Rylee's Pov
My eyes fluttered open; I felt really drowsy. I turned and curled myself up on the bed, not wanting to get out. Then memories from last night flooded my mind, making me feel wide awake. I quickly threw off the covers and ran to the mirror, wishing it was all a dream. The blood-red rose on my neck seemed to be pulsing. I caught my breath as the reality of my situation hit me. I sighed as a bead if tears rolled down my cheek. I was broken, my heart was broken, and I was done for. How could I explain the mark to anyone who found it? I clenched my fist hard, my nails sinking deep into my skin. It felt a bit sore, but I didn't care; the pain wasn't compared to the pain that was growing in my chest.
I was jolted back to reality when a knock came on the door, and I quickly rushed to my wardrobe to grab a scarf, carefully tying it on my neck to cover the hideous mark. I put on my pajamas and ran my fingers through my messed-up hair, using a lot of strands to cover my neck before I went to get the door.
A gentle smile played on my lips as I saw who it was."Good morning," I said.
"What the heck are you doing out of bed? Don't you realize how hurt you are?" Cameronasked, picking me up immediately and carrying me straight to the bed.
"Come on, Cam, I'm fine. Besides, if you didn't want me out of bed, how did you expect me to get the door when you knocked?" I asked as he placed me gently back on the bed.
"I didn't expect you to get the door; I expected you to usher me in through the mind link, nothing more." He shrugged.
"I was already up when you knocked and so decided to get the door myself," I said, sitting up on the bed.
Cameron stared at me without saying anything for a long time, and I couldn't handle his gaze anymore, so I opted to ask, "What is it?"
"Nothing," he shook his head. "Only that you look... good. You look bright—no pale face, swollen body, or anything. You look just normal like you always do, like you weren't whipped two hundred times last night or abducted by a cloud of smoke and left covered in blood in the woods."
Awkward! I rubbed the back of my neck, not knowing what to say. I knew not only Cameron but every other person who sees me would wonder the same thing. I bit my lip and sighed, "Well, Catherine is the best healer in all the wolf packs, so..." I shrugged.
"I have seen her treat a lot of whipped wolves, but none of them looked as you do now the next day. If I wasn't here last night, I would say the whole pack was lying, saying you were whipped."
"Come on, Cameron, you didn't actually come here to talk about this now, did you?" I asked, hoping to change the topic.
Cameron scratched his head, "Not at all." He sighed, "I actually came to see how you are doing, and if you are in the worst shape to keep you company, but looking at you now, you can even go to school if you want."
"Ah, school," I groaned and fell on the bed. "Everybody would be surprised as you are if they see me walk through that door, don't you think?"
"Do you intend to stay in the whole day? Everyone knows Catherine is treating you, and everyone knows her medicine grows stronger each day. So I don't see why you should hide inside."
I sucked in my lower lip and thought about it. I contemplated in my mind that Cameron would expect me to be acting weak even for a little; however, I was not feeling even slightly weak; honestly, I felt so strong like I would totally beat up anyone in a sparring match. How could I keep up the act the whole day if I was to pretend? I'm not Natasha; I'm not a drama queen. But he was right—staying indoors when not bedridden would be really tiring. So what was I to do?
The door opened, and my parents along with Catherine entered the room. Mom rushed, quickly embracing me in her motherly warm hugs. "You are okay, my dear," she kissed my hair and forehead.
"I'm fine, mom," I smiled.
"I can see Catherine's medicines are effective on you. You look stronger than I expected." Dad nodded; he looked a bit regretful and happy at my situation. I wouldn't hold anything against him; I knew he was forced to, and he shouldn't be partial to me.
"Yes, dad, I'm feeling much better now."
"Surely your wounds aren't completely healed; you should stay indoors today," Mom said.
"Actually, mom, I am feeling really good and would rather go to school than stay at home. Catherine gives me medicine to numb the pains, and also don't forget, I am the alpha's daughter. I may not have the alpha powers, but I still have some traces of an alpha, which is the fast healing ability. I am not a regular wolf, mom." I explained, cutting my mother short whenever she wanted to raise a worry.
Mom exhaled and turned to Catherine. "You think she would be fine?"
"Of course Luna, she is looking better already. She just doesn't have to stress herself too much and reopen the wounds." Catherine answered.
"Don't worry about that, Luna; I will be there to protect her," Cameron nominated himself as my personal bodyguard.
"First you have to promise not to let her convince you to allow her to leave the pack again," Dad sternly warned.
Cameron looked downcast and sighed, "I am sorry, but you have my word that I would protect Rylee."
"You…"
"Alan," Mom interrupted and shook her head at him.
"Don't give him a hard time; you have a stubborn daughter as it is," she turned to me. "Don't put him in a difficult situation."
"I won't, mom. I promise, dad," I swore; not with my whole heart though.
"Alright then, please give me some time to dress her wounds. She would meet you outside." Catherine quickly rushed to the bed and pretended to be undressing Rylee.
"Alright, we will see you at breakfast." Mom smiled and kissed my forehead before standing up. Linking arms with her mate, they both left the room.
Cameron smiled and winked at me, "I will be waiting outside for you."
"Mm, hmm," I nodded, and he left the room as well.
"How are you feeling?" Catherine asked as she removed my top to see me back, "Your back is flawless. How does your ankle feel?"
"Like I was never hurt," I sighed.
"What's with the scarf?" Catherine touched the scarf and peeped at me from my back.
"To hide the mark," I said, closing her eyes. "I can't let anyone see it."
Catherine nodded. "Well, I have nothing to heal on you, but I would always come to check on you every morning and night to keep the pretense going. Otherwise, I won't be able to answer the questions that would be thrown at me by everyone."
"I understand. Thank you, Catherine," I entwined both our hands together, "thank you so much."
"I am doing this for the betterment of the pack; we have to know what we are up against before launching an attack to avoid history repeating itself like what happened last night. Perhaps when you are finally calmed, you can tell me what it is."
"But I don't know what it is."
"Stop lying to me, girl," Catherine shook her head. "Hurry up and get ready; Cameron is waiting for you." She picked up the bag she came in with that she had left on the bed. Getting to the door, she turned back, "The earlier we know what it is, the sooner we will be at finding a way to get rid of the mark." She opened the door and left the room.
I knew she was right, but I was not ready to tell anyone that I was marked by a vampire. Punishing me by whipping would be an understatement. I doubt that the news won't be taken to the high howlers, and knowing them, their best solution might be to execute me. I can't die now, not when I was yet to find my mate, not when I was yet to get my revenge on the damn vampire.
As J thought about him, his midnight blue eyes flashed in my mind as well as his flawless face. My wolf jumped in excitement, and she felt a stinging pleasure on the mark on my neck. I exhaled and closed her eyes, my hands trailing my neck to touch the mark. And although I was covered by the scarf, when my fingers grazed the mark, it sent a burning sensation throughout my body, and a whisper of moan escaped my lips as my whole body shivered in pleasure.
**
Meanwhile, in a castle far away, a certain someone closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, it was burning red and his fangs elongated. He growled in annoyance at the forest, willing the stupid wolf not to go deeper with her thought; otherwise, he was afraid of what he would do. He stood up in annoyance and rushed to the window, his red eyes scanning the forest as his breathing heightened with the pleasure that was trying to consume him.