The mark

Chapter six

Aria's Pov

I blinked my eyes open, squinting against the harsh sunlight that filtered through the curtains as I groaned, feeling like a truck had hit me overnight.

And as I shifted on the bed, its creaking sound echoed in the room, and I rubbed my eyes, attempting to clear the fog in my mind.

With a weary sigh, I pushed aside the soft duvet that had enveloped me throughout the night, as if coaxing me to face the day ahead.

"Why on earth did I drink so much last night?" I mumbled to myself, sensing the lingering effects of a brutal hangover.

As I surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings, my mind raced to piece together the events that led me here. Then, my horrified gaze landed on the mirror, and I gasped in utter disbelief.

"Oh no, no, no!" I shrieked, my naked reflection sending shockwaves through me.

Panic coursed through my veins, and I hurriedly tried to cover myself, my hands trembling as I struggled to recall the happenings of the previous night.

"What happened? How did I end up here?" I questioned aloud, my thoughts racing.

"Oh no. My parents would be terrified." I realized my second cell phone was still in my car. What should I do now?

Dread enveloped me as I thought about Orion, where could he be? And why was I undressed? Did something terrible occur?

I glanced at my disheveled appearance, hair strewn across my face in disarray.

In search of answers, I headed towards the bathroom but didn't find a trace of the cruel Alpha.

Suddenly, a knock on the door jolted me, freezing me in place.

"Hello?" a female voice called out. "Is everything alright in there?"

I hesitated for a moment, then finally managed to respond, "Um, yes, everything's fine. I just... need a minute to get dressed."

I seized the sheets, using them to shield my exposed body as I approached the door, my mind filled with a whirlwind of questions.

Where were Orion and Colton?

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and forced a smile as I stepped into the hallway.

"What's going on?" I inquired as a lady handed me an envelope, saying, "A man asked me to give this to you."

"Did it mention who it's from?" I asked, but she simply shook her head.

"Alright, thank you," I responded, retreating into the room, bewildered by the confusion unfolding around me.

Overwhelmed, I collapsed onto the bed, contemplating how to return home when a sharp pain between my neck and shoulder caught my attention.

"Ouch!" I exclaimed, investigating the source of discomfort.

"What's this?" I questioned, my fingers sticky as they made contact with an unknown substance.

"Is this blood? It can't be, damn it."

The letter slipped from my hands as I rushed towards the mirror, anxiety gripping my every fiber.

"Oh no!"

"Dear God!" I screamed, fear pulsating through my body.

"What's wrong?" Eva my wolf probed.

"Don't be naive, Eva. Can't you see it? Can't you feel it? We've been marked."

"He did this?" she whispered cautiously.

"He? Eva, what are you talking about now?"

My gaze darted back to the envelope lying on the floor. It contained a 5,000-dollar note.

"Who is this from? How could I be marked without my consent?" I yelled, my hands desperately clawing through my hair.

"What's happening to us? Our lives are crumbling," I screamed.

"It was Alpha Orion," she suddenly revealed.

"What!"

"Yes. Orion. He's the one who marked us, don't tell me you've forgotten."

"Forgotten? What are you talking about, Eva? He isn't our mate."

"Oh, I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but you can't blame him. We begged him to mark us," Eva said, her voice tinged with a mixture of frustration and resignation.

"Begged him? Are you out of your mind? Why didn't you stop me?" I retorted, anger and confusion intertwining within me.

"I did try, but you were consumed with lust," Eva replied, her tone somber.

"Come on, Eva, you know I was practically under the influence of alcohol."

"But we pleaded with him to mark us. You wouldn't listen. And now, you're his mate," she explained, her voice laden with a touch of sadness.

"Just temporarily, right? We can break the bond, as far as there's no love involved," I muttered, desperately clinging to a flicker of hope.

"Yes, but I'm sorry to say this, you're bonded to him for life, you can't break the bond, because he marked you under the lunar tether," Eva divulged.

"The lunar tether? What is that?" my heart sinking further into a sea of despair as I questioned her.

"I've told you countless times not to interrupt me when I'm speaking, but you never listen," Eva scolded, her frustration mounting.

"Not now, Eva. Not now," I whispered, sinking onto the bed, feeling dejected and overwhelmed.

"I need to go home and research more about the lunar tether. Mum and Dad must be worried sick," I murmured.

"No, I can't be mated to a ruthless man like Orion, no," I yelled.

I despised him for using me as if I were a mere object.

I decided to conceal the fact that I had been marked by a stranger, as I frantically searched for a turtleneck top that could cover me.

Luckily, I found one, albeit not my size, but I didn't care. I needed to hide it.

"I want to check out," I said, my voice trembling with a mix of anxiety and defiance as I got to the reception.

"Which room?" the receptionist inquired.

"506," I replied, handing her the keys.

"Oh, aren't you Alpha Orion's mate?" she questioned, surprise evident in her tone as I managed a nod.

"He has already settled the bill and instructed us to take care of you," she informed me.

"What?" I whispered, feeling a wave of conflicting emotions wash over me.

"Yes, ma'am. He'll come to pick you up by 1:30 pm. Please return to your room. We'll be there to assist you," she said, her words penetrating my mind.

How could he leave and expect me to wait for him?

I couldn't even bring myself to look him in the eye, let alone face him. I thought, running my hands through my disheveled hair.

"May I have my uniform, please?" I whimpered, attempting to regain some semblance of normalcy.

"Here you go," the receptionist said, handing me the neatly folded uniform.

"Thank you," I mumbled, turning to leave.

"Ma'am, the Alpha instructed us..." she began, but I interrupted her.

"Tell him I couldn't wait," I said, forcing a fake smile before walking out the door.