The Lycan King's Hidden mate

Chapter 5: Concealment

Sage's Pov

"Why would you help me?" I asked again as Tessa dragged me through the forest, her grip tight on my wrist.

"I told you. I don't want to see you destroyed." She didn't look back, just kept pulling me along the overgrown path. "Despite everything, you're still my sister."

The word "sister" from her lips felt like a slap. This was the same person who'd been sleeping with my boyfriend. The same person who'd smiled while I fell apart.

But what choice did I have?

My shoulder throbbed where the mark sat, hidden beneath torn fabric. If Victoria found out, she'd ruin me. Tessa was right about that much.

We walked for twenty minutes, moving deeper into the forest until we reached a part of the territory I'd never seen before. A small cottage sat in a clearing, smoke curling from its chimney. The windows were dark despite the morning sun, and the whole place had an unsettling feel.

"This is a bad idea," I said, stopping at the edge of the clearing.

"It's the only idea." Tessa finally released my wrist and knocked on the door. Three sharp raps, then two soft ones.

The door creaked open.

A woman stood in the doorway, ancient and bent with age. Her eyes were milky white, but somehow I felt like she could see right through me. She wore layers of black fabric, and the smell of herbs and something darker wafted from inside.

"Tessa." The witch's voice was like gravel. "I wondered when you'd come calling again."

"I need your help, Mara." Tessa stepped inside without being invited, pulling me with her. "For my sister."

Mara's blind eyes found me immediately. "Ah. The wolfless one. Though not so wolfless anymore, I see."

How could she possibly know that?

The inside of the cottage was dim, lit only by candles. Bundles of dried herbs hung from the ceiling. Jars filled with things I didn't want to identify lined the shelves. A large table dominated the center of the room, covered in strange symbols.

"Show me," Mara said, gesturing to the table.

I hesitated, looking at Tessa.

"It's okay," Tessa said, her voice surprisingly gentle. "Mara is discreet. She won't tell anyone."

Slowly, I approached the table and lowered the fabric from my shoulder, exposing the mark.

Mara sucked in a sharp breath. Her gnarled fingers reached out, hovering just above the mark without touching. "Blessed goddess. Where did you get this?"

"Does it matter?" Tessa asked quickly. "Can you hide it or not?"

"Hide it?" Mara's laugh was sharp. "Child, do you understand what this is?"

"A mark. A mate mark." Tessa moved closer, pulling out her phone. "That's why it needs to be hidden. Can you do it?"

Mara's milky eyes narrowed. "I can. But the question is, should I?"

"I'll pay double your usual rate," Tessa said.

The witch's attention shifted to her. "Triple."

"Fine. Triple." Tessa didn't even hesitate. "Just do it. Now."

Something felt wrong about this. Very wrong. But what was I supposed to do? Walk back to the pack with this mark visible? Let Victoria destroy me?

"Sit," Mara commanded, pointing to a chair beside the table.

I sat. My hands shook as I gripped the armrests.

Mara moved around the room, gathering ingredients. A vial of dark liquid. Crushed herbs that smelled like rot. Something that looked suspiciously like bone dust. She mixed them in a wooden bowl, muttering words in a language I didn't recognize.

"This will hurt," she said, approaching me with the mixture. "The mark is fresh. Strong. Fighting the concealment will be its nature."

"Just do it," I whispered.

Mara dipped her fingers into the mixture and pressed them against the mark.

Pain exploded across my shoulder.

I screamed, my back arching off the chair. It felt like she was carving into my skin with hot knives. My wolf howled inside me, thrashing against the magic being forced onto us.

"Hold still," Mara commanded, her voice hard.

Tessa appeared beside me, pressing my shoulders down. "Almost done. Just breathe, Sage."

The pain intensified as Mara traced patterns over the mark, her fingers burning like brands. I could feel the magic sinking deeper, wrapping around the mark like chains. My wolf fought it, but she was too newly awakened, too weak to resist.

Finally, mercifully, it stopped.

I slumped in the chair, gasping for air. Sweat dripped down my face. My whole body trembled.

"It's done." Mara stepped back, wiping her fingers on a cloth. "The mark is hidden. No one will see it unless the spell is broken."

I twisted to look at my shoulder. The skin was smooth, unblemished. Like the mark had never existed.

But I could still feel it underneath, pulsing like a second heartbeat.

"How long will it last?" Tessa asked.

"As long as she doesn't shift fully or encounter powerful magic." Mara returned the bowl to her workspace. "Though I must warn you, concealment spells on mate marks are... unpredictable. The bond will fight to be known."

"She'll be careful." Tessa pulled out a wad of cash, counting bills. "Won't you, Sage?"

I nodded numbly, still trying to process what just happened.

Tessa handed Mara the money, then pulled out her phone. "Actually, I need one more thing."

"Oh?" The witch's eyebrows rose.

"Insurance." Tessa showed Mara the photos she'd taken of my mark. "Can you replicate this? On me?"

My head snapped up. "What?"

"Just a precaution," Tessa said smoothly, not looking at me. "In case anyone asks questions. If we both have similar marks, it'll be less suspicious."

That made no sense. None of this made sense.

"Tessa, why would you…"

"Triple rate," Tessa said to Mara, ignoring me completely. "For the replication."

Mara studied the photos, her expression unreadable. "This is not a simple mark to forge. It will require blood magic. Dark work."

"I don't care what it requires." Tessa pulled out more cash. "Can you do it or not?"

"I can." Mara took the money slowly. "But there will be consequences. Marks like these are not meant to be copied. The magic will know. It will resist."

"Let me worry about that."

I stood up, my legs unsteady. "Tessa, this doesn't make sense. Why would you want a copy of my mate mark?"

"Sit down, Sage." Tessa's voice was sharp. "You're still recovering."

"No." I moved toward the door. "Something's wrong, You're planning something."

Tessa grabbed my arm, yanking me back. Her friendly mask slipped for just a second, and I saw a cold calculation in her eyes.

"You're overwrought and emotional. You're not thinking clearly." She turned to Mara. "Can you give her something? To calm her down?"

"Tessa, no…"

But Mara was already moving, pulling a small vial from her shelf. She uncorked it and the smell of lavender and something sickly sweet filled the air.

"Drink this," Mara said, offering it to me. "It will ease your pain."

"I don't want…"

Tessa snatched the vial and grabbed my jaw, forcing my mouth open. The liquid poured down my throat before I could stop it.

I coughed, choking, but it was too late. Warmth spread through my body, making my limbs heavy. My thoughts became fuzzy, distant.

"Good girl," Tessa murmured, guiding me back to the chair. "Just rest. I'll take care of everything."

I tried to fight the drowsiness, but it pulled at me like a riptide. Through half-closed eyes, I watched Tessa pull out a notebook and start sketching the mark in detail, her hand moving quickly and precisely.

She and Mara moved to the corner of the cottage, their voices dropping to whispers. I caught fragments."royal bloodline," "Lycan King," "no one can know."

My eyes drifted closed despite my best efforts.

When I woke, Tessa was shaking my shoulder gently.

"Time to go," she said. "Can you walk?"

I nodded groggily, letting her help me to my feet. Everything felt distant, like I was underwater.

We were almost to the door when Mara's hand shot out, grabbing my arm with surprising strength.

Her milky eyes bored into mine, suddenly sharp and focused.

"That mark," she hissed, her voice low and urgent. "That mark belongs to the Lycan King. Do you understand what you carry?"

The words hit me like ice water. Lycan King. My stranger was the Lycan King?

"What?" I tried to focus through the fog in my head. "How do you…"

But Tessa yanked me away, her grip bruising.

"Thank you for your help, Mara," she said brightly, pulling me toward the door. "We won't take up any more of your time."

"Wait," I protested, trying to turn back to the witch. "What did she mean? The Lycan King? I need to…"

"You need to rest." Tessa practically dragged me outside and down the path. Under her breath, so quietly I almost missed it, she muttered one word.

"Perfect.”