Chapter6 - Destroying Mars

Raven and Marcus

Raven

Marcus’s amber eyes hardened from fire into icy shards immediately at my words. He kicked my hand away, allowing Ethan to grab my and pull me upright.

“Like father, like daughter,” he sneered, looking me up and down in disgust. “He raised you into a shameless liar, just like he always was. You couldn’t possibly be the girl I touched.”

I went limp in Ethan’s grasp, eyebrows knotted as I started back at Alpha Marcus. He’d been so reactive to the mating bond before when he’d put this pup in my belly…how could he not sense me now when I was so close? When I’d touched him?

Mates could always smell and sense one another when they were close. It was what guided me to him that night at the banquet. Did he just not recognize me as his Fated Mate because of the heat of the battle with my father’s pack?

No, that was impossible. He had to know it was me. His inner wolf would be howling in joy at their Fated Mate being so close, despite the battle.

Especially if their Fated Mate carried their pup.

Marcus had to recognize me. Something else was driving him away – and I was willing to bet it had to do with his hatred for my father.

He didn’t want me because I was the child of his worst enemy.

“Get her out of my sight,” Marcus growled with a wave of his hand. Ethan didn’t hesitate to pull me away.

As he carried me off to the vans the other exiles would be shipped off in, I watched as the soldiers pulled my father before Marcus. I couldn’t make out the words, but he fell to his knees, pleading with the Alpha for his life.

Marcus stalked behind him and kicked him to the ground. When he shifted into his wolf, a massive red and black creature, I looked away. I heard my father’s agonized screams as Marcus ripped him apart.

As we arrived at the van, I glanced left and right, trying to find my mother. I still saw no sign of her, and worry sat heavy in my stomach like lead.

“My mother,” I asked as Ethan put me in one of the wagons. “Where is my mother?”

“The former Luna?” he huffed. “She’s already dead.” He whipped around to return to his Alpha without another word.

The world went quiet then. I knew that sounds were around me, but I couldn’t hear anything but my own shaky breaths. Everything seemed so far away, like a dream I couldn’t quite remember when I woke up.

No. This was a nightmare, not a dream.

My mother…she couldn’t be dead. No, I couldn’t do this without her! Not my mother!

I couldn’t comprehend it. I was cold, and all I wanted were her arms around me. My eyes became watery, and I could barely hear the wretched sound that came out of me as I began to sob.

I’d never feel her comfort again.

My teeth clenched then, and I looked back to where the Alpha stood, now shifted back into his human form, covered in blood and smiling gleefully.

Him. It was him! He’d killed my father, and by the Goddess, I knew he killed her too!

I snarled to myself, wondering how good it would feel to taste his blood, to feel my fangs rip into his flesh, to feel my claws make new scars upon his face. I wanted to make him suffer, to curse the day he attacked my pack – my mother – and make him beg for forgiveness.

I had no forgiveness for this man, though.

As a rogue, I’d have no power to get revenge. No wolves to lead. No claim to Mars Pack. I had nothing.

Except…

I reached towards my belly then. The pup…it was still too small to feel. So small…it would be so easy to take out my revenge on his pup, to ensure his evil would not continue with his children…

I shook my head then, disgusted with myself. The child was innocent in all of this. And it wasn’t just Marcus’s child – it was my pup, too.

Facing life with no pack and no family was too great a burden to bear. But with my pup…for my pup…I would face anything to ensure they had a happy life.

I curled up in the back seat, holding my knees to my chest, and imagined wrapping my arms around my child as I silently wept.

Marcus

Did you really need to exile her? Zane thought to me, his voice still shaky from the violent battle.

Why do you care? I shot back, wiping the blood from my hands with a cloth. My heartbeat raced, and the world seemed more vibrant and awake than usual. My hands quivered as I cleaned them off.

He was dead – he was finally dead! Even Zane’s whining couldn’t bring down my mood right now.

She wasn’t the one that killed our parents, Zane continued.

Correct, I thought back, trying to be patient. That’s why I didn’t kill her.

But the poor girl will have nothing now! She’ll have to make it as a rogue!

She was the Alpha’s daughter, I argued. She received all the benefits of his conquests. So she’s complicit – she wasn’t some innocent bystander.

But she said she was–

Enough! I growled at Zane before he could even think the words. I don’t want you thinking any more about her. Besides, you should be focusing on our Fated Mate – my soldiers found the girl.

Zane whimpered, but didn’t respond. I couldn’t tell if he was excited or upset. That wasn’t unusual with my strange, sentimental wolf, though.

I smiled at the burning mansion as I walked behind it to where my soldiers had kept the other prisoners – those who wouldn’t be sent away in exile. If they bowed to me as their new Alpha, they could prove useful to my cause.

The girl was at the front, waiting for me with her hands clasped in front of her heart. She was pretty enough, with brown eyes and ashy blonde hair that went down to her back. I was sure I’d be more enticed once the dirt and ash were washed off of her.

“Alpha Marcus,” she said, voice sickly sweet as cotton candy ice cream. “It’s wonderful to see you again. I’m Lexi, do you recognize me?”

I didn’t respond, but I allowed her to come and touch me. This damn curse…if only I could feel the spark that Fated Mates should feel!

“We had such a wonderful night together at the banquet,” she whispered, lips curving into a delicate smile. “I could never forget you, my mate.”

This girl…I’m not sure about her, Zane whispered in my head. Her scent isn’t the same. I can’t tell for sure, but she…it just doesn’t seem quite right.

I didn’t remember much from the night. It had been so primal, and I was lost to my heat. I could hardly remember the girl’s scent or the sound of her voice as she moaned under me. However, if Zane couldn’t sense our Fated Mate because of the curse, perhaps he just couldn’t tell this was her before us.

“What room were we in?” I asked her then. If she could answer correctly, it had to be her.

She hesitated, then looked up to my eyes and said, “Room 13. Like Lucky 13.”

Strange. I’d always thought 13 an unlucky number. But she was right about the room number.

“It’s lovely to meet my mate face-to-face,” I said then, taking her hand. It was warm, and I smiled back at her.

There Zane. Our Fated Mate. Aren’t you happy?

He didn’t respond. Damn wolf was impossible.

“I have to tell you something,” she said then, holding onto my grip a little tighter. My brows knitted, but I nodded.

“Anything,” I said back.

With her free hand, she reached into her back pocket. She pulled out a small piece of white plastic and handed it to me. My eyes went wide.

A pregnancy test. A positive pregnancy test.

“I’m carrying your pup,” she whispered through her tears.

I flashed back to Raven, thinking about how she’d said the same thing. This was all too much of a coincidence. Had she planned to pretend she was pregnant like her sister and convince me to keep her alive?

Are you sure about this girl? Zane thought again.

Yes! I hissed back, thoroughly tired of his attitude today. This is obviously our mate. Be happy!

He whimpered as I took our potential Fated Mate into my arms and kissed her.