Chapter 63: Chapter 63; what’s that on your neck?

Alina’s POV

"Please stay." His voice is low, almost broken, like the words scrape his throat on the way out.

I slip out of his bed, the sheets still warm against my skin. "I have to go now." My hands shake a little as I pick up my clothes and start pulling them on. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He catches my wrist. His fingers are warm, tight, desperate. "Please don’t do this, Alina." His eyes search mine. "You know how miserable it gets when you’re far away from me."

My chest tightens. I swallow hard. "Lucian... I want to stay. I really do. But I can’t. Leo—my son—is still in that house. I can’t leave without him." My voice comes out softer than I mean it to.

He doesn’t let go of my wrist. His thumb brushes my skin, gentle and hurting at the same time. "I know. I respect that. But how long, Alina? How long do I keep waiting for you?" His voice cracks just a little. "It hurts... being away from you."

I stare at him, heart aching. The pain in his eyes mirrors the one twisting inside my own chest. I reach up and touch his cheek.

"Less than a month," I whisper, trying to sound sure. "I promise. I’ll leave, okay? You won’t have to worry anymore."

He looks at me, doubt flickering across his face. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." I lean in and kiss him, slow and deep, like I can pour all my promises into that one touch. Then I finish dressing.

"You don’t have to go through the window," he says quietly.

I give him a small, tired smile. "I have to. My brother Sammy... he won’t let me go if he sees me. You know that."

I climb out the window and drop down. For a second I look up at him. He’s watching me with those eyes that always make me want to run back. I wave, then turn and run. The night air rushes past me. My abilities make it easy—fast, silent—but my heart still feels heavy.

I slip through the secret passage behind the mansion, the one I don’t think Aiden knows about. My legs carry me quickly to the back door. When I finally step inside my room, a small smile starts to form on my lips.

The moment I open the door, my smile freezes.

Aiden is standing there.

My eyes widen. "Aiden... you’re in my room," I stutter, heart slamming against my ribs.

"Where are you coming from, Alina?" His voice is calm. Too calm.

"I... I went out for a while. Just to take a stroll." I force an awkward smile, but my hands feel cold.

He walks closer. Each step makes my stomach twist.

"I can smell him on you." Still calm. But something darker hides underneath. "You didn’t have to lie to me."

My breath catches. I stay quiet.

He stops right in front of me. "Fine. I know you might be mated to him. But that doesn’t mean you should run off and fuck him every time you feel the need." His voice stays low, but I hear the anger now, the sharp edge of jealousy. His jaw tightens. "I’ll let this slide, Alina. Take it out of your system. But you can’t keep doing this."

"Why would you even have sex with me then?" I snap, my voice full of disgust.

Aiden’s eyes soften with raw desperation. "I will do it in a heartbeat. If you’re horny, I can be your sex toy if that’s what you want." His words come out shaky. I never expected this from him. "What I’m saying is... you don’t need Aiden. I know I promised I won’t control you, Alina, but please think about it. We can be a happy family."

My throat tightens. "What happens to Emily then?"

His gaze drops to the floor. He says nothing.

I push again, voice trembling. "Why can’t you speak? What happens to Emily if we become this happy family?" Still nothing. The silence hurts more than any words. "That’s what I thought. So think twice before you make all these empty promises."

He reaches for my hand. His fingers feel warm and unsteady.

"I want to marry you again," he says quietly. "I asked the Moon Goddess. It’s fine if I take you as my second wife."

I yank my hand away so hard my shoulder aches. "I won’t be anyone’s second."

His face falls into a deep frown.

"Why not?" A bitter, amused smile twists his lips. "Don’t tell me you still have hopes that Lucian will make you his wife."

My chest squeezes. He steps closer.

"Lucian will never marry you, Alina. He’s only in it to get into your pants, that’s all. He still sleeps around with other women. So he’s making you a second choice too, isn’t he?"

Before I can answer, he grabs my waist and pulls me against him. His breath brushes my face. "Alina... I will take good care of you. Whatever he does in bed, I’ll do it better. Just please... break things with him. Break the mate bond and everything. You still have time. He hasn’t marked you yet, so—"

"Enough!" I shove him away with all my strength, my palms stinging.

My voice cracks as I glare at him. "What do you actually want from me, Aiden? I have tried to reason with you. I have tried to make you understand where I stand. I am just your baby’s mother and nothing else."

His eyes darken. In one quick move, he grabs me forcibly, fingers digging into my arms.

"Fine. If you don’t want to give yourself to me... then I’ll take it."

He crashes his lips on mine, hard and demanding. I push against his chest. "Aiden, stop!" I scream, twisting my face away. "Aiden, you need to stop! Aiden!"

He doesn’t listen. His hands tear at my clothes. The fabric rips loudly. Cold air hits my skin.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I shout, voice shaking with anger and fear.

But his eyes are not on my face anymore. They’re fixed on my neck. His whole body goes still.

"Alina... what’s that on your neck?" His voice drops to a dangerous whisper. "Don’t tell me it is..."