Chapter 6 Marked by the alpha

Kade's voice echoed like a war drum.

"No one touches what's mine."

Liana froze mid-step. The cocky sneer drained from her face as if her soul recognized who she was facing. Even her goons backed away, trembling with the instinctive fear that only came from facing a predator higher in the chain.

Mira's heart was slamming in her chest.

She didn't know what scared her more - Liana's violence or the raw hunger in Kade's glowing silver gaze.

"Alpha Kade," Liana stammered, bowing her head. "We didn't know-"

"Of course you knew," he snarled, descending the stone steps slowly like a panther hunting prey. "But you thought she was unprotected. Weak. You thought she was alone."

He stopped beside Mira, not touching her - but close enough for her skin to tingle from his heat.

"She's not," he said darkly.

Liana looked from him to Mira and back again.

"No. This isn't-she's cursed. You can't be-"

"I don't give a fuck what the rumors say," Kade growled. "She is mine. And anyone who lays a finger on her again will bleed."

His tone was absolute. Liana's face turned white.

She fled without another word, her boys tripping over themselves to follow.

⸻

Mira stood there, frozen.

The gardens were silent now. The breeze caught the leaves, but even the trees seemed to bow under Kade's presence.

"You didn't have to do that," she muttered.

"Yes, I did," he said, his voice lower now - more personal. "I felt your fear. Through the bond."

She turned to face him. "Stop saying that."

"It's real, Mira."

She shook her head. "It can't be. I don't want this. I don't want to belong to anyone - especially not someone like you."

He smirked, stepping closer. "Someone like me?"

"You're arrogant. Violent. You think everything belongs to you."

His smirk faded.

"And yet your wolf begs for mine."

Mira's cheeks flushed. Her body betrayed her - again. Her wolf did crave him. Every time he was near, she felt like she might burst out of her skin.

Kade reached for her chin, tilting her face gently.

"You think I want this?" he said, voice rough. "You think I asked for a cursed mate? The one girl who could bring me to my knees?"

He leaned in, his breath hot against her lips.

"But fate doesn't ask. It marks."

He kissed her.

And gods - it was nothing like she expected.

It wasn't gentle. It wasn't careful.

It was desperate.

Hungry.

Claiming.

Her whole body lit up like fire. The power that had been sleeping inside her roared awake, clawing at her skin, at her soul. She moaned against his mouth, grabbing his shirt without meaning to, arching into him like her body finally recognized its match.

Their wolves howled together - overlapping - electric.

But just as quickly as it started, Kade pulled away.

Breathless. Eyes wild.

"I'm losing control," he said, voice trembling.

"Then don't stop," she whispered, still dizzy.

He stepped back like he'd been burned. "If I don't stop... I'll mark you."

Her pulse jumped.

"You already have," she said.

He stared at her like she was both a dream and a curse.

Then, without another word, he vanished into the trees again.

⸻

Far above, the ancient headmistress sat at her tower window, watching it all unfold through the swirling light of her orb.

She whispered to herself:

"It has begun. The prophecy is waking."