I froze at the doorway.
"Hello, beautiful," Mark drawled, leaning against the porch post like he owned the place. "Is that how you greet your future partner?"
My lips curled. "You must be dreaming if you think that's ever happening."
His grin slipped. He stepped closer and gripped my arm tight enough to bruise.
"Watch your tone with me."
I yanked, but he didn't budge. "What do you want, Mark?"
"I came to make you a proposition," he said, voice low, dangerous. "One that might just save your miserable life."
I glared at him. "You don't save people. You destroy them."
Something flickered in his eyes, amusement, maybe madness. "When will you finally understand, Elena? I'm for you. I've always been."
I almost laughed. "For me? Sure, if "for me" meant making my life a living hell".
Before I could think of closing the door in his face, he yanked me forward and crushed his mouth against mine. My entire body went rigid—then I started to fight. I shoved, twisted, clawed, but he only gripped harder, one hand gripping the back of my head, the other digging into my waist.
I screamed into his mouth, but he took it as an invitation. My wolf roared inside me, thrashing, begging to be released. 'Shift, let me out!' she snarled.
"No," I pushed back. "That's what he wants."
Pain scorched through my veins. I called silently to every moon goddess that would listen just let this stop.
And then, finally, he pulled away.
I stumbled back, gasping for air. Fury and humiliation burned in my chest. My hand flew before I thought, landing hard against his chest. "You disgusting—"
He caught my jaw, forcing my face toward him. His eyes darkened as he stared at my wolf-turned eyes.
"That," he whispered, "was explosive. Magnetic. You and I could really work, you know? So how about this, marry me, and you might just live."
I spat in his face.
His expression twisted. The slap came fast and brutal, cracking across my cheek. The sting exploded through my skull.
"You should be grateful, Elena," he sneered. "I'm offering myself to save a mutt like you—"
"Elena?"
The voice was soft, hesitant.
We both turned. Amilia stood at the doorway, worry etched across her face.
"Hey," she said carefully.
Mark ignored her completely. "Do you even know what those trials will do to you?" he pressed, stepping closer again. "You'll die within minutes. You've got no signa, your wolf has no combat skill, you have no chance. Accept me, and you'll live another day."
My rage returned in full. "No. And get the hell out of my house."
He took a threatening step forward
"Enforcer Mark," Amilia interrupted sharply, her tone suddenly official. "I was sent to get her ready for the trials."
He froze, eyes flicking to her. For a long, tense moment, no one breathed.
Then he growled low in his throat. "Your death, then, mutt," he spat. "And I'll gladly watch it."
He stormed out, slamming the door so hard the windows rattled.
Silence followed.
'You should've let me kill him,' my wolf hissed.
'We'd both be dead by now,' I whispered back.
'You don't even know how powerful you are,' she murmured, voice softening, fading into comfort.
My knees buckled. I covered my mouth, shaking, the adrenaline crashing. A sob slipped free before I could stop it.
Amilia crossed the room in seconds, wrapping me in her arms. "Shh, it's okay. He's gone. You're okay."
I clung to her, crying until I couldn't anymore. When I finally pulled away, my eyes were swollen, but my breathing steadied.
"Let me make you some coffee," she said gently, guiding me to the kitchen. "Hot and strong. Helps after surviving an idiot."
I sat on the stool while she moved around the counter. The hum of the fridge was the only sound for a while.
"He kissed me," I said quietly. "Then slapped me." My voice cracked. "The bastard."
Amilia froze mid-motion. "What?" She turned, eyes blazing. "I knew he was obsessed, but I thought it was the 'make-your-life-miserable' kind—not this. I swear I'll make him choke on his own spit."
Despite everything, a shaky laugh escaped me.
She poured coffee into mismatched mugs, pushed one toward me, and leaned over to hug me again. "I'm so sorry, Elena."
"I'll be fine," I lied. The knot in my chest said otherwise. "I'll just… avoid him till the trials are over."
We sat for a while, sipping coffee and trading gossip. She told ridiculous stories about faction members, trying to pull laughter out of me—and somehow, she did. The weight in my chest eased just a little.
Then her tone shifted. "Speaking of faction members, another one went missing yesterday."
My stomach tightened. "What? Who?"
"Jack," she said.
"The loner?"
"Yeah. And it's not just us. I overheard enforcers whispering last night, men are disappearing across factions. Mostly young to middle aged."
"That's" My voice trailed off. "The Alpha King, does he know?"
"He does. And he's furious. The whole kingdom's on edge." She looked uneasy. "I can smell trouble coming, Elena."
"I hope they find them," I said softly. "Alive."
"Do you think they'll postpone the trials?"
She shook her head. "You know how it is. Tradition comes first."
"I know," I whispered. "Always does."
The window had turned black with night.
"Amilia, it's late. You should go home."
She smiled faintly. "Not happening. I'm staying with you tonight."
"Really?" Relief flooded me. "Thank you."
We pulled blankets into the living room, talking until exhaustion pulled us under. For a few hours, I let myself believe I was safe.