I can feel something’s happened. It feels like something is tearing into me. I’m in the middle of sorting out a dammed rogue attack and I’m shaking, sweating, my body crumbling beneath me.I need to get out. I need to get fresh air. I rush out of the room and the wind whips at my face.I snatch my phone from my pocket and dial Aeron’s number, only he doesn’t pick up. I call Dylan next, and still nothing.My heart is pounding now. Something has happened. Something serious. And Rosalie is injured.I can feel her pain.I can feel her fear.I can feel everything.It’s rising, as if whatever is happening is getting worse. As if no one is coming to her aid. I snarl. How can that be? We had her guarded, and Aeron is there, there’s no way he’ll leave her unprotected. What is going on?And then I feel it. My body washes with an entirely different feeling. One of elation. One of euphoria. She’s still in pain, but it’s rapidly decreasing.Aeron has marked her. I know it. I can feel it in my bone
I fall back on the grass, one of my hands is on my stomach and the other is laid beside me, covered in blood. My blood. It’s sticky, congealing between my fingers already. My breaths are coming short and fast. It hurts so much, and I can feel the tears streaming silently down my face, but I can’t make any sound.Suddenly, voices are all around me. I see Axel, the Pack Doctor. He’s rushing to me but he doesn’t get to me first. Aeron does.He grabs my hand, and I stare up at him. I can feel the tingle, the rush of emotion even now as his skin touches mine. It’s the mate-bond, I think vaguely.There are so many guards around us now. So many Wolves.“She’s lost a lot of blood.” Axel says.“We need to get her to the infirmary.” Aeron growls. His eyes are flashing in anger. I can see the rage literally boiling inside him.I’m carried in his arms. I feel so weak. Pathetic. I don’t know how my guards are, if they’re injured, if Layla is even okay.“They’re fine.” Aeron murmurs to me. He’s hol
It’s a day later. Layla is walking with me in gardens with Dylan and the other guards around us. They’re close but not right next to us and for that alone I’m grateful.The Doc has ordered that I have fresh air, exercise. Sunshine too, because apparently my vitamin D levels are really low. We wouldn’t want to risk those Lycan pups with my health being as it is.My period is thankfully over though so I guess I should be grateful for small miracles.I glare at the flowers around me. A week ago, I would have given anything to be out here, to feel the wind on my face but now it feels tainted. Aeron has tainted it.“It’s not that bad.” Layla says quietly.“Speak for yourself.” I mutter“Why do you think they hate you?” She asks.“I can see it in his eyes. When he looks at me.” I reply, blinking, getting a full flashback to the look he gave me before he walked out of the infirmary.“Who?”“Aeron.” I reply.“He doesn’t hate you. He’s just not good with his words.” She tries to reason.I sco
I can’t stand there. I can’t hear her thoughts, because all it’s doing is making me want to lash out. Making me want to smash half the room to pieces and I know that will make her even more scared. I don’t understand how she can even think the things she does. How the mate-bond even allows it. She should trust me, she should trust her mate.And yet here it is, more evidence that she doesn’t. More evidence that once again she despises me. Despises Wolves.I have to leave. I have to get out of here before I lose control and do something I’ll regret.I storm through the Residence and into our office. A few wolves try to stop me, try to ask about inconsequential things, and I brush them off. I can deal with them later, I can deal with Pack issues later, once my mind clears, once that anger and betrayal inside me fades.Almost immediately my phone rings and I pick it up knowing exactly who is on the other end.“Cain.” I sigh, running my hand over my face. I know he had to leave, I know log
“What the hell did you do?” Aeron snarls.Someone is touching me, checking my vitals. I keep my eyes closed. My head hurts so much. My chest feels so tight.“I didn’t do anything.” Layla hisses. “We were just talking.”“About what?”“About marking.” She says.I hear Aeron growl. “What did you say?”“I told her it wouldn’t hurt.” She replies.“She’s okay.” Someone close by says. I don’t recognise the voice. I don’t know who they are. It’s a man, a Wolf. My heart is starting to race again. Whoever it is is touching me, holding my wrist. “You’re okay.” He murmurs to me. “Take slow deep breaths.”I try to sit up, I try to move and then I realise ,I don’t even know where I am. I’m certain I’m not in my bed, in the one Silas attacked me in. I hear myself whimper before I even register I’ve made the noise.“Rosalie.” Aeron says quietly, almost comfortingly.I gasp. My eyes open and I can see him standing at the foot of the bed. Layla is there too beside him. Her arms are wrapped around herse
Cain leaves the next day. He gives me a hug but no more. I haven’t left my room since. I’m hiding, partly because I can’t face Aeron, and partly because I’m aware every Wolf can smell me right now, can smell my period and it feels mortifying.Dylan is back. He’s got friends too. Aeron has assigned three new guards and for that at least I’m grateful because right now I feel so horrifically vulnerable though I can’t pinpoint why.The Crimson Shadow Pack are off Aeron and Cain’s lands. I should feel safer.But I don’t.Dylan brings me my meals and it feels like I’ve reverted right back to how I was when I first came out of the cells. I’ve withdrawn, hidden away, I’m petrified of my own shadow again.It’s been days, days of me sat in the dark, stuck as my thoughts spin in my head.“Why aren’t you leaving your room?” Layla asks crouching down beside me and I jump in shock. I hadn’t heard her come in. I was too lost in my own head.“Why are you here? Won’t Aeron be mad at you?” I reply, bli