The Mark of an Alpha
Chapter 61

The moans of satisfaction of a great night's sleep make my eyelids pull apart. The light seeps into them irritating my eyes. The covers easily pull over my head. The exhaustion that fills my body will not allow me to wake up.

“Melany,” he whispers by my ear. I scrunch up my face and forcefully open my eyes.

Hunter pulls the cover away and is an inch away from me staring deep into his golden eyes. I seem to forgotten everything, everything but him, “Morning.”

He smiles and then presses his lips against mine. We move in sync for a brief moment when everything from last night comes crashing down on me and I pull away from him. The memories come flooding through my mind Manny the kidnapper, Ivan Storm, my parents, and Ivan’s blood on the cloth.

“I’m sorry I have to do something.” I push him off of me and climb off the bed quickly.

“Who lit a fire under you? What do you have to do?” He sighs as he rubs his eyes. I make my way to the bathroom. I look over at him and he is propped on his elbow staring at me.

Well, first, I need to replace the old man and make sure that I did not make anything up.

Second, I need to learn more about Mathew.

“I need to talk to...Andrew!” He is my beta he will help me out.

“Andrew?” His voice is coming closer.

“Yeah,” I grab my toothbrush and quickly dab toothpaste on it and start brushing my teeth.

Hunter reaches the bathroom and his shoulder leans against the doorframe staring at me.

“You know that Andrew is probably asleep, right?”

“I’ll wake him,” I say as the foam starts to form from the toothpaste.

“What is this about Melany?” The confusion is written all over his face. He deserves to know. He has my mark on him. He trusted me enough to do that to him.

You need to be honest with him because later it will bite you in the arse.

Arse? What the hell?

I’m trying to change it up and hey bare with me I like it better when you smile.

I stare at myself in the mirror and there is more confusion than a smile on my face. I force a smile for both my wolf and Hunter. I spit the foam out of my mouth and then clean my face.

“Nothing I just need to talk to Calvin is there something wrong with that?” I dry my hands.

“You just said Calvin when earlier you said Andrew.” I take a breath and breathe out slowly.

“Fine, I’ll be honest. I’m going to talk to Ivan...Ivan Storm.” I look at him and his eyes harden.

“Another suitor,” his body stiffens.

I snort and then shake my head, “Gross! He’s an old man and Derek’s father.”

He seems to calm at that, “Why would you want to talk to him?”

“Because,” be honest, “he sort of kidnapped me last night and now I want some answers.”

“He what,” Hunter snarls and before I can register what he is doing he is out of the door as it slams behind him.

“Fück Silver!” I snap. I run after Hunter but he is much faster than me.

Melany!

What? I do not have time for Andrew at the moment.

Hunter is about to rip Alpha Storm’s throat out. What the hell is happening?

Where are you?

In the hallway by the entrance, Hunter is fighting everyone off, hurry.

The entrance is easy enough to replace. I sprint to it and I see a mob of people screaming and growls rumbling through the crowd.

“Get out of my way!” I run through the people but I keep getting pushed back. My frustration gets the better of me and my wolf wants to get to Hunter as well.

“Stay away from her!” Hunter’s voice makes its way to me and I lose it. My throat vibrates and my body trembles as well without a second thought a roar releases through me making everyone stop in shock at what just happen.

“I said move out of my way.” The people in front of me do not hesitate and make room for me. I walk through when I hear Andrew gasp.

“Was that Melany?” I look his way and I see Angie nod at him her eyes wide.

Once I make it through I see Hunter holding Derek up against a wall by his throat. Derek is on his tiptoes staring into Hunter’s eyes and they hold nothing back. He is one jealous alpha.

“I did nothing,” Derek fights for air and Hunter does not seem to loosen his grip on him.

Zeke appears before the crowd and his eyes darken as he takes in his alpha in danger.

“Don’t you dare,” I snap at Zeke. “I’ll handle this.”

“All you do is cause trouble.”

There are only a few things that can make an alpha snap and one of them is when someone else tries to get in between him and the person they love.

“Hunter, what are you doing?” I make my way to him and my hand rests on his shoulder. He swallows and slowly starts loosening his grip.

“Sorry I just lost it. I hate knowing that there is a chance that I might lose you.” My heart aches he should not feel like this. He should know that I am his and only his.

Then tell him in front of everyone. Let them all know that he is yours and you are his.

“Hunter, I want you to mark me.” His breath hitches and his eyes widen.

“What?” His confused eyes go to me.

“Mark me. I don’t know what I am waiting for.” His hands drop along with Derek.

“Are you sure?” He turns around and looks at me with his smoldering eyes.

“There isn’t a doubt in my mind that I was meant to replace you.” Derek stares at me in disbelief as he rubs his throat.

“I’m going to have to-” Derek snaps but I do not let him finish.

“What? Hunter isn’t supposed to lay a finger on you and he manages to and even when you were one on one you still couldn’t fight him off. That just shows your pack that you are too pampered and you can’t even defend yourself let alone a pack.”

“You’re testing my patience Melany,” he snaps at me.

“Someone has to.”

“Derek, what is going on?” His wheezing voice is like music to my ears.

He is here. I look in the direction of his voice and there he stands amongst the people. He is just like the rest of us nothing special yet he carries himself as if he were the Alpha of Alpha himself.

“Ivan.” I stare at him as his eyes lock on me.

“Ivan,” Hunter repeats and I can see the flame of anger growing once again in his eyes, “don’t you ever dare lay a hand on Melany or I swear to god.”

There is a gasp amongst the people and I know what they are thinking. What happened between these two?

“Father, what did you do?” Derek’s eyes snap towards his father.

“This is between her and me,” he says in a matter of fact tone.

“And Hunter since I am planning on being with him for the rest of my life.”

“Come on we need to talk.” Ivan looks at his son and then he looks over at me and nods his head towards the stairs.

“I’m coming as well,” Derek demands.

“Hunter is coming.” Ivan shrugs and starts walking to the stairs. Manny appears out of nowhere at the bottom of the stairs waiting for us.

“You’re not drugging us,” I snap at both Ivan and Manny, this is news to Hunter and he growls at Manny. Manny eyes Ivan and he shakes his head.

“Blindfold them it’s easier and quicker.”

“They like to keep their secrets hidden,” I tell Hunter as he seems uneasy.

Derek watches as Manny makes his way to us and I grab Hunter’s hand. Manny blindfolds us and then they guide us through the castle like a guide dog.

The creaking of a door being open and the sound of muffled voices stop us.

“Take the blindfold off them.” Manny does it and we are back in the room from last night expect there are five chairs in a circular arrangement.

“Take a seat,” Ivan directs his attention to all of us and I lead Hunter to the chairs. He follows and soon Derek does as well. The only source of light in this dungeon of a room is once again the fireplace that seems to be burning constantly.

“Melany,” Ivan is out of my sight but I can hear the frustration through his voice. “It’s time that you know the truth about you and your past.”

With that said the door slams open and Derek turns quickly, “What are you doing here?”

Ivan and Derek seem uncomfortable in the presence of this man.

I groan, “Who’s this now!”