Accidentally Bitten by The Alpha

Chapter 14

Zane’s POV

One life. One mate. One mark.

This is the Alpha Code. Lesser wolves can take mates and reject them, leave marks and deny them, but the mark of an alpha is forever. Once we find out mate, our true mate, we claim them and keep them by our side. A true mate is rare, and precious. Any alpha would be lucky to find one.

Is this why I’ve been drawn to her–my bite on her neck? My saliva moving through her bloodstream, claiming her as mine, changing her scent, giving her the aura of a luna strong enough to attract other wolves?

What have I done? And how is this even possible? You can’t have a human mate and you sure the hell can’t mark them. And yet, there’s a mark on her neck, an alpha’s mating mark, red and crusted over with infection because the wolf who put it there didn’t give her the proper care after sinking his canines into her neck and leaving her–like a f*****g rogue, taking what he wanted and leaving without taking responsibility.

“Maybe it isn’t mine. I’m not the only alpha on this damn island.” Denying the mark would be easier than claiming it. For all I know it could be Jake’s mark, or one of those damn rogues. The only thing we know is that it was done by an alpha. It doesn’t have to mean anything more than that.

It’s not mine. It can’t be. I have far too much to lose. My mark can only be given to one person, my true luna, and that person wouldn’t be a human. It wasn’t me, it couldn’t be.

“Liar,” Zander growls in my mind, my wolf rallying against my traitorous thoughts. “You know what you did.”

A flash of memory burns to the surface. Me mounting her, pulsing inside of her, sinking my fangs into her neck as we both reached our release. Saying the word, “Mate.” Zander may have been in control, but my body knew what it was doing. It was claiming what is mine.

There’s only one way to find out. A drop of my blood. Alphas use their blood mixed with saliva to bind the mark. The only reason her mark is infected is because the mark wasn’t ever sealed, leaving it open and unhealed. Only the blood of the wolf who made the mark can seal it.

Biting my lip, I let it mix with my spit before sticking my thumb in my mouth. Just a little bit. Enough to confirm the truth but not enough to seal our fates. If Jake is the bastard that did this, I’ll kill him, and then set her free, burning this damn mark from her flesh. No human girl should be trapped with an asshole like him.

As gently as I can, I find a spot that hasn’t scabbed over completely and press my fluids into her wound. An instant wave of tingles rushes my body, and my back arches with pleasure, my erection hard and fast. Her scent mixed with the sight of her lying on my bed as this sensation rocks my body feels better than a night of hot s*x. The desire to press myself inside of her and release my seed while howling my claim for the pack to hear is so overwhelming that I need to close my eyes and hold my breath before I take her while she sleeps.

Goddess, what kind of monster am I? Having my way with her once was a big enough mistake.

“You’re not a monster,” Zander counters, “You’re just an alpha who’s found his mate. Everything you’re feeling is natural and what the Goddess intended. She never makes mistakes.”

Removing my hand, I back away just enough to see, just enough to know the truth. No, this has to be a mistake. Maybe that is my bite, but it can’t be a mark. This can’t be real–The Goddess wouldn’t be so cruel.

Pressing the spot where my thumb had been, my fingertips trace the raised ridges of the beginnings of a sealed mark. It isn’t complete, because I didn’t use enough of my essence to create a final bond, but it is enough to prove what my wolf already knew.

That mark is mine and it is a true alpha mark, not a love bite made in passion, a simple accident that can be denied. Even worse, as I stand here watching, the tiny edge of truth is transforming from the red mark of a chosen mate to something far more precious–a graceful line, like the most delicate tattoo, enhances her beautiful skin in lines of black-edged gold. The rest of the mark is as it was, raw and slowly festering, but the one spot where my essence touched is forever changed.

If I press my mouth to the rest of her wound, sucking out the poison left by my stupidity, it would be replaced with perfect skin, ornamented with an elaborate tattoo in the shape of my teeth, not only declaring my claim to her body, but marking the connection of our souls.

I am an alpha with so much to lose. I need to follow my father into leadership, ascend to pack alpha and keep our island safe for another generation. If I’m deemed unworthy, Zelda takes the lead, and her boyfriend, that asshole Jake, will have his chance to ruin everything. This summer, during the solstice, I had been planning on finding a mate, someone from a nearby pack that would provide strength and bring power with our alliance. Everyone hoped that Juliette would be that match.

This can’t happen, I need to reject her and have the mark removed from her neck. Nobody can know I did this. Nobody can see or everything will be over. There’s only one way we can do this without altering the elders, and my father, of my mistake. We could bring in that rogue doctor, Patrick, and have him cut, clean, and cauterise the wound. She’d be scared, but we’d both be free.

My mind flashes to me holding her down as the doctor brings a red hot tool to her tender pink flesh and burns away any sign that I ever touched her. It would hurt me almost as much as it would hurt her, but it might be worth the pain to keep this secret safe.

“Don’t you dare,” Zander snaps in my mind. “She’s our fated mate. No real alpha would reject his fated mate. She’s the source of our strength.”

“Zander, be reasonable,” I beg. “We can’t keep her. She’s human.”

“Wanna bet,” he pushes down my reason, taking over. “Watch me. If you can’t do what needs to be done, then I will.”

Zander takes over my body and I feel my will slip away. I try to push back, but it’s a half-hearted attempt. I want this just as badly as he does, it’s only reason and logic making me hold back.

My mouth waters with the promise of what comes next as my chest brushes her arm and my hand moves the rest of her hair out of the way, exposing her bite.

Just a little kiss. If I place a kiss right here, she’ll be mine. She’ll never leave me.

Her skin smells so sweet, like wild strawberries dipped in honey. I just need a little taste, just one tiny mouthful. I…

“ZANE! Get out here!” a fist pounds against the door as a hand rattles the doorknob. “I know you’re in there, brother. You better come out with that w***e of yours or I’ll tell father all about your little pet.”