Chapter 13-The Mark

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Chapter 13-The Mark

Sydney Carrington's POV

Ever since the picnic, I began to see Kingston in a new light. I didn't see him as the cold cruel, heartless man now. All I saw was someone who was deeply hurt and was thus lashing out at everyone.

This obviously wasn't going to be an excuse for him hurting me, but it explained a lot. I've never heard of the wolf having so much control over the person before until meeting Kingston.

And I was a hundred percent sure that whatever was going on with his wolf was due to the childhood or past he had. Cara did mention that his nightmares were due to their father and uncle. And because I was born curious. Actually more curious than the average person, I wanted to know what happened.

Now, that the weather was getting colder, it meant that winter was approaching and because of that, the committee members of the pack were organising a winter party to commemorate the start of winter.

The committee members were wolves who did the planning and organising of pack events like, welcome parties, werewolf traditions or customs and any sort of events as long as they were approved by the Alpha or Beta.

The European pack also had council members who were also known as leaders. As this pack was the largest, wolves were divided and a leader was appointed to take charge of that smaller group and report back to Kingston.

I thought that this management and organisation was actually quite efficient compared to the system back in the North American pack. There, everyone reported directly to the Alpha.

So in about less than an hour, the winter party will start in the pack house and I would have to be there earlier along with Kingston to start it off, seeing that I was the Luna and Kingston was the Alpha.

"Sydney! Are you ready? Oh good you are! You look amazing!" Cara beamed excitedly as she caught sight of me.

I smiled and shrugged a little awkwardly, I wasn't one to take compliments easily. "You look really nice too. I'm sure Adam must be really lucky."

Cara blushed and I laughed. I was dressed in a pale blue strapless knee length dress. It was figure hugging up to my waist before flaring out to my knees. When the pack's dressmaker handed it to me, I was stunned and amazed. It was a beautiful dress.

My hair was straightened and light make up was applied. Silver ballet flats adorned my feet and the pin that Kingston had given me to wear was pinned on the right side of my dress.

Right now, things between Kingston and I were not as strained and awkward as before. We would converse and he would bring me out for meals and such or he would even cook.

But at times, there would be the occasional awkward silence here and there where Kingston or I would have no idea how to fill it. And things weren't going to be perfect but they were getting better.

"Alright, Luna, later when the music starts, both you and Alpha Kingston would step onto the podium. Alpha Kingston would make a short speech and you will be there to support him. Is that okay?"

I nodded and smiled at the planner in front of me. "Yes. Thank you." The planner beamed at me before moving on to brief someone else.

As I walked passed some pack member who bowed to me, I smiled back at them and continued walking.

"Sydney! Could you find Brendon? The planner has to brief him. I think he's upstairs in one of the bedrooms getting ready." Cara questioned as she came back to me and I nodded, "Alright."

I headed up the stairs of the pack house and my shoulders slumped in defeat. The pack house was the biggest building here. In fact, it was more like a mansion instead of a house. And right now, I was looking at over twenty doors.

The pack house was where meetings took place, pack events like parties and it was also for people who wanted to stay together as a large community. Wolves here had a choice is they wanted to build their own house nearby or they could stay in the pack house.

But most wolves chose to live on their own on pack lands mainly for privacy. Because of sensitive hearing, privacy would be severely lacking if one stayed in the pack house.

As I turned around the corner, I stopped to see a scantily clad woman who was only dressed inner undergarments leaving from a room that was the furthest down the hallway.

I blushed from the sight, but what made me stop was the sight of Kingston leaving the exact room as the woman as he straightened his tie.

I silently moved away from his view and leaned against the wall shocked beyond words. What had I really just seen? Hurt sliced through me and I pressed my lips together in a thin line.

The entire time I've been here, had Kingston been with other women? Oh god, I was starting to feel a little sick. My mind flashed through all the caring actions he had done and I shuddered in disgust. What if had been with other women while I was in the same house? Oh god.

I didn't know if I should confront Kingston about this. We weren't in love and I only cared about him a little. If he were to die, I would mourn him but only for a little while. Also we weren't together like other mates, thus he was free to do as he pleased.

But claiming he cared for me while being with other women? I scoffed to myself. I was a bloody fool. An idiot. Kingston didn't truly care for me like I thought. I was just probably here to amuse him.

I exhaled shakily and smoothed down my dress before making my way down. I was hurt and I didn't know why. Kingston and I weren't together and I didn't know why I was feeling this way. It was stupid to do so.

Strangely, my wolf was silent and I swallowed harshly, I was a big fool to think that Kingston really did care for me like how mates were.

Betrayal stung and hurt filled my entire being. I guessed Kingston knew something was wrong with me because the entire time I stood beside him as he made his speech, I couldn't look at him and I was mostly silent the entire time.

Kingston finished his speech and clapping sounded, but I could feel his gaze on me, as if he was trying to peer into my mind to find out what was wrong with me.

"Sydney, is everything alright?" He asks lowly as he helps me off the platform. His large hand on my arm made shivers of disgust roll throughout my body. That hand of his had touched other women and now he was touching me.

"Everything is fine." I say softly and move away discreetly. But I was very sure that Kingston had noticed it because his jaw clenched and he shut his eyes for a moment.

"You look very beautiful tonight." He says quietly, his gaze burning into my blue eyes. I just looked at him and turned away and melted into the crowd. I wouldn't be swayed by his words again. He obviously didn't care for me.

I bit onto my lower lip and pushed my feelings back. Even though I wanted to be alone in my room and berate myself for thinking that he actually cared. I was stupid.

He was Alpha Brendon Kingston. He was the most feared and ruthless alpha known. And even the Alpha King was under his thumb of sorts. I was a nobody to him. Someone just to pass his time with.

Even though I wanted to hit myself for being so stupid, I had to push all my thoughts and emotions back. I needed to keep a front for the pack. They couldn't know that I was just a plaything for their Alpha. I refused to be pitied or ridiculed.

The party came and by now, it was ending. The committee members had outdid themselves. Silver and blue was the theme and the decorations were gorgeous.

Most of the pack had left and now only a handful remained and I wondered how I was going to face Kingston when the party ended seeing that we shared a house.

"Does the North American pack party like this?" Rhett questions as he holds a large bottle of hard liquor in his hand.

I raised an eyebrow at him and tried not to laugh as he tried to avoid a couple of children running in his direction. "No. Not as extravagant like this. Are you going to stop drinking? I can smell your alcoholic breath from all the way here and it isn't attractive at all, especially for your bedmates."

Rhett grinned and shrugged, "What can I say? I'm attractive either way and tell Cara thanks for the pancakes I ate the other day."

I laughed and took a bite of an angel shaped cookie. "She wasn't too pleased with you about that. And speaking of Cara. Is there something going on between you two?"

Rhett grimaced and shook his head vigorously, "No way. We're sort of really really distant cousins. Her mother is my great grandmother's grand niece. And changing her diapers when I was younger is something that will always stick in my mind no matter how much I want it gone."

At this, I burst into laughter at the sight of Rhett's grossed out and horrified expression as he shuddered in disgust.

Suddenly, the music stopped and I turned around to see Kingston looking right at me. And that was when I knew something bad was going to happen.

"Everybody leave." he growled out, his tone was hard and cold but his harsh gaze was on me. Without hesitation, everybody left the party and soon, Kingston and I were the only ones in the hall.

He headed towards me and my gaze returned to the ground. "Sydney. Talk to me. What's wrong?"

I mentally scoffed and shook my head, "Nothing." I could feel Kingston getting frustrated and he tilted my head up with his fingers and looked into my eyes. "Since when were you and Rhett so friendly?"

I remained quiet, not wanting to reply. "Sydney." He warned lowly and I stared at him unfazed. "What I do is none of your business. Same goes for you doesn't it?"

Clearly, not liking my response, Kingston snarled, "Of course it does, you're my chosen and Luna."

"But you were not mine." I replied as I stared at Kingston. And before I knew it, Kingston held onto my shoulders and pulled me closer to him. I gasped as I spotted his eyes were pitch black. That was all I saw before I felt it.

He was so quick that I didn't realise what he was doing until it was too late. His canines sprang out and they sank into my shoulder. Pain erupted into my being and I gasped in shock. All I could feel was the agony of being marked.

I struggled in his hold and when his canines retracted from my shoulder, he released me. I was too stunned and shocked to react and all I could do was just gape at him in horror and disbelief.

Kingston's eyes was still dark as he looked at him, I could see some of my blood around his mouth and without thinking, my left hand reached over to my right shoulder to feel what Kingston had done.

Feeling the jagged skin and blood, I looked down at my hand to see my blood on it. Reality set in and I looked up at Kington stunned beyond belief. My knees went slack and I collapsed onto the floor.

"I hate you." I spat out as tears ran down my cheeks. Kingston looked down at me shocked as if he couldn't believe what he had just done.

My lower lip trembled and a tear rolled down my cheek. "How could you?" Now, I was just simply numb. I didn't know what to feel.

"I-" Kingston started before cutting himself off as he looked down at me. His eyes were no longer black but a dark stormy grey. He knelt down beside me and reached out to pull me into his arms but I slid away from him.

"Don't touch me!" I shrieked as I stared at him in hurt and anger.

I quickly stood up and backed away from Kingston. "Why can't you just let me go?" I asked quietly as more tears rolled down my cheeks. My tone was full of hurt, sorrow, anger and sadness.

Faster than lightning, Kingston backed me against the wall, his forearm against my throat. With one swift movement, he could end my life. But he couldn't and I knew it. If he killed me, he would die as well. His silver eyes glared down at me coldly. "Don't speak about leaving ever again. You're with me. You can't leave."

Kingston's stare met mine before he released me before turning around and leaving. With that, I was alone. More tears rolled down my cheeks as I finally broke down. My hand shakily moving up to touch the ugly mark Kingston had left behind.

I looked into the reflection of one of the mirrors hanging in the room and stared at the mark. A mark that I didn't want. My shoulder had fang marks where Kingston had bit into. The mark was still bleeding and the skin around it was torn from when I had struggled as he marked me. It was a place where I imagined Will leaving his mark there once.

And with that, I lost it, I let out a scream and smashed the mirror into pieces and I quickly exited the room. I had to leave. I needed to get away from Kingston. Seeing that I had been here for more than three weeks, I roughly knew where are the items I needed.

I grabbed the set of keys and and snuck into Kingston's study in the pack house where he had some cash around.

And as I exited the pack house, I stopped and the duffel bag I had picked up with me crashed into my back. "Sydney, you know I can't let you leave."

"I can't stay here Rhett. I can't. Not anymore. Not after what he has done." I said tonelessly as Rhett stood before me. Rhett opened his mouth to say something but I cut him off.

"I did give him a chance and he shredded it into pieces. Please Rhett. Let me leave. Please." I begged and he took in my tear stained face along with the bloodied mark on my shoulder. Sympathy and sadness was etched onto his face.

He looked at me for what seemed forever and he sighed heavily. "Ten minutes. And that is all I would give before I'll alert Brendon and everyone else." He gave in and I gave him a weak smile, "Thank you."

With that, I turned and ran into the garage where the car was, along with the bag containing money and a set of clothes. I threw the duffel bag in and started the car and I drove off quickly. I didn't know if Rhett would stick to his word and alert the pack that I had left after ten minutes.

***

As the plane was about to land, all I could think of was why. Why had Kingston marked me so suddenly? Had I angered him? Of course I did. Or was there another reason? I didn't know and I didn't care. The mark was now bandaged up and cleaned.

I had changed out of the lovely blue dress that was now stained with blood from the mark and after, I had shoved it into the duffel bag. Also, I had cleaned the mark. It hurt when I touched it. But there was no way I could board a plane with it bleeding. Questions will be raised and time would be wasted.

And I couldn't afford both. Kingston could be coming after me anytime from then. Now that hours had passed, the mark didn't hurt as before. Now, it was a dull throb and it ached when I touched it.

As the plane landed and I exited out of the airport, I relaxed for a moment.

I was finally going home.

***

A/N: Hey guys! Merry Christmas and Happy holidays! Whoo. Here is your present for you lovely readers. And I hope that you guys will like it. It was super hard writing this chapter and I know that there will be some (many) people screaming at me when you guys finish this chapter. And some might want to kill me. Lmao. Ahaha, please support this chapter by giving it a vote and loads of comments 'cos this chapter was so hard to write? Ahahaha anyway, thanks so much for reading and love you all! <3 <3 <3