Alpha’s Mark (Three lives Of A Witch)

"Ella…"

The sound of her name brings her head up. She straightens as the door creaks open, her sharp gaze fixed on the figure that steps inside.

Steffen.

Her breath hold for a moment before she releases it in a soft sigh. He enters with his usual imposing air, hands buried deep in his pockets. He stops a few steps from the bed, his gaze lingering on her as though he is trying to decide something.

She raise a brow, tilting her head slightly. "Is there something I can help you with?"

His jaw tighten , and for a moment, she thought he won't answer. Then, with a low sigh, he finally speaks. "I know the journey here was long and… difficult. I came to check on you."

The words feels alien coming from him, and she can't help the skeptical look that crossed her face. "You're checking on me?"

"Yes," he said simply, his tone holding steady, but his eyes betrays a flicker of uncertainty.

Her lips curves into a slight, disbelieving smile. "Why?"

Steffen takes a step closer, his towering frame somehow both intimidating and protective. "Because I'm worried about you."

There it is. An admission she did not expect.

"You're… worried about me?" she repeats , testing the words as if they are foreign. "Since when does the great King Steffen worry about a human like me?"

He stiffened slightly at her tone, but instead of snapping back, he exhales deeply. "You don't understand, Ella. You're…" He stops himself, his hand running through his hair in frustration. "You're not just anyone."

Her heart thudded at his words, though she tries to mask her reaction. "What does that mean?"

"It means," he said, his voice quieter now, "that whether I like it or not, you're… mine."

Ella blinks , the weight of his words hitting her like a gust of wind. "Yours?"

"Yes," he said firmly, his golden eyes locking onto hers. "You're my mate."

The room falls silent, his confession hanging heavy in the air. Ella stares at him, trying to process the meaning behind his words. Mate. She have heard the term before in passing, but never has it been directed at her.

"I don't understand," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I know," he replies, his tone lace with both frustration and resignation. "It shouldn't be possible. But it is. And it's you, making me confuse."

Ella shakes her head, disbelief etch across her face. "I'm human. This doesn't make sense."

"Do you think I wanted this?" he snaps, his voice rising. "Do you think I chose this? You think I want to feel this pull toward someone I can't even protect properly?"

His words stings, but she hold his gaze, refusing to back down. "Then why are you here, Steffen? If this 'pull' is so inconvenient for you, why bother checking on me?"

His silence speaks volumes. He doesn't have an answer—or at least, not one he's ready to give.

"Exactly," she said, folding her arms. "You're just as confused as I am. And for the record, I didn't ask for this either."

His shoulders tensed, and for a moment, she thinks he might leave. But instead, he takes another step forward, his voice softening. "Whether either of us asked for this doesn't matter. It's real. And that means I can't let anything happen to you."

"You can do what you want, but I can ask a favor from you" she ask grasping his gazes at her tender plum lips. His full attention sends the goaded for her to ask "I want to meet Mia"

"Absolutely not" he voice snaps out her request the moment it lands, his eyes hardening as he diverts them for the far end in the room.

"Why not?, it being long since I saw her and I'm not that certain of how she's doing." She argues back. Her worries grows by each second on clock, knowing the fact that time is not hers to will and soon Mia's life would be at risk of being consume by the dread poison in her.

"Steffen—"

"No," he interrupted, his voice firm. "This isn't up for debate. Teslime is still out there, and he won't hesitate to use you to get to me. You're safer here in the castle."

She narrows her eyes. "So that's it? I'm just supposed to sit here, locked away like some damsel in distress while you decide what's best for me?"

"It's not about what's best for you," he said, his voice dropping to a near growl. "It's about keeping you alive."

"Maybe I don't want your protection," she shoots back. "Maybe I want to live my life without a king dictating every move I make."

"And maybe I can't let that happen," he said, stepping so close now that she can feel the heat radiating off him. His golden eyes burns into hers, a mixture of anger, desperation, and something else she can't quite name. "You're my mate, Ella. Whether you like it or not, your safety is my responsibility."

Her chest tightens at his words, but she refuse to let him see her falter. "Then let me make my own choices. If I'm really your mate, doesn't that mean you should trust me?"

Steffen clenched his jaw, the conflict in his eyes evident. "This isn't about trust."

"Then what is it about?" she pressed.

"It's about survival," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yours and mine." The mate bond binding them together, could cause him his life if she's killed or let in danger.

"Really?"She stares at him, her heart pounding in her chest. Despite the tension between them, there is something undeniably raw and vulnerable in his words. For the first time, she sees not just the king, but the man behind the crown.

"Whatever ," she said after a long pause. The truth is that she wasn't sure if she could persuade him into letting her meet Mia, but she tried and won't press further, not because he wins but cause she doesn't want to get him on high alert as she plans her way out of his castle.

Without another word, he turns and leaves the room, leaving Ella to grapple with the weight of what have just been said—plots on how to escape without being caught.

Steffen, meanwhile, returns to his office, already giving orders to his head of security. "I want every border reinforced," he instruct Lamon. "I won't have rogues invading my kingdom."

"I'll double the guards presence immediately," Lamon reply.

Their conversation is interrupted by a knock at the door. Steffen gestures for John to enter, dismissing Lamon with a nod.

"I need you to set up a training session for Ella," Steffen said, his tone decisive.

John's brows furrowed, but he nods. "Of course. I'll prepare a one-on-one session for tomorrow."

"She's going to need more than basic skills," Steffen adds. "Teslime won't hold back if they cross paths."

"And the bounty?" John ask.

"No leads yet," Steffen said, frustration clear in his voice. "He must be in hiding. Likely under the protection of someone powerful." Likely the sun witch he has under his will. His scen is no way to be trace, only a witch like the one he has ca perform such spells.

Meanwhile, Ella is rudely awaken from her thoughts by a familiar, grating voice.

"You're up to something," Balu accused as she barge into the room.

Ella groans , reluctantly dragging herself upright. Her eyes narrows at the intruder. "Do you ever get tired of this?"

"You're a threat," Balu continues, undeterred.

Ella rolls her eyes. "You've been saying that since the moment we met. Don't you have anything new to add?"

Balu's persistence is grating, but she isn't in the mood to engage. "Balu, I think you need a break, a long one. Maybe rest those paranoid delusions of yours while you're at it."

"I don't need you telling me what to do," Balu snaps.

"And I don't need you barging in and ruining my peace every chance you get," Ella retorted. "You're an irritating leech. Keep pushing me, and you'll regret it."

She falls back onto the bed, dismissing Balu with a wave of her hand. But Balu doesn't budge.

"Fine," Balu said after a long pause. "But before I leave, answer me this."

Ella sits up, intrigues by the seriousness in her tone.

"What will it take to get you out of Steffen's life?"

The question hangs in the air, heavier than Ella expected.