Chains to Crowns
Chapter 17

Klara was desperately battling her wolf back, she had never known her to be this strong and dominant, the two sides of her mind in a silent battle to the outside world while she could only witness her wolf goading the King… the King of wolves! A descendant of the original wolf. She was panicking as she battled, desperate to take back control and grovel for his forgiveness at her disrespect.

With the provocation, Marc had no hope of getting back under control, but what happened next surprised both him and his wolf. Klara strode forward, haltering every few steps, her eyes flicking between baby and electric blue. With one swift move, her small hands ripped the shirt from his shoulder, yanked him down to her height and her canines buried themselves deep into the dip above his collar bone.

The animalistic groan mixed with a moan filled the room, and distracted Klara’s wolf side enough that she pushed forwards. Instantly retracting her teeth and falling to the ground in submission. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry,” she begged. Her wolf was out of control, she had never declared herself an Alpha before… she wasn’t an alpha, she was a whipping pole.

“Stand,” the wolf still evident in Marc’s voice, he hadn’t gained control. At this point, Marc could only watch while he held onto his wolf’s tail to keep him back as much as he could until his wolf allowed him back to the front. He was trapped within his own mind with her mark burning deep within him, the blood staining his shirt. Her wolf had dominated his, marking first was always the dominant. But the feelings rushing through him were indescribable. Was this how Klara felt every day? Betrayal, sadness, hopelessness, fear, terror. There wasn’t one positive emotion running through her at that moment. It pained him how hurt she truly was.

Klara, trembling, slowly got back to her feet at the King’s command. “I was trying to stop her,” Klara whimpered, head bent low. She was terrified. She had called the King a bitch! She was screwed, mate or not she was dead. “Look. At. Me,” the command evident, each word punched out with force. Klara coward but did as she was told. Looking up she could see the blood still pouring from her bite, her eyes dared to lock onto his golden swirling orbs, the emotion undetectable. “Lick it.”

“What?” she squeaked.

‘My mark silly,’ her wolf cut in, sounding pleased as punch. Klara gulped as his fingers quickly worked on the buttons of his shirt that were still closed, shrugging off the material. His chest rose and fell quickly, his slim but toned frame instantly put uncomfortable thoughts in her head. She wanted to touch him, run her hands down. Her eyes landed on his trousers, wanting to reach out and unbuckle his belt.

She blushed until his voice snapped her head back up to his face. “Lick it,” he growled again. She swallowed, then tentatively reached up, her eyes looking for any movement of him. She flattened her tongue and ran it over the bite. Tasting the metallic warmth. A small hum came from next to her as she ran her tongue along it once more. Pulling away she saw the teeth marks were now sealed; no longer bleeding. She’d punctured with both sets of teeth, four prominent holes were wide and deep vs the other small teeth marks. “That’s better,” he rumbled. She took a small step back, looking at the grin on his face, canines bared. She swallowed a lump in her throat.

Marc’s large hand cupped Klara’s chin, dragging her face so her eyes would meet his. “P-please” she whined.

“If you let me mark you back you’ll know I’m not going to kill you,” the deep powerful rumble was foreboding, but his words were comforting. “But this will sate me,” the wolf whispered before crashing his human lips on Klara’s. Her eyes widened in surprise and against anything she thought would happen upon his lips on hers. She melted.

She thought his forehead kisses were good. Lips on lips completely trumped all those comfort feelings. His lips, soft and warm, massaged over hers, despite the waves of dominance and power still flowing from him, the kiss was gentle and loving while his thumb pad stroked her cheek. She wasn’t sure what to do with her hands so did what felt natural and placed them on his chest, using him to steady herself and gain contact with his bare skin, increasing the tingles and lightning that had been exploding around her with his lips on hers.

He slowly pulled away, “Let us sleep in the same bed as you…” He looked deep into the blue orbs. “We promise to only hug you… I need to hold you.” Klara frowned a little, but she had, well her wolf had just insulted him, marked him with zero consent, and challenged him… sleeping in the same bed seemed a much more favourable option than beaten, starved, or locked in the cells and executed for treason. She gingerly nodded. Earning her a quick kiss before he looked away, and his body language changed, his shoulders dropped and he let out a long breath.

When he looked back at her, she saw the change in his eyes, the colour was identical, but there was a difference she couldn’t pinpoint… she knew it was Marc back under control. She blinked at him. “I didn’t mean-” she started before he wrapped his arms around her, burying his face into the crook of her neck. “It’s done,” he whispered against her skin. “I tried to stop the kiss… you don’t have to sleep in the same bed as me… he’ll cope…”

“It’s OK… I- er- I lost control… I-I didn’t know my wolf....”

“You have no siblings.” It was a statement but she nodded against him as if it was a question. “Why didn’t you mention your wolf was suppressed?”

“I didn’t think she was… she was always begging to go to you…”

“Did she speak to you any other time? Have you wanted to shift?” Klara shook her head.

Apprehension swirled around Marc and he knew it wasn’t his, that would take some time to get used to. He looked down into her worryful face. “Erm… can… can I kiss… you?” She meant Marc as Marc, not just his wolf side. Marc’s heart soared in elation, he had to prevent himself from grinning like an idiot as he nodded, “Of course… I would love you to.” She reached up on her tiptoes and met his mouth. She wasn’t sure if she was expecting it to be different; it wasn’t which she was happy for. They moved against each other’s lips, Marc took her bottom lip between his sucking gently which created a small moan to escape Klara’s chest. Marc smiled against her, his hands rubbing around her waist and the small of her back. He broke away a little reluctantly before he took it further.

He reached up to brush her ear with his fingertip, their eyes gazing into each others. Marc didn’t think it was possible to love and care more for this woman than he had, but her mark had sealed, he would die for her. His whole being screamed to want to please her, do everything and be everything for her. He felt those feelings before, but now it was tenfold, his heart ached thinking he needed to let her go.

Something else ached too… cold shower time. He laid a gentle kiss to her forehead and happiness, contentedness and safety flooded through Marc. He hummed with her emotions before saying, “I’ll just go get changed, see you in the living area?” She nodded, and he gave her another kiss on her forehead; that feeling was addictive, he realised why she asked for them so often.