Mated To The Enemy (Previously TVKWP)

CHAPTER 10

"Untie her this instant," Nickolas commands, his voice firm. The guard immediately begins to work on the knots binding me, but his hands pause at her words.

"But she bit me," Ember protests, pouting. She extends her hand to Nickolas, revealing the slowly healing wound due to it being a werewolf bite.

"And you think the appropriate response is to whip her?" Nickolas's voice carries a hint of disbelief as he fixes Ember with a piercing stare, his dark brow raised in questioning. Ember's expression falters, and she swallows hard before reluctantly nodding.

A heavy silence settles over the room as Nickolas approaches Ember, his footsteps deliberate and purposeful. He leans in close to her, his lips brushing against her ear as he speaks in a low, almost menacing tone that still reaches my ears.

"I am only going to say this once, Amelia," Nickolas asserts, his tone steely as he pivots to face me. Our gazes lock, and I find myself trapped in the intensity of his stare. "She is my fucking prisoner, not yours. If she missteps, I'm the one who will mete out punishment, not you," he declares, his words dripping with the irresistible allure of authority.

A bead of sweat trickles down Ember's brow as she nods in silent agreement, the weight of Nickolas's command hanging heavily in the air. A whirlwind of emotions churns within me as I absorb Nickolas's words. He has just labeled me his prisoner. As possessive as he sounded, I can't shake the feeling that it's beyond his control, the mate bond being responsible.

I also can't believe I misjudged him. From his reaction now, I can tell he didn't approve of me being whipped, but it still doesn't change much between us.

Nickolas moves back toward me, his presence seeming to envelop the room, commanding attention with every step. With practiced ease, he finishes untying the ropes around my hand, his touch sending an unexpected jolt of sensation through my body. A startled yelp escapes my lips as his fingers graze my skin.

Turning me around with a suddenness that catches me off guard, Nickolas's gaze locks onto mine, his eyes burning with an intensity that leaves me breathless. I expect him to help me down from where I'm perched, but instead, he simply watches, his scrutiny penetrating to my core.

I swallow hard, unable to tear my eyes away from his intense stare. His gaze traces over the wounds on my arm, his touch gentle as he brushes his thumb over the damaged skin. A shiver runs down my spine at the contact, my breath catching in my throat as a wave of heat floods my body.

I should be repulsed by his touch, disgusted by the knowledge of what he's done with Ember. But despite my best efforts, I find myself unable to resist the pull of the mate bond that binds us together. The overwhelming desire to push him away, warring with the inexplicable need to draw closer, is a maddening contradiction.

"Please remove your hand," I ask, barely above a whisper, avoiding his gaze as best as possible. I try to ignore the scorching heat of his thumb resting on my arm, the proximity of his touch sending a shiver down my spine.

"Did she do this?" he demands, his voice tight with barely contained fury, pressing his thumb firmly against my skin.

"Yes," I reply softly, unable to meet his intense gaze. I sense his jaw clenching at my admission, his attention snapping toward her with a ferocity that sends a chill down my spine. From where I stand, I can't see the expression on his face, but I feel the pressure on my arm increasing to the point of pain, fearing he might be adding another bruise to my collection.

"You're hurting me," I manage to say, feeling his nail digging into my skin. With deliberate slowness, he withdraws his hand and rises to his full height. When I finally gather the courage to meet his gaze, I find his eyes darkened with anger, a storm brewing beneath the surface. I can't help but wonder what has ignited such fury within him.