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POV: Fedora

My chest burnt like fire with every breath I took, a reminder I would die if I didn't get to the castle in time.I ran down the dark forest path, gasping for air. The trees looked blurry because I was moving too fast.

Run faster, Fedora, please run faster, I begged myself.

Right then, my foot hit a big rock hidden in the dirt. I tripped and went flying forward, hitting the ground hard. The sharp stones cut right into my knees.

Warm blood started to trickle down my skin. I wanted to cry , but I bit my lip to stay quiet.

I scrambled around in the dirt with my shaking hands to grab the basket that had slipped away. I pulled it tight against my chest to protect what was inside.

One of my shoes had come off when I fell, but I did not stop. I stood up with one bare foot and kept going. The stinging on my bleeding knees did not matter at all. This dying pain was worse

Inside that basket was a single dragon fruit. It was Alpha Stefan's favorite food. It was a very rare fruit, and it took me hours to find it. I had walked around the whole market this evening, looking at every single stall until I finally found it.

I hoped this gift would make him happy so he would finally mark me as his mate tonight and make this terrible pain stop.

Finally, the huge doors of the castle appeared in the dark.

The guards standing at the entrance looked at me with wide eyes but didn't say a word

I rushed past them, my bare foot hitting the cold floor of the hallway with a loud slap.

Stefan! Stefan!

my mind kept screaming.

I kept going until I reached his bedroom. I pushed the heavy wood door with all the strength left in my body.

But my foot was slippery from sweat and blood. I lost my balance, slid, and landed hard on the floor inside his room.

I lifted my head, panting for air, and my whole heart stopped. The pain in my chest felt like nothing compared to the sharp ache that just hit my soul.

Stefan was lying on his large bed. But he was not alone.

Veronica was sitting right on top of him. Her back was bent as she pressed herself against him. Her fingers were tangled tight in his dark hair, pulling him down to kiss him hard. Stefan was not pushing her away at all. His large hands were wrapped tight around her waist, sliding under her thin dress

Three years ago, I ran away from my father. He was trying to force me to marry a man who was way too old for me

. He did not care about the dark curse on our family. Once the girls in my bloodline turned eighteen, the curse would start. Every single year, on the very first night of the third month, the fire in our blood would wake up. To survive the agony, we had to be marked by a strong wolf. We had to become a Thrall to the person who bit us.

I remembered sleeping on the cold streets, starving and alone for three days. Then, I met Stefan. He brought me to his beautiful mansion and listened to my story. I told him everything about my condition.

He looked at me with soft eyes and promised he would make me his Thrall to protect me from the world. He promised I would be his forever, and he said he would mark me whenever the pain came back.

Now, the man who made those beautiful promises was completely breaking my heart.

Hot tears overflowed from my eyes and ran down my dirty cheeks. The heavy weight of the curse mixed with this awful betrayal, leaving me frozen on the floor.

I didn't know if the physical pain or this emotional pain would kill me first

Stefan, I gasped out from the ground.

He did not even blink. He was completely locked into the deep kiss, acting like I was not even in the room.

Stefan, I called out again, making my voice loud and sharp.

The loud sound cut through the quiet room. The two people on the bed stopped moving immediately. Veronica gasped, pulling her mouth away, while Stefan froze. They finally realized someone else was standing there.

Stefan slowly turned his head to look over at me. There was no guilt on his face at all. He just looked at my bleeding knees, my bare foot, and my dirty face. His lip curled up into a look of pure disgust. He waved his hand toward the open doorway with an annoyed frown.

Go away, Fedora, he muttered, turning his back on me.

I swallowed the big lump in my throat and forced myself to look right into his cold eyes.

Stefan, remember what today is. You are supposed to mark me, I said, my voice shaking as a new wave of fire hit my chest. I have less than thirty minutes left.

He did not even care. He turned his attention right back to Veronica, moving his fingers slowly down her bare shoulder. He ignored my words completely. The man who used to love me was treating me like a bug.

This was the exact moment I knew I had to leave him forever.

But I would be dead before midnight. To see tomorrow, I had to drop all my pride.

I marched forward, my bare foot hitting the floor with loud thuds. I reached the side of the bed, grabbed Veronica by her shoulder, and shoved her backward. She let out a loud shriek as she tumbled off his body, landing awkwardly on the mattress.

Stefan jumped off the bed instantly, his muscles tensing up. His chest moved up and down with pure rage.

What do you want, he growled, stepping right into my face.

I stood my ground, refusing to back down an inch. Stefan, remember today is the day that—

Shut up, he roared, throwing his hand up to cut me off. Whatever you want can wait. Can't you see I'm busy?

Stefan please!

His jaw tightened so hard that a small muscle popped in his cheek. He pointed an angry finger straight at the open door. Get out.

I planted my feet firmly on the rug. No. I will not leave, Stefan. You have to mark me right now.

Beside him, Veronica finally climbed up from the messy blankets. She fixed the straps of her dress, her eyes narrowing into tiny slits as she looked at me.

You bitch, she hissed, stepping toward me with a nasty sneer. It looks like you do not have any manners at all.

I slowly turned my head, giving her a freezing look. I was not talking to you, I snapped back, matching her mean tone. I have zero respect for girls who steal another person's man.

Veronica's face turned bright red with fury. How dare you, she screamed.

Her arm swung through the air super fast. A loud sound echoed through the room as she slapped me. The force threw my head to the side. A burning sensation spread across my skin, but i just swallowed the slap.

I took a deep breath and steadied my balance. Then, I pulled my own arm back. I put all the pain from the curse and all my anger into my hand, and I slapped her face with a much hotter force that sent her falling to the floor.

The heavy hit lifted Veronica right off her feet. She spun around and crashed hard onto the floor, She cupped her swelling cheek immediately, and tears started pouring down her face. She crawled across the floor on her hands and knees until she grabbed Stefan's legs.

Baby, she wailed, looking up at him with tears. Did you see what she just did to me? And you are just standing there doing nothing.

Stefan looked down at the crying woman holding his legs, and then he raised his dark eyes to glare at me. He ground his teeth together so hard I could hear the bone-chilling sound. He took one slow, threatening step toward me, his voice dropping into a scary growl.

I am not going to warn you again. Leave this room right now, or you will wish you were never here.

Veronica stopped her loud crying in a split second. She wiped her face, and a twisted smile came onto her lips. She slid her hands up Stefan's legs, her fingers boldly reaching inside his pants to hold him tight. She looked up at him, her eyes shining with victory, before looking back at me.

Actually, baby, she purred smoothly, a huge smirk on her face. I have a much better idea. I want her to stay right there and watch while you fuck me.