The Mark That Wasn’t Mine Chapter 01
The clerk at City Hall called our number.
Just as we were about to step forward to complete the civil partnership registration, Alex suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“Sarah,” he said casually as he smoothed my collar, his movements so natural it was as if he were simply brushing away a speck of dust. “Listen, there’s something I need to tell you—I can’t mark you.”
“What?” My mind went blank for a moment. “Why?”
“Because I’ve already marked Emily.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than the red-haired girl stepped out from behind the marble column.
Her face was pale, and her eyes were brimming with tears: “…Sarah, I’m so sorry.”
It felt as if the blood in my veins had frozen in an instant.
Emily. That gentle, timid Emily. I paid for her college tuition, covered all her medical expenses when her mother was seriously ill, and even let her crash in my apartment when she couldn’t find a job.
The girl I trust most, and my Alpha.
“Last year, when you went to Europe to negotiate that territory deal, my wolf suddenly went out of control,” Alex said calmly, as if describing the weather. “Emily happened to be there… She helped me get through the rut.”
“She came to see me yesterday, crying her eyes out, and said she wanted to leave the pack and go somewhere no one could find her… I couldn’t stand it, so I made her stay.”
“But it’s no big deal, right?” he said, gently taking my hand and running his fingertips over my engagement ring. “She’s just an omega; she could never take your place. The bonding ceremony will go ahead as planned, and the whole pack will be there to witness it. You’re my real Luna.”
The world felt like it was shrinking.
The cold, smooth tiles of City Hall, the harsh white light overhead, the hushed whispers of couples waiting in line… Everything was warping and twisting.
“So,” I pulled my hand away, took a step back, and muttered, “You cheated on me.”
“It was just an accident,” Alex said, his expression darkening. “Do you have to come at us us like this?”
“An accident?” I dug my fingernails deep into the palm of my hand. “Are you saying this ‘accidental’ mark has been there for a whole year?”
Emily flinched violently. “It’s not like that! It’s all my fault. Ever since I was marked, I’ve been in agony whenever I can’t see Alex… I’m so sorry, Sarah. I really can’t help it. I didn’t mean for this to happen… If you can’t accept it… I… I’ll…” Her voice grew increasingly shrill, and she suddenly spun around, slamming herself violently into the thick stone pillar beside her.
“Emily!”
Alex darted forward like a bolt of black lightning and pulled her into his arms.
He glared at me over her trembling shoulder. “Enough! This is what gave her depression! She already blames herself enough! The doctor said she has suicidal tendencies! Do you have to wait until she’s dead before you’re satisfied?!”
“That Burberry coat she’s wearing is the one I bought her last week,” I said with a cold laugh. “She didn’t seem the least bit upset that day. Has she lost her memory? Did the gift make her forget about this accident?”
“You gave it to her of your own free will!” Alex shouted. “Why are you always so harsh? Why are you always so judgmental?”
“No,” Emily said through her sobs, “Please, don’t fight. It’s all my fault… I can’t help myself—it’s the instinct of mate…”
She actually dared to use the word “mate”!
“How dare you—” I raised my hand.
Before the slap could land, Alex grabbed my wrist so hard my bones nearly snapped. “Enough! I told you, you’ll be Luna. What more do you want? Do you have to draw everyone’s attention?”
“I don’t want anything!” I tore the numbered slip of paper to shreds and hurled it at his handsome, cold face. “I’m breaking up with you, Alex Reed!! It’s over!”
Just then, the phone rang sharply.
I answered the phone, and a nurse’s urgent voice came through: “Is this Miss Sarah Walker? Your grandmother, Eleanor, has suffered a severe stroke. We need you to come right away.”
“A stroke? How? Everything was fine at her checkup last week…”
“We’re not sure. The caregiver found her passed out in the living room. Her phone was beside her, screen still on… It looked like she was looking at some photos on social media?”
“Oh my God!” Emily suddenly let out a short scream and covered her mouth with both hands. “I posted some photos from our beach vacation last year a few days ago. I thought I’d carefully filtered out all our mutual friends… I must have… accidentally left Grandma Eleanor in…”
I stumbled a step and nearly collapsed.
