42

MARK
The first thing I did on getting back home, was to sink into the couch in exhaustion from the day’s work. As much as I enjoyed working with and for Zane, the job did get pretty tiring and exhausting on occasion. And with the recent attack on our troops, it meant we had to strengthen our defense and Zane needed protection now more than ever even if he insisted he could protect himself.
Zane had a lot of enemies, that much was obvious, but like he said earlier, it was unexpected that they would suddenly grow so audacious to attack our men in broad daylight, slaughtering the best of them. I found Zane’s suspicion of Alpha Easton very unusual and I am glad we are over that for now. I was relieved and even a little elated at the fact that we succeeded in forming an alliance. Now we will truly be untouchable.
Looking around the house after collecting my thoughts, I finally noticed just how silent it was. I nodded in bitter understanding, jaw clenching at the fact that Jasmine was out, tending to her slave duties. It always made me so upset that she had to continue working her ass off out there, doing tedious work that no one in their right mind would enjoy and understandably so. I could see the obvious pain and hurt behind her forced smiles and it always left me feeling so useless, sitting around and doing nothing to protect her even though I so desperately wanted to.
I was scared of doing anything that might hurt her. I did not want to put her life in any potential danger. I was Zane’s beta after all and I knew all too well what the consequences of my actions would be. Jasmine would end up being the only one to suffer from it and I was a pathetic coward, not ready to risk it and having to watch her suffer any form of pain that had my name written on it.
She was my mate, my second half destined to me by the Moon Giddess, and I didn’t want to part from her, even if it meant watching helplessly from the sidelines. I wanted us to be together, but I could only have her close like I wanted to behind closed doors, not risking any prying eyes for her safety.
Outside these walls, she was just a slave to me, like she was to everyone else, our silent whispers of affirmation into the other’s hair in the dead of night, locked up and safe in our hearts. When we were certain there was no one watching, I could confess time and again that she was my whole world, but I still couldn’t help the underlying fear of the dreaded day when Zane would find out. It was a surprise that I was able to keep it from him thus far, but it didn’t make it any easier to know I’d been keeping something so important from him, although I also couldn’t be entirely blamed, looking at the surrounding circumstances.
I breathed out a deep exhale as I let my body sink further into the couch. The four walls of my own home felt almost as empty as I did at the moment, Jasmine filling up the entirety of any emptiness I hadn’t noticed I bore until I found her. She was very much like an anchor, always ready to listen, comfort and soothe whenever I was in one of those moods when everything felt like it was closing in on me.
Finally deciding on it, I mind linked the head of the slaves, asking that my slave be sent to me immediately. Everyone was aware of the fact that she was my slave. I had felt the pull on the day I’d gone to an auction for some new slaves for the pack. I had caught a whiff of her pheromones and my wolf, Scar, had grown restless almost immediately, his continuous mutters and growls of the word ‘mate’ pulling me to the screeching realization that I had found her and she had been mine to keep and love the moment I’d set my eyes on her. I had bought her immediately without so much as a second thought, my wolf damn near bouncing in celebration and I wasn’t any better.
Although, it wasn’t the sweet, emotional reunion I’d expected when I’d let it know to her that we were mates. I’d seen the immediate fear that flashed in her eyes as she froze in what seemed like terror. I’d vowed to protect her from the moment I found her, but that reaction made the urge grow impossibly larger. I was going to make sure she stayed out of harm’s way no matter what it took and no way would I become the reason she had to go through any kind of punishment.
The sound of the front door pushing open pulls me back to reality and a smile immediately makes its way to my face as I find Jasmine making her way closer, but it quickly dies as I study her closer and realize she was breathing heavier than she normally should and I was immediately springing to my feet and walking over to her with urgency.
She looks up to find my eyes when my arm rests on the small of her back. I flash a small worried smile which she returns wider and when her breathing steadies, she leans in, placing a chaste kiss on my lips.
“You sent for me?” she finally spoke and I nodded, ” What’s wrong? Something important?” she asked, eyes searching mine.
“Yes. I missed you a lot and I couldn’t wait to see you at nighttime. Very importantly. I love you, Jasmine, now and forever,” I whispered the last part and she smiled, eyes disappearing as she did and my heart stuttered, entranced.
“I love you too,” she finally replied, sealing our lips together. When we pull away, she leans back and tilts her head, “What’s going on really? You look so happy” she noted, and I smiled with a shrug.
“Nothing much, just that you’re here with me and we’re about to be unstoppable,” I announced, thumb leisurely smoothing down her back.
“Huh? We?” she questioned, growing confused.
“We got Alpha Easton of Crescent pack to sign the alliance deal. We will be working together. That’s great for us both because now no pack would even think about crossing our or his pack,” I proudly announced, and the reaction I found was not one I’d exactly expected. A wave of sadness and what looked like uncertainty flashed across her face, which she quickly tried to play off, but I’d already caught it.
“That’s great,” she forces a smile that comes out as a grimace.
“Is it? I don’t think you think so, love. What’s wrong? You don’t like the sound of an alliance?” I asked, eyes searching her whole face and she sighed.
“How can I possibly like the sound of it? Don’t you see what this means? It means I will be trapped here forever. I thought you said Alpha Easton did not want this. Why the sudden change of heart?”
“Well, yes. He was not very welcoming of the idea at first, but now I’m not exactly sure what prompted this. He sent his messenger earlier to deliver the news to us. I had personally read the letter and now Zane would like me to go over to him with some gifts. And about that, I need you to arrange some trustworthy girls for me…… I mean, I would be going and I’d like you to, too, so if you could find some of your friends to accompany us-”
“You are deviating from my point here, Mark. Do you want us to be together?’ she asked, cutting me off, and I frowned, nodding immediately, matter-of-factly.
“Of course I want us to be together, I want to spend the rest of my life with you and I want my mark…” I traced a finger slowly on the base of her neck, “… right here, claiming you as mine forever and I want to have and raise my pups with you because I love you….. and you know that.” I informed and she smiled unconvincingly before pushing back and taking a step away from me.
“Well, it doesn’t look like you want all that at all. By joining forces with Easton, it makes it almost impossible for us to be together. I will be a slave here forever and you can never mark me, nor can I ever dream of carrying your child unless I plan to lose my head while at it. I thought you would at least have thought that far and at least opposed it, but look at you, you’re practically over the moon. Don’t tell me you genuinely thought this was good for us…… unless you have a separate plan that you wish to achieve from all this.” she finishes and I blink, dumbfounded, before shaking my head.
“I- I don’t have anything right now, but believe me, I will not stop until we can finally be together, I swear to you. You know how risky it is for you if I do anything wrong. If it were that easy, you know I wouldn’t mind taking the life of everyone on these grounds if it meant saving you. Except for Zane, whom I’ve sworn my loyalty to, you know nobody here means anything to me, you’re my everything and I am going to prove it to you if you just give me the time, please.” I begged, reaching for her hands, but she swiftly turned around and walked to the couch where she took a seat, frowning.
“You will be killed by Zane’s men before you can even get to me,” she grumbled and I sighed, taking a step closer.
“I am his Beta. I could singlehandedly take down an army of guards ranked lower than myself. I’m not afraid of them, but I fear for you, my love. So all I ask is some more time, soon, we will both be free and will start our lives together, with nothing and no one to fear, can you hold on for me until then, please?” I pleaded and she sucked in a breath before her features finally softened.
“Well, we have our own plans too. I won’t intrude on yours, the same way you won’t intrude on mine. Is that okay?” she asked and I nodded.
“It’s fine with me, but whatever you are planning, please promise me you won’t get hurt. I am only being this careful because I want you unharmed, don’t put yourself in harm’s way no matter what,” I said and she nodded, humming with a hint of a smile before spreading her arms open in a beckoning manner.
I wasted no time rushing into her welcoming arms and sinking into the warm and cosy feeling of her arms around me as I threw my weight over her, my once stiff shoulders, slacking in contentment and I almost cried in satisfaction, nuzzling into her neck and taking continuous drags of her almost dizzying scent. She smelt like home, like comfort, the only image next to the definition of the word ‘love’ as far as I was concerned.
She lets out a small squeal as we both crash back onto the couch but never letting go, giggling as she begins to run her fingers through the strands of my hair, humming as she did and that was it, the most feared Beta becoming putty in the arms of his mate. She was my weakness and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love you Jasmine Dance to the moon and beyond.
“I will be extremely careful, I promise. So what was it you were saying about the girls?” she hummed into the comfortable silence where I could’ve sworn I’d been on the verge of dosing off.
“Mmhm.” I slurred, shifting so my face was buried in her chest and threw an arm over her waist, “I need people you trust to accompany me to the Crescent Pack to deliver the goods tomorrow and sign the alliance contract. You are coming with me and I need about….. six more ladies. Can you do that?” I asked and I felt her nod against my head.
“Sure, I’ll get the girls ready,” she assures me, her fingers halting in my hair but I didn’t give it much thought.
“Thank you, I will leave it to you then,” I replied and was harshly pulled back to reality when she started to try and slip out of my hold.
“Wh- where do you think you are going?” I grumbled, a little disoriented but pulling her back against me anyway.
“To do what you just asked? Don’t you need the girls ready to go by tomorrow morning?” she asked, head titling innocently and gosh, she was just too cute.
“That can wait, I need you more right now. I missed you so much and now you have me all worked up,” I breathed hotly into her ear while leading her hand to my now hardened member.
“B- but It’s daytime, what if someone comes looking for you?” she asked, breath growing laboured as she relaxed back into the couch.
“Shhh, no one would dare disturb me right now, they would lose their heads,” I said in a promise, fingers hungrily roaming around her body while kissing down her neck.
“Mmm M-Mark,” she moans, grabbing my nape.
“Yes love,” I said, fingers already working on the zipper of her slave’s dress. It was hard, resisting the urge to just rip it off her body and have it replaced, but a replacement could take some time and she could get in trouble.
“We could get in trouble,” she says, voicing my thoughts but in a different light, tone breathy and I nod, not caring a tiny bit as I cupped her sizeable boobs into my hands.
“I can handle trouble,” I answered smugly.
“Oh for the love of the moon goddess… you have five minutes,” she finally groaned, relenting, and I chuckled against her warm skin, knowing five minutes was nowhere near enough for what I had in mind.
“I guess I had better get to work then.”