chapter 5
1084 Words
The silence that rang out was quite alarming.
Roscoe had stormed his feet in revolt.
Elara’s heart hammered so hard she thought it would burst through her chest and shatter.
She had just been marked by her stepbrother.
“No!” Sam roared.
He got off the ground and charged to attack Carl, but Clive tackled him to the ground. Some
other wolves of the Cardinal Pack came forward and held him down, stopping him from causing
more harm.
“Now, she’s mine.” Carl gloated. “Take your wolves and get out of our territory. Nothing here
belongs to you.”
“Let me go.” Sam growled.
"This isn’t over.” He signaled his wolves, and they filed out.
“You!” Roscoe growled.
He threw his fist into Carl's face.
“You just marked that girl! Are you insane?" Roscoe shouted.
Carl turned to where Elara lay on the ground, and as if just realizing what he had done, his eyes
widened in shock.
“You just marked my sister!” Clive shouted. He rushed to Elara’s side and lifted her in his arms.
Her body was burning up. The bite mark on her neck was festering and spreading. Carl’s fluid
was mixing with hers, and she retched violently.
“How do we stop it? She’s your step-sister. You can’t mark her. You can’t be together.” Romania
asked.
“Get the healer,” Roscoe ordered.
Carl was shocked at what he had done. He couldn’t understand why he had marked Elara. Fury
had raged through him at the thought of Elara being with someone else. He had always prided
himself on the fact that he could control his emotions, but now…
For close to eight years, he has known the Knights. His father planted him there and gave him a
secret identity because they had always wanted to take over the pack. Somehow, the shy little
Knight had gotten under his skin in a way he didn’t appreciate. He tried everything within his
power to put her off.
Now, he couldn’t even allow someone else to have her.
The healer arrived.
"Her body is rejecting your mark, Carl.”
“Well, can you do something about it?” He asked.
“It’s a good thing we got here on time. And the bite hadn’t spread to her heart.” The healer then
took out an ointment from her box and gently massaged it into Elara’s neck. She let out a shrill
cry, and suddenly, she stopped retching.
“Her heartbeat is returning to normal.”
Clive let out a breath of relief.
Carl left them alone and went back to his room, berating himself for how he had acted. He
punched a hole through the wall in anger and rested his head against it, breathing heavily.
“Were you planning to kill her too?" Clive’s voice broke through his struggle.
“Leave here, Clive. I’m not in the mood to fight with you.” He warned.
“I am a Knight. And I'm going to f*****g bury you.” Clive warned in a low tone.
“Are you threatening me?” Carl asked.
“When I threaten you, you will know it.” He slammed the door behind him and left.
Carl kicked his leg against the wall.
A knock sounded on his door. He shoved it open angrily.
“What do you want?” He demanded.
“The Alpha has requested your presence down at the meeting room.” The guard announced.
Carl slammed the door in his face and cursed. He went into his bathroom to wash off the blood
on his knuckles before going to the meeting room.
Everyone was present. His new stepmother and her children. His eyes darted to Elara. She
looked a little pale but was fine otherwise. He heaved a sigh of relief.
“Wow. What a touchy family reunion.” Clive snarked.
“Sit. I have a few things that I want everyone here to adhere to.” Roscoe announced.
“First of all, we are family now. And I am the head of this family, and anything I say goes.”
Roscoe began.
Clive snorted.
“What happened today must never repeat itself. I have the final say in everything, and when the
time comes, I will choose a mate for my new daughter to foster peace and alliance.”
A low growl erupted from Carl’s chest.
“She is not a commodity.” He said.
“No. But I am her Alpha, and I have the final say. The blood oath is binding us now, and you
cannot go against my wishes.”
Carl's jaw ticked in anger.
“Merging two packs is never easy, so we must work together until we have common grounds
and territory.”
Carl nodded.
“What do you need us to do?” He asked.
“I’m not doing anything.” Clive protested.
“Your time in that university is up. You don’t need human education.”
Carl nodded again. All his life, he has been groomed to take instructions and follow in his
father’s stead. Unlike his friend who was allowed to have a normal life.
“What about me?” Elara asked quietly like a mouse.
Roscoe looked her up and down.
“I haven’t decided a use for you yet. But for now, you will take lessons in self-defense. You are
such a weakling it makes me sick.”
He stood up. “Carl. Get ready. You will start your training as the next alpha.”
"I don’t care what you do with your damn pack, but the Stone Pack is mine. Let me keep that.
This merging is not going to help. I’m the only one that knows that territory and how to handle
it.” Clive shouted.
“Which is why you will be by Carl’s side helping him.” Roscoe piped in.
“I was not born to serve. I was born as the son of an Alpha, and I deserve to rule over my pack.”
“You have no say in this matter. I am your Alpha now, and I have decided.”
“I can contest the bond.” Clive threatened.
“The pack link has already kicked in. There’s nothing you can do.”
"Then why do I not feel your authority?" Clive asked.
“Kneel!” Roscoe commanded.
Just like that, Clive dropped to the ground on his knees. He obeyed his Alpha.
- Writer
