Chapter 2

Athena

“Your scent led me here,”he said, his voice thick and rough, the words coming out slightly slurred, whether from whatever was affecting him or from my own disoriented state, I couldn’t tell. He leaned closer, inhaling deeply. “You smell so amazing.” He said and his lips claimed mine.

His lips felt so soft, I moaned into his mouth, a raw sound and he swallowed it, his tongue sweeping against mine with a desperation that matched my own. Our kiss wasn’t gentle, it was like a battle.

His hands roamed, one sliding up my spine to tangle in my hair, pulling just enough to arch my neck, while the other gripped my hip, his fingers digging in with a possessiveness that made my core clench.

His mouth left mine to attack my neck. “Fuck, your scent,” he growled, the words vibrating against my skin. “It’s driving me crazy. So fucking amazing.” Each syllable sent a shockwave of pure, liquid heat straight to my core. He didn’t just kiss my neck; he devoured it. I could feel the marks forming, tiny bruises blooming under his attention and I knew it would take days to heal but at this point, I didn’t care.

My hands fumbled at his shirt, yanking the soft fabric from his trousers. I needed to feel him. My palms slid up the hot, smooth skin of his back, over the powerful muscles that flexed under my touch. He shuddered, a full-body tremor that rippled from him into me.

His hands roamed again, sliding down my sides, over the curve of my ass, then back up, searching for the zipper of my bodycon dress. When his fingers found only seamless fabric, he let out a low, frustrated groan against my throat. “No time,” he slurred, In one swift motion, he gripped the hem at my thigh and tore the fabric.

I gasped, then giggled, the sound drunken and loose. “How do I go home now?“ I slurred.

“In my shirt,” he answered immediately. He lifted me and raised me off the floor as if I weighed nothing, one arm under my knees, the other cradling my back. He carried me back into the dim bedroom and laid me down the bed with a surprising gentleness.

He followed me down, his body covering mine, a delicious weight. He kissed me again, deeper, slower now, as if savoring the taste. But his obsession with my neck was undeniable. His lips returned, worshipping the column of my throat, his tongue tracing the frantic pulse there. I arched, offering more, my fingers clawing at his shoulders.

Then I felt a sharp pressure, he had grazed my skin with his fangs, leaving a shallow cut. A single, warm bead of blood welled up, he tasted it. His tongue, hot and wet, swept over the tiny wound, collecting the drop, and a moan tore from my throat, part shock, part overwhelming ecstasy. “Fuck, you are addictive.” He said.

“Why did you…” I managed to gasp as his lips closed over a particularly sensitive spot, sucking hard.

“A mark,” he murmured against my damp skin, his words slurred with desire. “To claim you. So everyone who sees it knows you are mine.” The possessiveness in his voice should have alarmed me. Instead, it poured gasoline on the inferno inside.

His hands finally found my breasts, cupping them through the lace of my bra. A soft squeeze, his thumbs circling my nipples, which were already pebbled hard and aching.

I woke up the next morning with my whole body aching. The soreness hit me all at once, and then the memories of the night before came rushing back. I panicked and jumped out of the bed immediately.

Last night, I was looking for Silas, I remembered that clearly. But somehow, instead of finding him, I ended up in a room with a complete stranger.

My heart dropped as I slowly turned around. He was still there. He was lying on his stomach, fast asleep. On his back was a large tattoo of a bird, dark and bold against his skin. His body was huge and solid, every inch of him hard with muscle. I couldn’t see his face because he was turned away, but even like that, his presence felt overwhelming.

Fear and regret washed over me, I was ruined. I had spent the night with another man, lost my virginity to him when I was supposed to be with my mate, the night I was meant to be marked. My chest tightened as guilt crushed me. I quickly searched the room for my dress, my hands shaking as I looked around. It was nowhere to be seen.

I quietly walked into the bathroom, my heart racing. I saw my dress was on the floor, torn and ruined beyond repair. My breath caught in my throat.

I lifted my eyes to the mirror and gasped. My body was covered in dark marks, hickeys scattered everywhere, reaching all the way down my thighs. I stared at my reflection in disbelief. This couldn’t be real. I ran my hands through my hair in frustration, fighting the urge to scream.

I rushed back into the room, grabbed the first shirt I saw on the floor, slipped into my shoes, and didn’t bother looking back. I bolted out of the room as fast as I could.

My entire body hurt. Every step reminded me of the night I could barely remember. Even the most sensitive parts of me still felt sore, like my body was holding on to memories my mind refused to keep. No matter how hard I tried, everything after the moment he dropped me onto the bed was a blur. That was all I could remember.

What was I supposed to tell Silas? After two years of being together, how was I meant to explain the marks on my body? How could I look him in the eyes and pretend nothing happened? My chest felt tight as guilt and fear weighed heavily on me. I shouldn’t have taken that drink from Aurora last night. If I hadn’t, none of this would have happened.

Trying to calm myself, I made my way to the part of the hotel where my pack members were staying. The place was eerily quiet. There was no one around, no familiar faces, nothing. Panic slowly crept in as I walked through the hallway.

I hurried to the reception desk and asked about my pack. The receptionist looked at her computer and told me they had checked out very early in the morning. Not just my pack, other packs had left too.

My heart sank, they left without me, even Aurora too? I quickly pulled out my phone and checked the time. It was almost noon. My eyes widened in shock. I couldn’t believe I had slept that long.

Fear took over as I ran toward the hotel entrance. I tried to book a ride, tapping my phone again and again, but suddenly the screen went dark. My phone had died.

“Shit… shit… this is not happening to me right now,” I yelled, unable to stop myself.

I stood there helplessly, my hands trembling. There was no way I could get back to my pack without cash, and now my phone was dead too. I was completely stranded.

The only option left made my stomach twist.

The stranger. He had to have some cash on him. I had no choice but to go back and check. I just hoped that he wasn’t awake yet.

It took me several long minutes to make my way back to the room. Halfway there, I almost turned around. The thought of running into him again scared me. What if he was already awake?

I finally reached the door, my heart pounding loudly in my chest. I lifted my hand, about to open it, when the door suddenly opened on its own.