The Crimson Mark

Chapter 5: The Midnight Rivalry

Julian’s arm shot in front of Aria like a steel band. Heat rolled across his skin, making his grey eyes flare to life with a luminous, predatory amber.

“Get off Ashwood,” Julian growled, his voice rolling like thunder in the still night. “And don’t choke the life out of our newest transfer.” "You're ten yards past your border."

Ezra drew casually into the moonlight, flicking his curved blade up and catching it by the hilt. “Easy, Drake. Told ya, not here to finish any territorial disputes. Just came to make sure you didn’t suffocate our little transfer in Blackwood’s embrace,” he chuckled, “See anything special?”

Julian’s grip on his hunting knife grew whiter. “She’s not your concern.”

“Isn’t she?” The older boy’s hazel eyes dropped to Aria, who still wore Julian’s heavy coat. “Not that you’d know, but silver whites are something of a rarity these days. In fact, most would say that that particular bloodline was wiped out seventeen years ago…” Aria’s breath caught in her throat as she pushed Julian’s arm away from her chest

“You know what I am” , she whispered.

"Aria, get behind me," Julian ordered sharply, without turning his head.

“I can ask my own questions, Julian!” Aria snapped, glaring daggers at the back of his head before turning back to Ezra. “How do you know about the silver coat?”

The glint of amusement in Ezra’s eyes vanished, replaced by something colder, sharper. “Because the Ashwood pack doesn’t waste time on history, sweetheart. We know who built the first sanctuaries, and who burned them to the ground,” he said silkily.

“He’s trying to manipulate you, Vance,” Julian growled, taking a step forward, boots grinding into the pine needles. “He wants you to be careless so he can drag you back to his Alpha as a prize.” Ezra took a slow step back into the clearing, his lips curling into a sneer.

“And what are you doing, Drake?” Ezra asked, his voice lowering to a purr. “Chaining her to your territory? Your Alpha’s daughter just publicly tried to kill her, do you really think Chloe won’t kill her too? Perhaps with a silver bullet?” "I am handling Chloe," Julian growled, clenching his jaw until his cheek muscles stood out.

“Your engaged to Chloe” Ezra snapped, taking a sudden step forward to peer into Aria’s eyes. “Engaged to kill her in six months when you marry her. You really think you can cosy up to Blackwood’s Royal Alpha’s daughter and pretend to be your loyal vassal to Richard Vance at the same time?”

Aria went cold. She spun to face Julian, her wide eyes locked on his side profile in shock. “You’re… what?”

Julian kept his eyes on Ezra, but the silence hanging off his broad shoulders spoke volumes.

“He didn’t tell you? Typical Blackwood,” Ezra laughed darkly. “Selling protection with one hand and chaining you up with the other.”

“Aria, listen to me-” Julian began, turning to face her.

“Is it true?” Aria demanded, taking a step back from him, her chest rising and falling fast. “Are you betrothed to Chloe?”

“It’s a pack agreement made between our fathers when we were children” , Julian said, seizing her hands in his. “It means nothing to me!”

“It means everything!” Aria yelled, wrenching her hands out of his grip. “Her father killed my family! And you are supposed to marry her!”

“She’s right, Drake,” Ezra said smoothly, sidling up to Aria and putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. “She needs protection. Someone trustworthy. Not some silver-tongued slut who’ll sell her to the highest bidder whilst pretending to serve her enemy’s royal family.”

Julian’s eyes snapped to Ezra’s hand on Aria’s shoulder.

CRACK.

It sounded like thunder in his skull. The ground beneath his boots seemed to quiver. Some monstrous sound, like the growl of an angry beast, seemed to come from deep in his throat as he lunged forward with frightening speed.

Julian didn’t bother drawing his knife. He drove his shoulder into Ezra’s chest, sending the other boy hurtling backwards over the pine trees. The Ashwood Enforcer crashed heavily into the trunk of a huge pine, sending a shower of pine bark cascading over him like confetti.

“I will kill you if you touch her again,” Julian growled, looming over Ezra like a dark wraith as he stood. The Blackwood heir’s rain-soaked shirt seemed to steam where he stood.

Ezra spat blood, but was on his feet again just as quickly, his amber eyes burning furiously. His silver dagger flashed as he raised it into a guard position. “That’s it then, Drake. Come and get me!” He hissed.

“Stop it! Both of you, stop!” Aria cried, shoving herself between the two men. They both seemed to be radiating some kind of force field of predator energy. She looked from one set of blazing amber eyes to the other. “This is ridiculous, I’m going to kill someone if this isn’t over soon.”

Suddenly, the air seemed to pulse between the two males. Their breathing was coming in fast, shallow gasps. The two wolves seemed to be locked in some kind of silent staring contest, the tension between them positively crackling.

“Aria, step away from him,” Ezra rasped, wiping blood from his split lip . “Come now, you and I both know you need protection. Come to the Ashwood packs border with me tonight.

“She’s not going anywhere with you. If you so much as set foot over that invisible line again Ezra, I swear I’ll take your head off,” Julian growled, his hands snapping around Aria’s wrists. He pulled her close against his chest, his words washing over her. “This is the last time you’ve seen him, Aria. He won’t hurt you”

Ezra’s eyes locked onto Julian’s for three long seconds, calculating. Slowly, he wiped his lip and sheathed his dagger, retreating into the shadows of the tree line. “This isn’t over, Drake. Keep your eyes peeled, Vance. Those closest to you, are often the ones with the sharpest knives.” With a flourish, Ezra disappeared into the mist.

There was an unpleasant silence as the rain drummed heavily on the leaves above them. Aria yanked her wrists from Julian’s grasp and stumbled back, fastening the heavy coat around her shivering frame. “Don’t touch me.”

“Aria, I had to keep you safe-”

“You lied to me,” Aria hissed, her dark eyes burning. “You tricked me into signing that agreement with you lot, and it seems that you’re about to marry the girl who tried to kill me tonight!”

“I don’t love her!” Julian roared, his hands gripping her shoulders roughly as he took a step closer. “I would never have chosen her! It’s a pack agreement! A contract forced on me by my Alpha!”

“Then break it!” Aria challenged, meeting his stormy grey eyes.

Julian’s jaw tightened as a shadow of deep sorrow swept across his features. “If I break it my father will kill me for treason and there’ll be no one left to protect you.”

Aria looked at him, her heart beating furiously in her chest.

Just then, the deep toll of Blackwood High’s clock tower echoed through the valley. Distant laughter and chatter spilled into the night as daybreak draw near. A rustle of movement caught Aria’s ear from the path ahead.

She turned to see a pair of students standing near the bridge, snapping photos with their cellphones. “Julian?” One of them gasped in shock. “I knew it! I’m going to tell Chloe right now.”

It was Chloe’s best friend, Mia. Her dark eyes were wide with horror as she took in the sight of Julian and Aria entangled in the woods.

“Oh my god…” she whispered, her thumb hovering over the cell phone’s camera. “This is so perfect, I can’t wait to tell her.”