Marked by the Alphas

Chapter 151: Chapter 151

Mason POV

Everyone is sitting in the living room, waiting for me impatiently when I enter. I shove my anger and irritation with Rhiannon aside and concentrate on calming thoughts. Thoughts about me and Elara alone in bed, cuddling. Thoughts about Elara looking at me with love and telling me she loves me, and only me. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

“So,” Elara raises her eyebrows. “What’s the damage? An arm and a testicle?”

“Two testicles, actually,” I smirk, falling lazily onto a couch. “But only for one night.”

“She wants what?” Kane’s roar echoes throughout the room.

“Kane, you’re going to wake the kids,” Elara says softly. “And he is joking.”

“You are joking, right?” Elara looks at me with concern.

“She wants five thousand dollars and a date,” I reply calmly. “I already gave her the cash, and we have a date Saturday night.”

“Please, explain this to me,” Elara exhales deeply and scratches her forehead. “You agreed to date a witch. Do you ... you can’t have ... feelings ... right?”

“You’re shitting me, right?” I gape at her and sit up straight. “I could never have romantic feelings for her. She’s a witch, and just urgh!”

I shiver in my chair just thinking about it. And I am not pretending or acting. The thought irks me right into my soul. Fortunately, I have a way to get out of this.

“So, you’re backing out of this?” Axel asks, confused.

“You fool,” Gabriela says from the doorway in a cold, horrified voice. “You can’t back out. Whether you know it or not, Rhiannon would’ve done some kind of binding to you. You have no idea the pain and damage she can and will do if you break a promise.”

“Can everyone please calm down?” I chuckle, shaking my head. “It’s just one date, not a marriage proposal.”

“It’s a date with a witch,” Kane emphasises. “Not a fairy or a wolf. An evil, wicked witch. They boil frogs and burn shit.”

“Damn, Gabriela,” I say, looking at her. “Which fairytales did you read to him as a kid? Bram Stoker?”

“Kane has a point, Mason,” Gabriela replies stiffly. “Witches can’t be trusted, and she might trick you.”

“Whatever you do, wear a condom,” Axel says stoically.

“I’m not going ...”

“Oh, Goddess,” Gabriela gasps. She pales, and her fingers are trembling. “She doesn’t want a date; she wants a baby.”

Dammit. Fuck. I was so close to getting away with my lie.

“I’m not going to sleep with her,” I say, looking at Elara. “There’s only one woman whom I love and whom I will share a bed with.”

“You can sit here and tell me whatever you want,” Gabriela points a trembling finger at me. “But I know Rhiannon better than anyone here. She doesn’t want a date. She hates wolves. She wants your blood.”

“What?” Elara shrieks. “You mean she’ll cut or kill him?”

“No,” Gabriela replies softly, shaking her head. “Fresh, pure blood. A baby’s blood. A baby from Alpha’s descent.”

“Mason, is this true?” Elara looks at me with big, fear-filled eyes, and a glimmer of hope nestles in my heart that she cares. She cares about me, and that means there is hope that she will love me.

“I don’t want to share anything with that witch,” I reply, avoiding answering her directly. “I don’t want that woman to be a part of my life, and that is exactly what will happen if I get her pregnant. I cannot live knowing I have a child and not being a part of their lives. Having been the son of a father who did not want him, I am not prepared to do the same. It does not matter what Gabriela says or believes. I give you my word, I am not impregnating a witch.”

“It has nothing to do with being part of a family,” Gabriela replies in a low, strained voice. “It has everything to do with what Rhiannon will be able to do once she’s pregnant with your pup, Mason. That baby will be half wolf. If Rhiannon gets pregnant, she will be able to use that child’s blood to create spells. Spells against wolves.”

Elara POV

Gabriela’s words are a punch in the gut. Even Mason, who was nonchalant and joking a moment ago, turns pale and silent.

It does not matter that Mason only agreed to a date. It might give Rhiannon a foot in the door for more. For a baby. And what Gabriela is telling us is nothing short of a horror story.

My throat pulls close at the thought that mother, any kind of mother, would use her own baby for despicable spells.

“No, it can’t be,” I whisper, reaching for Kane’s hand. “She wouldn’t do that. She’ll be its mother! And mothers ... don’t ... she wouldn’t use her baby to make a spell. How could she?”

“Because she’s a witch, and you can’t fucking trust any of them,” Kane grunts.

“We can’t let her have a hybrid baby,” Axel says adamantly.

“Oh, for Goddess’ sake,” Mason jumps up, his eyes blazing and nostrils flaring. “Will all of you cut the crap with the ghost stories? I’m not having sex with her. I agreed to a date, okay? Nothing more. It’s a small price to pay for my kids’ safety. So, can we please let it go?”

“Okay, okay,” I say calmly, raising my hands. “It’s just a date. So ...”

“Dammit, Elara, don’t be naïve,” Gabriela cuts me off.

“We will give him the benefit of the doubt,” I say firmly. “He’s one of us now, and we weren’t there. If he says the deal was cash and a date, then that’s what it is, okay?”

“I’m going to check on the kids,” Gabriela huffs, turns around and walks away.

“Elara, thank you,” Mason sighs, looking at me with gratitude. freewebnσvel.cѳm

“Don’t thank me just yet,” I say firmly. “Because if you get that woman pregnant, I will cut off your dick myself.”

“Elara, I ...”

“I don’t want to hear it,” I shake my head. “You are a rogue. You know about witches and vampires when we didn’t. You should’ve known better.”

“I did this for you and the kids,” he yells, his mouth pulled into a thin line.

“And we appreciate it,” I lift my chin. “But we’re right back where we started. Except, this time the enemy knows where we live.”