The Night He Marked Me

💐 CHAPTER ONE 💐 “We’ve made the arrangements. You’ll be mated to Alpha Thorne next week.” I froze midstep as dad’s words hit me like a physical blow, but he doesn’t even look up from his newspaper. I looked at my step mother but she just continued buttering her toast as if he’d just announced the weather. “What?” The word barely makes it past my constricted throat. “It’s a good match, Zaya.” Step mother’s tone carries that familiar edge of irritation she reserves for my existence. “The alliance will strengthen our pack considerably.” “You are joking.” “Are we?” Dad set his newspaper now, meeting myt gaze with acold dismissive llok that said he certainly was not playing around. “Well you’ve got to be, because you seriously cant…what the hell are you thinking?” “Watch your words, young lady!” “Watch my word? WATCH MY WORD?! You two went behind my back and arranged a marriage for me without my consent?” “Consent?” Dad laughed but there wasnot a sigle humor in the sound, “I am your father, Zaya. I do not nedd your permission before i can make decisions for your life.” He’s gotta be kidding me. I took a deep breath, but it did nothing to calm my raging nerves. “I am your daughter but that does not mesan that i am some property you should use however you please. I do nit belong to you.” Dad’s palm slammed on the table so hard the utensils rattled and i saw step mither jump. “As long as you are living under my roof, eating my food…you belong to me and I decide what goes or not.” I should have expected that line…that was his most popular line..have been for the past five years. I should be used to it given the number of times it has been thrown at me, but the words still made my chest tighten in pain. “Now, I suggest you stop this silly tantrum and prepare because the decision has been made and you will be more grateful for it.” “Grateful?” My voice broke as the word left my lips, “Dad the man is sixty three years old. And you know….you know what happens tp everyone who has mated with him. His last mate….” “Died in childbirth, which is a Natural cause.” Dad saoid, his expression flat. “You’re twenty-one tomorrow. Old enough to fulfill your duty to this family.” My duty to the family. That is all I am ever good for. As if they’d ever treated me like family. “I won’t do it.” The words surprise even me with their firmness. Step mother’s laugh is sharp enough to cut glass. “Oh, you won’t? And what exactly makes you think you have a choice?” I gave her a scalthing glare but ignored her question. Icould bet my life that this idea was hers. The old hag has been trying to get rid of me for years and now she has the chance. “You will be marrying Thorne, even if we have to force you. He is expecting a virgin bride,” Dad adds matter-of-factly. “Don’t disappoint him the way you’ve disappointed us.” The casual cruelty steals my breath. After twenty years of being treated like an unwanted burden, I’d somehow still hoped they cared enough to protect me from this. “He hurts his mates.” My voice cracks. “Everyone knows what happened to Elena, to Sarah before her—” “Those were mere rumors.” Mom waves her hand dismissively. “Besides, what did you expect? That we’d support you forever? At least this way you’ll be useful.” Useful? I resisted the scoff - the urge to ask her about her daughter. “The ceremony is set for Saturday.” Dad said, “Maria will help you prepare. Try not to embarrass us more than necessary.” They stand to leave, and I realize this conversation is over. No further discussion, no consideration of my feelings. Just a transaction they’ve decided to make with my life as collateral. “Please.” The word escapes before I can stop it, and I hate how small it sounds. “Please don’t do this to me.” Step mother pauses at the doorway. For a heartbeat, I think I see something flicker in her eyes—maybe regret, maybe pity. Then it’s gone. “This is what’s best for everyone, Zaya. You’ll understand when you’re older.” When you’re older? Sure because twenty-one isn’t old enough to know I don’t want to be sold to a monster. The front door slams, leaving me alone in the kitchen that suddenly feels like a tomb. My coffee grows cold as I stare at the table, processing the magnitude of what just happened. Saturday… Which means I have five days. The rest of the day passes in a fog of numb shock. Maria, our elderly housekeeper, tries to engage me in conversation about dress fittings and floral arrangements, but I can barely hear her over the roaring in my ears. By evening, the shock has crystallized into something harder. Rage, maybe. Or determination. Any one - I just knew I was done, leaving my life in the hands of these people and letting them treat them like habit. Despite my good wishes, time wouldn’t change anything or how they felt about me - and now they were willing to put my life on the line for a so called pack alliance. To hell with them! I wait until the house falls silent before slipping out of my room. My bare feet make no sound on the hardwood floors as I gather what little I can carry—some clothes, the emergency cash I’ve been saving, my mother’s locket. The real one, not the stepmother who’s spent two decades making my life hell. The night air bites through my jacket as I slip out the back door. I don’t have a plan beyond getting away, but anywhere is better than here. My car keys are in Dad’s office—too risky. Public transport doesn’t run this late. The realization hits that I have nowhere to go, no one to call. Except… I cringed at the thought, but I had no other option and before I could think mysekf out of it,.,I headed to the only place in my mind. My work place. The office building looms dark against the sky, but I know the night security code. I’ve stayed late enough times, cleaning up after everyone else’s messes. It’s not much of a sanctuary, but it’s somewhere they won’t think to look immediately. The lobby echoes with my footsteps as I make my way to the elevator. Maybe I can stay here tonight, figure out my next move in the morning. Maybe I can— The elevator dings on the top floor, and light spills from the corner office. No. No, no, no. Alpha Cian’s silhouette fills the doorway, backlit by his desk lamp. Even in shadow, his presence dominates the space—all controlled power and intimidating authority. His dark eyes find mine across the reception area, and I watch his expression shift from surprise to something I can’t read. “Miss Chen.” His voice carries that familiar note of cold professionalism that’s made me jump for the past six months. “Interesting time for overtime.” I stand frozen in the elevator doorway like a deer in headlights, acutely aware that I look like hell—disheveled hair, tear-stained cheeks, clutching a pathetic overnight bag. “I—” My voice cracks. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were—” “Come here.” It’s not a request. Alpha Cian never makes requests. My feet move without conscious thought, carrying me toward his office. He steps aside to let me pass, and I catch his scent—cedar and something darker that makes my wolf stir uneasily. He closes the door behind us with a soft click. “Sit.” I perch on the edge of the leather chair facing his desk, clutching my bag like a shield. “Now.” He settles into his chair with predatory grace. “Tell me why my employee is breaking into my building in the middle of the night looking like she’s running from something.” The question hangs in the air between us, loaded with implications I’m not ready to face. Because how do you tell your intimidating Alpha boss that you’ve just discovered your family sees you as nothing more than a bargaining chip? How do you explain that you’re so desperate to escape you’d rather take your chances with him than face the monster they’ve chosen for you?