A Hybrid's Hunger

Chapter 61

Chapter 61

I wake to an empty bed. There's no one there next to me. The sheets on Zade's side of the bed are untouched, almost as if he hadn't even slept. A small sigh escapes my throat as I sit up straight and take a glance around the room. With a quick look, I realize he's not in the bedroom either.

I don't think much of it.

It's fine––all fine.

When I reach the mirror in the washroom, I touch the mark on my face. It throbs under my fingers. It's dark red but it will fade soon, eventually. It has to.

I take another breath before turning away from the mirror and getting under the shower.

My body feels different, so light, almost like I'm floating, but I'm not. My wolf isn't responding like she usually does, she's so quiet. I don't hear her. I don't feel her, nothing, it's all quiet, almost eerie. I wonder why. Isn't this what she wanted? Maybe it's going to take some time for her to settle in. Maybe. I don't know.

A small sigh leaves my throat and I run my fingers through my wet hair while stepping out of the washroom.

Estella has already left clothes for me. I suppose she heard me wake up and came to drop them in while I was showering. She's not in the room, and Zade's still not around too. The room remains silent and it's almost a little unsettling.

I slip on the clothes before heading down. There are many people in the house today, I can hear them. I find Estella in the kitchen, which is now crowded with cooks. It's a little odd as I've never seen anyone working in the kitchen before.

Between the chaos, I tap Estella's shoulder and she turns around. "Oh, you're here. Come have a seat, I'll make something for you—"

I cut her off, "Can we talk?" I signal her to the door that leads out of the kitchen. My voice remains low, as a whisper.

Estella doesn't question me and follows me out to the living room instead. Once we're out of ear's reach from all the cooks and the other people in the kitchen, we walk farther into the hall.

"What's the matter? Are you feeling fine?"

I stop and turn to her. "Zade marked me."

The tension creases on her face and disappears as soon as she hears me. "Oh, that's so great. Isn't it—"

"He marked me during last night."

Estella's brows pull together and she stares at me, confused. "I don't quite get it."

I sigh and look back at the hallway, making sure no one's here to eavesdrop. My gaze returns to her before I speak, "Last night, I told him to mark me and in the heat of the moment, he did. But I'm worried. Or I don't know. Should I be? He wasn't there when I woke up."

Her hand touches mine and she squeezes it tight. "There's nothing you've to worry about. He probably has work to attend to and with the party approaching, it's likely he's busy. It's only for a day. I'm sure everything is fine and Zade will come around. Don't you worry,"

I nod. Estella pulls me into a quick embrace and holds me for a few seconds.

"Do you feel fine?"

"Yes," I pull away from her. "I feel fine. But—"

"But nothing. Everything will be okay. Now, why don't you go upstairs and I'll someone to get you dressed and ready for the evening. This may take your mind off things." Estella suggests.

"If you see Zade will you let me know?"

"Of course." She squeezes my arm again and her smile widens.

"Thank you, Estella."

She nods and we walk back towards the kitchen, parting ways in the hall. I head upstairs to our room and take a deep breath before shutting the door behind me. My fingers brush over my throat, where Zade had bitten me. Some fear lingers within me. What if something happens? My memories may have been taken from me, but Zade's are still there. He knows all, he feels all. And it is frightening even to imagine what it can cause.

If something happens to him because of me, I'd be nothing. I can't lose him.

Zade's words still echo through my head, they haunt me.

You're my suffering and I relish in it every day.

A knock lands on the door, snapping me out of my thoughts. I turn around and watch as several women come inside. Estella leads them as they carry clothes, makeup, and jewelry. Her eyes meet mine and she smiles. Another woman walks in and places some food in front of me.

"Eat a little and then they'll get started." Estella whispers to me while touching my shoulder.

My gaze follows them as they bring the clothes over to the bed and the jewelry and makeup over the vanity. I'm not even hungry, not really. But I take a few bites for the sake of it. Once I'm done, Estella leaves the room and the remaining women get started on me.

Time passes as they brush my hair and apply the makeup onto my skin. I don't even look in the mirror while they're doing all of it. It takes a few hours before they're finally finished. I slip into a red velvet dress, it's long, and reaches till my ankles, and behind, there's a lace cut-out.

I glance at myself in the mirror. My chest sits high on the dress. My lips are painted the same red as the dress while my eyelids are covered in golden eyeshadow. I finally sense my wolf surfacing as the woman behind me tangles with the zip at the back. The other woman next to me raises my hair above my neck gently. The mark hides well behind the makeup, it's almost not there.

My eyes move away from my reflection and I look behind in the mirror to find Zade at the door. Our eyes meet in the reflection and I can't help but smile at him. He walks inside slowly, his eyes glued to mine.

"Leave us. Please." He says to the women surrounding me and they nod.

They place the jewelry in front of me and quickly walk out of the room. I break our gaze and pull my hair over my shoulder as they all leave, leaving Zade and me alone.

"You look nice," His voice comes behind me and then his hand.

His fingers run over the zip of the dress, and I look up in the mirror. My breath stalls as he comes closer to me, standing only a few inches away. He zips up the dress up to the base of my neck while my eyes remain stuck on him. The mark on my throat throbs and a shudder runs through me. His finger traces over the mark gently and I close my eyes for a brief second.

"Where were you?" I ask.

Zade doesn't answer me, instead, he walks over to the table near the vanity. His gaze remains on the jewelry for a few seconds. There's an array of diamond necklaces and earrings along with a hairpin. He picks out the necklace and then comes closer to me again.

His fingers touch my back as he clasps the necklace and then his hand comes over my waist as he pulls me closer. "Work." he whispers.

I see him, and he looks fine. So good. Especially in his suit. It's black and he wears it perfectly.

Why would I even think there's something wrong?

I turn to him and press my ass against the edge of the table. He leans in and cups the side of my face before kissing my lips gently, softly, slowly.

"Zade," I breathe against his mouth. My lips part and my fingers slide over his shoulder. I can feel my wolf inside me, moving restlessly. It's a good sign, at least she's finally not so quiet anymore. "I thought something had happened."

He presses his forehead onto mine, breathing hard while his thumb touches my chin. "Nothing will."

I leave it there.

"I missed you in the morning."

"I know," He drops his hand back over my waist. "I just had some work. But I'm here now, all for you tonight and every night after."

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