Come to me.

Catherine's POV 

I staggered, stepping back in disbelief, stroking my fingers over the bite marks.  

I had been marked. That would explain why I could hear the voice in my head. He had marked me. 

When? What sort of crazy person marked a woman without her consent?! My head throbbed heavily and I clutched at it, trying to breathe easy.  

None of this made sense. Nothing made sense.  

Come.  

My back straightened at the order. It was hard to ignore. I wanted to turn around, dump myself in my bed, but my wolf couldn't ignore the clear command that had been placed in my mind.  

Come to me.  

A scent, musky and delicious, pulled at me. It was faint, so faint, almost barely there. I found my legs carrying me towards the door in a trance. I grabbed a robe and shrugged it on , walking out of the room. There were a handful of servants around the hallway. I ignored their bows and followed the scent.  

I walked past the throne room, up to the north wing and then down a flight of stairs that led to a dungeon. There was a metal door. It had a cut out with bars and I wondered who they were trying to keep out.  

What on earth was wrong with me? I was following the creepy voice in my head! I turned around to leave when a loud snarl reached my ears. A strong suppressing aura filled the entire place.  

The ground became unsteady, either that or my legs trembled.  

The snarl became a deep scary growl. Goosebumps lined my skin. I held my breath as heavy footsteps approached the metal door from the other side. They were followed by the clanking of chains. 

Oh goddess. I shouldn't have come here.  

The first I saw was a chest. The fang tattoo gleamed brightly at me. The tall figure lowered his head and piercing, wild golden eyes stared at me.

You came. You're here. My precious mate.  

No. I shook my head, unable to believe what I was seeing. No, the goddess had to be mistaken. I had spent all the twenty years of my existence believing that I would have no mate. I was a cursed child! 

The man or figure, whatever he was, snarled, baring a rather impressive set of fangs. He had a snout like a wolf and when he gripped the space between the bars, sharp long claws gleamed at me. He growled, letting go of the bars as if they burned him.  

Silver. The door was made of silver.  

Well the creature was pissed. He stormed off, then stormed right back, slamming his body against the door. There was a huge dent, but he snarled as if in pain. The sound haunted my insides and shook my very bones.  

I could feel his pain.  

No. I would prefer not to have a mate over having a… what was he?! Sharp claws, feral eyes, a wolf about yet the body of man. There was madness in those eyes. A madness that I did not want to unravel.  

I had to leave this place.  

My mate.  

He slammed himself against the door again, harder this time. I gasped from the horrid burning pain that assailed my body. He was hurting himself.  

“Stop!” I yelled, running towards the door. “Stop, please! You're hurting yourself.” 

I leaned too close to the door and screamed when his claws reached out and jumped away.   

He let out what sounded like an angry wail, and grabbed at the bars, jerking at it like despite the smell of burning flesh in the air.   

I cried at the agonizing pain I felt and lunged forward despite my fear. I slid a hand over his, terrified that he would claw my face. 

“Stop,” I begged, tears running down my cheeks. “You're hurting yourself. You're hurting me,” 

The rattling stopped. He leaned down, peering at me through the space. His golden eyes flickered with regret and he hung his head in shame.  

It was almost cute.  

I made you cry. I deserve death.  

“No, you don't,” I shook my head, swallowing as I brushed my hands over his. A jolt traveled right to my heart. My wolf. I could feel her. She stirred, came alive, unfurled.  

He truly was my mate.  

“Is that why you're here? Does the King want you dead?” 

He hung his head again and I scoffed.  

“Oh he has some nerve,” I spat. “With all his whims and demands, he wants you dead? I'll have an audience with him and get you out, okay?” 

He let go of the silver bars and I sighed in relief. At least he wasn't in pain anymore. I had so many questions to ask. He hadn't opened his mouth to speak to me, and yet it felt like I had known him all my life.  

“Why are you here though? I didn't think they put prisoners in the north wing-”

“What are you doing here?!”

I whipped around to see an angry Damon. He looked pissed enough, his eyes constantly shifted from green to gold and back. 

“You're supposed to be in your chambers, resting,” he growled.  

“I… I was-”

The sound of him unsheathing his dagger had me panting in fear. “Damon, please wait. I can explain.”

Mate! Must protect mate!

The creature resumed slamming himself against the metal door, growling and snarking as he did.  

I fell to the ground, groaning at the pain that assailed me. Black dots clouded my vision and I could feel myself losing consciousness. Before my eyes snapped close, I saw Damon approach with the dagger. 

This was it, I thought as everything faded to black. This was where it ended.  

The sound of running water reached my ears and I opened my eyes immediately, gasping for air. A ceiling stared down at me and it took a few blinks to clarify that I was back in the room Damon had assigned me to.  

The sound of running water was Mia drawing me a bath. She came running when I groaned and tried to sit up.  

“Oh thank the goddess,” 

“What happened?” 

Mia sighed. “You were asleep for two days! I thought you would never wake up.” 

Asleep? Two whole days? My stomach growled and my mouth felt like cotton.  

“I'm hungry,” I croaked.  

“That will have to wait,” Mia said, her eyes clouded in sympathy. “We have to get you dressed up. The Lycan King arrived today. He wants an audience with his bride.”