Marked

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 16

Sitting there on the bed, my head was pounding with worry, and my heart was racing like I'd just run a marathon. Everything felt so out of control, and no matter how hard I tried to grab onto something solid, it just slipped away like sand in an hourglass. I knew I should be handling this better—whatever "this" was—but all I wanted was to leave.

So, I decided to take a nap. Yeah, that seemed like the best idea. Maybe when I woke up, everything would feel a bit clearer, like some kind of magic reset button. I closed my eyes, hoping to drift off, but sleep was playing hard to get. I barely felt like I'd even blinked before I was jolted awake, and it felt like someone was stabbing me at the nape of my neck. The pain was intense and overwhelming, and I curled up in agony, gasping like I'd just run into a brick wall.

In a panic, I yanked off the scent blockers I'd been using, letting my pheromones fill the room. For a split second, there was this wave of relief, like taking that first breath after being underwater for way too long. But then, out of nowhere, another wave of pain hit me, stronger than before, and I doubled over, clutching my neck like it was the only thing keeping me from falling apart.

Just when I thought I might be able to breathe through it, the door slammed open. Cassian stormed in, followed by Lysander and Viktor. Their faces were twisted in a mix of concern and irritation, noses scrunched up as they took in the scent swirling in the air. "Fuck, get your pheromones under control," Cassian snapped, and I could feel the tension shift like a weight pressing down on me.

I could sense their pheromones mixing with mine, and somehow that made me relax a little, even if just for a moment. "I... I don't know what's happening," I stammered, my voice shaky and barely above a whisper. It felt like I was standing at the edge of a cliff, and the wind was threatening to push me over.

Lysander stepped closer, his presence somehow calming amidst all the chaos. He settled next to me on the bed and laid me back against his chest. For a moment, the pain eased up a bit. "I told you earlier you were going to feel the bond," he said softly, his voice like a soothing balm on my frayed nerves. "Your pheromones didn't have time to adjust with ours because of your scent blockers."

I tried to sit up, wanting to regain some control over my own body and the situation. "I don't know—" I started, but then the pain hit again, more intense this time. Viktor walked over and grabbed my chin. "Eat," he commanded. I pursed my lips closed, confused about what he was trying to make me eat. He stared at me, waiting for me to listen. "Don't make him say it again, bunny. It's best to eat it," Lysander said, prying my lips open.

"Okay, stop! I'll eat it," I finally relented, taking the pill he put in my mouth, and the pain relieved a bit more.

Cassian's frustration bubbled over, slicing through the air. "Could you be any more useless? My wolf is getting aggressive because of you!" His words stung, making me bite my lip to hold back a whimper. I hated feeling like this; it's not like I wanted this.

All I wanted was to understand what was happening, to make sense of this pain that felt like it was unraveling me from the inside out. I could feel Lysander's heartbeat thudding against my ear, a steady rhythm that somehow made me feel a little better.

I closed my eyes again, focusing on that sound, and soon I felt something click inside me. No matter how hard I tried, I could feel the bond between us, this living thing pulsing with energy, demanding my attention. It was like it was pressing down on me. I could claim before that they were lying since I felt nothing, but now I needed to learn how to handle this, to control how my body reacted to theirs.

As the pain came and went, their presence surrounded me like a protective bubble. I could sense the tension in the air: Cassian pacing back and forth, Viktor standing there watching me, while Lysander was completely focused on me, his hand rubbing gentle circles on my back. I was terrified but also relieved to have them there, knowing I wasn't alone in this mess.

"Just breathe," Lysander whispered, his voice calm and steady. "We'll figure this out together. You're not alone in this."

Once the pain finally stopped, I felt this overwhelming wave of exhaustion crash over me like a heavy blanket. Seriously, it was like my body was finally able to breathe again, and before I knew it, I was out cold, my body just craving sleep. When I finally woke up, I was hit by the most delicious smell wafting through the air, wrapping around me like a cozy blanket. I blinked a few times, trying to shake off the grogginess, and looked around to figure out where it was coming from.

My eyes landed on Viktor, who was leaning by the door with his arms crossed and a blank expression. But then I realized that Lysander and Cassian were nowhere in sight, and a little worry pricked at the back of my mind. Where were they? But honestly, that mouthwatering aroma was way too distracting to let my mind spiral. I glanced out the window and saw the soft morning light streaming in, which meant I'd slept for quite a while. How long had I actually been out?

"Can I leave?" I asked Viktor, my voice still thick with sleep, like I'd just rolled out of a cave or something.

He looked at me for a second. "All the things you need are in the room. You can leave to interact with others here," he said.

So, basically, I was free to roam. Feeling a rush of determination (and a bit of hunger), I pushed myself up from the bed, my muscles all stiff from sleeping forever. I padded over to the bathroom, the delicious scent still tickling my nose, and quickly turned on the shower. The warm water was pure heaven, washing away the remnants of pain and exhaustion, like a mini-vacation.

After what felt like an eternity of enjoying the water, I finally stepped out, feeling way more awake and refreshed. But when I emerged from the bathroom, I noticed Viktor was gone. The room felt super quiet without him, but the promise of food was calling me, so I wandered over to the drawers. I opened one, and to my surprise, I found clothes and underwear that were actually my size.

"Fuck, how did they know my size?" I muttered to myself, heat creeping up my cheeks. It felt a bit weird, like they'd been keeping tabs on me or something, but I couldn't deny I was kind of grateful for it.

I quickly slipped into the clothes, trying to shake off that strange feeling. The fabric was soft and comfy, fitting me just right. Once I was dressed, I took a deep breath, trying to push away any lingering insecurities. I felt a bit more like myself, and honestly, that was a start.