Derek
He marked her.
Dorian marked Melody.
He fucking marked my mate! How dare he!
Dorian's got some fucking nerve.
"Now you're mine." I watched as he happily sealed the mark with a sloppy lick to her neck.
She's his?
Did he just say she's his?
Melody can't belong to anyone else. She's mine alone. She's the mate bestowed upon me by the moon goddess.
Even though she just broke our bond. I still feel connected to her. I always will.
I think Dorian is delusional. He's probably forgotten that mate bond aside, I'm still connected to Melody through our pups.
I'm the father of her kids and there's no way I can be swept out of their lives.
"What is going on?"
Standing behind me was my father. He looked like he would spit fire at me.
"Well, brother here thinks he could whatever pleases him just because he's king," Sophia was the first to tell on me.
What does she mean do as I please?
If I wanted to do as I please, I could have thrown this bloody Dorian to my lake, feed him to the whales.
"Derek?"
Father sounded disappointed yet again as he listened to Sophia tattle.
"You tortured her?" Malcolm came in right in time to hear that.
He came towards me, all calm and collected. His gaze darted towards Melody and he hissed.
I knew that Malcolm was loyal to me. He would never go against me. I smiled seeing him look unbothered.
"You shouldn't have done that!"
My cheek was kissed by a rock hard fist, sending me staggering backward. I touched my cheek and raised my head to see Malcolm fuming.
Wasn't he looking all cool earlier? What happened?
"She's supposed to be your sister too!" He yelled and came at me, sending furious punches at me.
"What the hell, Mal!" I yelled as I defended myself. "It's me! King Derek!"
Malcolm shook his head unbothered about my stupid introduction. He attacked me in full force.
"With all due respect, Majesty, you just earned another round."
What?
What does that even mean?
I watched with awe as Malcolm attacked me. I would never believe in my worst nightmare that Malcolm would turn on me.
I focused only on defending myself against Malcolm's attacks. I would never attack my best friend.
I noticed that the guards wanted to join the fight, but father stopped them all from coming to my aid.
"You are supposed to protect your people not take advantage of them." He yelled, throwing a even bigger punch.
I couldn't dodge it this time. I spat out blood from my mouth.
"Plus, Melody is my sister. You knew she was my sister yet you..."
Derek spat with disgust. He looked at me with disdain. Every ounce of respect was gone from his eyes.
"I didn't know," I muttered, letting out a sigh of exasperation. "I didn't know who she was." I explained.
I had to.
I couldn't let Derek think so lowly of me. Especially when I didn't intend to hurt Melody. Even though I had rejected her, I hoped that she would stay good.
I didn't know that fate would play so much with my life.
Derek shook his head. He was disappointed.
"Melody or not! It could have been anyone." He tutted and brushed jus face with his hand as if to see me properly. "She could have been anyone else's sister. And as Prince you were supposed to protect their chastity, not snatch it!"
"It wasn't my intention to snatch anyone's chastity!" I yelled.
Why do they all make it sound like it was pre-planned? Like it was my intention to get drugged.
"I couldn't help myself, so I...." My voice broke.
"So, you think it's okay to be a brute? Just because you were drugged?" Sophia spat.
Why is she so against me? Isn't she my sister? She should be on my side not on the other side.
I ignored Sophia and looked from Malcolm to Melody. " Believe it or not, I wasn't myself after that night. I tried to find the woman, but failed....."
Malcolm wasn't attacking me anymore. He had his back turned to me. His breath heavy from too much anger.
"Find her and do what?" My sister was again on my neck.
Dorian helped Melody sit and her guardian stood beside her immediately. Aaron wasn't here when it all went down earlier, but looking at him right now, I think he knows.
His gaze on me was blazing with fury.
I could smell his killing intent from where I was.
"You went off course, Derek," father began. He couldn't even look at me.
Disappointment was written in bold letters on his face.
"You were supposed to stay away from Melody and the kids."
My jaw dropped as I heard father's words. I guess that he is mad at me, but did he have to be so cruel?
How could he ask me to stay away from my pups.... and Melody.
"Father," I called in surprise.
He paid no attention to me or my protests, instead he directed his gaze to Melody and Dorian.
"I'm sorry for all you had to go through because of Derek. I wish we raised him better."
I have never seen father apologize to anyone before, but right now he was sincerely apologizing to Melody.
"No amount of apology can change what he did to our Momma," Aaron hissed, eyes spitting venom.
"He even hurt her again. He can't be forgiven." He crossed his arms.
Melody put forth her hand and brought them closer, hugging them like her life depended on it.
My own pups hate me so much. My heart felt like it was struck by a needle as I listened to their resentful words.
"Forgive me, your Grace," Melody stood up and bowed slightly. "I won't be keeping that promise after all."
Father's face showed a sad smile as he looked at her. He probably knew what she was about to say.
"Why?"
Melody brushed her hand through the pups heads and she kissed Dorian before saying, "We want to go home."