CHAPTER TWO : MARKED

**Freya's POV**

He was staring at me.

But surprisingly it wasn't the way people usually stared with disgust or fear, it was different, indifferent.

His gray eyes were locked on mine, and there was something in them I couldn't name. Something that made my stomach twist.

"Close the door," he finally said, his voice rough and strained.

I should have probably run.

Every instinct screamed at me to turn around and leave. This was the son of the woman I had supposedly killed. What if he wanted revenge, wanted to kill me?

Despite my thoughts, I didn't move.

Instead I stupidly said, "You're sweating."

He let out a harsh breath that might have been a laugh. "You need to leave."

That's when I noticed his hands. They were trembling. Clenched into fists at his sides, shaking like he was fighting to keep control of something.

"Are you sick?" I asked, stepping closer without thinking.

"No." He turned away from me, walking toward the window. His back muscles tensed. "Just go, Freya."

"How do you know my name?"

He didn't answer.

Then I heard female voices in the hallway outside.

"Where did he go?" one of them whined. "I saw him come this way."

"Relax. The drug should be working by now," another said, her voice smug. "He'll be desperate soon. He won't even remember it happened."

They laughed.

My stomach dropped.

Drugs.

I looked at Dante. He was gripping the windowsill so hard I thought it might crack.

"They drugged you?" I asked quietly.

His jaw clenched. "Leave."

"What did they give you?"

"It doesn't matter..."

"Tell me."

He finally turned to face me. His eyes were darker now, pupils blown wide. Sweat dripped down his chest, following the lines of his tattoos.

"Feral Root," he said through gritted teeth. "Forces the shift. Makes the wolf take over. Makes you lose control."

I swallowed. "Control of what?"

His eyes dropped to my mouth, then lower. "Everything."

Oh.

"The only way to stop it is..." He trailed off, his breathing getting heavier.

"Is what?"

"Sex." The word came out like a growl. "The wolf needs to fuck or it'll tear me apart from the inside."

Heat rushed to my face.

"How long do you have?" I continued asking.

He blinked, clearly surprised I hadn't run yet. "Minutes. Maybe less." His hands were shaking worse now. "Freya, I'm serious. Get out. I won't be able to stop myself..."

"What if I don't want you to stop?"

The words came out before I could even think them through.

He froze. "What?"

"Those women drugged you. They're waiting out there to take advantage of you when you can't fight back."

"That's not your problem..."

"I'm making it my problem." I took another step closer. "You need help. And I'd rather it be me than them."

Truth is this might be my only chance to feel loved, just the thought of it made my nerves tingle stupidly.

Nobody had longed after me. Everyone avoided me. Here, however, out of sight, it was him and I only.

A silly part of me was actually glad.

"You don't know what you're saying. I won't be gentle. I can't, the drug won't let me."

"I don't care."

"Freya.. "

"Do you want it to be them?" I interrupted. "Do you want to wake up tomorrow knowing they used you?"

Something cracked in his expression.

"Last chance," he said hoarsely. "Walk away."

I didn't move.

He crossed the room in two strides.

His hand grabbed the back of my neck, fingers tangling in my hair. His other hand gripped my waist, yanking me against him.

I immediately felt the hard length of his cock pressing against my stomach through his pants.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, then his mouth crashed into mine.

It wasn't gentle. It wasn't sweet.

It was hungry. Desperate. His tongue pushed past my lips, claiming my mouth like he owned it.

I kissed him back, my hands pressing against his bare chest. His skin was burning hot.

He walked me backward until my back slammed against the wall.

His mouth moved to my neck, teeth scraping against my skin. His hands slid up my sides, rough and demanding.

"Fuck," he groaned against my throat. "You smell so good."

His hand found my breast through the dress, squeezing hard and I gasped.

He pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes completely black now.

"Do you want me to stop?" he asked.

"No."

Something snapped in him.

He grabbed the neckline of my dress and tore it down, exposing my breasts. He didn't hesitate, his mouth latching onto my nipple, sucking hard while his hand kneaded the other.

I moaned, my head falling back against the wall.

His free hand slid down between my legs, pushing my dress up. His fingers found my panties and ripped them off completely.

"Fuck, you're already wet," he growled, his fingers sliding through my pussy.

I whimpered.

He lifted me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist on instinct. He carried me to the bed and dropped me onto it.

I barely had time to catch my breath before he was on top of me, yanking my dress the rest of the way off.

He stood up and shoved his pants down, his cock springing free. Thick. Hard. Veins running along the length. The head was dark, precum leaking.

My eyes widened.

"It's going to hurt, but I can't stop. I'm sorry."

He didn't wait for a response.

He grabbed my thighs, spreading them wide, and positioned himself at my entrance.

Then he thrust in.

I screamed.

The pain was sharp. He was too big and I wasn't ready for it.

He froze, his whole body trembling with the effort of holding still.

"Fuck," he panted. "You're so fucking tight."

Tears pricked my eyes.

He leaned down, his forehead pressing against mine. "Breathe, Freya. Just breathe."

I tried and slowly, the pain started to fade.

"Move," I whispered.

He pulled back and thrust in again. Harder this time.

I cried out, but it wasn't all pain anymore.

He started moving. Slow at first, then faster. Harder.

His hands gripped my hips, holding me in place as he fucked me.

"God, this pussy," he groaned. "So fucking perfect."

His hand slid between us, his thumb finding my clit and rubbing in rough circles.

Pleasure shot through me.

I moaned, my nails digging into his back.

He kept going. Pounding into me. His cock hitting something deep inside that made stars explode behind my eyelids.

"Dante," I gasped.

"Say it again," he growled.

"Dante.. "

He groaned, his hips slamming into mine even harder.

The pressure was building. Something hot was coiling low in my belly.

"I'm..." I couldn't finish the sentence.

"Cum for me," he commanded. "Cum on my cock."

His thumb pressed harder on my clit.

I shattered.

My whole body seized up, pleasure crashing through me in waves.

"Fuck!" Dante roared.

He thrust in one more time, deep and hard, and I felt warmth flood inside me as he came.

Then...

Pain.

Sharp, searing pain in my neck.

His teeth sank into my skin, right where my shoulder met my neck.

I screamed.

The pain was overwhelming.

Then it shifted, warmth spreading from the bite instead, flooding through my whole body.

Fuck. No, no, no...

I touched the spot where he'd bitten me.

A mark.

He fucking marked me?!