Page 101 of Challenged Mate
A lump lodged in my throat. I swallowed three times before I managed to ask, “What happens if the obligation isn’t fulfilled?”
My father’s head tilted forward. “We thought nothing. Other than him searching for her, Bridget wasn’t worried. She was powerful, and she masked herself beyond recognition while living among the Summit Pack. No one, not even Nathan, knew she was a sorceress.”
A piece of blond hair, the same shade as my own, fell over his forehead as he shook his head from side to side. “But she didn’t know the mark would transfer to you—her firstborn daughter. She tried to make it right. She left to try and save you from him—sacrificing herself so you didn’t have to. But it didn’t work.” My father lifted his head. A lone tear ran down his cheek, piercing me like a knife to the heart. I couldn’t remember the last time I saw my father cry.
“Shit,” Kayla’s curse broke the silence that hung heavy over the group.
Axel huffed.
Stephanie’s stood frozen in shock.
Asher still didn’t react.
“It doesn’t matter.” The words came out stronger than I felt. “You said the mark is still hidden. No one knows about it.”
“Yes, but it is only a matter of time before it’s discovered, Blair,” my father said. “The sorcerers want the power your mother transferred to you, and they won’t stop coming.”
“That’s why you wanted me to mate the Wilds alpha,” I reminded him sharply. “You said I’d be protected here. What’s changed?”
“Nothing. You are still safe here.” He sighed. “I’m just worried.”
“Yeah? Well, me too. I’ve been worried since the day you told me about who my mom really is. But instead of helping me through it, you sent me off and have spent the past week ignoring me!”
Genuine remorse flickered across his expression, but I’d sunken too far into fear and anger to let it soothe any of my hurt.
Asher finally spoke, “What made you believe Blair wouldn’t be able to have a fated mate?”
A mix of uncertainty and apprehension laced my father’s reply, “The sorcerer’s mark is a foul, evil mark on a person’s soul. Its unnatural taint strips away all threads that might tie a soul to another, or so Bridget told me.”
And yet, the Graystone leader still placed one on my mother…
“Were any of those marked souls shifters?” Asher asked.
My father shrugged. “I do not know.”
“Then you have no proof that I am unable to experience a fated bond,” I pointed out. “Which I can… and I do.” I glanced at Asher. His eyes already rested on mine. Tension creased the corners of his eyes, but he gazed at me with tenderness.
It took all my will power to look away and say to my father, “There’s no point in talking about this anymore. We have bigger things to discuss.”
My father’s mouth set in a grim line, but he acquiesced. “Very well. Let us first discuss this alpha challenge.”
“There’s no need,” Asher stated. “It is well in hand.”
“How so?”
Axel stepped forward. His arms crossed. “With all due respect, Alpha Benjamin, you are a guest in our territory. You are not entitled to know how Asher will deal with the challenge. How about you join your daughter and her friend back at her apartment. I’m sure you have a lot to catch up on before the mating ceremony this evening.”
Red crept up my father’s neck.
Before he could say anything, I turned to Asher. Lifting up on my tiptoes, I pressed a kiss against the corner of his mouth. “Find me before the challenge.”
I didn’t say it out loud, but I was worried.
Based on everything I’d learned in my short time among the Wilds pack, Stanley was a fool to challenge Asher.
Asher was magically gifted, and all accounts painted him as the strongest alpha in their pack’s recent history.
How could Stanley think he had a chance at defeating him? He was either an idiot, or he had something up his sleeve.
