CHAPTER 5 Mate Marking

　　Rhea's POV

　　My eyes shot open, and my breathing became ragged, as if a weight was crushing my chest. I gasped for air, causing the room to spin around me. Suddenly, I lost my balance and fell to the floor. Thankfully, Mercy caught me before I hit the ground.

　　The realization that Kian was sleeping with someone else, especially my assistant and Beta, made my heart ache. It was a humiliating thought that someone who shared intimate moments with my husband was working alongside me to manage pack affairs. The tears were streaming down my face as I clamped my hand over my mouth, trying to hold back my silent screams.

　　"Oh! Mmmm… Come on,"

　　"So good!"

　　My heart constricted as I heard their dirty words, causing me to feel grief and pain. For a few moments, I forgot about the meeting until Mercy cleared her throat behind me. In response, I cleared my throat and quickly blinked away the tears in my eyes. With trembling hands, I stood up and grasped the handle, determined not to let them see me as weak.

　　I spared them one last glance before turning around and making my way towards the conference meeting. I ignored their moans and groans, feeling the weight of my heart grow heavier with every step. Silent screams echoed in my head as my mating mark burned painfully against my skin with each thrust.

　　As I approached the conference room, I paused and took a deep, exhausted breath, my throat feeling sore. I fought against the overwhelming pain in my chest, determined to face the meeting with composure.

　　"Are you okay, Luna?" I nodded at Mercy's question.

　　"Are you sure that you can handle a meeting like this?" I gulped hard at her concerned question.

　　Is it not as if she doesn't see what happened a few minutes ago, who doesn't know how badly I was perceived by my husband, my mate? Nothing is hidden though people won't talk to avoid the wrath of their Alpha but the truth still remains that they all know.

　　"I will be fine," I muttered.

　　"If you..."

　　"This meeting is more important than anything else," I cut in before she could complete her words. Letting out a hard breath, I pushed open the conference door.

　　It was as if everything was still in front of me, not that every eye was on me but one strong manly figure caught my attention, Daemon.

　　He was carelessly sitting on the chair like he owns the damn place with a bored expression on his face.

　　Turning around to see the intruder, our eyes locked, and for some minutes I felt numb, I felt paralyzed. It was as if the two of us were the only people in that damn room.

　　Strangely, my body started heating up, his smell was just like the one in that handkerchief, peppermint, and vanilla-like scent.

　　Is he the man behind the handkerchief?

　　Never! Daemon is damn messy and deadly to offer me that kind of gesture, who doesn't know the most fearful and vicious king?

　　So stop getting ideas inside your head! I screamed at myself.

　　Drawing myself out of my reverie, I cleared my throat and pulled my gaze away from him, focusing on the other Alphas present in the room. As soon as I reconnected my gaze to the other Alphas, I noticed a slight frown appear at the center of Daemon's forehead. He didn't seem happy, but I couldn't figure out why. Perhaps he was displeased at having to wait for me to arrive.

　　"Hello, my King, and the humble Alphas of the great and strong packs. Welcome to Blackwood Pack. It is a great honor to have you all here today," I bowed my head slightly to them, with Mercy showing the same gesture.

　　Lifting my head, I scanned their faces one by one before turning to face the King. Merely looking at him had my heart pounding hard.

　　"I heard that you arrived earlier than everyone else, and I am sorry to have kept you waiting. I apologize for my tardiness, and I hope you can forgive me for my silly mistake," I said, but an awkward silence filled the air as he sat there staring at me with a frown, not uttering a word.

　　Standing for long had my heels paining my damn foot but I need to show some respect and could be much happier if he could forgive me.

　　I noticed as his Beta tugged him by the clothes after a few hours of silence, clearing his throat, he replied to me with a wave of his hands.

　　I nodded and turned to the other Alphas doing the same as well by apologizing to them, they nodded their heads in approval.

　　I turned and indirectly touched Mercy signaling to her that it is time for us to go have our seats.

　　At every step that I took toward my chair, I could feel someone staring at me. Yeah, other Alphas do stare but there is one particular gaze that had my whole body heating up.

　　It was as if he was undressing me under his lustful gaze, our eyes connected and I swear I could feel different emotions swirling around Daemon's eyes which I wasn't able to figure out what it was all about.

　　Moving to my chair, I cleared my throat and sat down, his unsettling gaze wasn't happening at all and before I could turn to everyone to say the reason for coming here, I instantly felt a sharp pain along that marking spot.

　　Kian is at it again! I gulped hard fighting back the pain with my hands clasping hold of my clothes tightly under the table.

　　"Are you okay, Luna?" Mercy whispered into my ear, I nodded but using her eyes she motioned to me that everyone is looking at me.

　　Letting out a light cough, I forced out a smile before turning to look at them, hiding back the pain within my heart.

　　"Firstly, before I delve into the main purpose of my visit…" I winced at the sharp pain shooting through my mate marking. "Um…" I forced a smile at the gathered crowd, though their raised eyebrows told me they were not fooled.

　　"I would like to express how honored we are to have you all here, particularly with our realm's king in attendance," I spoke, eliciting applause from the audience, except for King Daemon who looked disinterested, his gaze boring into me as if trying to read my mind.

　　Nervously swallowing, I continued, "I am pleased that the four strongest packs are here to form an alliance, and as the Luna of Blackwood Pack, I shall oversee the meeting."

　　Suddenly, an Alpha inquired, "Where is Kian, your husband?" My heart skipped a beat. I locked eyes with King Daemon, who now had his attention on the Alpha, emitting a deadly stare that could kill.

　　"Um..." I coughed to regain his attention, not wanting the others to witness the wrath of the king. "He is preoccupied with urgent matters and couldn't make it," I replied hastily.

　　"Too busy for important meeting like this?" another Alpha said.

　　"Can we all be quiet and allow her to be done with all these so that we can be on our way?" Daemon's Beta said, sounding bored and annoyed with the little argument that almost raised.

　　I smiled at him and mumbled thanks with a slight nod, he just saved me from unnecessary queries.

　　"It will be a great thing if we are to collaborate and form an alliance with each other," I said but another question arose from the Alphas before I could finish, "What benefits do we have?"

　　"Yes, I was coming to that, forming an alliance with each one of us can help us create economies, expand a new market within ourselves, provide entry of each pack member to our different packs making it easy, helping when one pack when in danger, and helping us share knowledge and research on our businesses,"

　　"One more thing, this arrangement will allow us to work toward the goals that will benefit us, and it will also make communication easier," I smiled, earning a nod from the Alphas well except king Daemon whose attention was all focused on my lips, and body.

　　The Alphas exchanged murmurs amongst themselves, contemplating the benefits of an alliance. I stood there, patiently waiting for their decision. Although there were more benefits to mention, I wanted to make sure that they were on board with these fundamental ones first.

　　Suddenly, Daemon interrupted the silence with a loud cough, commanding everyone's attention. My heart raced as he glared at me with a furrowed brow.

　　"Why did you allow Kian to mark you?"