Mark of Mars

I woke up, pressed to a warm surface. I huddled closer, trying to soak in the comforting feeling for as long as I could.

I knew this was probably one of those moments when the automated lights in my apartment would flip on at any second, signaling my morning alarm for work, as they did in everyone’s home.

Deciding to rip off the band-aid, I opened my eyes. As I stretched out my limbs, I quickly realized I was being held by a pair of thick arms around my waist.

Looking up, I was met with bright emerald eyes, which instantly reminded of the day before and sent me spiraling into a state of panic.

I arched my back as far as I could, kicking my legs and trying to get away. But no matter how hard I tried, he wouldn’t budge; my struggle only exhausted me further.

Hearing a low, deep growl, I quit my poor attempt at an escape and looked up. I could see his strong masculine face through the tears brimming in my eyes. He looked angry and hurt.

“Stop, Fawn. Relax. Try to get some more rest and lay back down.”

Hearing him say my name in his deep firm voice sent shivers down my spine. I zoned out for a moment, the submissive weak side of me taking over and doing what I was told.

Snapping out of it, I aggressively shook my head, pointing at the door, getting more and more frantic with every passing second.

“No, Fawn. You are not leaving. You'll be with me from now on. No more cleaning. Understood?”

Shaking my head as fast as I could, almost hurting my neck, I quickly raised my shaky hands and signed with them. “Please no! I need to go home. This isn’t right. There’s been a mistake. Let me go home, please! Don’t hurt me!”

Hearing growls louder than before, I pushed away harder. He firmly grabbed both of my small hands with one of his much larger hands, completely engulfing mine.

His hands were bigger than my head! His other hand gripped my jaw so that I couldn’t look away, making me clench my eyes shut tight.

“Open your eyes, mate!”

Doing as he asked, I looked up shakily, tears running down my face.

“No mistake, little one. You are mine. You were made for me just as I was made for you. Perfect in every way.”

Wiping away my tears with his large, rough hand, he pressed me tightly to his chest, nuzzling his face into my neck and inhaling deeply. His satisfied growls had me frozen stiff. I stayed completely still.

After what felt like hours, he scooped me up into his thick arms and stood up, walking to the open door of the bathroom. I began to panic, pushing away from his chest as hard as I could.

“Shhh… It’s okay. We are just going to get you cleaned up, mate.”

“I’ll clean myself! Please, let me down!”

He plopped me on the cold black marble counter and pointed at my maid’s uniform. “This is too short, little mate.”

He growled, tearing my uniform in two. Popping noises were followed by the sound of buttons falling to the floor. His hands reached for his shirt, and he began to remove his clothing. My eyes widened.

Once he got to his boxers, I jumped off the counter, running as fast as my small feet could carry me through the huge bathroom.

But before I could even get near the large door, he grabbed me, plopping me back onto the counter.

He let out a low growl, almost sounding excited. “Oh no, you don’t run, little mate, we can play chase later.”

He winked, smirking confidently as he ripped off his boxers. My eyes were instantly met with his thick length.

As I quickly looked down, my cheeks grew hot. Hearing his deep chuckle, I see his feet come into view below on the marble floors.

“You can look all you want, little mate; no need to be shy. After all, I plan on memorizing every inch of what’s mine.”

I cried hard, throwing feeble punches at his chest. Completely unaffected, he went for my bra and then my underwear, until I was completely bare.

His eyes traveled all over my body, seeming to soak in every detail.

“Perfect.”

Growling in approval, he pushed my small body back on the counter in one swift motion, making me jump from the cold.

He then forcefully spread my legs apart with little effort. Ignoring my frantic struggles, he stared down at my core.

Horrified, I tried to cover myself, but before I could, he held my hands above my head and dipped his head low, latching his mouth to my core.

I gasped, throwing my head back and shutting my eyes tight, as his tongue lapped my clit and moved down to my opening, going in and out slowly. I was ashamed of my body for betraying me.

I’d never let any man touch me like this, let alone a Lycan. Right as I was starting to feel a sharp sensation build up inside me, he stopped, raising his head.

“Don’t ever hide from me, Fawn; we’re mates. I’m the only person who gets to see all of you.”

At this point, I was a crying mess, my long brown hair sticking to my rosy red face as I began to hiccup, trying to inhale as much air as possible.

He moved the hair out of my face and kissed my neck. Picking me up gently, he walked over to the bath, setting me on his lap in the warm water.

Flipping me around so that I was straddling him and our chests were touching, he softly grabbed my chin.

“Look at me, mate. I’m sorry little one, I needed to put my scent on what’s mine. It needed to be done to calm down my wolf, or I would’ve done a lot worse.”

I stayed silent, looking away at the surroundings, not wanting to respond. The whole bathroom was built of raw, rough black marble—the walls, the sink, and the ginormous bathtub we were occupying.

That tub at the end of the large bathroom could fit at least ten people. I guess it made sense. Lycans needed larger tubs than humans. Much larger.

My thoughts were interrupted as he laid my head down on his chest. He started to slowly untie my braid. Grabbing a cup, he poured warm water down my back, wetting my hair.

I’d never been taken care of like that before; the feeling was foreign to me. I always just figured Lycans would kill off a weak mate like me, especially an alpha king. But somehow, I felt cherished.

He began washing my hair with what smelled like his shampoo. The woody smell made me go limp in his warm arms.

He slowly rubbed body wash down my back, running his large rough hands up and down the sides of my rib cage and then back again toward my shoulder blades.

After what felt like no time at all, I was suddenly pulled out of my blissful state by him lifting me up and carefully flipping me, so that my back was now facing his chest.

My heart started to pound in my chest. I was able to calm down earlier, having my intimate parts hidden against his chest; but now, being so exposed, I started being reminded of what was happening.

“Shhh little mate, you’re okay, just relax.”

He rubbed across my chest, leaving soap suds to adorn my breasts. His hand then dipped down to clean between my legs. He was surprisingly gentle as he washed over my soft folds.

Not expecting it at all, I flinched as I felt him slip in his thick finger. My hand instantly shot down to his and gripped it tightly, trying to pull it away as I was filled with sharp pain.

“You’re a virgin. That pleases me and my wolf greatly, mate.”

Prodding in a little further, he then slipped his finger back out. Grabbing my chin, he moved my head to the side, pressing a hard kiss to my neck.

Growling deeply, his eyes turned a brighter shade of green, glowing with lust. Seeing me tear up, he stopped. Picking me up gently, he placed me on my feet outside of the tub.

Wrapping a very large fluffy black towel around me and picking me up as if I were his new bride, he walked to the room. Setting me on the king-sized bed, he started to dry me off.

I moved my palms up and down the comforter, appreciating its plush softness as he changed me into one of his large T-shirts and some clean underwear.

I’d never experienced anything like that in my whole life. No one to care for me like a family might, other than maybe Melissa; and that thought made me uneasy.

I started to tear up thinking about how I didn’t deserve all that special treatment, not when others like me were still suffering greatly. And especially when Melissa might be out there, cold, starving, and alone.

What if I got used to the feeling of being cared for, only to have him reject me later? Why do I even care about that? What’s happening to me?

I didn’t realize I was sobbing, until I felt the electricity from his touch. He picked me up and held me, as he slowly swung back and forth, rubbing my back softly.

“My sweet little girl, what’s upsetting you?” he asked affectionately, holding me slightly away from his chest so I could sign my response.

I hiccupped, taking in a deep breath. “No one has ever cared for me this way. It scares me to think you’ll soon reject me for a stronger, more appropriate Lycan mate.”

Scared to continue, I twist his shirt in my hands for a moment before starting to sign again.

“And if I do stay, enjoying the benefits of this situation, I’m ignoring my own kind suffering out there as I did. I can’t do that.”

“Little Fawn, I—” I tapped him lightly on the thigh, signaling I wasn’t finished.

“I starved for days, finally having to eat my neighbor’s grass because I had gotten sick and couldn’t afford food anymore after getting medicines.

“Because of your people’s laws, I barely get enough money to live. Because you all hate us so much, you’ve been trying to kill us off. Because you hate what I am!”

He yelled, snapping me out of my breakdown, and grabbed my face. “That’s ENOUGH, Fawn!”

He seemed to be in pain looking down at me. “They are now your people too. They would die for you, their luna, and I will not tolerate you disrespecting them.”

He rubbed his hands down his face and sighed. “It pains me to hear what my mate has gone through and that I couldn’t help you then, but we’ve all been through trauma from this war, things you will learn more of later.

“Far too much for OUR people to ignore so soon. Fawn, baby, I would never, could ~NEVER~ reject you. I would die first before ever leaving you. You are my other half.

“As for the humans, we will talk more about this tomorrow. Though it makes me proud you care for your people so much, shows signs of a true luna.

“You can sleep well knowing I have already planned on making a few changes, for I feel we may finally be ready to move on from the past. Now please let me hold you without any struggles so we can sleep.”

Processing everything he had said, I quietly nodded in agreement, knowing it was probably the only way I’d be able to sleep in that new place anyway.

He pulled the blankets over us and then reached over, plopping me onto his chest and tucking my head into his warm neck.

Meandering my hands over his tattooed chest, I shakily raised my hands in front of his face to sign the question I’d been wanting to ask all day. “What is your name?”

He laughed his deep masculine laugh, making me blush in embarrassment.

After the deep conversation that we had and everything that had happened in the bathroom, not knowing his name made me feel immature and slightly cheap.

He raised my face out of its hiding spot in the crook of his neck and stared into my eyes with his glowing green gems.

“It slipped my mind mate, how rude of me!” He looked younger, smiling ear to ear as he laughed, easing my embarrassment.

“Alpha Night—alpha king of all the Lycanthrope packs. But to you mate, I’m Mars. You are ONLY to call me Mars.”

Nodding, I fell asleep on his chest to him rubbing circles on my back.