Defying The Alpha

Chapter 5 - Marked

I hear hurried footsteps approaching, and I struggle to sit up, wrapping my arms around my knees in a feeble attempt to cover myself. The adrenaline has yet to subside, fueling the sharp fear coursing through my veins.

One of the two enforcers, dressed in all black, stops just a few feet away. "What happened?" he asks, his eyes darting between Ashton and Daniel, who is sprawled on the ground, pale and drenched in sweat, his wide eyes full of terror.

Ashton's grip is tight, his canines bared, a deep growl vibrating from his chest. "He tried to rape her," Ashton snarls, yanking Daniel to his feet as if he weighs nothing. Before Daniel can react, two enforcers step in, each seizing an arm and holding him firmly in place.

"Are you sure?" the second enforcer asks, his skeptical gaze flicking to me as I sit huddled on the ground, my arms clinging to my knees. "She doesn't exactly seem reliable."

"I saw it with my own eyes!" Ashton snaps.

The enforcer flinches, his hands trembling as he fumbles with the silver handcuffs. He finally manages to cuff Daniel.

"Take him to the dungeon," Ashton orders, his tone leaving no room for argument.

As the enforcers drag Daniel away, Ashton's golden eyes lock onto mine, still blazing with fury. I'm trembling, but not from the cold.

The memories from three years ago crash over me, dragging me under like a relentless tide. Daniel's filthy hands gripping me, his lips crushing mine, stealing my breath and my will. His hand sliding under my jeans, each touch burning into my skin like a brand. My voice caught in my throat, my body frozen, screaming inside but unable to move. Helpless. Useless. Just like today, the shame and fear clawing at me, choking me all over again.

Before I can stop them, tears spill down my cheeks. Wrapping my arms tighter around my knees, I interlace my fingers, as if holding myself together would somehow keep the cracks hidden. I don't want Ashton to see me like this—fragile, broken.

As he watches me, his expression shifts, the hardness melting into something gentler. His canines retract, and the fierce glow in his eyes fades into a calm gray. He steps closer, no longer a predator.

"It's over, Amelia," he murmurs as he kneels beside me. "He can't hurt you anymore."

"I..." I choke, my sobs breaking the words apart as my body trembles beyond my control.

"Can you turn around a little?" Ashton asks softly. "I promise, I would never hurt you."

A shaky breath escapes my lips as I fight to keep it together. "Okay," I whisper, slowly shifting to turn my back to him, exposing the nape of my neck.

I glance over my shoulder to see Ashton bite into his finger until blood wells up. His movements are slow, deliberate, like he's afraid I'll break if he moves too fast. He presses the bleeding tip to the clasp of the collar. A soft click echoes as it unlocks, and he carefully slides it off my neck.

Turning back to face him, I meet his eyes. Worry shadows his expression.

"I'm sorry, Amelia," he breathes.

"It wasn't your fault," I manage to say, though my voice cracks, quivering along with my body. It was Daniel's parents, his girlfriend's fault—they lied for him. And the former Alpha? He never even listened.

Ashton unbuttons his shirt, then gently drapes it over my shoulders. The warmth of the fabric feels like a shield, and I slip my arms into the sleeves, clutching it close. His gaze falls to the claw marks on my stomach, and his expression hardens.

"Do you want me to heal those for you?" he asks.

I understand the power of an Alpha's saliva and how it can heal wounds, but something about it feels too intimate and too much right now. I shake my head. "No, I'll heal quickly. I'm used to pain," I mutter. "But... thanks."

He nods and starts buttoning the shirt for me. His fingers move with a calm precision, a stark contrast to the tremor in my own.

"What can I do?" he asks, his voice low, his warm eyes locked on mine. "Is there anything... anything you need?"

"Hold me?" The words escape before I can stop them, catching even me off guard.

Ashton doesn't hesitate. His arms wrap around me, pulling me close. I press my cheek against his neck, his heartbeat steady in my ears. My fingers clutch at his back as the dam breaks, and the sobs pour out, releasing the weight I've been carrying. For the first time in what feels like forever, I let myself fall apart in someone else's arms.

The warmth from Ash's bare chest seeps into me, melting the tension in my body. Slowly, my breathing steadies, and the tears dry up.

I pull back just enough to meet his gaze, my voice barely above a whisper. "I can't stay, Ashton. I'm not safe here."

The intensity in his eyes flares. "Daniel will get what he deserves," he says, his tone firm.

I shake my head, putting more distance between. "It's not just him," I say, my voice cracking. "Most of the pack hates me. They won't care that he did it. They'll take his side, like they always do."

Aston pauses, clearly thinking, his jaw tightening before he speaks. "No one will touch you if you're mine."

I blink, taken aback. "What are you saying?"

"It's the full moon tonight. I can claim you as my concubine, and anyone who tries to harm you will be challenging me directly."

"But for that..." I trail off.

"I'd have to mark you," Ashton finishes the sentence for me.

"But the mark will disappear after the next full moon unless we..." My voice falters, leaving the rest unsaid. We both know what it means. To make it permanent, he'd have to claim me in a public ritual—our mating witnessed by the entire pack. For an Alpha, there's no privacy, no exceptions.

"Yes," Ashton confirms, his voice calm as if he's already thought this through.

"Erm..." I fidget, my cheeks heating at the thought of having sex with Ash. But doing it in front of the entire pack? Fuck. "I don't know, Ashton," I stammer. "That's... a lot."

He gives me a gentle smile, almost reassuring. "It gives us a month to figure something out and avoid the ritual."

"Ash, I should just leave and—"

"You're not going anywhere, Amelia," he cuts me off, his voice firm. "Not yet. It's too dangerous for you out there." His hand lifts, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers grazing my cheek with a touch so gentle it makes my breath hitch. "And I like that."

"Like what?" I whisper, my pulse quickening.

"Ash," he says softly, his lips curving into a smirk. "Has a nice ring to it when you say it."

My cheeks burn under his intense gaze, his piercing eyes locked on mine and refusing to let go. Deep down, something stirs, a quiet voice urging me to trust him, even as logic screams at me to keep my guard up. Let's face it—what choice do I really have? I'm completely alone in their world.

I tug the shirt down over my right shoulder as I tilt my head to the side, baring the vulnerable curve of my neck to the most dangerous creature I've ever seen.