gone to offer him some tea...but when she knocked on his door, he did not answer her. She was worried...and I wouldn't lie, I was getting worried to.....it was unlike Axel to behave in such way. So I took his breskfast, walked up to his room, and opened it (He gave myself and Selena spare keys to his room).

I gasped when I entered the room, because everywhere was in a mess and Axel was just sprawled on the floor, sleeping and breathing heavily.

I dropped the food on the table and went to kneel beside him "Axel wake up" I said, lightly slapping his cheeks.

"Um.....Um....leave me alone" He murmured.

"Axel...wake up, it's me...Hunter".

He eyes suddenly shot wide open and he felt my cheeks in his palms "Is that really you Hunter....am I not dreaming?".

"No Axel, you are not dreaming...am really here".

He hugged me tightly "Do you still hate me?".

"I never hated you Axel".

He shook his head "No.....you hate me, you said it out there...in the main room".

"I only said that out of anger...... I don't hate you, I could never hate you....you are my best friend Axel".

He smiled "So does that mean you have forgiven me?".

I nodded my head "Yes...I forgive you".

He hugged me again "Am so...sorry".

I felt terrible for the way I had treated him, it was simply unfair "Am sorry for saying all those horrible things to you Axel, I should never said those things...no matter how angry I was".

He shook his head "There is no need to apologise Hunter....everything you said was the truth, I am selfish.....but believe me when I say I love you and Selena so very much and I can't prioritize the both of you for anything in this world".

I nodded and smiled "I know".

Just then, we heard a loud knock on the door "Hunter.....Axel.... The both of you should come out quickly, Queen Selena is awake and she is looking for the both of you" We heard Sydney say and we quickly rushed to the room Selena was in.

She was sitted on the bed, discussing something important with Sia and Mark. When she saw us, she rushed down from her bed and she came to meet us but then she slumped but Axel was quick enough to support her from falling.

"Do be careful" He said obviously worried.

She nodded, then studied the both of us "Why do the both of you look so pale?".

I shook my head "It's nothing, come sit down....you are still weak" We sat down, Selena in between me and Axel.

"So do you remember what exactly happened to you?" I asked her.

She shook her head "Not really, all I can remember....is looking for a way to solve Axel's mate problem".

Axel bowed his head "Am so sorry Selena, you were only in that kind of condition because of me".

"It's not your fault so don't blame yourself Axel.....besides, am fine now".

I suddenly felt a painful and burning sensation in my body, and I knew it was the wolfsbane trying it's best to get to my heart, the drugs have done their best and now it is time for me to go, am just so glad I saw and got a chance to speak with Selena before I died.

Selena took Axel's hands in hers but immediately she held mine, she quickly dropped it and gasped "Hunter what's wrong, why are you shaking?".

I stood up and stumbled towards the door, my head was hurting and it seemed like the room was spinning.

"Someone please hold him down and put him on the bed" I heard Selena say in a worried tone but I quickly left the room before they had a chance to.

If I stayed, Seslena would try to help me...and she was not strong enough for that yet.

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AXEL'S POV....................

"His gonna die if we don't stop him" Selena explained.

We ran downstairs to see Hunter heading towards the door, was he planning on going outside in that kind of condition.

"Hunter please stop, Selena can help you" I pleaded.

He stopped in front of the door, his hands on the doorknob "That's the problem Axel....I can't let her do it, she just woke up and she is still recovering".

Selena shook her head "Am okay now Hunter...really".

"No you are not" he replied curtly "You are only saying that so that I would agree".

"Look Hunter.....if you don't let Queen Selena heal you right now, then the wolfsbane will definitely get to your heart" Sue stated.

"Listen to them Hunter...pleases stop been so stubborn" Alia pleaded, tears at the brink of her eyes.

He frowned "You guys don't understand that am ready to die than let someone else get hurt because of me, am not scared of death".

But immediately he opened the door, his eyes rolled up his head and he collapsed. Mark and Jude quickly carried him to lay on a couch while Selena knelt beside him "I'll have to hurry, the wolfsbane is almost getting to his heart".

She put her hands on his chest and began to whisper some things and just then Hunter eyes opened.

I helped him up and he looked at Selena "Thank you" and she nodded.

Everyone took their turns hugging him and then they left me, Hunter, Selena and Alia in the main room.

"Alia.....can you maybe give us a minute?" Hunter requested, she nodded reluctantly and then she left.

Selena suddenly stumbled but then she used the couch to support herself.

"Hey...you're sure you are okay?" I asked her worried.

"Yeah....just a little fuzzy.... Well, I should be going now".

"You can stay here you know right?".

"I know that Hunter but I have so many things to deal with....While I was away, so many of our enemies we have once defeated managed to find their ways back".

I frowned "It was one of them that poisoned Hunter and those werewolves right?".

She nodded "Yeah".

"Do you have any idea on who could have done it?".

"Unfortunately not".

"Axel does.... He said it was the vampires".

I frowned at Hunter "I didn't say it was the vampires Hunter, I just said that I had a hunch that it could be them".

Selena shrugged "You might be right Axel, the vampires might be the ones responsible for the attack...you know, as a form of revenge....after all you did tell them that you had killed their beloved princess".

I bluffed "If they are really the ones responsible for the attack, then they are no match for us".

Selena smiled "You might be right/when you say the vampires are no match for you, but what of if they have succeeded in forming alliances with another of our enemy.....am sorry but if that were to be the case, then you are no match for them".

And she disappeared, leaving me and Hunter to mediate and ponder on what she had just told us.

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SYDNEY'S POV................

    The men of the house had left for work and we the ladies were home alone with the servants. We sat in the garden with our cups of coffee, chatting and drinking but Alia was absent minded aa she was busy tapping her fingers on the mug while she was also in deep thought.

"Alia" I called and she snapped out of her thoughts "Ye..Yeah".

"Is your coffee too hot for you?".

"No..not at all" And she sipped from it.

"Then what is the problem?" Julia asked dropping her own mug of coffee and staring at Alia "Did you and Hunter have an argument?".

Alia suddenly frowned at her "Why will you ask such a ridiculous question, Hunter and I don't... and we have never had an argument".

"Sorry then".

There was complete silence before Alia dropped her coffee mug and sighed "Am pregnant".

I smiled widely "That's great news....but why do you look so sad about it?".

Julia, Sia and Alia stared at each other and it seemed like they were communicating with their eyes, I looked at Sue who looked as equally confused as I was.

Just then, Sia decided to speak up " "Axel and Hunter both had terrible pasts involving their parents".

I raised my brows confused "So...what does that have to do with Hunter's and Alia's unborn child".

"Hunter doesn't want a baby" Alia suddenly blurted out "Just talking about the parents gives him the creeps".

Sue frowned "Did he tell you that he doesn't want a child?".

Alia nodded "Yes he did....the day we became mates, he told me that he was not in a hurry to become a Dad".

"That was a long time ago Alia, how do you know that he doesn't want a baby now?".

"What of if he is not ready yet?".

Sia sighed "Sue is right Alia, you have to ask him first......Mark was gonna be thrilled if I ever told him that we were gonna have a baby".

"That is Mark Sia, this is Hunter......they are two completely different people".

I folded my arms "So what do you wanna do.....terminate the baby?".

And she glared at me "How can you suggest such a taboo, .....I would never do that to an innocent soul".

I raised my hands in defence "Hey don't get mad at me.....you have no choice but to talk to him about it".

She sighed "Okay then, I'll talk to him about it".

Julia nodded "And since that is sorted out, you guys should not forget the other issue we have here". 

I raised my brows "And that is.......

She grinned suspiciously "Well of course your relationship with Axel".

I took a deep breath "Well he hasn't said any word of hatred to me for a while now".

"And has he showed you any form of affection" Julia asked.

I shook my head "Not yet....but we are working towards it".

"So you are saying your relationship with him is neither good nor bad" Sia stated.

I shrugged "Well yes of you put it that way".

"So you are saying that you don't have this....... Alia asksed showing me a black tattoo on her neck that was also shaped like a heart.

I grinned "Wow! When did you get another tattoo Alia?".

She frowned "It's not a tattoo dummy....it's called a mate mark. The male usually bites the female as a prove that he has accepted her".

I rose my nose in disgust "Why does the female have to pass through such a painful experience to prove that she had been accepted".

Sia touched her arm smiling dreamily and I was sure that that was where her mate mark was "It's not painful, it's more like a sweet burning sensation".

I raised my brows "And how exactly did you get marked......Mark is not even a supernatural creature".

She frowned and snapped at me "Did I ever say that only supernatural males can make their mate, huh!" She cracked a smile "Anyways...... The mate mark on a female supernatural helps to strengthen the bonds between the mates....like if anything happens to the female, then the male would feel it too".

I looked at Sue and she shrugged "Don't look at me...I don't have a mate yet and I have not been marked".

Julia touched her neck dreamily "I've not been marked yet but it will be nice if Jude could mark me".

Alia grumbled "Not again Julia, I thought we have already been through this".

Julia grinned "What?...it's not my fault that I find him charming".

"But we have explained times without numbers that we supernaturals do not do love Julia, and Jude doesn't even love you".

"He doesn't love me now! But he will fall for me later".

"No he won't and do you know why?...it's because you are not his mate. What of if he ends up finding his mate, then what will you do?".

"If there is another girl, then she would have to go" She demonstrated by tracing her thumb through her neck and bringing out his tongue from the corner of his lips.

"Julia" Alia scolded but Julia ignored her "And who told you guys that I am not his mate?".

Sue used her palm to slap her forehead, very frustrated "Because the both of you have been staying here together for a while and if you are truly mates, then it would have been discovered by now".

Julia pouted "And what of if he is one of those rare supernatural beings that get to choose their mates?".

Sue snapped her fingers in front of Julia's face "Snap out of wonderland Aliice, Jude can never be yours....you two just don't belong together".

Julia rolled her eyes "Well we will just have to see about that......and why have you guys suddenly taken the spotlight out of Sydney......now Sydney as I was saying before I got interrupted, the mark serves as a clear warning to those sex thirsty supernatural males that that particular female is already taken".

That means that if I was not marked by Axel very soon, then I was gonna be an attraction for other males "Do you and Sue usually get approached by other males since you know...you are not yet marked?".

Julia smiled "Nah....I don't usually get approached because I tell everyone that Jude is my mate".

I raised my brows "Is Jude aware of this?".

She shrugged "Not really".

I rolled my eyes "How about you Sue?".

Suddenly, Alia, Sia and Julia started laughing and I became confused "What's so funny?".

Alia stopped laughing and answered me "Who in his right senses would want to take Sue as a mate, she will probably break all his bones" And she continued laughing.

Julia coughed "Every male in our community and country is terrified of Sue...maybe her mate will be a foreign guy, that is if he evens agrees to accept that tiger" And I could not help but also laugh.

Sue folded her arms "You guys can laugh as much as you like, but just keep it in mind that I will find my mate one day".

And that set Sia over the edge as she fell and doubled over, laughing loudly and her body shaking.

"Am.....am...so....so...sorry....but I can't help it" She said almost out of breath and Sue raised her brows "Really Sia....really".

I stopped laughing and I turned serious "But seriously, I have to get Axel to mark me".

Julia grinned "Yes you do, and you have to do it fast".

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AXEL'S POV...........

"So Axel, have you marked her yet?" Mark suddenly asked.

Me, Hunter, Mark and Jude were sitted in my office (Now don't think because we were werewolves, we didn't work, or lives was far from boring) and now because there was no work to be done, Mark decided to use that as an opportunity to bring up the issue of Sydney.

I glared at him and Hunter flipped him off as he chuckled "Ignore him Axel...but seriously, have you marked her?".

I grumbled under my breath.

"Well, I'll take that as a..NO...." Jude stated and then he slapped his forehead with his palm "ARE YOU INSANE?..why have you not still marked her by now?".

"Because she stays in my house doesn't mean I have to accept her.... so tell me Jude, why will I then mark her?".

Hunter studied me "So you are saying you don't give a dam if any other male decides to go after her?".

I clenched my fist under the table "No one will dare".

Mark grinned "Ohh well they will do it whether you are the Alpha Lord or not cause a female who is not marked only means that that lady is free and unclaimed".

'(YOU KNOW, THAT HUNTER OF YOURS IS RIGHT)'.

'And what have you been up to?'.

'(NOTHING, I JUST HAD A TIME OUT....MISS ME)'. 

I scoffed 'Never....I can never miss you'.

'(I KNOW YOU ARE LYING SO I WON'T BOTHER TO WASTE MY TIME ARGUING WITH YOU....SO WE ARE ON THE ISSUE Of WHY SYDNEY HAS NOT BEEN MARKED....BY YOU)'.

'I really don't have your time Sabastien'. I bit my lips and faced the others "Yes...I really don't care if any male goes after her".

Jude smiled suspiciously "Nice....Well I think Sydney is a very beautiful girl who deserves a good and caring man in her life and.....I happen to also be single, I don't have a mate yet".

'(OH....HO.....I SERIOUSLY LOVE THAT GUY, HE IS OFFICIALLY MY SECOND BEST PERSON IN YOUR PARK....THAT IS AFTER HUNTER)'.

I clenched my fist and fought the urge to rip out Jude's head.

Hunter cleared his throat "Em....Jude...I think it's time you keep quiet now, you are too young to die".

Jude glanced at me and his smile got wider "What!..he just said he don't care if she is gone after, he should be grateful that it is one of his pack mates that is going after her..you know, I could pity him and share her with him.....one night in my room and the other in his".

'(I THINK HUNTER HAS A COMPETITION NOW)'.

'Am gonna kill him Sabastien'.

'(OH NO YOU DON'T... YOU ARE NOT GOING TO CAUSE THAT POOR SHAPESHIFTER ANY HARM)'.

Jude licked his bottom lips "With those slender legs of hers', I know she will be good in bed" And that was it, I lost the little control I had left.

"JUDE!!!!!" I screamed and in less than a second, I had him pinned to the wall, my hand on his neck....I was furious but I kept my cool. Hunter and Mark immediately stood up and Jude smirked.

'Does he think that am kidding with him?' I asked Sabastien.

'(OH SO YOU WANNA TALK TO ME NOW.....ON THIS ONE I WHOLLY SUPPORT THE SHAPESHIFTER....IF YOU DON'T DESIRE THAT BEAUTUFUL PRINCESS, THEN DO KEEP IT IN MIND THAT SOMRONE ELSE DOES......IF ONLY I WAS NOT STUCK IN THIS BODY.......)'.

'Then what will you have done?'.

(AND THAT HAPPENS TO BE MY BUSINESS AND NOT YOURS AXEL)'.

I stared at Jude who was still smirking "What's the problem Axel, not happy with the idea of sharing your mate....if you can't appreciate her, then let someone else do it for you".

 "THAT'S ENOUGH" And I punched the wall "Next time, I promise that it will be your face".

Jude kept smiling and it was really pissing me off "I will be sure to keep that in mind but I was only messing with your head buddy".

"I know that but you would not want to do that again.....buddy".

'(AND NOW, YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT YOU REALLY LOVE THAT VAMPIRE GIRL)'.

'I don't love her Sabastien, I do not like the thought of someone touching my own property'.

Sabastien chuckled '(YOUR PROPERTY....IT IS ONLY SOMEOME YOU CARE ABOUT THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER YOUR PROPERTY AXEL)'.

'Look, I don't have time for your blabbering Sabastien'.

Hunter sighed "Thank goodness, I thought you guys were gonna kill him Axel".

I glanced at Jude who was rubbing his neck after I had released my grip on him "I will....if he tries that type of nonsense again".