Alpha’s Black Furred Slave Mate
Chapter 68

It's been months since Deonna left. Marlon couldn't handle not being around her, but he knew it was the best decision for them all. Surprisingly enough, the king hasn't sent anyone to the manor to search for Deonna and Mateo. He figured that the queen must have convinced him otherwise and he was thankful to her for that.

Despite all the workers Marlon had, the manor seemed so empty and quiet without Deonna and Mateo. He felt the tugging and pained sensation of his wolf crying out to her nearly every night. He missed holding her and having s*x with her and kissing her. He missed the feeling of her body entangled with his. Her dark features were radiantly beautiful; something he used to despise he now couldn't get enough of.

He hasn't spoken to anyone about Deonna and Mateo since they left. He can see how workers around the manor look at him; they are starting to lack respect for him. Winston eyes Marlon like he was worried that Marlon might fall off the wagon at any moment. Beatrice and the other maids have been avoiding him like the plague. The guards have been keeping to themselves and sticking to their posts.

Bob has been going around on the hunt for Alex; from Marlon's understanding, Bob and Alex fought in the forest when Bob saved Deonna and Mateo. Bob killed Petra in the stream, but Alex ended up getting away. It's not that Marlon wanted Alex to be dead, he loved both his boys, but he wouldn't allow such heinous crimes to take place under his roof by anybody. Alex must be punished for his wrongdoings.

He was gone and Bob was worried he was going to resurface at any moment, only this time stronger than he was before. So, for the last couple of months, Bob has been on the hunt for him. It would be easier if Bob could get a smell of him, but there were no traces of Alex anywhere.

Marlon couldn't help but worry for his son but was angry at the same time.

His mind kept tracing back to Deonna and Mateo. He couldn't bring himself to stop thinking about her. He knew that Deonna returning back to her village and away from the manor was a good thing. I was to protect her. It was far too dangerous to have her here, especially considering they broke her out of the king's castle. He was bound to come looking for her at some point.

He just wished he could have had a little more time with her before sending her off. He missed her. He admitted to himself that he missed her. His wolf was sad without her, and he couldn't hide or prevent that feeling. "Sir? You wanted to see me?" Winston said, standing at the entrance of Marlon's study.

Marlon looked up from his desk and nodded; he wasn't sure if this was a good idea, but he was driving himself crazy with worry and needed to settle that thought once and for all.

"Winston, I need a favor," Marlon told him. "I need you to find out if Deonna made it back to her village safely."

Winston frowned, he stared at Marlon for a long while without saying anything. Marlon could feel the heat rising in his face with anger. He didn't need to explain himself and he refused to do so.

"With all due respect sir, I feel it no longer matters," Winston said, still eyeing Marlon carefully.

"I need you to do this for me," Marlon said, trying to keep his temper at bay.

"Sir..." Winston began slowly. "I've been meaning to talk to you about the slave..."

"She has a name," Marlon hissed.

Winston cleared his throat.

"Why do you have this connection with her?" Winston asked.

"You can't help who you mate with, Winston," Marlon heard himself saying before he could stop himself.

Winston's eyes widened.

"Mate?" Winston asked. "Your mate?"

"The wolf doesn't lie," Marlon said, placing his face in his hands in defeat. "I've been trying to hide it and push the feeling away. But it won't go away. It just gets louder. Now that she's gone..." Marlon's voice trailed off. "Sir, maybe it's for the best if she stays gone. You're a nobleman and she's a slave..." Winston tried to reason with him.

"She's not a slave anymore, Winston," Marlon snapped. "I set her free. She's free now."

"She will always be a slave," Winston snapped back. "You have the rest of the commoners around the manor worried that you are falling off the hinges. It isn't fair to them that you provide special treatment to dirt..." Winston tried to say but was stopped short when Marlon slammed his fists on his desk, the sound booming through his study as he stood to his feet perceptibly.

"Don't finish that sentence," Marlon hissed through his gritted teeth. "Don't you dare finish that sentence."

Winston tensed as he saw how serious Marlon was on the matter. He cleared his throat and nodded his apologies.

"There's been talk around the manor about a protest. They want to protest for better living accommodations. You gave the slave better treatment than you give everyone else. They are angry about it," Winston warned.

Marlon sighed and sat back down; he buried his face in his hands once again. He knew there was only a matter of time before the rest of his workers grew impatient and upset with the treatment, he's given Deonna. He knew that it was an unfair advantage and that someday there will be a protest about it.

It was time for him to face the music and address everybody as a whole.

"Call a meeting in the foyer. I'll address everybody at once," Marlon ordered.

Winston nodded and headed out the door; but before he left completely, he turned back to Marlon.

"Sir, if you have feelings for this slave, real feelings, it's best to leave her be."

Marlon knew he was right; he didn't want to admit it, but he knew he had a point. Marlon nodded as Winston left.

...

A couple of hours later, the workers gathered around the foyer. Marlon walked down his marble, spiral, staircase and saw his workers gathered around. They were speaking amongst themselves nervously, trying to guess what the meeting was going to be about. They were all frantically looking around at one another; Beatrice was the only one not speaking to anyone. Her eyes were locked on Marlon and her face remained expressionless. She kept her back straight and her head held high. Marlon cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. They soon silenced and stared up at him.

"I wanted to address a few things..." Marlon began. "I know there's been talk about my relationship with De... uh... the slave," Marlon corrected himself. "I wanted to address the rumors that have been going around the kingdom and the manor."

He paused to gather his thoughts; they all patiently waited for him to continue.

"The rumors were true," he finally said. All their eyes widened, and they stared up at him in shock. "I had a relationship with the slave and because of that, we ended up with a child."

"Are you mad??" One of the maids said in shock.

Marlon refused to look at her but instead continued to address them all.

"I know that's a lot to take in and I apologize for keeping something like that for you. I put not only the manor in danger but also the kingdom..." Marlon continued. "The king has been made aware of the relationship and has given me another chance to correct my wrongs. I hope you can do the same." "The king is okay with it?" Another maid asked.

"He allowed me to keep my life," Marlon answered. "He also allowed for the slave and our son to keep their lives as well. I had released them, and they are living in a small village far from here."

"So, she isn't coming back?" The same maid as last time asked.

"As far as I know, no she isn't returning," Marlon answered.

He felt a lump in his throat as he spoke those words. The thought of Deonna not returning drove a sword into his chest. He hated the thought of never seeing her again, but he also knew it was for the best.

"This past year I have given her special treatment because of my feelings towards her. That wasn't fair to any of you," Marlon continued. "I want to make right of that wrong."

"How?" This time it was Beatrice who spoke. "How are you going to make right of that?"

Marlon cleared his throat and looked directly at her.

"Better food. You'll receive food from the kitchen fresh going forward. Longer breaks between duties. A day off. More variety of clothing," Marlon answered.

Their eyes widened and he could hear the excited murmurs going through the foyers as they stared around at each other.

"There some maintenance work that needs to be done around our courters as well," Beatrice said, still staring at Marlon with a stone-cold expression. "Work that we aren't able to do ourselves. Broken doors; shattered windows, and damaged furniture. Are we able to get that fixed?"

Marlon thought about it for a moment and then nodded once.

"Yes, I will get some men on that right way," he answered.

She was silent for a long while as the murmurs continued; Marlon could tell he was buying them over and they were starting to respect him again.

"I want you to know that I value every one of you and I'm sorry for not showing you sooner," Marlon told them.

After a few more moments of saying nothing, Beatrice finally stepped forward.

"As your head maid, I think I can speak for everyone when I say... we accept."