The Alpha King's Witch Bride
Chapter 154: You’re Not His Mate... Right?

Chapter 154: You’re Not His Mate... Right?

"Mind if I join in?"

"Uh..." I fluttered my eyelids, staring at Marcellus’ piercing green eyes. He was scrutinizing me, waiting for my response to his request.

’It’s just a dance, right?’ I thought to myself, plastering an awkward smile on my face.

However, Sirena thought differently and immediately howled in protest. ’It’s not just a dance. We’ve barely had a chance to stick close to our mate because that bitch is hoarding all his time.’

Oh... Kaelos!

I glanced at him and Celine and saw that he had already begun withdrawing his hands from her, while she giggled and whispered more things to him.

The tense expression on Kaelos’ face told me that he was beyond uncomfortable and agitated.

"Dessa?" Marcellus called my attention again, his voice oddly suggestive. "Come on, it’s just a dance. The Alpha King wouldn’t mind. After all, you aren’t his mate, right?"

A cold shiver ran down my spine after he asked that question. I glanced around and spotted a few people glancing at us with furrowed eyebrows, causing me to get self-conscious.

’What the fuck was that statement about?’ Sirena nearly exclaimed, but I ignored her, drawing in a deep breath as I reluctantly grabbed Marcellus’ hand.

When I did, I turned my gaze to Caroline and nodded subtly, tilting my head and signalling her to still keep an eye on Celine.

"Thank you for this honor," Marcellus remarked playfully as he twirled me around before holding my right hand and placing his other hand on my waist.

I placed my left hand on his shoulder, struggling to maintain eye contact as I muttered. "It’s the least I can do after drugging you with a sleeping potion."

He chuckled with that rich, deep voice of his, causing me to smile subtly. But I couldn’t deny the uncomfortable feeling bubbling from my stomach.

"Marcellus?" I called, my voice low as I glanced at Kaelos.

However, I nearly held my breath when I saw that he was done with his dance with Celine and was now standing amid the crowd, standing taller than everyone else.

His silver eyes glinted with a predatory light as he glared at me as if I had committed a grave sin, his arms behind his back.

I swallowed hard, my eyes blinking repeatedly as I quickly tore my gaze away from him. I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt wash through me... And I’m not doing anything wrong!

’You’re literally dancing hand in hand with a handsome man, darling.’ Sirena said with a sarcastic tone in my head, causing my blood to boil.

’Marcellus is his best friend for crying out loud! And I danced with Caroline too, didn’t I?’ I shot back.

But deep down... I knew there was something different about this.

"Dessa, you were trying to say something." Marcellus’ voice echoed and brought me back to reality, causing me to smile wryly at him.

"Yeah, sorry. I got... Distracted a bit." I mumbled, shaking my head before I continued. "Why did you ask that question about whether Kaelos is my mate?"

He blinked at first before he smiled, pausing before he lowered my body in a swift movement. My breath hitched as I stared into his eyes, which glinted with a playful light, before he got me back to my feet.

At this point, I didn’t even need to look at Kaelos to feel the overwhelming jealousy and anger he felt. I made sure to keep my gaze away from him as I cleared my throat.

Marcellus chuckled softly, shaking his head before he blurted. "I was only joking around, Dessa. I like teasing you and Kaelos about your relationship because I think it’s... Cute."

I furrowed my eyebrows, my jaw clenching with anger that seemed to have come out of nowhere.

"Cute?" I repeated, my voice stern. "He’s my husband, Marcellus."

He seemed visibly confused, parting his lips. "I... Am aware of that, love. And I don’t intend in any way to come between that. It’s just—"

"Then don’t." I interrupted, tightening my grip on his shoulder. "You asking if he’s my mate makes me feel like our relationship is something that can’t be respected without the bounds of a mate bond. It’s... Not funny."

Where was this anger coming from?!

Yes, I was a bit agitated by Marcellus’ question, but I knew he’s always been a teasing prick. That’s how we became friends in the first place.

This anger... It felt like I was feeling someone else’s emotions. It was too raw. Too... Possessive?

My eyes widened as I brought my gaze to Kaelos again and realized something.

I’m feeling his emotions! His anger. His jealousy... Like they were mine.

’Is this the mate bond at work again?’ I asked myself, but then realized Marcellus was staring at my neck.

"There’s... Something on your neck." He pointed out, dimming his eyes and tilting his head.

The mate mark!

My heart jumped into my throat at that moment. Caroline had helped me cover the mate mark with makeup before we left my room, and my lush hair also did a good job of concealing it.

’It’s reacting to Kaelos’ emotions.’ Sirena spoke up in my head with a growl. ’The mark and the bond itself. Lie to Marcellus or something.’

Lie?!

Dear goddess...

"Uh, it’s... It’s a rash." I said with an awkward smile, subtly flicking my fingers.

That caused the wind to subtly blow at my hair and help cover the mark more, and also made Marcellus dim his eyes.

Fortunately for me, the current song came to an end. Marcellus and I stopped dancing and bowed in front of each other, my heart still beating heavily against my ribcage.

"You’re always full of surprises, Dessa," Marcellus remarked, his lips curling into a smile. "I’m sorry if my words were... Upsetting. Also, girl, do something about that rash. You don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea."

Once again, an uneasy feeling surged through me, causing me to fiddle nervously with my fingers behind my back.

But at that same moment, I spotted Kaelos finally making his way toward us, each of his footsteps seeming increasingly ominous, his gaze on me still intense.

"The wrong idea about your flawless skin, of course!" Marcellus suddenly exclaimed, laughing at his own ’joke’ while I joined him, although mine was forced.

But the laughing session was broken by Kaelos joining us and coughing, placing a hand on Marcellus’ shoulder. He had a plain expression on his face as he uttered calmly.

"May I dance with my wife now?"

Marcellus raised his hands in a show of mock defeat before he nudged Kaelos playfully on his arm. "Of course. You kids knock yourselves out."

He gave both of us a wink before he walked away, leaving Kaelos and me to face each other.

He barely wasted another second and placed his right hand firmly on my waist, pulling close to me and staring directly at my neck, causing my heart to skip a beat.

"Your mark..." He whispered, sounding surprised. "It’s giving off the faintest glow."

What?!

I felt like the whole room was spinning at that moment as I glanced at Marcellus and saw him speaking to a werewolf elite woman with a cheery smile.

"Did he notice the glow?"