Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Anya's Point of View

"What? Come on, Marcus!" I said. "Don't be stubborn and eat this," I added and moved the spoon near his mouth. Instead of taking it, he kept teasing me. I will admit, I am not used to this habit that Marcus kept showing to me. This side of him was far from the Marcus I know from the past. He is very playful.

"Is it forbidden for me to show my affection towards you?" he softly asked and turned his back on me. I looked at him and frowned, but a smile found its way to my lips. Marcus is cute when he's sulking.

"It's not like that, Marcus, but you have to eat," I said and put the spoon back on the bowl. "Your wound is healing, but you need to get stronger," I told him.

"Fine," he answered. He turned around and took the dish from me. He started eating the food I put in the bowl. After a few minutes, he finished the food and moved further away from me.

"Marcus?" I called his name and moved beside him. I poke his shoulder, but I got no reaction coming from him. He ignored me and remained looking at the wall with his arms firmly crossed in his chest. I pouted my lips. I made him angry.

"Hey, Marcus. I'm sorry," I apologized to him and poked his back. He looked at me but kept silent.

"Alpha?"

"Marcus?"

"Hey," I called him, but still nothing. I let out a sigh and stood up. I hugged him from behind, buried my head in the crook of his neck, and whispered in his ear.

"Baby, I'm sorry," I saw him twitched his lips in an almost smile. I removed my arms that were hugging him. He turned to me, and he gently cupped my face. He then looked at my lips, and slowly he brought his face closer to mine until our lips touched.

"Thank you," he said as we parted. I catch my breath because of that kiss. He pressed his forehead to mine, and I couldn't help myself but smile.

"For what?" I asked him.

"For taking good care of me," he said and hugged me. I felt different kinds of emotion swirling inside of me. It was the first I ever heard him saying he's thankful for me. He laid down the bed, and he motioned for me to lie down as well. I leaned my head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat while he, in turn, plays with my hair. I love this man, and I will wait for him until he is ready to tell me his problems.

Unknown's Point of View

"Ugh," I groaned as the man in front of me punched me. I sat in extreme pain and grabbed my stomach.

"Why are you still not doing my command? It would be best if you did it quickly!" he said to me.

"Shall I repeat it to you again? You have to manipulate Marcus to hurt and leave his mate; why can't you do it!?" he shouted while holding my hair and mercilessly slapped me. I grabbed my bleeding lip. Even if I wanted to fight this man, I could not. He had my father's life and all our subjects' lives in the palm of his hands. The pack that my father took care of for a long time.

"Have mercy on me! Please don't hurt me. I will make sure that Marcus's mate will leave him," I said while crying, but he did not listen. He pulled an older woman from my pack and knelt in front of me. He grabbed his gun strapped to his side and aimed it at the woman's head.

"Don't! Please, have mercy!" I shouted at him, but he just smiled at me. He is heartless! He is a demon!

"Enough," the man beside him said while looking at us. "Leave the woman be, Damien. We have a lot of things to do," the man added. I kept crying while Damien tsked. He had a hideous scar on his face.

"Always be careful. Remember, your time's ticking," Damien said at the same time a gunshot rang out. I covered my mouth as my tears continued to flow in my eyes. The dead body of the poor woman he shot laid in front of me. I stood up and rushed at her.

"You beast! You are a devil. You have no mercy!" I angrily said to him and slapped his chest. He grabbed my hand and pushed me to the floor; Damien pointed his gun at me and spoke.

"What? You don't remember?" he said. "Every time you fail, I'll get a werewolf in your pack to pay for the day you wasted," he said and left. I cried as I feel my heart broke. I approached the woman's corpse and laid it on my lap.

"Forgive me, I'm sorry. It's all my fault", I said while sobbing. I stood up and took off the jacket I was wearing. I covered her corpse and quickly left the warehouse.

"Aaahhh! Why are you doing this to me!?" I yelled at the top of my lungs. "What sin have I committed!? I did my best to keep them out of harm's way, but why!? Why Moon Goddess," I shouted while crying. The sky seemed to sympathize with me because of the sudden rain. I transformed into my wolf and ran fast. I want to get away from it. I want to forget everything. I want to die.

Suddenly, an alluring scent filled my nostrils: forest, spice, and something else. I breathed in the smell and shiver. He's here! I want to hide, but my wolf won't follow me. She wants to see him. Then a big wolf appeared in front of me.

"Mate! Mate! Come to mate!" my wolf said, howling in joy.

"Shift," the big wolf said through the mind link. I was hesitant to shift and can't allow him to see me, for I am not ready. It is not possible now because he will only be hurt. He will only be affected by my problem and my pack, and I will never allow that.

"I said shift!" he ordered and handed me a shirt. It must be his shirt. I took it, and I went to a tree and transformed it into my human form.

"Now, let me see you," he said. I walked over to him.

"Look at me, mate," he commanded. I felt a jolt of electricity when he touched my face. I slowly raised my head until we looked at each other. It can't be! Tell me he's not my mate.

"Arkand," I whispered. Oh no! I'm doomed.