Red

Fourteen.

Court glared at Thorin. "I haven't gone soft for anyone. She is here because I brought her here. She isn't infringing on our territory. She isn't causing any harm here and is always supervised." Court responded as Thorin stepped forward.

"Why do you have a human here Court? That's all I'm asking." Thorin watched Court closely.

"Does it truly matter to you who I keep in my company?" Court asked.

"It does when you bring a human in here. I don't want my pack, or your pack put into jeopardy because of a human." Thorin stared at Court.

"She's not going to put either pack in jeopardy. She isn't leaving the cabin without me present. She spends most of her time in my room. Thorin she isn't a threat." Court stated.

"Move Court." Thorin said.

"I'm not moving if you think you're going to hurt her." Court responded standing his ground in front of Thorin.

Thorin rolled his eyes as a slight rumble left his chest.

"Will it make you feel better if I tell you I have no intention to harm her?" Thorin asked as Court remained in front of me. My hand had knotted in the back of his shirt by now.

"I promise." Thorin added.

Court watched him before reluctantly stepping aside.

Now I had a full view of him. Every view I had of Thorin had been a small one. I had only seen him from a window never up close. God is he tall. Court is tall but Thorin has many inches on him. His eyes are bright blue compared to Court's emerald eyes. He had jet black hair. Thorin stared at me.

Court watched him closely as I froze in fear under Thorin's gaze. He tilted his head. His eyes shifted over where he saw a bit of the bite mark peeking out from underneath my dress.

"You marked her." Thorin stated turning to Court.

Court watched Thorin. "I did is there a problem with that?" Court asked stepping back in front of me blocking me from Thorin's view once more.

"Of course not, who I am to judge you take to bed." Thorin smiled.

Court watched Thorin as he backed up. "This sacrifice is your packs turn." Thorin stated and Court nodded as I looked up at him.

Thorin turned back around as he took one last glance at the two of us. "She is the last human that comes here. If I find another one here besides her I will kill them." Thorin responded and Court nodded.

"She'll be the only human here." Court said and Thorin turned back around.

I looked around as the black wolf appeared once more and Court sighed as he left.

"Come on let's go back inside." Court said turning around as he led me back inside.

☾

"Court what is marking?" I asked as he came in with dinner. I had been pondering over it the entire day on what Thorin meant. After he saw the bite mark, he had mentioned that Court had 'marked' me and I wanted to know what it is.

Court sat down next to me as he set the plate with steak cut meat on it.

"It's a practice amongst my people. A bite typically on the neck. It's a claim. It's how my people chose someone." Court said as he looked over at me.

"Chose someone?" I asked confused.

"It's how we chose our mate." Court answered and I watched him.

"Why did you mark me?" I asked.

Court glanced over at me. "You're going to be here forever now. You can't leave, I marked you for your own safety. I wasn't about to leave an unclaimed female out amongst my pack with the very few females that we have." Court stared at his food.

He turned to me. "I would never do anything without your consent. I marked you because I want you to be safe here. I understand this isn't what you want but I wanted to make you as comfortable as possible here and marking you was the only way to." Court paused.

He looked over at me. I bit my lip as I looked up at him.

"Is it permeant?" I asked.

"Yes. You can't remove the mark. Once you mark someone its permeant. Most don't do it unless they are certain it's what they wanted. Relationships amongst us are very sacred and important we don't mess around." Court stared at me.

"You said there aren't a lot of females?" I asked and Court nodded.

"Most of the children born were male very few were girls. There is Lucia's daughter who is Thorin's mate and I believe two others. Because of that not a lot of people here have mates, I mean no one will protest it, but it doesn't affect them if an unmated and unclaimed female is around. . . regardless if they are a wolf or not." Court glanced over at me.

"What does this mark mean for us?" I asked and Court looked over.

"It means whatever you want it to mean. I put it there to protect you, and it's your choice if you choose to do anything with me." Court said and I nodded at that. "I will never pressure you into anything you are uncomfortable with. I don't ever want to see you look at me with fear because of it." Court turned to me.

He was so close to me. Court took in a deep breath as he shut his eyes. "If Thorin comes while I'm gone don't go outside. Don't see him even if he asks. He's not fond of humans, he never has been, and I don't want you getting hurt." Court shut his eyes before opening them and smiling at me.

I nodded as he ran a hand through his hair before turning back to his dinner. "Is that all the questions you have?" Court asked and I nodded.

"Okay, I'll be gone a little bit longer in the morning. My mother needs my help with her garden, and I promised to help her." Court informed me and I nodded as we turned back to our dinner and ate in silence.

1685. To anyone wondering yes Court is forming a bit of a crush on Ruby. I consider this part of the book to be the calm before the storm. I have lots of ideas in mind for this book! ***