18. Marked!

SETH.

I was still trying to get a hold of myself.

My breathing came out uneven, each inhale heavier than the last as I fought against the storm raging inside me. My mind screamed at me to let go, to put some distance between us before I completely lost control.

But my wolf had stopped listening.

It surged to the surface without warning, drowning every rational thought I had left.

Before I could stop myself, I leaned forward.

My fangs pierced the soft skin of her neck.

The instant they sank into her flesh, the rich taste of her blood flooded my mouth, igniting something dangerously primal deep inside me. Heat exploded through every vein in my body, feeding the possessive beast clawing beneath my skin.

A deep, satisfied growl rumbled from my chest as I slowly pulled away from her neck.

The sound barely sounded human anymore.

"Mine!" I roared.

My hands instinctively tightened around her waist, pulling her impossibly closer until there wasn't the slightest space left between us.

Every instinct inside me demanded the same thing.

She belonged to me.

My wolf basked in the claim, completely consumed by the overwhelming satisfaction of finally marking her.

I was so lost in that possessive haze that I failed to notice the silent tears slipping down her cheeks.

It wasn't until a sudden, unbearable pain shot through my chest that my thoughts snapped back into place.

I froze.

The sharp ache stole the air from my lungs.

W-why was I feeling this?

My gaze slowly lifted to her face.

That's when I saw them clearly—the tears.

One after another, they rolled down her cheeks in complete silence.

Something inside me twisted painfully.

Without even realizing what I was doing, my hand rose on its own.

My thumb brushed gently across her skin, carefully wiping away every tear staining her face.

My fingers lingered there for a brief second before slowly moving to the fresh bite mark on her neck.

I gently caressed the place where my fangs had claimed her. A strange mixture of guilt and possessiveness battled inside me.

"From now on," I said, my voice firm despite the chaos inside me, "you are to remain closer to me."

"Yes, Alpha," she answered calmly.

Her response caught me completely off guard—she didn't argue, she didn't resist and she simply accepted it.

Reality crashed into me with brutal force.

My eyes widened.

The bond...It was forbidden and I had just marked her.

Was that why she is so submissive?

A wave of horror washed over me.

I immediately shoved her away, creating as much distance as I could.

She stumbled back before lifting her head to glare at me, annoyance flashing across her face.

I barely noticed, as I needed to regain control before I did something even more reckless.

Without another word, she turned and started walking toward the door.

She had barely taken a few steps when my body moved on its own again.

I reached out from behind and grabbed her wrist, stopping her before she could leave.

The moment my fingers wrapped around her, I silently cursed myself.

What was I doing?

"You... you'll sleep on my bed tonight," I blurted out, unable to meet her eyes as I looked away.

"What?" she asked, her voice filled with obvious disbelief.

She clearly hadn't expected those words.

Neither had I.

"You heard me right, human," I growled, my voice low and laced with contempt. "You humans are known for your shitty nature as whores!" I declared, letting every word drip with cold disdain.

The insult had barely left my lips when she abruptly pulled herself away from me.

The warmth that had lingered between us disappeared instantly.

She turned to face me, her movements controlled despite the hurt flashing across her eyes.

"Alpha..." she began, drawing in a slow, steady breath as though she needed it to keep herself composed. She paused for a brief moment before continuing. "You are so high and mighty..." she said quietly. "How could I bear to sleep on the same bed as you?"

Her words struck somewhere deep inside me.

For the briefest second, the anger burning within me faltered, and my heart softened in a way I hadn't expected.

She hadn't shouted.

She hadn't insulted me back.

Instead, she had simply questioned the absurdity of my command.

I hated how that affected me.

Before she could notice even the slightest crack in my expression, I forced my face back into its usual cold, emotionless mask.

I wouldn't let her see the conflict raging inside me.

"It's an order," I declared firmly, as every syllable echoed through the room with unquestionable authority.

"I can't," she replied without hesitation.

Her voice remained respectful, but there was an unmistakable firmness to it.

Almost immediately, she lowered her gaze to the floor, as she couldn't even bring herself to look me in the eyes.

The sight made the corner of my lips curl upward.

A slow, knowing smile spread across my face—so, there really was something she didn't want.

Perfect.

I had already sworn to make her life miserable. If this was what she feared...then this was exactly what I would force her to do.

Without another word, I took a slow step toward her, until the distance between us disappeared within seconds.

My hand slid around her waist, holding her firmly in place before she had the chance to retreat.

With my other hand, I gently lifted her chin.

Her reluctant gaze met mine.

"Vixen," I called, my voice calm but commanding. "You cannot disobey me," I added, each word carrying the unmistakable weight of an Alpha's authority.

My grip remained steady around her waist as I held her gaze captive.

"Tonight, you will serve me on my bed," I declared.

The color drained from her face in an instant.

Her eyes widened ever so slightly, and the confidence she had displayed moments ago seemed to disappear beneath the weight of my command.

Without breaking eye contact, I slowly reached up and brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face, tucking it gently behind her ear.

My fingers lingered for only a heartbeat before falling away.

"You cannot run away from me tonight," I blurted out, my voice dropping into a quiet, unwavering warning.