Chapter 231: Battle!
Alpha Xander bared his teeth, and Elaika shut her eyes, bracing for the blow. Coran shouldn’t be punished for her sins.
His fangs elongated with a sickening grace. In one swift motion, he seized her arms, yanked her close, and sank his teeth into her flesh. Elaika clenched her fists, expecting agony, but it never came. Instead, a dizzying wave of heat spread through her body, replacing pain with a rush of dark, uncontrollable pleasure.
Xander pulled back, his lips brushing against her collarbone as he licked the blood that trailed down her skin.
Elaika’s eyes flew open in horror. "You marked me!"
"I did," he growled. "This is your punishment, becoming my mate. And suffering the consequences of your intentions."
Without another word, he turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving her trembling behind the tree. She slumped against the rough bark, her fingers drifting up to the searing mark. It pulsed like a second heartbeat. From this moment on, she would feel his emotions. Hear his voice in her mind. Worse still, the craving for him would now scorch her from within, unbearable and endless until she died or was rejected. Even the cold wind brushing against her skin felt numb compared to the fire he left behind.
She heard footsteps crunching softly over the snow. Still leaning against the tree, she didn’t lift her gaze, only stared at the long shadow stretching before her.
"Are you here to blame me?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Rail said nothing at first. His eyes, sharp and unreadable, landed on the fresh mark glowing on her neck.
"That man is merciful," he said at last. "And you know it."
Elaika couldn’t find the words. She hadn’t expected sympathy, but she hadn’t braced for this quiet judgment either.