Marked By The Alpha, Mated To His Brother

Chapter 1:

Winter's POV:

"Winter..." she cries out. "Your father... he's been arrested."

Phone calls from my mother have never been a good thing.

There's this thing we witches have. Humans call it intuition. This feeling that something horribly wrong is about to happen. We call it insight. It's part of our powers, we sense trouble in the air before it even arrives.

The first sign of trouble is the weather. It's pouring on a Wednesday afternoon so badly it looks like it's nightfall. My old house wasn't built for heavy storms, and the roof tumbles loudly above me.

I blink twice when her words sink in. Like a good daughter, I do not shout, do not scream or cry. I blink twice, asking to confirm if what I heard is true and not the telephone acting up. "Excuse me?"

She cries into the phone. "Your father. He stole them. The relics. He was caught. He's with the wolves now. He's going to die."

My jaw nearly falls out of place. Even with my insight. Nothing could've prepared me for this. The relics? The one from the war? I thought no one knew where they were? How could he possibly have found them if it's been hidden for centuries?

I inhale deeply. Mother has always been emotional, and it is my job as the first daughter to take charge in times like these. "Okay mom, stop crying and talk to me. Where is he now?"

"He's with them. The wolves from Stonefield Pack."

Of course he is. My fingers tighten around the coffee mug in my arm.

Stonefield. A large pack that runs on the blood of their enemies. Highly traditional. Wild creatures at best. They're the kind of people that hang the body of their enemies on stakes on their borders as a lesson.

Mother continues. "They're calling it treason. They want restitution. A public one."

I blink. "What does that mean?"

She doesn't say anything. "Mom?"

Her voice is quiet, probably tired from all the crying. "They want a mating."

The mug falls from my hand, hot coffee pouring on my toes. I can't even feel the heat of it, still in shock. For the first time throughout our call I can't keep my cool. I know where this is going, and I won't allow it. "No. No. No. I'm not doing this. I won't–"

"You have to. You're going to." Her voice has lost the softness from a second ago, her familiar tone coming back.

My worn slippers flap about as I pace the room. My heart is pounding in my chest. "You're talking like i don't have a choice. Like my fate is already decided."

Some of her empathy shows here. "I'm sorry Winter but you really don't have a choice. It's been decided. It's either that or your father's head gets returned on a stake.

Father is the high wizard of the coven. If he dies, they'll be war, no doubt about it. The coven will be in disarray without someone to lead them. Lives will be lost. And if we lose, they'll probably take over our land and force us to be slaves.

My feet come to a halt. Father's face is in my head. The stupid way he would smile at everyone like they were his to use, to toy with, to own. He taught me that emotions are weakness to be exploited.

I sigh in resignation. "Who is it?" Who am I to call mate for what may be the rest of my life?"

I can feel the apology in her tone. "Their Alpha's younger brother. Derrick Blackbird."

A cool breeze makes me shudder. Every supernatural knows about the Blackbirds. Old money and even older power. Everyone knows about them. Especially to stay away from them.

"I don't even know him." I say in annoyance.

"It doesn't matter anyways. It's purely political."

As expected.

I laugh, but it's hollow, like my terrible roofing. "So this is it. This is how it happens."

"Winter..."

"I train my whole life. Obey you and father's every instruction. I've done everything expected of me and given up myself for this coven. Now I have to give up my body for some brute wolves because father got greedy?"

"Winter. Please don't make this harder than it already is."

I bite down on my lips. Tasting stale blue blood. In some stories, blue blood is given to a brave, strong person. In my world. Blue blood is for the weakest of the weak. Witches barely bleed, and when they do, it's light gray. I guess that's the price for being as weak as me. The powerful make moves and the weak suffer for it.

"When?" I ask finally.

The silence on her end does nothing but make me more afraid. "Today in a week. This time next week."

I hold on to the wall so I don't fall. "What?" I repeat just to be sure. "A week. As in seven days."

"I'm so sorry Winter. I tried–"

I cut the call before she has the chance to day anything else.

One week. This time next week I won't be Winter, I'll be Derrick's mate.Mrs. Blackbird.

The room won't stop spinning. I'm taking several breaths but my chest won't stop hurting.

One week till my life isn't mine anymore.

I stare outside my window. The century old tree out back is shaking, branches hanging on for dear life. My eye zooms in on one, and it seems to stand the storm, until it gets swept up by the strong winds.

Just like me. Completely hopeless and lost to fate.

I stare at the dark clouds like it's the cause of my problems. It rains back at me, relentless.

Well fuck.

Winter's POV:

I can't for the life of me, get some sleep.

How could I? In a few hours, my past will mean nothing, my present and future meshed with the likes of wolves.

I am to be mated to Derrick Blackbird today. It's drizzling outside, rain dripping down the old windows. The house is over a century old, protected by spells upon spells, yet today it feels fragile. Like it knows something I don't.

The moon looks funny. Like some error in the matrix. It's red, blood red, the sky looking puffy and unnatural. It looks like the sky is bleeding. It's a Blood Moon. My stomach tightens on instinct. Every witch knows what that means. It's been drilled into our heads before we could spell the word witch.

Stay inside.

Lock the windows and doors.

Do not wander.

Wolves rule when the sky bleeds.

My powers are malfunctioning, my poor body mixing up signals with the strange moon is giving out. I take a deep breath, inhaling like Mother taught me to do when my powers go off. Inhale for 6, Exhale for 6.

It doesn't work. Nothing does.

It's nearly 2am. In 12 hours I will stand on an altar and be forced to swear myself away to a brute. Consent is a useless word in our world. It's either do or die. My body for peace.

Would I be so evil if I just let Father die?

My bed is old and I can feel the wood piercing my back. I groan loudly sitting up. I shiver when my feet touch the ground. I've always been cold easily. One of the downsides of being weak like me. We will always get the short end of the stick. Why couldn't Ariana be the one to be mated off? Oh yeah, she's the strong sister, one of the most powerful. The coven can't do without her.

Me though? I'm weak, disposable.

Bullshit.

I get up. Father's not around. Mother's probably in bed by now. No one will be around to stop me.

I pull off my nightgown, changing into black leggings and a dark hoodie. My hand reaches for big boots on the top of my closet.

If I only have a few hours of my freedom left, I'm going to use it on having a nice time, not cowering in fear like some sacrificial lamb about to be slaughtered.

My hand glows in the dim room, and a few seconds later I'm outside, rain drops pouring in my hair. Up ahead, the forest stares at me. The air is wet and oxygen feels heavy, like a predator is waiting for me to take two steps in before ripping me to shreds. My insight flares.

I'll only be gone for a few minutes. One hour tops. By 3am I'll be back in bed. I just need some fresh air. Freedom from all of this.

I take a few steps in the wet soil, my magic pushing me deeper into the forest. There are no birds out tonight, no insects and definitely no stars in the sky. Everything seems to have paused, like the forest itself is afraid of what might happen.

I'm in there for at least 10 minutes before I reach a clearing, a wide space surrounded by tall trees. My insight is almost screaming at me to go back.

My arms are twitching, a headache forming at the back of my head. Something is wrong. I turn around slowly, trying to spot anything amiss in the dark night.

"Get a grip Winter, jeez." It's nothing. My insight is probably not working right because of the moon. I take a few steps forward.

I hear a branch break a few feet behind me.

It's too heavy to be a critter. Fear makes me take a deep breath, as I try to calm myself down. "Hello?"

I don't get a response, only movement.

I don't even have the time to react.

Something huge runs out of the darkness and right into me, taking me to the ground with brute force. Pain hits my spine and I freeze for a moment before I scream.

This is it. A witch has caught me. I'm going to be punished for disobedience. I don't want to be whipped. I fight and claw against the force pressing me down.

He growls, and I freeze, true fear entering me. It isn't a witch or wizard. It's worse. Far, far worse. It's a wolf. A big rogue wolf. His claw is the size of my head, his nails digging into the ground beside me. Our eyes meet, and his eyes are glowing red. The pupils that are supposed to be there are gone, his body a horrid mix between man and wolf.

My magic is basically useless on someone his size. I try kicking against him, but his huge hand pins me down. He bends down and smells me, the intimate move making me dizzy. His nose is all over my body, and my insight flares loudly, screaming wrong, forbidden, mistake.

"Let go of me! Let me go!" My screams fall on deaf ears, and when his canines bite into my back. My limbs go numb in shock.

Everything stops. I've been bitten. No, marked by a rogue.

I scream so loud even the wolf freezes. My back is aching, my body conflicted. Witches and wolves were never meant to be. And being marked by one out of nowhere is taking a toll on me. Confusion and fear hit the hardest, then heat.

It feels like something foreign is spreading through my every vein all at once, my body shaking against my will. I can't see properly anymore, different parts of me acting against each other. "No! No! No! No!" Something ancient crashes into me, numbing my resistance, while the wolf howls loudly like he's hurt.

I feel myself fall into his arms before I lose consciousness, his touch gentle, my cheek presses against something warm, solid.

When I regain consciousness, it's dawn.

Shit.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I'm in the arms of another wolf on the day of my wedding.

Fuck!

I get up immediately, removing myself from the wolves grip. I turn around and flee for dear life.

By the time I reach home, it's nearly 5am.

I appear in my room shaken. I tear off my clothes, running towards the mirror. Maybe he didn't mark me right, and there's no evidence of my mistake permanently on my skin.

The mirror says otherwise.

"Fuck! Fuckkk!" Right there on my back is a crescent mark, dimly glowing. Fuck. A marked wolf is a tainted, unclean wolf. If anyone finds out about what happened, the mating will not go through and war will ultimately happen.

Shit.

I shower in under five minutes, using my magic to scrub all over me several times until I'm sure the smell of the forest is gone. I throw my clothes in the trash, sitting down on my bed ass naked. I'm scared. I'm so scared.

Relax Winter, no one will know, the dress will cover it up. In a few hours, you'll walk down the aisle like you didn't get assaulted, and be mated to Derrick. Hopefully he'll mark me on my arm instead of my back and by the time he notices the mark I'll tell him he marked me again when we were mating but he couldn't remember because he was drunk.

"Winter? Are you awake yet? Get up." Mother's knock brings me back to the present. Oh yeah. I'm being mated to Derrick, a man I have never met, today.

Fanfuckingtastic.

Winter POV:

The plan for today is simple.

I'll get dressed from home, our magic will take us directly to their borders, where we'll be taken to the chapel. I'll meet the wolf, the priest joins us, and then that's it. I'll be mated to Derrick, Father will be returned and peace will reign.

That's what will happen if I can get through today without anyone noticing this stupid mark. I've tried to make it go away, tried using my magic and old spells and washing it away but nothing is working. It really is permanent.

I hiss in irritation. Stupid wolf. Stupid fucking wolf. If he hadn't met me my walk would've gone perfectly and I would've returned home fine, this is all his fault it's always–

What am I doing huh?

Complaining and cursing the rogue does nothing for me. Nothing other than waste my energy levels which are already lower than they should be, considering my power levels. Dammit.

I take a deep breath and step out of my third shower of the day. That's right, this is the third time I'm getting out of the shower today. I tried scrubbing it off on my second shower over and over again but nothing worked.

Mother thinks I'm nervous but that's far from the truth. My insight is itching against my skin.

If anyone found out...

Mother's knock snaps me out of it. "Winter I understand you're nervous and all but we need to arrive on time and the seamstress is here."

Translation: Get out of the shower right now. We're running out of time. Remember why we're doing this.

I take another deep breath, drying my feet. The foggy mirror in front of me shows my milky eyes faded with bags. I look awful.

No matter, that's what the beautician is for.

I step out of the bathroom in a long dress that covers the mark. Mother's face sags in relief. "I'm going to get my wedding pins from the house and bring over Ariana. She'll help with your makeup." I nod once and she vanishes, and I spot the seamstress, holding my finished dress. The original style had a covered front and a slightly revealing back. My lip twitches.

"The dress. Fix it." Her brows furrow. "Cover the back. Now." She pauses for a second, before getting to work. I watch her as she fixes up the dress so I can wear it without the mark showing. Only then do I collect it from her shaking arms.

By the time Ariana comes, I'm already in the dress, and the seamstress is gone, noting no errors in the dress. She smiles at me, mirroring my inner sadness. A part of me is angry I'm the one up for offering. Why couldn't it be her? Oh yeah, she's strong, and I'm not.

Her warm arms embrace me, reminding me of just how different we are. Two witches, bound by blood but on two completely different levels. "How are you Winter?" I smile. "As fine as someone in my shoes can be, I guess." Meaning: I'm not fine, not even a little bit. A small part of me wishes she could take my place instead. As if reading my mind she sighs. "I tried. I tried asking their Beta if I could take your part instead but they were insistent." There are tears in her eyes.

Guilt rushes in through me. How could I ever be mad at my little sister? "It's okay Ari, relax, on the plus side, I hear the wolves are physically endowed." I wiggle my eyebrows in fake excitement. She laughs, a tear running down her cheek. "God you're so dumb Winter. Come on, let's get you looking hotter than sin!" She pulls me towards the vanity.

"You look stunning darling." Mom says as the gates of the Stonefield Pack shine up ahead. I nod, even though I disagree.

She cups my face softly. "This is the only way Winter. For the coven, for peace."

I finish for her. "For father."

She kisses my forehead then steps back, as a chariot of wolves approaches. "It's time."

The reception is boring and brief to say the least. Unlike normal cultures where an engagement party is like a get together for both families, this one is more about wolves digging at us and throwing subtle threats at us. Only a few witches are present, my mother, Ariana, and Paul, Pauline and Paulina, important members of the high council.

My apparent mate has brown hair boring brown eyes, and is sitting in the corner with another buff man Ari tells me is the Beta of Stonefield. Said duo approaches me. The beta is taller, has longer legs and reaches me first. "Miss Winter, lovely to meet you." Derrick growls, forcing him to release me quickly. He laughs. "Relax dude, it's not like I'm marking her or anything. My pulse quickens at the reminder of my mistake. Derrick rolls his eyes. "Whatever." He takes up the hand that was dropped, kissing it. "Hello mate." He smiles at me. It's doesn't suit him, and the way his lips turn upwards has my insight screaming. I fake a blush. The Beta turns his attention towards Ari, smiling. "Ari, how are you?" She smiles, but unlike me I can't tell if she's faking it or not.

That's weird. This whole charade is weird.

Why on earth are we acting like this is a real wedding? The sight is almost comedic.

A few minutes later, just as the wedding us about to begin and the priest demands everyone stand up, the door slams open.

The Alpha of Stonefield enters. Everyone, wolf or witch, bows. My insight is over the charts. When I lift my eyes to spot the rumored tyrant, my breath hitches.

It's him. It's the rogue. Only he's not a rogue, not at all!

Our eyes meet, and my back ignites in heat.

Fuck!

Every from several feet away, the words he whispers reach me loud and clear.

It's a simple four letters word that carries so much weight.

"Mine."