My Alpha's Mark

118 Splattered

Kacie

Clara’s attention wandered past me and I followed her gaze. I’d forgotten Jake had stopped mid-stride and I turned to look at him. He still hadn’t moved closer and I was right to assume that Clara held him back. His eyes were locked on Clara, he didn’t smile, instead, he bristled. One of Clara’s eyebrows arched as she watched his reaction.

“Your Beta is,” her eyes traveled slowly down his body, “looking yummy.”

I laughed nervously. If I were as insecure as I had been the last time she was here I would have gotten angry. I wasn’t the same woman and I trusted Jake.

“He always looks yummy.”

Her gaze met mine and a small smile pulled at the corner of her lips. She waved her hand and Jake fell forward. He growled as he found his balance. He strode to my side and watched Clara with mistrust despite the fact that she’d said she was on our side. He and everyone else in the pack heard what I’d said but he continued to watch Clara suspiciously.

“Excuse me,” Clara singsonged.

She turned from Jake and stood in front of the wolf in mid-air. She watched him as she lifted her arm. The wolf looked around wildly until his gaze locked on her arm. He watched as she lifted her index and middle finger above her thumb, her ring and pinky pressed against her palm.

She slowly lowered her index and middle finger until they touched her thumb. The wolf’s howls were the sound of a tortured animal. He sounded as if he were being squished until no more sound left him. The only sound coming from him was the sound of his blood spurting. His eyes were lifeless and his body drooped. His blood dripped to the ground like rain.

Goddess.

The rogue fell to the ground, his head falling to the side, his eyes continued to stare into the void, his mouth open. My mouth hangs agape and I flinched as I felt a hand on my arm. I lifted my eyes from the crumpled rogue to my Beta. I can tell from the look in his eyes, he wants to protect me from Clara.

She’s dangerous and unhinged.

His words flow into my mind. I shake my head and send my own thoughts through the link.

She is strong and she’s on our side.

“We’re in the middle of a battle, aren’t we?” Clara singsonged. I pulled my gaze from Jake and looked at Clara. She doesn’t take any steps towards me but she stares at us. Her gaze flitting between me and Jake. My eyes trailed down her body.

If her dress had been all black, I wouldn’t have seen the rogue’s blood, but it wasn’t all black. It was black and brown and the spirals started below her chest and ended at her thigh. The spirals of brown were splattered with blood, a lot of blood.

I lifted my gaze from her dress to her face, Clara was staring at me. Her eyes were bright, vibrant, and uncaring of the life she’d just taken. I’d also taken lives today and before today but each one burdened me.

I exhaled deeply. Clara’s right, we’re in the middle of a battle and I’m just standing here. I nod to Clara and she turns from me and glides away. I search for the nearest rogue, I spotted a dark brown wolf and started for him.

I couldn’t take a step forward as something held me back. Jake pulled on my arm and I flinched as the movement caused a shot of pain to run up to my shoulder. I clenched my jaw and hissed through my teeth.

Fuck.

Jake releases my arm as quickly as he’d grabbed it. He looks down at me with worried eyes. “I’m sorry,” he sighed. “You’re too hurt to fight, Luna.” He stares at the blood that soaked through my shirt and his eyes find the rip that exposes how deep the rogue had bitten. “You need to retreat, my queen, you won’t be able to fight like this, you’ll only put yourself in danger.”

“I’m not retreating, Jake. I’m not quitting on my people. As soon as we’ve rid our lands of the rogues, I’ll have the time to sit down and let it heal. Right now, our pack is under attack. I CAN fight and until I can’t I will stay. They can aim for my injury all they want, I’ll protect my weakness and take them down.”

Jake growled in frustration and he roughly runs his hand through his hair. “Now is not the time for you to be stubborn, Kacie!” Jake yelled. “I need you to listen to me.”

“No,” I said firmly. “You listen to me, Jake. I am your Luna and no one tells me what to do in the middle of a battle. If you’re so worried, you can stay with me. Don’t for a second think that I’m leaving before the situation at hand, is under control.”

“Please,” Jake breathed. He took a step closer and dropped his forehead to mine. “It is in control,” Jake whined. “I’m doing everything I can to keep Jason from taking over. He’s trying to force me to shift and being in the middle of fighting, it’s hard to keep him back. I’m trying to remember why I don’t want to drag you away to safety.”

I gasped. “He will do no such thing, you both will do no such thing.” Jake ignores me. He breathes out, lifts his head from mine, and takes a step back.

“The witches have joined our side and look,” Jake said as he pointed to the witch with red hair as she took her heel off the neck of a defeated rogue. “They have already taken down a few rogues. We will win this.”

I stare up at my Beta, but what stares back is a man in love. My anger softens and I reach up, my hand cupping his cheek. I lean upon the tips of my toes and press a kiss to his lips.