Chapter 03# The Arranged Marriage
1374 Words
Someone tried to open the door from the outside. I reflexively pushed Marco away when his embrace loosened slightly.
“Lota!” Mom shouted from outside.
This is bad. “You have to get out.”
Marco wasn’t afraid at all. “Let them see us. You’re an adult now.”
“I’ve had enough of being the talk of the town. I don’t need another scandal.”
“Lota! Open up quickly, what are you doing?!”
I pulled Marco, who stood up reluctantly. Finally, I managed to push him into the bathroom. I locked the door.
He couldn’t believe I did this.
I, on the other hand, couldn’t believe he was cooperative.
I straightened my clothes, opened the door, and found Mom’s furious face.
“Are you sleeping?”
I shook my head. Realizing my hair was a mess, I smoothed it out with my fingers. “What’s up, Mom?”
Mom sighed deeply. “We’re having dinner. Then there’s something we need to talk about.”
“Can’t we do this later?”
“Why? Do you have plans? With Sergio?”
“I haven’t showered yet.”
Mom was annoyed. “You don’t need to shower. Just do it after dinner.”
With a final glance back, I left Marco locked in there as Mom waited just outside.
Marco Reyes was locked in my bathroom!
The dining table was already filled with Dad’s favorite foods. Dad looked at the two of us with a strange expression.
“We need to talk about something,” Dad said without beating around the bush.
I poured orange juice into my glass. My fear was named Marco Reyes.
“Have you ever heard of the Zapata Pack?” Dad asked.
I furrowed my brow, thinking. “They’re like a legend. I only heard about them when I was eight years old.”
Mom cleared her throat. Her voice softened. “This is a secret. No one can know about it. They’re coming back.”
“They?” I asked casually. “What does that have to do with us?”
Dad and Mom exchanged glances. Only they understood.
“Javier Zapata. The Alpha of the Zapata Pack plans to return to Santiago to perform the mating ritual with you.”
I spit out my orange juice in shock. “What?”
Dad told me to lower my voice. “We made a promise to his parents long ago. Before the Reyes Pack sabotaged things and drove them out.”
Oh, no. Marco’s upstairs.
Did he hear everything?
“Get ready, they’re coming. The golden age of the Reyes Pack will be over,” Dad said confidently.
I held my breath.
Shocking news, I hadn’t anticipated.
When I returned to the room, Marco was gone. The door handle was broken from the inside.
***
The following night, we were sitting with the other members of the Alvarez Pack near Lake Soleil.
We sat in front of a bonfire.
Sergio offered me a cola. I refused it.
“Why?”
Too many problems on my mind. “Pablo still hasn’t shown up. We’re in serious danger.”
“How could he go off with his two Betas? With so few of us, we’re completely vulnerable,” said Sergio.
I pulled my thin blanket closer. Enjoying the crisp night breeze. “If only I could change. I can’t help at all.”
“Relax, nothing tragic is happening. You’re overreacting,” Sergio said, touching my arm.
The campfire in front of us went out.
Everyone stood up at once, except me.
“Why?” I asked Sergio.
Sergio’s eyes scanned all directions. “We’re surrounded.”
“Surrounded?” I asked, moving closer to him. “By whom?”
Members of the Reyes Pack emerged from all directions. They surrounded us as we stood in a circle.
We were surrounded without an Alpha.
From the Reyes group, Marco stepped forward with a powerful stride.
We all instinctively stepped back as he appeared here.
Marco’s eyes landed on my face. “It’s a pleasure to see the camaraderie of the Alvarez Pack. May we join you?”
Sergio stepped forward. An Omega who was far too reckless.
“This is our territory. Isn’t it obvious you’re not welcome? You haven’t received any permission at all.”
Marco laughed. Sergio seemed insignificant to him. “If Pablo isn’t here, that means your territory is officially ‘vacant.’”
What does he want?
“Get out! We won’t tell Pablo you’re here,” said Juan, a fifteen-year-old Omega.
Marco looked at him with a dismissive gaze. “What do you know, kid? Besides, even if Pablo were here, he wouldn’t stand a chance against us.”
I spoke up loudly. “What do you want, Marco?”
Marco was happy to talk to me again. “You. I want you tonight.”
Sergio quickly stepped in front of me. He was bigger than me.
Marco rubbed the back of his neck. “If you want to stay alive, don’t try to be a hero.”
I grabbed Sergio’s arm. “Gio, don’t cause trouble.”
Sergio ignored me. “You’ve got no business with Lota.”
Marco took a step forward. One by one.
Meanwhile, we took a step back. One by one.
Marco’s eyes turned red. That meant...
I stepped in front of Sergio. “Stop. If you want to talk, I’ll do it.”
Marco stopped in his tracks. The color of his eyes returned to normal. He reached out his hand.
Sergio shook his head. He thought this was a huge mistake.
Marco could kill us all if I didn’t compromise with him.
My hand touched his warm palm. He pulled me away with an elegant stride.
But the rest of his men didn’t move. They stayed put. Making sure Sergio and the others didn’t leave.
“Why? Are you scared?” he whispered, wrapping his arms around me.
I couldn’t break free from his embrace. “You’re scaring them. Act the way you should. Respect each other.”
Marco didn’t answer. He lifted me onto his back. He ran into the forest. Climbing a tree with ease.
Taking me to the treehouse I recognized so well.
“How did you know about this place?” I asked curiously.
Marco pulled me onto his lap. I tried to get away, but his grip was too strong.
“Shhh… relax. Didn’t you enjoy it yesterday?”
“You should be busy looking for your own mate.”
“I am.”
What did he mean?
“I don’t feel anything when I smell your scent, Marco. That means you’re not my mate.”
Marco touched my hair. “That’s because you’re Luna de Diamante. The crystal you possess blocks your sense of smell.”
“I don’t care about legends or urban legends. I’m sick of it. It’s just a prophecy with a big load of nonsense.”
“I just need to do something to make sure of everything.”
My body shivered. “Do what?”
He pulled me close. Kissed me wildly. His lips didn’t let go until I didn’t know how long we’d been doing this.
Then, as I tried to catch my breath—which had become irregular and filled with the desire he’d managed to draw out of me—he did something fatal.
Marco bit my neck.
“Ah!” I let out a small moan.
A little blood trickled out. Marco didn’t wait long to lick it up with his tongue.
“What are you doing?!!!”
“It’s obvious what I’m doing, beautiful.”
He was testing me. He wanted to know if I was his...
I shook my head. “No! I don’t feel anything.”
Marco’s eyes turned gold. A color full of glamour and perfection.
Marco pressed our foreheads together. “Finally, I’ve found you, My Mate.”
This isn’t possible.
A pair of mates should be able to sense each other’s scent.
I don’t feel anything.
Is Marco lying?
But his golden eyes make me doubt myself.
A werewolf’s eyes never lie.
I’m now in the embrace of the most dangerous werewolf I’ve ever known.
- Writer
