Miranda gasped, "What about Evelyn? She's your mate. You'll hurt her."
"I'll still have her by my side."
"As what? Your concubine?" Miranda frowned.
Markkus smiled faintly, "You don't like concubines, so I won't have one."
"Then, what would she be?"
Markkus's smile faltered, and he looked away, his eyes avoiding Miranda's. "Nothing," he said finally. "She would be nothing to me, if that's what it takes to make things right with you."
Miranda's eyes widened in shock, and she pulled her hands away from Markkus's grasp. "You would give up your mate, your true mate, for me?" she asked, her voice incredulous.
"Or what would you suggest?"
Miranda stayed silent, her head lowered. After a while, she finally spoke, "It's unfair to Evelyn. People would call me names." Miranda continued, "They would say that I'm the reason you're not committed to your mate. I won't do that to her, Markkus. I won't be the reason for her pain." She looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears. "And I won't be the reason for yours, either."
She sniffed and wiped her tears, "It's alright to make her your mistress. But please, don't disrespect me. It will break me."
Markkus smiled warmly. He knew she would say this. Miranda was a sweet soul, and very reasonable. Markkus was sure that Evelyn wouldn't mind. He would make sure she lacked nothing, though she wouldn't get much of his attention. He thought with a sigh.
Miranda leaned in and hugged Markkus. "I'm sorry for making you go through so much difficulty."
"You're not to blame," Markkus hugged her back.
Unbeknownst to him, a malicious glint flashed through Miranda's eyes. 'A disgusting omega dares to share my fiance with me? Are you worthy?' she thought.
…
Midnight came, Evelyn rose from sleep and went out. The mating ceremony would happen at dawn, so the pack was quiet - everyone had gone to bed, except a few strays like herself, who were sneaking around with their lovers…
And two men who've been following her from the moment she left the pack house.
"My Lord, why are we following her around?" Barak questioned. He couldn't seem to understand his Alpha's train of thoughts. "If it's to protect her, I'm sure no one is after her life."
As expected, the Alpha didn't respond. With his hands tucked into his thick black cloak with faux fur collar, he walked ahead of his beta, until they were standing at a good distance away from where Evelyn stopped.
Arriving at the secret place, Evelyn opened the cabin door and went in. The place was lit with a few candles, meaning that Markkus was there before her.
Markkus had personally built this cabin a few years ago. No one but the two of them went there.
Evelyn had been there countless times, where she waited for Markkus, or Markkus would wait for her, so she felt relaxed, and laid on the bed, waiting for Markkus to arrive. The soft flicker of the candles cast a warm, intimate glow over the small cabin.
As Evelyn waited, the silence was suddenly broken by the sound of footsteps crunching through the underbrush outside. Evelyn's heart skipped a beat as she sat up, a smile spreading across her face.
She knew those footsteps, knew the way Markkus moved with a quiet confidence that commanded attention. But as the footsteps drew closer, Evelyn's smile began to falter. Something about the way Markkus was moving seemed...off.
There was more than one person. Did his beta come with him? Just as she was wondering, a knock sounded on the door.
"Open up, Eve."
It was Markkus's voice. She smiled and rushed to unlock the door. She had locked it from the inside, just in case.
Just as she pulled the door open a little, it was suddenly forced open with brute force that sent Evelyn falling back.
Three muscular men barged in. Markkus wasn't among them, instead, it was Markkus's third cousin, Kael, her biggest bully, and his two loyal friends, Ryder and Thane.
From the distance, Barak looked at Vlad, his face etched with panic. "My Lord, aren't we going to save her?"
But Vlad remained silent, watching the show happening in the room. Just then, a female figure rushed to the door and closed it, locking it from behind. Then, she ran back and hid behind the tree.
"My Lord!" Barak could feel that something ominous was going to happen. He was scared that this foolish Lycan would lose his only hope of having offspring if he remained indifferent.
"Is she your woman or mine?" Vlad suddenly asked, staring intently at Barak who quickly shook his head.
"She's yours."
Vlad ignored him and continued waiting. If that wolf was what he was thinking she was, tonight, he would find out.
…
Evelyn scrambled backward, her heart racing with fear as she realized she was completely at their mercy.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here. Markkus's precious, little fuckmate, all alone in a cabin, a far distance away from the pack house. What secret lover are you keeping here, huh? Evelyn?" Kael stepped forward, his eyes glinted with lust, as he kicked his lips.
The other two chuckled.
"Could she be hiding him under the bed?" Ryder jest.
"Wh– what do you want from me?" Evelyn's heart raced with terror as she backed away from Kael, her eyes darting wildly around the small cabin, searching for an escape route.
But there was none. They were blocking her route to the door, and the windows were too small to fit through. She was trapped. Even if she screamed, no one would hear her.
"A little birdie told me that you have a great smell on you, one that makes men strong." Kael licked his lips again, his eyes undressing me. "Is that the reason my cousin wouldn't leave you? Come, let me have a taste. Satisfy me like you satisfy my cousin, and you'll leave here with your life intact, but you if you try to play smart…" Kael's voice dropped to a menacing growl, his eyes blazing with a feral intensity. "You'll have no proper corpse. Ryder, Thane, hold her down. I want to see if she's as sweet as my informant says she is."
Evelyn dropped to her knees, begging with her hands clasped together in a desperate plea. "Please, Kael, don't do this," she begged, her voice shaking with fear. "I'll do anything, just don't hurt me, please!"
Evelyn's mind was in a jumbled mess, reason she couldn't calm down to think of who knew she had a scent on her.
"You'll do anything if I don't hurt you?" seeing Evelyn nodding fervently, his smile grew wider. "Fine. I won't hurt you," he pointed to the bed. "Go on and speed your legs for me, little slut."
Evelyn's heart ran cold. She shook her head vigorously, "No, I won't. I can't. I won't!" she wept bitterly, clasping her legs together.
Kael sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "You don't want to? Then I'll force you."
Just as he stepped forward…