And with my last consciousness I took an oath- 'Zyan, Victoria, Pray that I die. for if I lived, I would pay back this humiliation hundredfolds!'
When I opened my eyes, a sharp scent of medicine and antiseptic filled the air.
"You are finally awake." A man sat beside my bed, his posture untouched by exhaustion.
"If there had been even a minute of delay last night, the baby would have suffocated."
I sucked in a cold breath as panic tore through me.
My shaking hands flew to my stomach, pressing down trying to feel my child.
"Don’t worry." he said immediately seeing my swollen eyes. "You gave me the moonflower's cure, I saved both you and your baby."
Instant releif washed over me but the very next second, the man beside me reached forward to check my temperature.
It was then a jolt of electrifying sparks burst across my skin, igniting my nerves.
My fingers rose shakily towards the warmth blooming at my neck and I froze-A mate's mark.
No ordinary Alpha could leave a mark like that and claim another wolf's mate, only the strongest wolf can.
"This"I whispered choking bitterly "What does Lycan King Darius want from me…you claimed me why?"
My breathing slowed as his gaze held mine careful as if I might fracture.
"Alpha Zyan murdered someone under my protection. By that act alone, the Blood Moon Pack became my enemy."
His gaze sharpened. "You are their Luna. You know their borders, their alliances, their weaknesses. And now you share my enemy, we are perfect as partners Lianna. "
My throat tightened. "So you mark me…turn my life upside down…and call it strategy? "
He didn’t deny it.
"I call it necessity Lianna. Saving your dignity last night was my duty but marking you was a choice."
I looked away, my hand instinctively covering my stomach, grounding myself in the one thing that still belonged to me.
"I need time. "I said quietly. "I can’t give you an answer like this."
Darius looked at me gently. "Rest assured. I will not cage you with a decision made in blood and shock."
He rose from the chair and turned away, then paused at the door.
"When you are ready, when you choose not to fight alone call my name once. "
His voice was steady, absolute.
"I will come."
After Darius's departure, the silence inside me became unbearable.
It was until a notification lit the screen.
[Victoria Hale sent you a video. ]
A decorated room came into view, walls lined with baby toys and pastel posters.