"Kill the feral one! She's too far gone to call a mate!"
The throne room doors slammed open hard enough to rattle the stone walls.
A man staggered inside, clutching his right eye. Blood seeped between his fingers, trailing down his wrist and dripping onto the polished marble floor. Four men followed close behind him, their faces pale and tight with unease.
"Bring me the other one," he snarled, voice raw with fury. "I'll complete the mate bond with her. Tonight."
Two of the men bowed immediately, submissive and silent, before retreating from the hall.
From the archway beside the throne, an older woman emerged.
She did not rush.
She never rushed.
Her long velvet gown whispered across the floor as she approached, her posture elegant, her expression calm. The torches flickered against her sharp features, illuminating cold, intelligent eyes.
Only when she stood before him did he seem to notice her.
"Mother," he said, breathless but reverent.
She reached up without a word and gently wiped the blood from his cheek with the edge of her sleeve, her touch careful, almost tender.
"The raven-haired one got me," he growled, lowering his hand just enough to reveal the mangled ruin of his eye. Rage simmered beneath his skin. "When she woke, she was completely gone. Only her raging wolf remained."
"And the other?" she asked coolly.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"She screamed profanities at me."
Her lips thinned.
"How uncouth."
She crossed her arms, disappointment radiating from her like a chill.
"I'll have to reform her," she said. "Though I suppose that is to be expected."
Her fingers rose, pinching the thin bridge of her nose.
"Oh, why did it have to be a rogue?"
He exhaled slowly, steadying himself.
"The pain of the mark is lessening," he said. "Her resistance can't last."
Their eyes met.
They both smiled.
"It won't matter," he continued, his voice darkening. "Once we mate, her wolf will submit to mine."
His fingers curled into fists.
"With her submission," he murmured, "she'll become far more pliable."
Then it hit.
His expression froze.
His body went rigid as something unseen seized him from within.
A strange glaze fell over his eyes.
His fists tightened until his knuckles turned white.
Then he screamed.
A thunderous, animal roar tore from his throat as his body convulsed. Veins bulged beneath his skin. His muscles twisted, contorting violently as he collapsed onto the floor.
"FOOLS!" he roared, his voice warping between man and beast. "FIND HER!"
His bones cracked.
His spine arched.
"ARRRGHHHH!"
Fur erupted across his skin in a violent surge of white and cream. His human form shattered beneath the transformation, replaced by a massive wolf whose power filled the throne room like a storm given flesh.
He snarled, feral and furious, eyes wild with possessive rage.
Then he was gone.
Silence followed.
The woman remained seated in her throne, utterly unshaken.
She exhaled softly.
"It's alright, my sweet," she said into the empty room.
Her fingers traced the armrest of her throne.
"We will find her."
Her lips curved into a small, knowing smile.
"The witches will do their part."
She leaned back, perfectly composed.
"It won't be long," she whispered, "before your mate is back in your arms."
****************************************************
Notes:
***PLEASE DO NOT SHARE OR COPY MY WORK.***
I hope you all enjoyed the short teaser and I hope you all will love this story. All characters, places, story is completely original and is not based on a real place except for the fact that it takes place in North America.
If you don't like background info on how a story is told/structured/clarified in the world of this novel, then just skip the rest of this and continue reading onto chapter 1. :D
1) I gave a different bond, not as strong as the bond between mates, but a bond often shared between family members and close allies. Similar to how people are in real life. Like siblings or best friends that can finish each others sentences. I wanted the wolf side to have their own version through a mutual bond. During the story you'll see examples of wolves interacting with other wolves, kinda like in their own invisible world. It's also how wolves will test other wolves' character. (like how dogs sniff other dogs' butts. lol)
2) Dialogue clarifications:
"Spoken out loud."
"Mind link."
'Internal dialogue.' The wolf half can still hear this part, even though it wasn't directed at them.
'Talking to your wolf.'
3) This story is for young adults or older. There will be some mature language and possibly some scenes too mature for the innocent. ***YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.***
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Marked by Fate
WerewolfSLOW BURN 🔥 *** Zara remembers the night everything was taken from her. The screams. The blood. The mark burned into her skin by a monster who called her his. She survived what no one else did. But survival came at a cost. Now, she lives with the...
