Chapter 4: Marked

Aura’s POV

I woke up the next morning, disoriented. My body was sore all over. My muscles ached and burned. I felt like my whole body had fallen apart and been put haphazardly back together.

What was happening? Why did I feel like this? Where was I?

I stared up at the ceiling as slowly, the memories from last night came back to me. Violet’s house. The vodka. The hot and bothered ache that wouldn’t let me sleep.   

And then?

The intoxicating scent of bitter orange and rose. Atlas and his emerald eyes. His strong, muscular chest. His lips and hands all over my body.

I bolted to an upright position and glanced beside me. But Atlas wasn’t there. Had it all been a dream? A vodka induced stupor?

No. My body was…different. I couldn’t quite explain it…but it was undeniably different. That’s when I felt a hot burning sensation behind my ear.

I got out of bed and rushed over to the mirror. I lifted my hair and turned my head.

And there it was, plain as day, behind my left ear.

I’d been marked.

By Atlas.

I stumbled backwards from the mirror, my breath hitching in my throat. This was…this was crazy! Insane even. I’d actually found my mate! I went back to the mirror and looked at the mark again. I traced my fingers over it.

This couldn’t be real, could it? I mean, it had been ages since anyone in our pack had experienced a true mate bond. Was Atlas really my mate?

The memory of his scent flooded through me and I shivered.

Yup. He was my mate all right. But where had he gone?

Just then, a mind link came through from Violet.

“Where the hell are you?” she demanded. “I woke up and you were gone.”

I blushed, feeling sheepish.

“I…couldn’t sleep,” I told her. “So I went home last night.”

I hated lying to Violet but I needed time to process everything. Plus, I was due at work in an hour. There wasn’t time to hash out all the strange events of last night.

She believed me and told me to have a good day. Then I scurried home, got changed, and made it to work just in time.

I entered the children’s hospital where I worked as a pharmacist, a broad smile on my face that I couldn’t wipe off.

I had a mate. Like, I actually had a mate. And a handsome one at that. I felt like I was floating through the air. But as soon as I entered the staff room, I was met with a barraged of congratulations from my colleagues.

“What?” I asked confused.

“On your upcoming wedding! We had no idea you were engaged, Aura. Congratulations!” Mark, one of the doctors, smiled brightly at me.

How did they know? Had Sorren told the pack about our engagement? But why? I’d broken it off. Just then, as if on cue, Sorren appeared at the door.

“I need to talk to you,” he said, his face tense.

“I’m working,” I replied. Sorren was the last person I wanted to talk to right now.

“It’s urgent,” he insisted. I was confused as to why everyone thought I was getting married, so I decided to hear him out. We went outside. The sun was bright, causing me to shield my eyes with my hand.

“I owe you an apology,” Sorren started, leading me away from the front door to a more private spot. I didn’t reply. I just glared.

“I never should have cheated on you. You were right. It was my fault and I take full responsibility for it now.”

“Why are you here?” I snapped at him. He was apologizing? Now? He hadn’t seemed sorry in the slightest when I’d caught him red-handed. Why the sudden change of heart?

“I’ve come to make things right, Aura.”

I sighed. “There is no making this right,” I quipped. “I can’t marry someone who might cheat on me at any moment. I don’t trust you, Sorren. Not anymore.”

“Please, just listen,” he said, reaching for my hands. I shucked his hands from mine and crossed my arms over my chest. “I…I’ll never do it again. I promise. We’ll be married soon and I’ll be a loyal husband. You’ll see.”

His voice and expression were sincere, but I didn’t care. I was done with Sorren.

“No,” I told him firmly. “I don’t want to marry you. And besides, it’s too late now if I did. I’ve already been marked.”

He scoffed. “What are you talking about,” he said.

“You heard me,” I replied. “I’ve been marked.”

“No you haven’t,” he shook his head. “You’re just making up lies because you’re pissed at me.”

“Oh really?” I asked, turning my head to him. I swept my hair from my ear. “Then what’s this?”

His eyes flew open in shock when he saw the mark behind my ear. He opened and closed his mouth, but no sound came out. He looked like the ground had fallen out from under him. Then his face contorted into a look of rage.

“How could you!” he said, pointing his finger at me. There were daggers in his eyes. “You betrayed me!”

I remained calm and collected while he spewed out accusations.

“Are you finished?” I said when he’d fallen silent. “Because I’d like to remind you that you and I are broken up. I ended our engagement,” I told him. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“But I’ve already told everyone,” Sorren said, his voice tight. “The entire pack knows we’re engaged.”

My heart dropped. So it was true. He had told everyone. I was speechless. Why had he done that?

“We have to get married, Aura. Everyone in the pack thinks you’re my fiancé, the future Luna of the Crestfallen Pack.”    

I didn’t know what to say. The pack was expecting me to become Luna. But before I could even reply, Sorren narrowed his eyes, a shadow crossing through his eyes.

His next words felt like a knife in my stomach.

“You will marry me, Aura. Because if you don’t agree to marry me, I’ll see to it myself that the hospital stops providing your brother’s medicine.”