Marked by the Murderer

It had been a rainy day, the day that carried my betrayal and heartbreak. I had just finished rounding up my duties at the Pack’s restaurant where I worked, and had gone to visit my mate Seth, the man I love with everything I have. But only this time, he was not mine to keep.

If I had knocked, then maybe situations would have been different, but I had found the door unlocked, and so I sneaked into his room to surprise him, only to hear moaning from his bedroom.

I was in shock and didn’t want to believe my ears. Maybe I was wrong, he might be seeing some crude drama, that definitely couldn’t be my Seth. My mate would never betray me like that. But my own conviction hit my back on my face.

He did betray me. I walked in on them in a position that stuck to my mind for the longest time possible. Seth was entangled with the Red wood’s Alpha’s daughter Edina.

I couldn’t believe my eyes, even when the truth was right in front of me. I desperately wanted it all to be a dream, one that I would wake up from sweating and crying, and yet feeling relieved that it never happened, but his next words broke me.

“Eve, what are you doing here?” He asked as he got off her speedily, he looked scared and surprised as he tried to take a step towards me. I subconsciously took a step back. There was no way this was Seth. Was this person an imposter, what had he done to my Mate.

My lips trembled, and my voice quivered struggling to make a simple word. “Why……….?” I couldn’t even complete the question, I didn’t know what to ask, my mind felt so numb.

I shuddered, not wanting to believe that my mate, my very own mate, gifted to me by the moon goddess, would betray me.

“Why? Why? How could you?” I exclaimed, screaming as I struggled to make out words.

“I’m sorry Eve.” He muttered with a downcast look.

I saw Edina roll her eyes and then she got out of bed, her naked body coming into view as she fumbled with her clothes to dress up, her eyes as dark as the midnight sky.

“Seth, you really should be a man of your words. I can’t stand being subjected to this ridicule.” She told him with an angry expression as she threw on a shirt, taking her time to dress up.

I watched Seth’s eyes follow her movements as a moth drawn to a flame, his eyes darkening as she made to walk pass him.

Just then, he reached out and grabbed her hand to stop her, and the next words he said to her shattered my heart. “Don’t go Edina, please.”

He was begging her to stay, my mate was begging another woman to stay even after I caught him in the act.

Edina’s mouth curved up as she turned to look at me, then she turned to look at Seth with a cold expression. “I’m afraid that’s not enough. You have to choose, its either she leaves, or I do, who will it be?”

Everything went as a blur until I heard the words that broke me forever. “I’m sorry Eve, but I reject you as my chosen mate.” His amber eyes bore deep into mine as he spoke the words of his rejection, a tear slid past my eyes.

“I'm sorry Eve,” he continued, “but I can't choose you over Edina. She's the Red Wood alpha's daughter. She has a lot to offer me, but you don't.” he said those hurtful words with no remorse, each sentence sharper than a sword plunging deep into my chest.

“How could you do this? we’ve been together for 2 years.” I cried, my chest hurting badly as I did.

His eyes darkened and his voice became even sharper. “Don’t kid yourself Eve, there was no relationship to begin with Evelyn. You were just too dumb to see I never marked you. I only masked my bite to bind you to me. You think I'd choose you, daughter of a nobody, to be the Pack’s Luna. I only used you when you offered yourself up to me.” He growled angrily.

I swear my heart stopped at that moment, as a new feeling of pain hit me. “But, but I thought you loved me, you said you loved me.”

He looked away and said coldly, “I never loved you, not even once.” He ended with a frigid voice.

I gasped, my heart constricting painfully in my chest. I opened my mouth to speak, but words failed me. Tears pooled down heavily from my face. I stumbled back when I couldn't bear his eyes that gazed at me like I was a stranger. Beside him, Edina had a triumphant expression on her face as she reached out and pecked him on the cheek.

The affection in his eyes as he looked at Edina, simmered to hate when they settled on me. It was enough to make me turn on my heels and flee. I ran as fast as my feet could carry me far away from the pack.

When I had gotten closer to the lake that illuminated the moon's light, I fell to my feet, writhing in pain and agony, pouring my heart out as I wailed in pain. I had no wolf.

I was the wolfless girl of the pack, and no one wanted to be associated with me. They stared at me with contempt, deeming me unworthy to be a member of the pack.

That was until I met Seth, he had been the only one that made me feel less awkward about my inability.

But today, I realized that I had not just been a fool, I had been played by him. I was nothing to him.

It’s been two months since I got dumped, and my life didn’t get any better. I was moved up to serve the royal quarters, which means that I will be running into Seth and Edina more often than not.

Today, I shuffled through the hallway hastily with Lily, a girl who had recently started talking to me. She and the Beta’s son Lucien became the only friends I had, and they made me very happy. Lily was also working in the royal quarters, and so it was part of our duty to decorate the main park hall in preparation for the annual celebration which will also host the return of the Alpha’s stepbrother, who was only return back to the Pack after closely 17 years on exile.

It was rumored that after he was exiled after the death of their father, he became a rogue wolf. He had been accused of being the one who killed their father, the Alpha, and the Pack elders were gracious enough to have exiled him only.

The discussion was almost in the mouth of every Omega who served at the Alpha’s quarters, at their break time, and so it was not hard to overhear the whole details. The truth was that by just hearing all these things, I feared Seth’s uncle more than anything, and I couldn’t help but wonder why he wanted to return here.

Lily had a sour expression on her face as she placed the table cover over the table, her eyes focused on making the white fabric very arranged. She had a gold hair and keen black eyes that made her slightly scary at times, but yet again she had no real rank in the Pack, she was just an Omega.

“All these wrenches, why wouldn’t they stop gossiping about what they know nothing about. I can’t wait until their mouth finally get them in trouble.” She sneered as she gently ran her palm over the table cloth to straighten it.

I couldn’t tell her I believed the rumours too. I was first brought here by Seth’s father. He had been a very close friend to my father, but my Pack had been destroyed by rogues in the past, and my parents killed before my own eyes. After that event, I think it scared my wolf into remaining silent and not showing up, and I had to live at the mercy of the Alpha and his Luna. That was when I first met Seth and Lucien, Lucien was the beta’s son, and Seth was the Alpha’s son every lady desired.

Lucien had wordlessly stayed by my side during this period, just like he had done of the night of my rejection. But it was Seth who first talked to me, and kept sneaking into my room to check up on me when I was still grieving, and so I grew up to like him, and then he told me I was his mate, and so I fell in love with him. But all for what, a betrayal.

I still felt a pang of pain as I thought about it all, but I tried my best to shove it to the back of my mind. I shouldn’t think about the past, it should remain the past.

“Hey you, are you alright?” A voice came suddenly, I looked up to see Lucien’s handsome face.

He’s grown into someone people stop to look at twice over the years. That messy blond hair he never bothers to fix but somehow it works, making him look even more endearing. It was the kind of messy that looks intentional, even though I know it’s not. And his eyes, stormy blue and sharp seemed to be always watching me, and always noticing the slightest change in my mood.

He’s taller now. Broader even. His arms now feel different when he pulls me into those familiar hugs I pretend not to crave, like he had done that night. He always carries himself with this lazy, easy confidence, like he knows exactly who he is and doesn’t need to prove it to anyone. It makes girls giggle and makes boys wary. But with me, he’s still Lucien. Still the boy who shares his last fry without asking. Still the one who walks on the street side without thinking. Still the one who knows exactly how to make me laugh when I’m seconds from crying.

It’s the quiet things that catch me off guard now. The way he watches me when he thinks I’m not paying attention. The way he stands just a little too close sometimes, like he’s bracing to catch me before I even fall. The way his voice softens when he says my name.

I don’t think he even realizes he does it.

And maybe it’s nothing. Maybe it’s just me being weird, reading too much into things that have always been there. He’s my best friend. That’s all. That’s what it’s always been.

But sometimes—only sometimes—I catch myself wondering if that’s still all it is.

When we were done with our own task, I headed to my room. After Seth rejected me, my room was moved from the Royal Court to the basement. It had been an indication to everyone that my rank has dropped, and worse still, it was done the very next day after he rejected me.

I had managed to develop the room as much as I could, relaying on my salary, but it was barely enough. I bought my own foam and a small couch and some other little things I could find from the old couples who wanted to relocate to a bigger house, after their son got better financially.

I turned on the bulb with a grim expression on my face, as I scanned my room. It was dark as always and lonely as my heart was.

I took out the pack of crackers that I had managed to grab from a store on my way back, and ate it as I began looking for what to wear.

I had only 30 minutes to prepare and meet with the rest at the hall for the welcoming of the Alpha’s stepbrother. Everyone was expected to show up there on time or else it could mean trouble for the defaulting person, which I earnestly don’t want to be. I will have no one defending me if I got into trouble.

After few minutes of searching, I finally grabbed hold of the two-piece button down yellow shirt and pants which Lily had been gracious enough to give me. It had been my first and best option to any event since then.

I got up quicky, and at the remaining Cracker while standing up for fear that I will be late if I sat down. Then I hurried out of the house and headed straight for the Pack hall that oversees the moon lake, our ancestorial meeting spot.

I was stunned when I walked into the hall and saw that everyone was already there, but what was more shocking was the fact that they all seemed overly dressed, or was I the one who was underdressed.

The ladies wore sexy gowns and makeups, and the men wore full piece suits. Even Lily was dressed up nicely in what seemed like a ball gown. I looked down at my own outfit, and I felt slightly embarrassed.

I wanted to run back to my room and hide, but then I realized that I could be penalized if the Alpha arrived her before me, and again even if I went back for a change, I am must certain that nothing in my wardrobe will fit their description.

Just then, Lily came up to me with a full smile, but when she saw my clothes, she paused and frowned.

“Eve, do you know what this event is about, why do you look as though you are planning to drop off at the market on your way back?” She asked with a slight shaking of her head. “You look horrible.” She added.

Lily has always been the blunt one, she didn’t hide her feelings and said whatever she thought without batting an eyelid. But hearing her say that right to my face, I didn’t know weather to be glad that she was being truthful or to cry at her inability to hide her thoughts.

Lily sighed and looked around. “This won’t do, it almost time before the Alpha shows up, we wouldn’t be able to make it back on time even if we leave now. I could have lent you some clothes to wear if you had told me, yunno.” She said with a sigh.

Now I couldn’t deny it, I wanted to find a hole and crawl into it until the event was over. I was already feeling eyes at me, and all I could do is hide my face.

I tried my best to smile. “That’s not necessary Lily, I have nothing to do here anyway. I just have to stay hidden in the back until the event is over.” I told her, trying to sound as though the whole event didn’t bother me.

Lily smiled at me and put her arm around me. “Try not to be sad though, I still think you look beautiful by the way.” She told me gently.

I snorted inspite of myself, now she was being dishonest. “Yeah right.” I told her trying to shove her off, but she held unto me.

“But really Eve, we're all here to see Alpha Damon. Rumors say he's very handsome and very unmated, yeah, and also very rogue, but he could be on his way to make a retribution. Who knows. I heard he might just pick a mate here, but here you are dressed like a mother wolf.” She explained.

I instantly relaxed. ‘If that’s the case, there is no need for me to worry. I think my clothes are just perfect for the event. I have no intention of being chosen anyway.” I told her with a shrug.

Lily’s eyes widened in surprise. “I bet you will eat your words when you see him. After he left, he found his own Pack and became their Alpha, but most says it’s a rogue Pack. But everyone seems afraid of him, yet he is handsome as crazy.”

“Seems you are also hoping to be chosen, good luck with that.” I told her with a tight smile.

“Who wouldn’t?” She asked making a dreamy face.

I rolled my eyes at her slightly, here I was thinking she was different from the others, but she was worse than them.

“Whatever.” I told her, hoping to sneak out before another person catches glimpse of this abomination of a clothing I have on.

“Wait, what is she doing here?” I heard Lily say with a tone of discomfort and I followed her gaze. My heart skipped a beat.