Marked

Chapter 1: 1. Blue Moon Mate

♡...Lunae...♡

“Oh, that feels… hmm… nice,” This is it. I'm ready to go all the way. Or at least that's what I kept telling myself as Ashton kissed his way down the right side of my neck. Usually, I would have asked him to stop, not wanting to get too caught up, but this time, I was ready.

Right?

When he got down to my collarbone, I turned my head, wanting the same treatment on the other side. I moaned again, getting lost in my thoughts when-

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?" His eyes widened as he quickly withdrew from me.

And then entirely from the bed.

I didn't know what to think, but that didn't stop me from thinking the absolute worst. He was disgusted with me. He didn't really want me. He didn't really love me.

Regaining my thoughts, I looked at him in disbelief, and then for just a moment, I swear his eyes changed color… "Dang, dude. Chill out,” I said light heartedly, trying to hide my disappointment, not to mention my s****l frustration, “it's just a dog bite." I ran my fingers over the slightly raised scar on my collarbone, winching at the faint pain. "It happened when I was a baby." But he was still looking at me. At it like, it somehow erased my beauty. Trying to fill the pit in my stomach, I took a deep breath and held back the tears.

"...A dog?" There it is again with his eyes. One minute, they’re icy blue, and then, just for a second, they flash amber. “It’s from a dog?”

I didn't understand his actions. What is his problem? I tilted my head, studying the expression on his face, and paid close attention to his eyes to see if I was seeing things. "Yes. A DOG." I reiterated flatly, making sure he could see that I was more annoyed with him than hurt by him.

"Ok. Ok. Wow." He ran his hands through his hair and paced the floor. An action I have only seen him do when he was highly conflicted or stressed.

Or afraid.

I still hadn’t moved away from my spot on the bed. I still didn't know what to think about his behavior, and although I wasn't scared, he seemed to be. "Look, if this freaks you out that much, then maybe we shouldn't be doing this…" I adjusted my shirt to cover my scar.

"No… no, I…" His eyes flashed again before he rushed over and attacked my lips with his, and I figured everything was good, but the kiss was brief and rushed, devoid of any signs to keep going. "I just really thought I could wait a bit longer for this… I thought I had more time."

More time for what?

To say I was confused would have been the understatement of the year. Here I was, ready to go all the way, and he was having reservations. I mean, yeah, he was more experienced, but to be completely turned off by a scar? Surely, I am missing something. "We have all the time we need…" again, I tried to revert the mood back to where it had been before whatever was happening happened. "Especially if we start right now." I reached out my hand and fluttered my eyelashes. A pathetic attempt at flirting, and nothing worked. I just watched him wearing down the wood on my floor.

There he was. Pacing. Back and forth, pacing. He looked everywhere and then nowhere. "You know how much I love you, right?" I nodded without looking up, even though I was struggling to believe it at the moment. "And you know I would never do anything to hurt you… right?"

Again, I nodded even more, unsure of my truth. My ears started ringing, and I could feel my face getting hot, not to mention my eyes blurring with uncried tears. "What is it!?" My anxiety was rearing its ugly head, and if I didn't calm down, I was gonna show a side of me that I never wanted anyone to see.

"I need you to trust me." He knelt in front of me and grabbed my hands. "Do you trust me?"

Do I? I thought I did… but that was before this nervous breakdown started. And I am referencing his breakdown, not my own. I was so confused! How did a scar that I got as an infant cause this reaction from him? As it was, I hadn't answered, and his icy, blue eyes… amber… Icy blue… They were burning a hole through my own. "Of course I trust you…"

He kissed my fingertips and stood up, pulling me to my feet with him. "Let's go for a ride… I need to show you something."

Go for a ride… sure?

Get in the car while my boyfriend and I both have a breakdown… sure?

Pretend that everything is perfectly fine?

Sure.

We got in the car and drove for hours without a word uttered. Every now and then, I would feel him looking at me, but I would not look back. A million scenarios ran through my head, and then we pulled up to the biggest house I had ever seen. Now, a million more scenarios popped into my head… though none even close to what was actually happening.

He parked the car and got out. I didn't move. I wouldn't. Hell, I couldn't. As usual, he made his way to open the passenger-side door for me. Ever so chilvarish. The walk seemed to last forever. I swallowed hard, trying to get through the nausea I was suddenly feeling.

He opened my door and extended his hand… instinctively, I grabbed it as I always did before, but something was still nagging at me. "Who's house is this Ash?" I asked as we walked hand and hand up the three steps that led to a tall double door entryway. I looked around at the large patio area and the grand columns that held up the overhang.

I turned to face him with the question still unanswered. "You'll know soon enough…" I would like to have known back at my house when I thought I was going to lose my virginity. But sure. Soon enough will work.

He knocked on the door, and we waited for someone to answer. Suddenly, the door opened slowly, and the creaking sent chills down my spine. "Ahh, Master Crestly, we weren't expecting you… please, do come in."

Ashton slightly bowed his head and entered the house. Still holding my hand as I stood outside the threshold. "Master?" Seriously. Master? "Is this your house?"

"Not necessarily…"

Not necessarily? I had known Ashton for years before we started fooling around, and not once did he mention that he was loaded! Servants and huge houses and-

"The head Master is in his study. He will see you now." She said as she bowed her head and turned slightly away from his. Like she had a pain in her neck that she was trying to stretch out, it was bizarre.

I don't think I ever opened my eyes so wide… this is not a house. This house could eat my house! It did take my eyes a while to adjust to the dim lighting, but it was beautiful. The ceilings had to be at least 20 feet high, and right in the center was an enormous chandelier. It had a dark, wrought iron frame, and the most beautiful crystal features. Standing under it, I looked down at my feet, and there was a family crest like you would see on a royal flag. There was a black silhouette shaped like a wolf standing in front of a blue moon, and two swords crossed to each corner. All enhanced by the subtle flickering rainbow cast over it by the chandelier above.

“This is a castle!” I whispered too loudly, causing Ashton to laugh.

"Thank you, Maxine." I held his hand as if I was dangling from a cliff, and only he could pull me to safety. We walked through the grand entrance, past the spiral staircases, and then down a long, wide corridor with what must have been at least 20 doors before stopping at the very last one. At the end of the hall, there were six suites of armor, all with helmets… that seemed to fit something that was not human. It was like something out of an episode of Scooby-Doo.

I took a deep breath when we entered. Suddenly, I was hot and flushed… and then there was the shuttle throb around my scar that I had never felt before.

"Ashton… how lovely to see you… and who's your beautiful friend?"

Beautiful? I blushed even though He hadn't looked up from the papers on his desk.

"Grandfather," Grandfather? "... This is Lunae.” He held up my hand, “The girl I’ve been telling you about,” aww… he talks about me. “Loo, this is my grandfather… Alpha Crestly."

"Wow… I wish I had a cool name like Alpha!" As soon as I heard my voice, I regretted it and cleared my throat before speaking again, "Nice to meet you, Sir."

He still didn't look up. "Pleasure indeed."

"So that's just it… I think you two have met before…" What in the world is happening here?

I looked over at Ashton, again noting the strange color of his eyes, again.

"Is that so?" Is it just me, or is this old man the rudest person I have ever met in my life? I mean, I didn't know I was being introduced to family, so I didn't expect much, but I at least thought the man would look at me.

"Yea… Show him, Loo."

I chuckled nervously. "Show him what?" There goes the throbbing again. What's happening to me?

"Your scar…” My scar? Why on earth would I show him my scar, especially after the freakout from his grandson? “Show him the uh... the bite."

It was quiet, and then, finally, he looked up. His eyes were the same blue as Ashton's, but his face was pale… age and wisdom lined his eyes, forehead, and mouth. I didn't move as he stood up and slowly walked over to me with tears forming in the corners of his eyes. "Show me." His voice was soft and raspy, like he was recovering from laryngitis. He was clearly asking me to show him… but it felt like he demanded it.

I gulped, and Ashton squeezed my hand. "Trust me," he whispered before bringing my hand to his mouth and placing a small kiss on my thumb.

I closed my eyes and turned my head slowly, pulling at the collar of my shirt, exposing my scar to this man I had only just met.

"My God… it worked."

Did it work? What worked? "... Ash… could we um… could we go now?" I tried to be polite. "I'm a bit uncomfortable."

"No need, my dear. I shall not harm you. I'm just happy to see that you made it… I wasn't sure the transfer would work."

I shall not harm you, something someone who wants to harm you would say, right? "What are you talking about?" My heart was beating so hard I was sure they could hear it. My scar throbbed, and then again, I was hot, and my ears were ringing. I let go of Ashton's hand and backed away from him.

"His name isn't Alpha… that's his title. He's the lead werewolf in our pack." He was so calm. So collected. He and his grandfather both just looked at me like I was the one who was being crazy. His eyes flashed again, and I almost laughed.

...Almost.

How dumb does he think I am? I mean, he's tried pranking me before, but this one was too much.

“Oh. Ok. I get it now. You brought me over to meet your werewolf grandfather,” I air quoted with my fingers, “So that he could have me for dinner, huh?” I was on to him.

He squinted his eyes in disbelief, and again they flashed. "I'm serious, Loo, he's a werewolf.” I sarcastically nodded my head and folded my arms over my chest. I watched as Ashton closed his eyes before he sighed heavily, “...Or at least was before he sacrificed his wolf… when he bit you."

Come again? "Ok. Ha ha ha, it was a great laugh." I rolled My eyes and started towards the door, no longer amused by the joke. Honestly… I was offended.

"It was the least I could do to save you… when my daughter killed your parents."

I stopped dead in my tracks, but I didn't turn around. "What?"

I surprised myself by standing there. Still, I listened to him tell me that the story I knew of my parent's death was wrong. How a werewolf killed them. And a different werewolf pretty much gave her a cesarean and pulled me from her womb. The entire time, I could feel my blood boiling. My blood pressure rising. My need to be polite dissipating by the second.

My chest rose and fell as my breathing became erratic, and the world started to spin. Still, I didn't move. I didn't speak until he said he gave me his wolf to save me.

And then I lost it.

"This is not funny…” It was hard to speak between shallow breaths, but I was determined. “You're both assholes!" I stormed out of the room and back down the corridor we came in, no longer fascinated with the beautiful decor or how the rainbow twinkled on the floor.

"Wait, Loo, he's not lying."

"Oh please, Ashton! A werewolf? How stupid do you think I am?" By this point, I was crying. "God! You went too far this time. My parents? Really?"

I kept screaming and speed-walked right out the front door. I was almost in the car when a loud roar echoed behind me, followed by the cracking sound of 200 bones, causing me to turn on my heel. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it.

Ashton was down on all fours.

*Crack*

I watched pain wash over his face as he closed his eyes and tilted his head up at the moon.

*Crack*

His head turned back to me, and he opened his eyes, which were now completely amber.

*Crack*

His back twisted, and he let out a whimper.

*Crack*

He growled and then leaped into the air. And with one more loud crack, I watched as his skin started showing through his ripped clothes before they fell off of him completely. I struggled to catch my bearings as I watched his skin grow darker, and I swear I heard each strand of dark brown fir burst from each follicle. With a flick of his tail, I saw his claws rip from his fingertips and retreat into his paws before he landed softly, back on the ground. Except for this time he was not My Ashton… he was someone else…

Something else.

And then I was falling… falling backward, hitting my head on the driveway’s pavement, and then closing my eyes welcoming the darkness that came and whatever dreams would follow.

Maybe when I wake up the nightmare will be over?