Renegade luna

Marked.

I had a headache from hell. It felt as if my eyes had been ripped from my skull and then slammed back into their sockets. My entire body throbbed and felt heavy. However, where ever I was, it was soft and warm, it felt like home, which was strange, given I hadn't had a home in two years.

Slowly, I opened my eyes and blinked, adjusting to the dull light. I soon realized the deep glow of the sun radiating through velvet curtains. The events of the night came flooding back. My hand flew to my neck. Sure enough, a deep wound was healing, confirming it was not a dream.

" Thank god you're awake." the alpha's voice startled me. I rolled over, a little too fast. The room spun momentarily as I took him in, sitting on the side of the bed. He wore black track pants and a fitted charcoal marle T-shirt that clung to his muscular torso. His messy brown hair was tied back in a little bun, showing off his now sea-green eyes.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." he smiled meekly. I didn't answer. he thought for a moment, twiddling his thumbs.

"My name is Arlo.." he said softly, holding out his hand.

I hesitated, but then reached for his hand. His skin was warm, like the glow of a fire. He helped pull me to a sitting position.

"What's your name?" he asked me again, his voice gentle, a small smile gracing his face. I bit my lip trying to think of a plan, but my brain was fuzzy.

he sighed. "I don't understand why you're so afraid of me."

I pulled my knees up to my chest and hugged them. I could sense his pain. My mother had told me about this, the uncertainty of not knowing if your emotions were your own or theirs. But it was clear that he was in pain because of me.

"It's not you" I croaked. "it's all wolves." I didn't look at him, I looked down at my knees, trying to keep my breathing steady.

"But... you are a wolf... arent you?" he asked

"No" I whispered, but I knew he could hear me. I felt his hand rest on my arm. My stomach fluttered. I don't remember the last time I really felt human contact.

"But last night? You were trying to change?"

"I'm not a wolf" I repeated. It wasn't exactly a lie. It may be my bloodline, but I had never changed, thanks to the elixir. I've never embraced or even felt any wolf traits, until now.

"I guess that's why you smelt... odd."

I looked at him with horror and he met me with panic.

"I didn't mean to offend you."

" You're not supposed to smell me," I explained.

"well, I can... You smell better now... like... the wildflowers, and honey..." a gentle smile graced his godlike face as he mused over my scent. I gave myself a self-conscious sniff, but all I could smell was smoke and beer and traces of him.

"can you take me home please?" I was to the point. I needed to get back to my van, get to Cole, get more elixir, and hope, hope no one found out about this.

Arlo looked at me with confusion before looking around the bedroom.

"You are home... you're my mate."

"No... I have to bite you back. I haven't done that, so you can take me home."

"For a non-wolf, you seem to know some wolf things..." he straightened up, his tone firm and intimidating.

"I-I-I" I stammered and couldn't come up with a response. His tense composure relaxed.

"Technically, miss not a wolf, that's how it works... except you are mine, and I will not be leaving you"

"I didn't ask you to bite me! I wanted you to" he cut me off.

" Make it stop, and that's what I did. I'm an alpha. I marked you. I wasn't sure it would work but you were dying so"

"I wanted you to kill me, now you're stuck with me."

Colour drained from his face and he leaned in closer to me, his scent filled my senses, dizzying me.

"You are my mate, we are fated together. I would never kill you."

"that was you... that.. called me?" I remembered my body on autopilot, pulling me back towards him.

"You called me, as much as I called you, a wolf thing." he was close to me now, my heart was hammering in my chest. His scent was pulling me to him, but I held back, restraining myself.

"But I'm not a wolf," I whispered and he let out a low growl, pulling away from me.

He got up from bed and looked around the room. It was an off-white room, with deep red velvet curtains. His bed that I was still in, was a king-sized 4-poster bed. There were three doors in this room and not much else.

" The living area is this door, the walk-in robe is this one, and this one is the bathroom." Arlo pointed each one out and then stood, unsure of what to do next. I hesitated, but then went to get up, my wrist that was bitten, ached like a bruise when I pressed on it. I had almost forgotten it, I looked at it, and it was almost healed.

"it.. almost gone. I don't understand." I asked Arlo, holding it out for him to see.

"Neither do I. It should have been healed completely by now." he huffed. "You are a confusing wolf..."

"I told you, I'm not a wolf. I've never been a wolf." I reminded him, getting myself up from bed. thankful to still be in my clothes from the night before.

"You've never turned..." he seemed surprised by my admittance. Even did I, He already knew too much about me.

"no.. and I never want to. Especially after last night." I shuddered, remembering the pain, deep pain in my bones.

"We don't have a choice about who we are."

" Actually, Arlo, you're wrong. We do. I always have." I snapped, I hated him assuming. I would willingly be a monster, yet he smiled at me, which just annoyed me more.

"Why are you smiling?"

" You used my name," he shrugged. Again, I felt a wave of pain radiate from him. I hated this sensation. I stepped around the room, keeping a distance from him until I reached the bathroom door.

"Will you, at least tell me your name?" He asked as I grabbed the doorknob. I've already told him too much. Telling him the name I use when I need to wouldn't hurt. Surely?

"My name is Nova," I said softly, as I escaped to the privacy of his bathroom. Inside, there on the bench were some new black jeans, a blouse, underwear, and an array of female toiletries he had obviously prepared for me. I felt a wave of guilt rush over me, and tears welled in my eyes. If I had just had some elixir, then maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't now be stuck with me, and I wouldn't be here, waiting for my inevitable death. A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.

"Nova... I'll wait out here for you. Take as long as you need." Arlo said behind the door. I didn't answer, I didn't want him to hear me choke on my words. I rushed to the shower, letting the hot water rush over me, and let the tears fall. Now not only was I marked for death, but marked by an alpha. I just hoped Cole was still safe.