MARKED FOR PRETEND - Chapter 13: Chapter 13
You are reading MARKED FOR PRETEND, Chapter 13: Chapter 13. Read more chapters of MARKED FOR PRETEND.
The chamber stank of candlewax and politics. Five elders. Three advisors. One obnoxious beta trying not to smirk.
“You cannot keep ignoring the situation,” Elder Maelin said, teeth bared in something too sharp to be a smile. “I’m not ignoring it,” Kaden replied coolly. “I’m standing in it.”
He flicked his gaze to the scroll unfurled on the table.
There it was.
Her name.
And just beneath it — his.
Not written by his hand. Not forged. But seared in the same magical ink that marked every selection for the past three centuries.
Chelsea Ravenspell
Duskveil Sigil: Blackthorn Marked
Initials: K.B.
The entire hall had gone silent when it first happened.
Even his delta had flinched.
“We saw the ink move, Alpha,” Dax had whispered that night. “You didn’t lift the pen. But your name appeared.”
Kaden didn’t need reminding.
I watched it too, he thought. And still don’t know what it means.
But the scroll didn’t lie.
The sigils didn’t misfire.
Someone or rather something claimed her in his name. "You must give the Council clarity,” one of the advisors snapped now. “Why her? She’s not a wolf. She’s not bonded. The mark doesn’t even glow!”
“Then maybe you should ask your gods why she was sealed with mine,” Kaden said coldly.
Gasps.
One elder nearly dropped his goblet.
He stepped forward.
Slow.
Measured.
Rage hidden under the silk of control.
“You brought me here to find a Luna. You begged for it. Pushed for it.”
“But I never chose her.”
“I didn’t touch that scroll.”
“I didn’t write my name.”
He let the silence sit. Let it fester.
“But it wrote for me.”
“So either something ancient just made the choice for all of us…”
“…or someone in this chamber did.”
Eyes widened.
Nobody spoke.
He looked toward the door.
“I’m done playing guessing games.”
“I return to Duskveil tonight.”
“And since the girl was claimed in my name, she comes with me.”
Another silence. A political crack in the marble floor.
“You cannot just take her—”
“Watch me.”
Outside, the moon had risen full.
He had no answers.
No trust in the magic that named her.
No patience left.
But one thing was certain:
Whatever had written her name,wanted her close.
And Kaden Black did not take warnings lightly.
“You cannot keep ignoring the situation,” Elder Maelin said, teeth bared in something too sharp to be a smile. “I’m not ignoring it,” Kaden replied coolly. “I’m standing in it.”
He flicked his gaze to the scroll unfurled on the table.
There it was.
Her name.
And just beneath it — his.
Not written by his hand. Not forged. But seared in the same magical ink that marked every selection for the past three centuries.
Chelsea Ravenspell
Duskveil Sigil: Blackthorn Marked
Initials: K.B.
The entire hall had gone silent when it first happened.
Even his delta had flinched.
“We saw the ink move, Alpha,” Dax had whispered that night. “You didn’t lift the pen. But your name appeared.”
Kaden didn’t need reminding.
I watched it too, he thought. And still don’t know what it means.
But the scroll didn’t lie.
The sigils didn’t misfire.
Someone or rather something claimed her in his name. "You must give the Council clarity,” one of the advisors snapped now. “Why her? She’s not a wolf. She’s not bonded. The mark doesn’t even glow!”
“Then maybe you should ask your gods why she was sealed with mine,” Kaden said coldly.
Gasps.
One elder nearly dropped his goblet.
He stepped forward.
Slow.
Measured.
Rage hidden under the silk of control.
“You brought me here to find a Luna. You begged for it. Pushed for it.”
“But I never chose her.”
“I didn’t touch that scroll.”
“I didn’t write my name.”
He let the silence sit. Let it fester.
“But it wrote for me.”
“So either something ancient just made the choice for all of us…”
“…or someone in this chamber did.”
Eyes widened.
Nobody spoke.
He looked toward the door.
“I’m done playing guessing games.”
“I return to Duskveil tonight.”
“And since the girl was claimed in my name, she comes with me.”
Another silence. A political crack in the marble floor.
“You cannot just take her—”
“Watch me.”
Outside, the moon had risen full.
He had no answers.
No trust in the magic that named her.
No patience left.
But one thing was certain:
Whatever had written her name,wanted her close.
And Kaden Black did not take warnings lightly.
End of MARKED FOR PRETEND Chapter 13. Continue reading Chapter 14 or return to MARKED FOR PRETEND book page.