Alpha’s Black Furred Slave Mate
Chapter 45

Something was definitely wrong; Deonna has been acting strangely for days and now she's requesting to go back to her duties in the rose garden with the rest of the maids. It was like she wanted nothing to do with Marlon. It was unsettling for his wolf because neither of them understood what they did wrong.

All Marlon has been wanting to do is protect her and it seems as though that was no longer good enough. Or maybe she just doesn't want to be protected. She spent the majority of her life caring for and protecting herself; after being taken away from her family she hasn't had anybody except for herself. Marlon watched Deonna often from the window of his study as she worked in the garden. He could see the beads of sweat piling on the back of her neck and dripping into the fabrics of her dress as the heat of the sun poured into her tanned skin. She kept her hair wrapped because the sight of her unruly dark hair was disgusting to the maids. He knew better than to step in to defend her most of the time. They seemed to be treating her worse than they had before. Probably because of all the weird treatment and attention she's been receiving from Marlon.

By now they must know she kept the baby, and it was being cared for by someone in the manor. What they didn't know was that Mateo was being cared for by Marlon. He looked to the ground and at Mateo who was lying on his stomach on the mat that Marlon set up for him, with a couple of toys. He wasn't quite crawling yet, but he was getting stronger and looked as though he was about to start crawling away at any moment.

He noticed Beatrice has been all over Deonna lately, yelling and ridiculing her at any small error. The old Marlon, before Deonna arrived at the manor, wouldn't have cared. He would have let Beatrice do whatever she wanted even if it meant killing the slave if she miss-stepped. But now, he kept a watch on her to be sure that no physical harm comes to her.

Mateo grew fussy from beside him. He scooped Mateo into his arms and cradled him. He wasn't used to having a baby around and caring for the baby. When the twins were children, he had Ashely that cared for them mostly. Marlon didn't take on his fatherly duties until much later in life when they were able to transition into werewolves and begin their duties as warriors and future heirs to the Roessler estate.

But with Mateo, considering Deonna was taking on her slave duty role and continuing her studies at the noblemen academy, he had no other choice but to care for Mateo until nightfall.

As Marlon continued caring for Mateo, he made promises to Mateo that he would never allow harm to approach him. He would spend his life protecting Mateo if he needed to, just as he would spend his life protecting Deonna. Whether she liked that or not. His wolf was growing impatient with her resistance, and he couldn't help but wonder why she was pulling away from him as she was.

Marlon thought of Duke Frederick and what he was saying about returning with more men. It infuriated him that he had to get the king involved and now there was a rumor around the kingdoms about Marlon's relationship with a slave and their baby. He wondered how the hell Frederick would have even known about Deonna and Mateo in the first place.

Somebody must have given him some insight.

"Winston!" Marlon called out into the hallway of his study.

Winston was always nearby in case Marlon needed something with urgency, so he wasn't surprised when Winston's head poked out from around the corner almost instantly.

"Yes, sir?" Winston responded.

His face fell when he saw that Marlon was holding Mateo. Winston didn't approve that Marlon was allowing a slave to keep the child and he wasn't sure why it was being allowed in the first place. But Marlon made it known that he isn't to ask questions about it. However, if rumors were speculating around the kingdom and outside the kingdom's borders, then rumors were probably going around the manor as well. Not that Marlon would ever admit to anything, especially his staff. "I need you to find Alex for me," Marlon ordered.

Winston nodded and went toward the side of the manor where Alex's room was. Alex is the only one he knows of that knows the actual truth behind Deonna and Mateo. He's the only one these rumors could actually come from. It wouldn't surprise him if he told Bob and the two of them collaborated on trying to get rid of Mateo.

Alex had already tried getting rid of Deonna and Mateo by trying to help them escape. It failed because Marlon caught him in the act. So, it wouldn't surprise him if this was just another attempt at trying to get rid of them. Alex was a greedy man who only cared about winning the competition against his brother to becoming the sole heir to the Roessler estate. Now that Mateo is in the pictures, he fears the competition is even greater now and would do anything he could to put an end to that. Alex came into the study moments later; he didn't look particularly happy to be standing there. They haven't spoken since Marlon caught Alex stealing the keys to the cufflinks. Alex hasn't been inside of the study since that incident. Telling from Alex's face, he was also displeased at the fact that Marlon was holding Mateo.

"Your betrayal, once again, proves that you are not fit to be the sole heir of the estate," Marlon told him; he was trying to keep his voice low and steady to not disturb or even startle Mateo.

Alex cocked an eyebrow at him, confused.

"Betrayal?" Alex asked; his voice leaked with innocence, but Marlon wasn't buying it.

"We were visited by the Duke of North-Valley, Frederick," Marlon said, assessing his face. Alex's face remained unchanged. "He was here looking for both Mateo and Deonna. He says there's a rumor going around the kingdom about my relations with a slave and having a baby with her."

"I wouldn't call that a rumor," Alex muttered, rolling his eyes.

"Any idea how the Duke of North-Valley could hear such a rumor?" Marlon asked, getting to the point.

Alex deepened his frown as he realized what he was being accused of.

"You think I told the duke?" Alex asked, humor lacing his voice. "You think I went out of my way to inform the Duke of North-Valley of your gross affair?"

Marlon could feel the growl from deep within his throat; he had to hold himself back.

"I don't see anyone else that would know of such personal matters," Marlon told him, still trying to keep his voice tame.

"Father, I didn't tell the duke of anything," Alex told him; the humor was gone from his voice, and he sounded almost offended.

"If not the duke, then who?" Marlon asked. "There's word going around the kingdom. The king is involved."

Alex's eyes widened; Marlon didn't believe his fake shocked expression for a minute.

"I swear, father. I told no one," he argued. "However, maybe ask someone under your own nose. You don't exactly make it less obvious." He pointed at Mateo. "You're playing dad now? Imagine what the other workers are thinking. Rumors aren't just speculating around the kingdom, father. They are speculating around the manor. It's time to ask yourself what came first... the rumors around the kingdom, or the rumors around the manor."

Marlon curled his top lip up in disgust as he stared at his son. But he also hated that Alex was correct. He wasn't making things any better by caring for Mateo while Deonna worked in the rose garden. If anyone was starting a rumor, it was himself. "You're right," Marlon finally said, after a breath of silence.

Alex frowned, he looked almost surprised.

"I am?" Alex asked, eyeing his father carefully. He knew of his father's temper and didn't trust the calmness that Marlon was holding.

"Yes," Marlon answered. "In fact, I just came up with a new idea. Call it a punishment for your earlier betrayal of breaking into my office and trying to steal the cufflink key."

Marlon took a step closer to Alex who was looking worried. He stared between Marlon and Mateo with unease and then his eyes locked onto Marlon as Marlon reached his arms out to Mateo and gently handed Alex the baby.

Alex froze, unsure of what to say and what to do.

"Your new responsibility," Marlon said, a wicked smile placed across his lips. "You're going to be the caretaker for Mateo for a while. Sundown, you will bring him back to Deonna in the shack."

"What?" Alex gasped.

"If any harm comes to him, you can kiss not only the sole heir goodbye but also your life," Marlon threatened; his gaze darkening as he stared at Alex.

Alex was hesitant, but he wasn't going to argue. He gave Marlon a shaky head nod and held Mateo, uncomfortably in his arms.

"Now get out," Marlon ordered.