Chapter six

Vaughan

Shit shit shit.

‘How could you mark her?!’. I screamed at Zane. As I cradled her limp frame in my arms. I was quick to hold her before she hit the rocky ground. Her neck where I had marked her was bleeding profusely.

I eased out of my shirt and used it to keep pressure on the wound. Fear crept slowly into my heart. It was different from the one I had, when I saw her at the edge of the cliff.

‘I did it for us! She could have jumped off the cliff, if I hadn’t done something!’. Zane clarified.

I kept quiet. He was right, she could have jumped off the cliff, if I hadn't intervened at the right time. I mind linked Jade, the pack doctor, as I hurried through the mountains back to the packhouse. My eyes were locked on her chest to ensure she was still breathing.

Her warm body was getting colder and paler with every passing minute. Marking her was the last thing I wanted, but Zane just had to complicate everything. I should have known I would lose my control over him not when it concerned her.

I carried her to my room. I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. I placed her on the bed, adjusting my shirt that had ridden up her thighs. I had placed the shirt in the room on purpose, knowing she would have no option than to wear it when she woke up. I doubt she was aware that she had changed into her wolf form before she had passed out in the woods.

“What happened? She was okay when I…”. Jade said upon entering the room, as I covered her with the blanket.

“I…I…just do whatever you have to do, she is losing a ton of blood ”. I stuttered out, disregarding her question as I turned away from her. She would know everything sooner or later, but my mate was in danger.

“You marked her”. She whispered as soon as she took a look at her. I felt her questioning gaze on me, but I avoided her eyes.

“Look… It wasn't my fault…”. I tried to explain, but I halted my sentence when Gale appeared.

Immediately his eyes landed on the bed. I sighed deeply.

“I didn’t know what happened…please save her”. I pleaded lost for words, as they both stared down at me. I couldn’t believe I used the word.

“I will do my best”. She said, as she opened her box of supplies, and tried to stop the bleeding. I watched for a while then stormed out of the room unable to watch it. It was my fault.

I punched the wall close to me. Being angry at myself was an understatement. I shouldn’t have brought her here in the first place. No one had ever made me feel all emotions at once, like she had made me feel in the past twenty four hours. She was bad for me, just as I was to her.

I had never heard or seen that anyone bleed out after being marked before. Everything about her screamed trouble. Having a normal day was now getting difficult everyday. It was enough that we couldn’t get through with what made us visit DarkValley, and I’m left with an unconscious mate.

“Why did you mark her?”. I hadn’t noticed Gale was beside me, until his question. His question was direct.

“I lost control over Zane. He caused everything”. I said, closing my eyes. I hated this feeling of guilt that clouded my mind. Zane had been quiet after what had happened, but I knew he was worried. Who knew it would turn out like that?

“Seriously?”. His eyes were accusing, not believing my words.

“You don’t believe me?”. I scoffed. I felt like pulling out my hair.

“How did I know marking her would endanger her?!”. My beta thinking I marked her on purpose as if I knew she would end up that way. I was beyond frustrated.

“What do you want me to think? We both know you never accepted any of your mates in the past, yet you brought her here, saying she was your slave, and all of a sudden you marked her! it just doesn’t make sense to me”.

Gale was damn right. Everything felt like a dream to me.

“She wanted to jump off the cliff! Zane had to mark her in order to make her stay”. I ran my fingers through my hair, exasperated.

“You marked her without her consent?”. His voice was low. He was stunned. I would never have marked her if I were in my right senses. Never. I hated this.

We had been friends ever since our childhood, but our ideals about having a mate were totally different. He loved the connection with having a mate, and was lucky enough to have his childhood sweetheart as his mate. Nevertheless it wasn’t the same for me, but we both respected each other's decision.

“It was a mistake”. I blurted after a moment

“Mistake? You can’t erase what has happened”.

“Then what do you want me to do?”.

“Can’t you see her condition? You shouldn’t have brought her here…”.

Jade popped her head outside the door with an agitated look, before he could complete his sentence. I dashed back into the room, my eyes focused on Raven.

The pungent smell of blood filled the room. My eyes widened, as I saw the heap of bloody towels and gauze rolls that were on the bedside table.

“I don’t know what is happening…Her body isn’t responsive…I think we…we should…”. She stammered, giving me an apologetic expression.

“What do you mean?!”. I rushed to my mate’s side holding her small wrist to feel her pulse. It was so faint. I didn’t know I was holding my breath until I released it.

“Maybe I should get Minka…she might help”. Gale suggested. He didn’t even wait for my reply before he left the room. I stared at her face, and for the first time I allowed myself to study every curve and contour of her face. Her hair sprawled over the bed. I couldn’t bring myself to touch it, no matter how much I was tempted, not after what happened.

I held her wrist, feeling the little thumps of her pulse. That was the only movement that reassured me she was still hanging on. I didn’t know how long I watched her, till Minka showed up. I glanced at her as she made her way to me. Even in her mid seventies, and a head filled with grey hair, she looked strong.

I made space for her, but didn’t leave her side while I waited for her words. Minka had been around for as long as I could remember. She was a seer, who had worked with my father before I was even born. She was a great asset to me.

“What is she?”. She asked, as she got to her side inspecting her gently. I felt uncomfortable with her question.

“She is my…“.

“I know that already”. She smiled, interrupting me. I wish she would swiftly tell what the problem was.

“I can’t access her energetic field. This is unusual". She held my mate’s hands, concentrating on her, but suddenly she turned to look at me.

Has she found the problem?

“She doesn’t have a wolf”. She said with all conviction.