Rejected by my mate claimed by his king

Mate Mark

Chapter 3: Mate Mark

Thornsley’s POV

The ball was just a means to throw money and feast. Long before the ball, the Ethereal council had chosen a woman to their liking that I could wife and take as Luna or I would suffer losing my throne. Their imminent way to get their claw on me.

I agreed to take a wife on one condition. I got to be the one to choose who I wanted to marry and they’d approved, albeit grudgingly.

My criteria to choose a Luna was simple, she was to be a woman no one knew, a woman that would be nothing without me, a woman that the council did not already have their claws on.

The lady by my side, Elara, was not only suitable but perfect. She was straightforward, hated my gut, and most importantly easy to predict. This marriage was merely a deal, when all this was over I didn’t need a lady who would cling onto me. That was why when she’d stolen from me, insulted me, and laid hands on me that was when I smiled, because she was the one.

It took some time, but the maid had put her right, a change of dress, hair done up and she was looking like she belonged here in the capital. Though her beauty played an important role in that.

I took her hand as I led her into the Ethereal room for the council. All six alphas and each of their elders were present.

She was so stiff beside me that I feared she might break. I quickly took a peek at her to see her clenching her fist, and tightening her jaw. She wasn’t about to break, she was about to explode.

“I have chosen my wife and Luna,” I announced to them with our hands clasped against one another.

“She?!” Alpha Nox queried with disdain. His eyes ran up and down her body in distaste.

“Yes. Her,” I took her clenched hand and stepped forward. “Why? Are you against my choice, Nox?”

He made no mention of it but rather stated, “She is not purebred, she can’t be the Luna and ten bloody hell, a queen as well.”

Certainly she was no purebred but she was whom I had chosen and no one would tell me otherwise and they already disapproved of her which was a pass. “It is her I want, or do you want to be the alpha and find a wife to your liking instead?” I demanded and he shrank back.

My eyes followed the other council members with their sealed lips and hard eyes. They said nothing.

“Very well, since there is no more objection, I believe we all have a ball downstairs.”

I smiled and took Elara’s hand, leading her out of the hall. The moment we were out she snatched her hand away from me. “What was that? They don’t want me, don't you see?”

Her eyes were filled with rage like a weapon in dire need of a target. “I would not be your wife. You can’t choose me.”

“But I have.” I took a step closer to her despite her anger and caressed her soft cheeks, “and I can have whatever I want.”

She slapped my hand away. Her eyes crystalled with unshed tears, in a bit her eyes were clear and she leaned even closer, “I promise you that I’ll be your end.”

I hummed and stepped back. “Put your act in order and come down.” With that, I left her behind and strutted away into the party downstairs. Allowing her a moment to herself. It must be shocking, I know, but I needed her.

“What are you planning?” My beta asked discreetly as he came to stand a mere inch behind me. Taut shoulder with eyes like a hawk. “She can’t be your Luna. They won’t accept her.” I felt his gaze drop to me. “She is not fit and the inner circle is against it as well.”

Of course, they wouldn’t accept her. But I had another plan in mind.

“Do not bother yourself with her status and what she’s capable of.” I stopped purposely letting my word take an anchor on him, “The rebellion, are they being managed?”

The rebellion, though I didn't understand their movements, have suddenly begun to gain more ground since last year. They were growing more wild and harder to tame. Inside the pack house there was a struggle and if everything wasn’t well managed it would blow up squarely on my face and I would not have that, that was one of the many reasons I agreed to the council's wish and took a Luna. To keep balance.

“Yes.”

“Good. I’ll meet with the guys later tonight.”

When she walked down the stairs all eyes drifted to her. It was as if all the lights were cast only on her. She wasn’t scared, not the least bit. Instead, her eyes were fixed squarely on……. My brows drew together as I followed her gaze to a guard posed just by the entrance of the door. Her eyes never wavered from him and I thought I saw a tear trickle down her cheeks. Just like her, his eyes seemed so heated and intense like they were communicating telepathically.

“Allow me.” Alpha Remus took her hand from the steps, and only then did she break her iron-melded gaze from the guard. I had no business meddling with a love affair with a guard. But I would simply have to take care of him. Since she was my Luna now, any mishap would lead to the destruction of my plan.

When I turned back to look at the door, the guard was no more. He’d slipped out. She smiled appreciatively at Alpha Remus and I couldn’t help but lift a brow at the pair. How did she know Alpha Remus?

The rebellion, the council of elders and alphas from the district, everyone was out to get the throne. No one was to be trusted.

My beta looked at me as I approached Elara, filled with fire and hatred. “If you may,” I said to Alpha Remus and he released her with a bow and a court smile, “As you wish, your majesty.” He placed her hand in mine and I visibly felt her harden.

I smiled and she made an attempt at one, but it was hard and forced. I leaned towards her ear and she froze like a monument, every muscle rigid and on sharp edge, her breathing was labored and more frantic yet slow. “If I may ask, why do you loathe me so, Luna?”

Our eyes met from the little space between our necks. “People are staring, Luna. Smile.” She tried it, but it was still hard. “Make it look real unless you want a trip to somewhere cold and dark, love.”

Her jaw clenched and I could guess the profanities swirling through her head at my mere command, nonetheless she gave a charming smile. “Much like it.”

Leaning back, she for the first time recognized the crowd and her face paled. Her hand tightened around me and that made me smile.

“Sorry to question you Alpha King, but we cannot simply take her as Luna Queen.” Alpha Nox spat and some people from the floor murmured in agreement. So he decided to try his little game where he would have support. Perfect, I thought. A little show never hurts anyone, does it?

I ushered Elara to a seat while I rose, “and why is that? If I remember correctly the ball was held for me to choose a Luna and I have.”

“I’m afraid Alpha Nox is right. The girl is from the lower district and not from a favorable family. Not to add she’s not pure-bred.”

I hummed as I assessed him. “What does Alpha Remus have to say about this? You seem to be degrading his district.”

“I do not take offense,” Alpha Remus spoke out, coming to the centre of the floor to stand beside Nox and the others, “but surely they know to respect people from there.”

Some people scoffed from the floor behind them. “We cannot have a low-life chum as Luna and Queen.” And that's how all the insults and jabs began before the people. The place was turned upside down. Commotion ensued and I watched keenly.

The guard from earlier slipped back in and I nodded to my beta. ‘Get the guard by the door,’ I said through our mind link.

With fluid motion, he was gaining at him and the guard didn’t seem to notice, lost in his stare at Elara.

“Come with me, queen.” I held a hand for her and she took it questionably. “You’ll have to behave and do as I say,” I whispered to her against the commotion.

In the rising shout and wails, when my beta wrapped his hand around the guard's throat no one took notice. The guard froze like a dead being. A knife that kissed the light to his throat. Satisfied by the position they were in I turned back to Elara, “By the door is your lover, if you don’t act according to my wish he dies this night in place of you.”

She stilled and her eyes filled with fear crept to the door like a sick mammal. A sound muffled in her throat and she choked a plea, one I wasn’t sure she knew she’d done.

“Follow me,” I instructed and she moved.

“Enough!” Everywhere was stilled and all eyes were fixed solely on me now.

“I would take her as my Luna and Queen because she’s my fated mate by the moon goddesses.”

“WHAT?!” She and the floor members echoed the word in sync.

“Impossible! Mates are rare!”

Indeed mates were rare amongst werewolves, and one can not easily sever a mate bond. It was a special gift from the moon goddess herself. That was why I’d said that. To give them no choice but to accept my choice and accept her. Matebonds was revered to the moon goddess and if she’ll punish me for such blasphemous lies. Then so be it. I needed Elara.

“How rare?” I pulled her closer and placed my mouth to her neck. I moved her hair back and she whimpered from fear.

“Please, Alpha.” She mumbled, “Don’t do this.” Her eyes never deviated from her lover and I reckoned it to be the first time she identified me with my title. And shall I add respect? Interesting.

I bared my canines as my wolf came to the edge. Every eye was on us, smoldering, anticipating, waiting. And Elara trembled beneath me.

“Shall I prove it by marking her?” With that, my face disappeared into her neck and a scream sliced through the room.