ROTTEN LOVE - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

"She is not your mate and we have established no one has fucked her. Not my brother nor you."
I lean down in my chair.
Zain responds, "I did not have her. Well, not in the way it counts, but she is marked, making her my wife."
I slump my head on the table. Nightmares had better outcomes. I needed things to work out but not like this. He does not have to bargain with us if he already has me— if I can't threaten to leave at any given time.
I rub my temples. There's a hand on my shoulder. Marisa lowly calls my name.
I snap my attention back to Zain. My eyes burning with furry. "How dare you? You had no right."
I jump up on my feet. Maddox gets to my side and grabs my face. "Tell me it's not true. You wouldn't let him mark you. You wouldn't let someone else bite you."
My eyes water. I look away. His fingers pull my hair back, revealing Zain's mark. He stiffens at the confirmation. I glance at him. "I did not realize."
Zains gets up. He walks to us, but Marisa blocks him. "You can't have her. You have to get through me first, wolf." She fists her hands.
Maddox grabs my wrist and shoves me behind him. He stands guard. Like he does. Like he did when we were kids.
I ruined everything. I doomed us all. All because I couldn't face my feelings for Maddox, and I tried to make him mad. Maddox threatens Zain, "I dare you."
My brother moves to my side. We all stare Zain down.
"I would suggest removing your hands off her. It's done. She agreed to the deal. She approached me last night. She made the move first. Now, she must deal with it."
"I didn't give you permission to bite me, dog." I look over Maddox's shoulder.
"I liked it better when you called me alpha"—he sinisterly smirks at me— "you had no issues with me claiming you last night. I sucked and probed the area for a long time. When I marked you, you were squirming for my touch, clouded with lust."
His lips on my neck were very distracting. I never even suspected it. "You're full of yourself."
Zain takes a big breath in. "Look, you are mine. End of discussion. But I am a man of my word and like you reminded me last night, I need this alliance for my people. We will complete the process, announce the marriage, and move on. The Malfattos will be welcome here. It was going to happen. We simply sped up the process."
"Complete the process?" I step to the side.
Zain looks at me with his infuriating stunning blue eyes. "Don't worry about that part. I'll do all the work."
My feet curl in the inside of my shoes. He is delusional if he thinks I'll allow anything remotely like last night to occur again. "Keep dreaming."
"It's either that or you can try to leave. There is no alliance with the Malffatos. My pack will have to get rid of your friends, but you will stay at my side." he says.
Marisa snarls, "any harm you do to me happens to Helena, in case it wasn't obvious."
"Then, I'll restrain you and keep you captive," Zain offers.
Jason steps in. "You are underestimating us. We can do a lot of damage. Not to mention, there will be repercussions with the vampires and our coven."
"So, I suggest taking the first option. Come here or I'll get you. I don't care who I must hurt to reach you." he orders.
He is underestimating us. We can take him. All four of us. But then the rest of our members are having breakfast in their designated cabin. Zain can order an attack with their wolf mind thing without us noticing.
I won't jeopardize them. I move to him. Maddox holds my wrist tight. He pleads with me not to go. I observe him and Marisa. The right decision is obvious. I must protect my home.
I cup Maddox's cheek. "This was going to happen anyway."
My eyes travel to our contact, then at him. A few seconds pass but he reluctantly lets go. Marisa stays in front of me. She will not convince me to change my mind. Her eyes were defiant but I had resignation. I half smile at her.
She sighs deeply but moves aside. I near Zain, and he pulls me in. He has no idea who he cornered. I touch his chest, taking what I need. Right when he sees the glow, he pulls away, but it is too late.
He grunts as he falls to his knees. His eyes close. Then opens as he touches his chest. "What did you do, witch?" He struggles to get up. A knee on the floor as he attempts to bear the pain.
"Since you like leaving marks so much, I gifted you one."
He gradually rises. Squinting as he takes his shirt off. On his right peck, my handprint brands him. Every day he will see it and remember who he forced into his bed. The print comes with a few perks.
He touches the scorched flesh, slightly wincing. "She-wolves mark their mate. If you think this will piss me off, you are wrong. I like it that you are territorial."
"Good that you like it, but you should know what it comes with. Unless I want it, you cannot touch me. Our marriage is assured but I'm afraid your sex life is over. You can try to find other females, but I doubt they will be interested in an impotent man."
"We both know that's not true."
"It is currently. It's me or no one. And that mark will ensure I get to choose if you touch me or not. Those are the terms. That is what that mark does," I say sweetly.
His smile falters. "You're bluffing."
"Try." I extend my hand. But he does not touch me. "Do not threaten my people again. I do not take it lightly. If I decided to take this offer without a fight, it's not because I think we will lose. It's because when we win, it leaves us where we started: at war with your kind."
Marisa zooms to my side. "The mark suits you, alpha Zain. Like having a dog on a leash."
"My thoughts exactly. If you excuse us, we must check on our people." I bump past him with my shoulder.
Maddox and Jason follow. On our way out, we hear loud clatter noises. A new dining set is going to be required.
We are out the door and Marisa whispers. "Are we leaving things like this? You are kind of married to that wolf. To them at least."
I sigh. "For now, it will do. It was a matter of time. We must start making good impressions with this pack."
Marisa questions. "So?"
"So, let's round up everyone. Then, we will socialize," I say.
She tsks.
The cabin is near sight when my shirt gets tugged from the back. Maddox pulls me to the side. Marisa and Jason pretend to ignore us, but they are listening. There's no doubt.
"What about us?" he says, cupping my face.
Under normal circumstances, my heart would have swooned. The thought of us was a dream. After last night, it's clear Maddox does not know what he wants.
The rejection is on the tip of my tongue when Marisa calls out my name. The tone in her voice is alarming. I snap my attention to her.
Her hands were in fists. I instantly check our surroundings. That's when I noticed all the people in the area, Zain's people, staring at us with menacing eyes.
Marisa and Jason walk closer to us. Maddox shifts forward. I place my hand on his shoulder. He is not alone. Although there is no we, I want him to understand I notice what he does for us.
Our caregiver. Our guardian. Our family.
A female emerges at the forefront. She is visibly taller than me. Any female here is taller than Marisa and me. She cocks her head to the side. Takes us in.
Jason shifts closer. I would not find this weird normally, but his eyes are on her. He observes her intently. Something is up.
I whisper to him. "What's wrong?"
"I'm not sure yet, that female..." He does not finish, just keeps his eyes on her. I take a closer look.
She has dirty blond hair, tan skin, a lean body, and brown eyes. She's pretty, objectively speaking. I don't appreciate how she is sizing us up or how there seem to be lackeys around her. She breaks the silence. "You shouldn't be here."
Maddox answers, "we are guests of alpha—"
"I am not talking to you, bloodsucker."
I move to his side. The female eyes me. "Are you talking to me?" I give her a mocking tone.
She snarls. "You should not be here."
Her nose scrunches and her lips peel up. She might hate me more than the Malfattos, which says a lot. She must be one of Zain's fangirls. "If you have a problem with my arrangement with Zain, take it out on him. His love affairs are not my problem."
She gets closer. Marisa leans forward. I hold her wrist back.
"You should not be here with them, with him, where everyone can see you. Zain deserves better. I told him not to do it."
I point to them. "Marisa and Maddox are very close personal friends. That's the whole point of my arrangement with your alpha. If you were important enough to him, I imagine he would have told you the full context."
"I know why you are here witch. Better you than her." She eyes Marisa with a disgusted face.
Marisa winks and blows her a kiss.
"That does not mean you will make a fool out of him."
"How am I doing that exactly?"
"You are out here parading with that one." She points to Maddox.
Oh.
"As I said, Lord Maddox is a personal friend."
"I don't look at my friends like that," she argues.
I argue, "I'll be surprised if you have any."
She inches forward. I match her. Jason calls my name. There is a pleading in his voice like he does not want me to engage with her.
I did not bother her. She got in my face.
"If you are not going to do anything, then go about your day." Marisa's wrist is heavy in my hand. I've been extracting. The energy should last a few tricks.
Before I know it, the female runs towards me. I don't retreat. Maddox and Marisa snarl but I give them a look to stay out of it.
These wolves are so self-centered. They think they are superior like their alpha. They need to be taught a lesson.
Besides the magic, Jason and I have trained our bodies. In this world, you must be skilled in combat. This female thinks that because she has inches on me and her body is blessed with some dog traits I will be an easy target.
She tries to land a punch. I duck and hit her side. She attempts another blow to the face. I dodge it.
These people should not find out about my connection with Marisa. She will retain a poker face throughout the interaction. But she is feeling the blows too.
Distracted, the female goes for my feet. I fall to the ground. She uses her weight for leverage and attempts to hit my face. I managed to grab her wrist and head bud her which hurt. Not the smartest idea.
I roll her on her back and aim for her face next, but she digs her claws on my back. I hiss.
She throws me off her and gets back on her feet. I stand. She wants to run to me, but I am tired of the nonsense. I use the magic I extracted. "Enough," I order, and she stops. "Kneel."
Her knees hit the floor. Knowing I have enough power for only another move or two, I walk to her and place my hand on her throat.
The adrenaline surges. My vision clouds with anger. Her people are upset and eager to join the fight, but they stay in their place. Getting involved will probably dishonor her.
I crouch down. I whisper in her ear. But with everyone's abilities, they can hear. "Listen, pup. Since I have been here, I have had nothing but trouble. I am tired and angry. You do not want to mess with me again." I squeeze her throat.
My hands slightly heat. I tend to fall back on fire elements when I am angry. My hands should not char her...yet. She grunts through the pain.
"Your alpha has claimed me without my consent, so I am here to stay. My friends are here to stay... for however much I want. I am not here to fight but I will not be taken advantage of. Not from your alpha. Not from your pack and especially not from a jealous she-wolf." I fling her back.
She cups her neck and hisses. There is hardly a mark. With their healing, it will be gone in an hour. I could have done worse, but the magic was running out. Plus, scarring a member will not improve my relations with them.
Everything went to hell by the look of it. I turn my back and walk back to my group. I hear a snarl and expect to be pulled back by her.
When I turn, my brother has his hands around her waist, holding her back. She fights against him. Gradually, she fidgets less.
That's weird.
My brother says to her, "stop. It's done."
She heaves then calms. I tilt my head. The female gapes at my brother, moving her sight from high to low. They stare at each other until she slams her hands down and yells to be released.
He does. He puts his hands in surrender and makes his way to us.
Marisa eyes my back. The claw marks have saturated my white tank. I am destined to be mauled here. I give her a quizzical look. She nods yes, meaning she has already felt it. Her back must be clawed.
She shakes her head no indicating that it won't take long to heal. I sigh with relief.
She is wearing a dark blue silhouette blouse with leather pants. Her shirt should cover her blood but if they pay attention enough they should be able to pick up the smell of two different bloods.
The vampires did because they came rushing out of the cabin with my coven. They sniff and eye us two. We give them a look to not do anything, but they are protective of the Malfattos as they would be to a god.
Abruptly, a loud growl emanates. The trees quiver at the sound. More people appear, their people. I swallow. My group is fueled with hatred and hoping for a reason to attack.
The sound is familiar. Zain.
He sights the female and regards my state. He observes my tense people and his enraged pack.
He walks to the girl, and I swallow the sting. I did not ask for her to pick a fight with me. I reacted. She talked about me disrespecting him with Maddox but what is he doing right now?
Attending to her first without looking at me comes off as more tactless, given that this started because of his stupid claim and inability to keep his teeth to himself. We should have eased everyone into the alliance.
Perhaps, this female would not have reacted so negatively. Nope, he decided to claim me but displays his disloyalty. Yet, I am supposed to stay away from the one male who has sheltered me.
Zain moves her head to the side and studies her neck. The mark is fading. He should not be so dramatic. Still, his lips tightened. He turns and stares me down.
I don't allow him to embarrass me any further. "Before you say anything, she came to me. I defended myself." I shrug my shoulders. "Go and cure your lover. I lament nothing."
He whips his head to the female. She avoids his gaze. He sighs deeply and releases her face. "For future reference, if you ever lay another finger on my sister again, then claim or not, I will respond accordingly." he says in a deadly calm voice.