Chapter 6

SYLVIA

Hunter growled, a deep and guttural sound, his eyes glowing with lust. I hit him with my fists on his shoulders to make him let go of me. It made no impact on him.

“Stop it! Stop it!”

I screamed and cried, but he pinned me to the ground. He held my arms above my head. I could see his canines elongating. Why? What happened? I knew it was too good to be true. Men are all the same. They take and take. Woman are just objects to them, playthings to hurt. I struggled in vain underneath him. I could feel his hardness against my stomach.

“Let me go, Hunter!” I wormed and squirmed underneath him. It only made him more excited.

“Don’t deny me, Mate!” I hardly recognized his voice. This wasn’t Hunter, but his wolf. “Must mark you. Mine.” He pressed himself into my body.

His blonde hair fell forward, framing his face. He seemed like a lion about to devour his prey. He was both attractive and dangerous. I was terrified, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

The memory of Drake ripping my clothes off and shoving his thick member into me flashed through my mind. It hurt. It always hurt.

Hunter swore he would never do anything that I didn’t want. I was a fool to believe him.

“Please, please, don’t hurt me.” I tried pleading with him and for a second, I thought I saw his eyes return to normal. But then the wolf regained control. He was too strong. I couldn’t do anything to stop him. I cried. His lips crashed onto mine. He forced his tongue into my mouth.

I had no choice - I bit him. Blood filled my mouth. He yelped and rolled off me. I got on my shaky knees. Surely, he would punish me for biting him. I didn’t have the strength to run. He must do what he wanted; I couldn’t stop him. Oh Moon Goddess, why do you hate me?

Hunter sat on the ground, holding his head in his hands. He groaned. I remained at a distance, watching him, wiping the blood from my mouth with the back of my hand. The night was fading fast, the sun started to rise in the east, bruising the sky in violet.

“What have I done?” he moaned. He got up, smoothing his hair back. His hands were shaking. I took a step back. He had a pained expression on his face.

“Sylvia, are you alright?” walking towards me, he seemed shaken and confused. “I’m so sorry, I truly am. I lost control.”

“Stay away from me, Hunter.” I warned. My faith in him was shaken. I couldn’t trust him now. “Why? Why did you do that?”

He held his hands out to me, pleadingly. “Please believe me, I had no control over it. I went into heat. It’s the mate bond. It forces me to mark you and mate.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I am so embarrassed. Ever since I saw you, I felt it, but I had it under control. But then, your smell, it drove me wild.”

I didn’t know much about the mate bond. Only what I heard what my friends and cousins spoke about, before Drake took me. I did feel the pull though. But my fear and distrust were stronger.

“Are you hurt? Did I hurt you?” Hunter asked with a worried expression. “Please tell me I didn’t hurt you.”

“No, I’m fine. But I bit you. Are you going to punish me?” I held my arms against my body. I didn’t want him to touch me.

“Punish you? No, of course not, Angel! Why would you even think… Oh.” He sighed deeply. “Damn it to hell!” Hunter slapped his hand against a tree trunk.

The sound startled me and I cringed. He saw my reaction. He shook his head.

“Sylvia, I’m so sorry. I can’t say it enough. I’ll stay away from you. For now. It will be difficult, but I will try my best.” 

“I don’t know what to say, Hunter. I saw your wolf.” Drake’s wolf had control all of the time and he loved seeing me beg. Loved raking his nails down my back while I screamed.

“Blaze. Yes, he pushed through. He feels the heat strongly. But he won’t hurt you, Sylvia.”

“You can’t promise me that. You were ready to rape me.” I spat at him. Tears threatened to come spilling down again.

“No! I wasn’t. I would never.” He looked shocked. Hunter approached me, putting his hands in his pockets. “Sylvia, believe me, I wouldn’t do that to you. Yes, I lost temporary control, but I…”

I put my hand out to stop him. “If I hadn’t bitten you, would you have stopped?”

“Yes, I couldn’t do anything without your consent. Please, you’ve got to believe me, Angel.”

“I wish I could believe you, Hunter.” I started walking towards the palace. He fell into pace next to me. I glanced at him. I so wanted to believe him. I was ready to let him kiss me. But not like that. Never like that again.

Hunter sighed. “Sylvia, it’s just that I want you so bad.”

I wanted him too, but I needed time. “I can’t, Hunter.” I needed to feel safe.

 “But I promise you, I will wait till you’re ready.” He said, looking at me, so sincerely.

We stopped near the palace’s entrance. I saw some warriors getting ready for training. They were running around the grounds. People were waking up, going about their daily business.

“Let me take you to your room. I’ll have breakfast sent up to you. You need rest.”

Hunter and I walked up the grand staircase to the second floor where he lived. The maids scurried about, bowing their heads to us as we passed. He stopped at his bedroom and opened the door. He didn’t come in.

“You can take my room in the meantime. I will sleep in the guest room.” He leaned against the door frame, looking down at me.

The emotion on his face I was unfamiliar with, but it resonated in my heart. I just couldn’t place it, because I have never felt this way before.

“You must let me take the guest room. I can’t kick you out of your bedroom.” His room was enormous. The bed alone could easily take four grown people. I would feel lost in there.

He smiled at me. “I want you to have it. When the time is right it will be our room.”

Our room. Hearing him say that made the blood rush to my face.

“Eventually you’ll feel it to, the need. You’ve had a horrible experience, but with me it will be different. You’ll see. I am your soulmate, Sylvia. Only yours. Remember that.”

Hunter left me standing in the doorway, watching his broad back until he went into the guest room. It surprised me that I suddenly felt so lost.