PRIMUS ALEXANDER’S POV
Her words still echoed in my skull, loud enough to drown the pounding in my chest.
“Just now,” she stammered. “But it caught fire and then…” she trailed off.
“Then what!”
She flinched and stepped back. Her white eyes were wide in fear. “Nothing. It just caught fire.”
A part of me hated myself for it, but the rest of me… the rest of me knew softness would only damn us
both.
Should I be just like that? Soft about the strangeness she has been experiencing?
She met my gaze.
Her white eyes were roaming mine as she spoke. “First, it was because I mistakenly marked you, then later, it was because of a scroll, and recently it was the Core Fang. And now, it’s this book?” Her voice came out low. “Why do you always look at me like I’ve done something wrong?”
Her words hit a nerve. One I had been asking myself for weeks. Why do I always look at her like she even knew anything? She’s not in control of her destiny and wherever is thrown to her.
“It’s your pack, Alexander. Your kingdom. If anything, I should be the one asking you more questions since you know more than I know.”
She wasn’t wrong—she was never wrong.
“If you still think I’m a threat and I want to kill you, then I think it would be better if we-
1 cut her off before she could finish, “Don’t say it.” My tone was rough, but not as sharp as before.
Her lips pressed tight and her brows creased, but she didn’t look away. She stayed silent, and that silence burned hotter than her words.
I dragged a hand through my hair, forcing my voice down. I stared at her, at the tremor in her voice, the way her shoulders sagged.
I hated the sight. What I was doing to her. She didn’t need another interrogation–she needed me to stop breaking her down.
She’s still a pup. My mate. My partner.
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Chapter 85
Not my enemy. I wish I could brand those phrases in my body and soul.
D
But why did this have to happen now? When I thought we were finally getting somewhere. When I thought I’d finally make it up to her for every wrong I’ve done. When I thought I’d finally let her in.
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“You’re right,” I said, quieter this time, “I should be giving you answers and not blaming you.” I wanted to hold her in my arms again, but my eyes flicked to the book in her hands. “Put the book on the
table.”
She set it down with a quiet thud.
“Come with me,” I said, stretching out my hands to her. “To the bathroom.”
Her frown deepened. “Why?”
I needed to see it again. To know if it had gotten worse. To know if it was already too late because what I saw yesterday wasn’t pretty. “Your bandage needs changing.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You already did it. I don’t need-”
“You do.” Lcut her off. “And I won’t argue about it.”
She folded her arms, sinking back into the bed. “I’m not moving till you apologise for what you did.”
I stepped forward, scooping her into my arms before she could blink.
Her gasp burst against my neck. “Alexander—”
“Stop.” My voice was firm, final. “You’re not winning this one.”
She wriggled in protest, but her strength was nothing against mine. Nevertheless, she relaxed into my arm, still pouting. I carried her across the room and pushed open the bathroom door with my shoulder. I set her down on the edge of the tub, ignoring the glare she shot at me.
“This is ridiculous,” she muttered. “Why do you act like a pregnant wolf? Change moods and words. I don’t even understand you.”
I chuckled lightly, “you actually do.”
Her lips pressed into a stubborn line as I reached for her injured hand. She didn’t offer it, but she didn’t pull back either.
I unraveled the dressing slowly and what I saw made my lungs burn.
Fuck.
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18:16 Wed, 3 Sept
Chapter 85
Every layer revealed more of what I didn’t want to see.
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The faint shimmer beneath her skin, the way the wound seemed alive, restless. The sight made my stomach knot. This wasn’t healing–it was changing. I pulled the bandage tighter before she could see
the fear in my eyes.
Before she could tilt her head for a glimpse, I covered her hand with mine. “Don’t.”
Her eyes shot to mine. “Why can’t I look?”
“Because I said so.”
“That’s not an answer.”
I clenched my jaw. I wasn’t going to let her see–not until I understood it myself.
“Aquamarine,” I said her name low, a warning.
Her eyes sank and her voice went low and shaky. “Has my skin peeled off? Ar put something inside whatever she threw at me?”
you sure Fiona didn’t
My pulse kicked hard in my throat. I forced my voice steady. “Do you trust me or not?”
Her face twisted in disgust, “Absolutely not.”
I laughed, but it felt hollow. Forced. If only she knew my smile was hiding the dread clawing at my
chest.
This wasn’t natural. It wasn’t healing like it should. Or it had but…. it was spreading, slowly, too slowly for her to feel–but I saw it. I felt it.
She didn’t even flinch when I grazed my sharp nail over it. “Alex, you’re scaring me.”
She should be scared. I was.
I forced my features blank, hiding the storm clawing through my chest.
I washed her quickly. No lingering touches, no slow rhythm, no teasing, avoiding every distraction – just the need to finish fast.
She flinched but said nothing, watching me with those wide eyes that asked too many questions.
“You don’t have to do it so roughly,” she whispered.
I forced
my
voice steady. “It’s the only way to keep it clean.”
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Chapter 85
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Her lips parted like she wanted to press more, to see what I was hiding. After that, I took a fresh clean bandage and wrapped it tight and fast just like I did yesterday.
“Alexander…” she whispered, the question heavy in her voice.
“Don’t,” I cut in, pulling my shirt over her shoulder. “Don’t think too much. Just… stay here. I need
more potion.”
Her brows drew together. “But don’t you have it in the dresser already? More than enough.”
“Not that type, I need something stronger, like my purple flame.” The lie left me firm, without a pause. I didn’t let her question it. “I’ll bring you food myself. Just relax and wait until I come back, do you
understand?”
She opened her mouth to protest, but I smashed my lips into hers in a tight kiss. She welcomed it, allowing my tongue in and tilting her head slightly.
But that kiss was more to shut her up than to comfort her. I painfully broke it and stood up. I tugged on my clothes in one swift motion.
I walked to the door. “Sleep,” I ordered again, glancing at her over my.shoulder.
She sank onto the sheets, still staring after me like she didn’t believe a thing I said. I didn’t give her the chance to argue.
The moment I stepped out, 1 didn’t stop moving. My steps were fast, heavy, the urgency burning through me. I had to see Levi. I had to tell him what I’d just seen.
Because if I was right, we didn’t have much time left.
If she saw what I did, she wouldn’t rest. She’d panic. And I couldn’t afford panic–not hers, not mine.
AD
