Chapter 20

                                    

                                          

Chapter 20
I didn't tell him what had happened at my hometown but when I did, he was more than surprised. His every breath was filled with fury. His eyes were as dark as they could get when I mentioned my grandfather and truth he had been hiding from me all these years. There was some part of it that I couldn't believe myself. The fact that my own family would do something like this but it took me a moment to realize that there was a chance my parents didn't know anything about grandfather's intentions, that they were kept in the dark just as I was.
"I healed." I mumbled while watching Knox's hand caress my thighs, where I had been stabbed repeatedly. "It didn't hurt that much." I didn't want him to worry, especially now when I was here, safe from my grandfather.
The werewolves and the vampires have been separated for as long as I could imagine. I didn't want Knox to brew a war against the vampires, my family, while knowing well enough if he wanted to, he could. His pack was amongst the strongest werewolf packs known to us.
"Doesn't matter. He hurt you, Candice." His enraged tone didn't startle me but the anger spreading over his face did.
"I know." I lowered my gaze. There weren't any bruises or cuts over my body as I had healed quicker than usual after taking Cain's blood. "I don't know what would've happened if Cain didn't find me in time. Another night, I wouldn't have been able to bear the hunger, Knox. I would turn into exactly what my grandfather wanted, a monster. I would've lost my sanity and even just thinking about it, it's keeping me on the edge." I said, my voice shaking a little with dread of the future.
I didn't know what was coming ahead but the thought of being a completely different person with no control terrified me.
What if I become the darkness? What if Cain didn't save me?
"I'm here for you," His hand enveloped with my fingers. "And I'm not letting you go from my sight ever. For as long as you're here, no one can trigger you to turn into anything. Your parents—or any member of your family can't reach here. I'll protect you. You don't have to fear anyone—even yourself." He said, warmth in his voice.
I glanced up at him, meeting his eyes. A small smile lifted over my mouth. "Promise?"
"Of course." He rasped, leaning in and kissing my forehead. "You've learned the truth. That's what you wanted to know, right?" I nodded at his question and he continued, "Now, you don't have to go back to your family ever."
I wrapped my arms around him and held him for a moment. His scent dived into my nose—the scent of his blood and I tried to resist for a long moment. Only then, my thoughts diverted to my grandfather's words.
"Knox," I held my breath back. My head pressed against his chest.
His hand trailed down my shoulders and to my back, "Yes?"
The words were in my mouth but it was hard to say them out loud. I wasn't sure but a part of me was. "You can mark me." I said quietly before parting my arms from him. An uncertain expression tightened over his face, "I'm not sure. My grandfather told me that your mother had mated me with all three of you. It could only mean that I can be marked by you as well."
My heart beat with fear of the unknown. The quickening of his pulse echoed in my ears. Silence split through the air. We both sat at the edge of the bed, preparing to get under the sheets. It had been a long exhausting day—week.
When his eyes turned into deep red, it was his wolf surfacing at my words, at the possibility of marking me as his, sharing the same bond Cain had shared with me. Maybe even stronger. I wasn't sure.
I never wanted to be marked by a werewolf to begin with. When Cain did, I accepted it eventually and moved on, yearning to be marked by Knox as well. If they were my mates, I could carry their marks over myself.
His fingers curled around my hair and he asked, "Are you sure, Candice?" There was a tight expression of uncertainty over his face, almost as if he didn't believe me.
"Yes." I wasn't sure but I wanted it—his mark. I had been wanting it ever since Cain had betrayed and left town. I wanted it since the beginning. I wanted it since the moment I had seen him, since he had tied me up inside that small room at the ground level and left dead rotting animal for food for me.
I had wanted it since forever.
"Do you—" I paused, taking a sharp breath. Wrinkles appeared in my forehead. "Do you want to mark me?"
"Of course." His finger traced down my cheek and over my neck.
My pulse throbbed under his touch, "Then mark me, Knox." I neared him, leaning forward with need as strong as the waves seen in the evening, when the moon is at its peak.
He slipped his warm hand underneath my hair as his gaze scurried over my face, confused and still uncertain yet there was a hint of desire in them. He was lost for few seconds before he leaned in and titled my head back, the need growing. My body tingled. Heat spread once more all over me but it was a different heat. His arm wrapped around my waist and I slid over his lap, my legs resting around his while he rose his head.
"Tell me this is what you want." He whispered.
I nodded, "I want you to mark me." The words left my mouth with ease, without any hesitation. I didn't care if my body was going to accept his mark or not, I was certainly going to.
He pulled me closer to himself, his nose at the crook of my neck before he inhaled sharply. His warm breath tingled down my throat. I pressed my eyes shut. I swallowed thickly as his mouth closed around around my neck, just where Cain's mark had been buried. I could sense his thrill, the revenge he would get once he'd replace his brother's mark.
But it wasn't just that.
My heart skipped a beat and a small gasp of pain fled my mouth as he sank his teeth into my flesh, marking me. The atmosphere changed in moments. His stubble grazed against my collarbone. I leapt forward, curling my fingers around his hair. The pain lasted only for a second but it was brutal.
I was completely conscious this time. My fingers and my hands turned cold. A pulse throbbed between my head and trailed all the way down to my feet as he withdrew his teeth away from my neck.
"Knox," I whispered, holding him close to my self.
He placed a kiss over the visible mark that would take a couple days to fade. "Yes?"
"I love you." The three words were at the base of my throat and finally fled my mouth. A strong sensation spread through my body, over every nerve and tingled. My eyes felt heavy. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, pulling him into my hug.
His arms curled at my back while I sensed him smiling, "I love you too." He traced circles around my back before containing, "My love for you is unconditional and eternal. I'll always love you and respect the bond we'll share after tonight."
I briefly smiled to myself while still clinging onto him for support. A raw feeling of warmth and passion replaced the worries and the fear. I thought of nothing except for the man I sat above, our hearts pounding against one and another, both of us now betraying someone.

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