Mated To The Barbarian King Who Is My Ex-husband's Father.

Kane looked down at her, genuine surprise flickering in his eyes. At first, he had assumed she was merely joking or teasing him. But the quiet seriousness etched across her face proved otherwise.

​A mark on her neck meant she would belong to him entirely—body and soul. Yet if his true fated mate ever appeared, that bond would be forcibly ripped apart. It would shatter both of them, and he refused to subject her to that kind of agony.

​"Why should I mark you?" he asked softly, his thumb continuing to trace circles against her smooth skin. Deep inside, his wolf was practically howling, desperate to sink his teeth in and claim her.

​It won’t hurt. Go on, Kane... claim her, his wolf urged him.

​"Because I am your wife... and you love me, Kane. Isn’t that right?" she asked, searching his eyes as if desperate to find an answer written there.

​"Of course you are, and I do love you," he replied without hesitation. "There is no doubt in my mind about that. The entire pack is already whispering about how thoroughly you’ve bewitched me."

​"Is that so?" Arianna offered a timid smile, lowering her gaze bashfully.

​"Yes. But why should I mark you now?" Kane pressed gently. "You do not love me in return. Doing this would be meaningless."

​Arianna snapped her eyes back up to his, blinking in sudden confusion. It was clear she had so much more she wanted to say, yet the words seemed stuck in her throat. Her hesitation only deepened his concern. If she truly harbored feelings for him, why was she holding back?

​"What is it, my love?" he asked, reluctantly letting his hand fall from her face. "Is there something you are keeping from me?"

​Kane could sense the burden weighing on her mind. What could it possibly be? Had he unknowingly wronged her in some way?

​Arianna took a slow, deep breath, exhaling to steady her nerves. Glancing over Kane’s shoulder, she caught sight of Samantha standing a short distance away, watching them intently. Was she eavesdropping?

​"You sought me out to speak earlier," Kane reminded her, his expression growing increasingly anxious. "What is on your mind?"

​"I... I love you, Kane."

​Those four words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Kane froze, staring at her in utter disbelief, wondering if his mind was playing tricks on him. He shook his head slowly.

​"You have said those words before... but when I asked you last night, you seemed completely torn."

​"I am not confused this time. I really mean it," she said, her voice filled with unmistakable conviction.

​Kane searched her gaze. Looking deep into her eyes, he saw nothing but absolute sincerity. A breathless laugh escaped his chest. "Are you truly trying to make me the happiest man alive today, or is the Goddess playing some cruel joke on my mind?"

​"I truly mean every word, Kane. When I first met you, I expected you to be just like the ruthless image I had built up in my head," Arianna confessed softly. "There were so many rumors of your cruelty and savagery. But after coming here and truly getting to know you... it wasn’t just your beauty that captured me, but the profound love and warmth in your heart. I fell in love with who you truly are, and I am ready to walk this path beside you."

​Kane took a small step back, shaking his head in sheer disbelief as he stared at her. "Are you playing with me? If this is some kind of cruel game, please stop now... because my heart will not survive it."

​"I am not joking, Kane," Arianna chuckled, running a hand nervously through her hair. She looked up at him, biting her lip softly. "I really do love you. My heart is completely yours."

​Kane knew they were standing out in the open, that half the tribe and curiosity-seekers like Samantha were watching their every move, but none of that mattered anymore.

​Closing the distance between them in a heartbeat, he pulled her into his arms and crashed his lips onto hers.

​It was a slow, deliberate kiss born of months of longing. He cupped her face gently in his large palms, deepening the kiss as his tongue tangled with hers. She yielded completely, leaning into his touch and letting him take absolute control.

Arianna had not expected him to kiss her so passionately out in the open, directly in front of everyone. She had been momentarily stunned, not knowing how to react, but the sheer warmth of his touch quickly swept her away. Closing her eyes, she surrendered to his lips. It was a completely unprecedented feeling—to be so deeply cherished and adored by a man in full view of the entire pack.

​Kane could not bring himself to care about his status as Alpha, nor did he mind if the elders frowned upon his public display of affection.

​"I love you, Arianna," he whispered against her ear as their lips finally parted.

​"And I love you," she murmured, sinking willingly into his embrace. Resting her cheek against his broad, firm chest, her eyes flicked toward Samantha, whose face was twisted in silent envy. "Will you mark me now?"

​"Nothing would bring me greater joy, my love," Kane replied softly, his hand tracing gentle circles across her back. He pressed a warm kiss into her hair before resting his forehead against hers. "But you understand the consequences of bearing my mark, don’t you?"

​"I do," Arianna said, nodding slowly.

​"Then it would be deeply selfish of me to claim you right now," Kane explained, his voice laced with protective care. "I must break this curse first. I will not subject you to such horror."

​"You are not selfish, Kane," Arianna insisted softly. "If anyone here has been selfish, it has been me... right from the start."

​Kane merely let out a low chuckle. He pulled her close, resting his head against hers as they stood wrapped in each other’s arms. By now, most of the onlookers had pretended to return to their daily tasks, though Arianna could still catch them stealing curious glances every few seconds.

​"Would you like to explore the territory with me later?" Kane asked, breaking the comfortable silence between them.

​"Explore?" Arianna looked up at him, her interest instantly piqued. "I love the sound of that."

​"It will be a secret," he added, a rare hint of playfulness in his voice. "No one else can know."

​"A secret day out with the Alpha?"

​"No," he corrected her with a subtle smile. "A top-secret nighttime adventure."

​Arianna burst into a soft laugh, pleasantly surprised by his playful side. "I would like that very much."

​"And when we return," Kane murmured, trailing his fingers along her jaw, "you can read those books to me."

​"W-what?" Arianna blinked in surprise at his request. She had assumed he had long forgotten about the books, but it seemed the king rarely missed a detail.

​"Your Highness," a deep voice interrupted.

​It was Cassius. He stepped forward and offered a respectful bow. "Queen Arianna... forgive me for interrupting."

​"Speak, Cassius. I know you would not seek me out at a time like this unless it was urgent," Kane replied, his hand continuing to rub gently against Arianna’s back. He studied his Beta closely, noting the grim heaviness in the man’s posture. Whatever Cassius had to report was clearly serious.

​"We... we found the ring."

​Arianna gently pulled back from Kane’s embrace, looking at Cassius in surprise. Already? Could Aunt Freya have simply remembered where she had placed it?

​"Where was it found?" Kane asked, keeping one arm lightly resting around Arianna’s waist. While it should have been good news, Cassius’ expression suggested otherwise.

​"We recovered the ring from a maidservant’s tent during our search," Cassius revealed, his voice solemn. "However, we have yet to locate the necklace. Aunt Freya is adamant that the girl knows precisely where the missing necklace is hidden."

​A maid? Arianna knew Aunt Freya would tear the poor girl to pieces without mercy. But why on earth would a maidservant take such a massive risk by stealing from a woman like Freya?

​"Which maid?" Arianna asked, a sudden knot forming in her stomach.

​"Your Highness... it is Maria, your personal handmaiden."

​Her heart stopped for a moment. She stared at Cassius, unable to process his words, her mind momentarily going blank. Her brows furrowed in utter confusion. "W-what did you just say?"

​"It is Maria, Your Highness," Cassius repeated softly.

​"M-Maria?" Arianna whispered, an icy chill sweeping across her skin. This has to be a joke. There was no way Maria would do such a thing.

She had known the girl for years, and Maria had never stolen a single thread in her entire life. This had to be a terrible mistake or a setup.

​"You are saying it was my wife’s handmaiden?" Kane asked, his voice darkening as he pressed for confirmation.

​"Yes, Alpha. It is her," Cassius replied grimly. "And if you do not step in immediately, Aunt Freya will kill the girl in a fit of rage. She is out there demanding blood as we speak... that is why I came directly to report this to you."

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