Draven.
"I scread loudly until people outside started to hear. And when he realized he couldn’t have his way with ..."
Her hand lifted unconsciously to her cheek, her fingers brushing the spot where the scar used to be.
"He slashed with his claw, right across my face."
Sothing inside snapped.
My vision darkened, the beast in rising so fast it rattled my bones.
Rhovan snarled inside my head, his fury echoing my own. "He dared. He dared lay a hand on her. He dared to scar, what is ours? He must pay."
I forced my jaw shut before the growl in my throat could escape, my fists tightened on my knees until the leather of my gloves strained.
Raw, unbridled rage coursed through like fire, hot and rciless.
And yet, redith just sat there, tears clinging to her lashes, unaware of the storm building inside . She kept going, her words weaving deeper cuts into my chest.
"After that day, every ti I looked in the mirror, the scar reminded of him. Of that nightmare. And it wouldn’t heal, because I didn’t have a wolf then. The doctor tried, but it was slow and ugly."
She gave a hollow laugh. "I hated it so much that I... I decided not to let it heal anymore. When no one was watching, I would scrape off the herbs and reopen the wound every few weeks."
Her lips trembled, but her voice carried a strange pride. "I wanted to keep it as a reminder—as a promise to myself that one day, I would punish him."
I could only stare, in shock, fury, grief—every emotion ripped through , raw and relentless.
All those months, I thought she had been stubborn, vain, refusing help. I had even brought my best physician from Stormveil to heal her, and she resisted. Now I understood why.
My hand trembled against my thigh, the wolf in clawing for release. "Give his na. I will end him now."
redith, tipsy and unaware, lifted her head and gave the faintest smile. "Are you that angry, Draven? That you want revenge for ?"
The truth slipped out like a vow. "Yes." My voice was low and growly. "Tell his na. The wolf who dared do this to you. Tell now."
But she shook her head stubbornly, her eyes glassy but her tone firm. "No. Leave him. I will get my own revenge. Even though the scar is gone, even though my face looks normal now, believe when I say he is the first wolf I will kill when I get my powers."
I stared at her, my fury trembling against my ribs, barely contained. She had no idea how close I was to unleashing hell on the bastard who had dared touch her.
But she wanted this for herself. Her revenge, her closure.
If I took it from her, I would wound her pride in a way that scar never could. So I swallowed the rage and nodded once, though it burned in my chest like fire.
After a mont, I asked quietly, "Do your family know? About how you got that scar?"
She shook her head, strands of silver hair brushing her cheeks. "No. None of them."
Her certainty struck like a blade as my gaze sharpened.
No one?
Rhovan’s voice rumbled darkly inside . "It seems the only ones who know are redith and the wolf who did it."
My fists curled at my sides. The thought of that bastard walking free, smug and unpunished, while she carried the wound alone for years, boiled my blood.
But worse, the truth pressed in on like a weight I couldn’t shake.
Even if I wanted to get this revenge for her, there would be no way for to strike him down unless she gave his information.
My chest was heavy with the realization.
Regardless, I drew in a long breath, forcing my rage back into its cage. The storm would stay with for now.
Shifting my focus back to redith, I eased the crumpled tissue from her fingers and set it quietly on the table.
Then, without hesitation, I reached for her and drew her against .
She didn’t resist; instead, she pressed her cheek into my chest, her small fra curling into the space I made for her. I held her steady as my hand began to smooth slowly down her back.
Although the rage within still burned, I forcibly silenced it. At this mont, my wife needs my comfort, not fury.
Initially, redith remained silent, her breathing unsteady. However, after a few monts, she started to move. Her nose brushed the line of my neck, gentle and warm.
I stiffened. "redith—"
She sniffed gently, nuzzling closer, then tilted her head just enough for her lips to brush my skin. Before I could shift her away, her tongue flicked softly against my neck.
Heat shot through . My hand froze on her waist.
"What are you doing?" My voice ca out rougher than I intended.
Her words slurred against my skin, warm and unfiltered. "You sll nice... maybe you taste nice too."
My pulse kicked hard in my throat.
Rhovan’s voice surged through , deep and certain. "It seems that our mate bond needs to be established."
"No," I snapped inwardly, my teeth gritting as I steadied her in my arms. "Have you forgotten what happened last ti?"
The mory clawed its way back. That night, redith was sleeping so peacefully beside , yet all I could hear was her heart, pounding so loudly it drowned out everything else.
My gums itched, and my teeth ached with a thirst that didn’t belong to . The wild, gnawing urge to sink into her neck. To drink. To claim.
I swallowed hard, forcing my breathing to steady. "Back then, I tried to reach you, Rhovan. I tried to ask what was happening to . But you didn’t respond."
There was a pause. Then, Rhovan’s response was almost disturbingly calm. "I don’t rember."
My grip on redith tightened, grounding myself even as her mouth moved against my neck again, unravelling sothing feral inside .
"I can’t risk it," I bit out inwardly. "What if I hurt her in the process of marking her? What if I lose control?"
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