Chapter 5: Marked

I am aware of what is happening, and I know it cannot be stopped. Even if one of us had tried to stop it, this would have still happened. The attraction and desire are too strong to resist. Breaking or bending the bond is impossible. We have no choice but to go along with it, as we were swiftly brought into the room of the rest house. Our groans echoed everywhere, and the heat consumed our bodies as we touched each other’s skin.

 

Azriel’s kisses trailed from my jaw to my neck. His accented moans harmonized with mine as our hands wandered across each other’s bodies. He then lifted me, pinning me against the wall with my legs wrapped around his waist. His lips returned to mine, and I grasped a handful of his hair. His kisses took me to a place I had never been before, as if he had cast a spell within my mouth.

 

Our bodies pressed heatedly against the wall, breathing heavily as our lips remained locked. I could taste the shared breath between us. Despite the loud, heavy rain outside, I could feel the thud of our combined heartbeat as we fumbled to remove each other’s clothes. The sounds of ripping fabric echoed in the dim room. He tore mine, and I tore his, both of us eager to reach something deeper, to do more.

 

Lightning flashed, illuminating Azriel’s face for a brief moment before he placed me on the bed. He positioned himself between my thighs, planting kisses on my chest. My body arched as my claws raked across his bare back, feeling the flex of his muscles while my other hand gripped his bicep.

 

"Azriel!" I moaned his name as his warm mouth and sinful tongue played with my sensitive peak, sucking it firmly against the roof of his mouth.

 

Little by little, I could feel something inside me tearing apart. Azriel and I groaned together as it delved into the depths of its reach. I thought I was incapable of feeling pain, but now it feels as if my whole being is being torn apart. I grasped his hair with one hand while the other clenched the pillow beside me. He groaned as his tongue trailed between my breasts, down to my navel, and lower until I felt his breath against my most sensitive spot. His hand caressed my thighs as he kissed his way up the inside of my legs.

 

I gasped when he buried his face between my legs. It felt like a fire was burning around us, but it didn’t hurt our skin. My eyes shot open as I repeatedly chanted his name. The feeling was overwhelming, like I was a volcano on the verge of erupting. I felt something building deep inside, desperate to be released. My body began to tremble, the vibrations from my thighs spreading throughout me.

 

I pushed my body back against the mattress and looked at him through half-open eyes. He adjusted his position and brought his lips to mine, trailing kisses down my jaw. I felt him wrap my legs around his body, pressing himself against me. I hugged him tightly as I felt him begin to penetrate me. Slowly, he entered, and the sensation of something tearing apart inside returned. Azriel and I groaned together as it sank deeper into its depths. The pain was something I never thought I could feel, but now it felt like my entire being was being split apart.

 

He didn’t move immediately. His breath puffed against my neck as he kissed me, eventually finding his way to my lips, kissing me deeply once more. He then placed slow, gentle kisses from my chin down my neck, stopping to nibble gently at my throat. One hand rested beside my head while the other held one of my thighs. I clung to his shoulders as he began to move.

 

"Azriel!" I cried. He started slow, but soon quickened. My body jerked back and forth with the force of his movements. The bed banged against the wooden wall, and with every sharp thrust, our skin slapped together.

 

"Lilianna," he rasped fiercely as he continued moving above me. He lifted his face and looked up as he went deeper. I could see the movement of his Adam’s apple and hear his low sighs, which matched the gasps coming from my own lips.

 

My claws raked down his arm, drawing blood, and the smell of it overwhelmed me. The scent tempted me to taste it. At the same time, I felt like I was about to explode. My claws scratched at the bed, creating a tearing sound as I gripped Azriel’s arm when he leaned closer to me, his glowing golden-yellow eyes locked with mine. His human irises were gone, replaced by his wolf’s. His fangs gleamed between his lips as a low growl escaped from his chest. I could feel it—something was about to happen.

 

I suddenly rose, straddling him as he continued thrusting beneath me. My nails dug into his back as he sped up.

 

"Azriel... I'm thirsty." He answered with a grunt as I buried my fangs into his neck, like a predator finally satisfying its thirst. His thrusts slowed, and our bodies trembled together as we reached the peak of our shared moment. Azriel’s arm hugged my back tightly as he sank his fangs into my neck as well, marking me as we climaxed together.

 

***

 

I woke up to the sound of the curtain swaying in the wind. I had a dream—a vivid, intense dream. I couldn’t imagine it ever becoming a reality. Azriel would never submit to me. But before I could finish my thoughts, I felt something.

 

The cold air made me shiver, and that’s when I realized I wasn’t wearing anything. My eyes widened as I looked down at my body, covered only by a blanket. My clothes were scattered on the floor, torn to pieces. Even the bed had bloodstains and rips. It did happen!

 

I jumped up quickly, almost tripping in the process. I stood in front of a mirror, and the evidence of what had happened last night was clear. His grip and kisses had left marks all over my body. The two most intense signs were the soreness between my thighs and the bite mark on my neck.

 

I scanned the room—where was he? I had to talk to him.

 

There were no signs of him inside the house. I hastily grabbed one of his shirts and threw it on before running outside. It wasn’t hot anymore, and the rain had stopped. The ground was littered with fallen branches and leaves, and a few trees had toppled over. In the distance, I saw Azriel’s men tending to the plants, but he wasn’t with them. I looked around and noticed a faint trail. I followed it, half-walking, half-running, despite the pain.

 

It didn’t take long before I reached the end of the path. It led to a lagoon. The waterfall roared as steam rose from the milky-blue water, with mountains looming in the background. It felt almost supernatural. But even though the lagoon was breathtaking, my eyes were drawn to the man beneath the falls. He stood under the cascade, letting the water pour over him. The water only reached his waist, leaving his beautiful back fully exposed. His muscles flexed as he ran his fingers through his hair. I couldn’t help but part my lips, drinking in the sight of him until he noticed me.

 

He glanced at me briefly before looking away, dipping into the water, and rising again. He acted as if he hadn’t seen me at all and picked up his clothes. At first, I didn’t react to his indifference, but when I saw him walking away, putting on his shirt, I hurried after him.

 

"Did you enjoy bathing? I missed this place. You always forbade me from coming here before, so I could only bathe here a few times." I forced myself to sound sweet and friendly, unlike my usual self. I didn't know how to approach him now, especially since he was ignoring me.

 

I felt disheartened when he didn’t respond. He just kept walking, and I followed. I glanced at his face, but he was staring straight ahead with a serious expression. I could see his jaw clenching. I wanted to reach for his hand or hold his arm, but every time I tried, I pulled my hand back. I nibbled my lower lip, thinking of what to say next.

 

"Have you had breakfast? I forgot to cook because I immediately looked for you when I woke up. I thought you had left me, but you were just bathing. For a second, I forgot how much you love the water." Come on! Notice me already. I still have questions that need answers, Azriel.

 

But the look he shot at me made me step back a little. He stopped. He finally noticed me. He finally faced me. But the way he looked at me... it was breaking me.

 

"Stop this, Lilianna," he said, his voice tense. I swallowed hard, especially when I saw his fist clench. I tried to reach for it, but gasped when he immediately dodged my hand.

 

"Why? After w-what happened... w-why?" I thought it was okay now. I thought he would accept me. Why? Why does he still refuse?

 

"We both know I didn't want that," he said firmly, and I stared down at my feet, shaking my head.

 

"Whether you wanted it or not, you have no choice, Azriel. We both know why that happened. You’re a wolf, and you know you'll feel it the moment you find your ma—"

 

"Stop it!" That was the first time he shouted at me. And no one else knows how much that moment was killing me inside, except for me. I knew he felt it too, but he chose to ignore it.

 

"W-Why should I stop? How can I stop?! What happened just told us who we are! We can't run away from the truth you're trying so hard to reject! Why can't you just accept it, huh? Why won't you accept it?!" I couldn't take it anymore. We’ve often argued about this, about my feelings, but this was by far the worst. I knew what the outcome would be, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop. I wanted to push it. I wanted to... try, even just now.

 

"How can I accept something so disgusting?!" His eyes glowed with rage. I bit my lip, trying to suppress my sobs, to hold back my tears, even though I knew they were on the verge of falling.

 

I wasn’t crying, but why? Why do they want to come out of my eyes?

 

"D-disgusting?" I looked down and smiled, no... I smirked, then laughed mockingly. I laughed like a madwoman in front of him. It hurt!

 

"The taste of your blood is like poison. It was bitter, spicy... and made my stomach churn with disgust. Even now, it feels like my insides are being twisted." That’s enough. I don't want to hear any more. But why can’t I run away like he wanted from the beginning?

 

"Y-You're my mate. You’re the one I chose. And even if you didn’t want it, last night... we both know that I’m the one the moon chose for you..." I met his eyes, and my tears... they rushed down, pouring out. The pain I had held in for so long, the hurt I had tried so hard to hide and deny. I had known for a long time how he felt about me. But this was the first time I couldn’t cover up the pain.

 

Hearing him say "disgusting" was something I couldn’t accept. Something I couldn’t just ignore.

 

"Even if you find it disgusting, it’s the truth. And no matter how much you reject it, the two of us... we're bound together now, tied by something that can't be broken." My voice cracked as I cried in front of him. I tried to dry my tears with my arm, but they wouldn’t stop. Until I completely broke down, crying so hard. I covered my face with my hands, sobbing uncontrollably. My knees trembled.

 

I wanted to reach out to him, to hug him. I wanted him to hold me and apologize for what he said to me... but he didn’t.

 

He didn’t do it.

 

"Go home, Lilianna. This is the last time. It won't happen again. And I don’t want it to happen again. You and I may live in the same world, but we are not the same. I cannot accept you as my mate. We are different beings. You are not meant for me, and I am not meant for you. I’ve told you before, there is only one woman I love. And what I feel for her will never be erased, not because of one night that was beyond my control."

 

After saying that, he slowly walked away. I tried to follow him, but it felt like my feet were glued to the ground, and I couldn’t do anything but watch him leave. I could feel that unbearable pain, tearing something apart inside my chest. I knew it wasn’t just because of the hurtful things he said. Being rejected by your mate... it's a unique kind of pain. Like chains coiled around my body. The chains of agony. We both knew that... but he chose to make me feel it.

 

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