Chapter 128 – Mark–3
–LIA’S POV–
“You sure?” he whispered.
The spot on my neck had started to quiver already.
I nodded. “Yes. I trust you.”
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Zane gently laid me back against the pillows, kissing down. my jaw, my throat, the slope of my shoulder. “I love you,” he murmured.
I ran my fingers through his hair, feeling my skin heat as his mouth grazed the spot between my neck and shoulder, the place where his mark would go. It pulsed uncontrollably, begging for the press of fangs, begging for the pain of his bite. My nails dug into his back, toes curling in desperation.
“Zane,” I breathed, resisting the urge to punch his back and force him to do it.
He kissed the spot once, then again. “Just tell me when you’re
re–”
A sharp knock on the door cut him off, ruining the moment.
We both froze.
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Zane growled under his breath. “Ignore it.”
But the knock came again, louder this time.
I groaned, so mad I wanted to cry.
“Zane!” Aaron shouted from outside. “Open the door! Now!”
Zane grunted, dropping his forehead against my shoulder. “Son of a–” he muttered. “I am going to ruin his night one of these days.”
I fixed my clothes and hair as Zane stood up, clearly restraining himself from snapping the door off its hinges. He yanked it open, scowling.
“What?” he barked.
Aaron didn’t flinch. “It’s about the girl. The one from last night.”
My stomach twisted. I sat up o
“What about her?”
Aaron’s expression was grim. “She didn’t die from an animal attack. Her wounds were human–made. There were rope marks on her wrists and ankles. Someone tied her up. Tortured her. Then made it look like a wild animal attack to throw us off.”
Zane’s body tensed. “The Order?”
Aaron nodded. “She was a nobody. No family, barely any
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Chapter 128–Mark–3
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friends. Lived a quiet little life. I think… I think they used her as bait for Lin. Tried to fool us into thinking Lia commited the murder.”
I felt like the air had been punched out of my lungs. “They know about me?” I cried. “That I’m not human?”
“It would make sense. It can’t be a coincidence.”
“Which m
they’re watching.” Zane said.
I felt sick, images of her mutilated body flashing before my eyes. “They killed her for no reason…”
Zane clenched his jaw. “And they’ll kill again if they think you’re a threat.”
A chill ran down my spine. “Me? But I—I don’t even know what I’m doing.”
“That’s what they probably wanted to check,” Aaron said. “It wasn’t the smartest move, but one with pretty quick results. They must have been watching your reaction when you woke up.”
“I’m calling a pack meeting,” Zane said. “We need tighter patrols. No one in or out of this territory without clearance. And you,” he pointed at Aaron, “I want you and Ajax to look into every possible connection The Order could have. We can’t waste more time.”
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Chapter 128 – Mark–3
Aaron nodded and disappeared down the hall.
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Zane shut the door and leaned back against it, chest rising and falling. His eyes flicked to me.
“Them knowing about you isn’t good,” he said. “They’re getting closer. You’re not safe anymore.”
I fidgeted with the sleeve of Zane’s hoodie. “What do we do?”
He came over and knelt in front of me, hands on my knees. “You sit back and relax. I have this covered, Lia. Do you trust me?”
He would do anything to protect me. I knew that.
But I was ready to fight back too.
I wanted to know what I was and what I could do.
I was done playing the damsel.
But Zane wouldn’t let me get into any kind of danger.
“Lia?” He frowned, cupping my cheek. “Do you trust me?”
“Of course,” I replied. “I trust you, Zane. I know you won’t let any harm come to me or my family.”
“Or your friends,” he promised.
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“There’s no way I can help?” I asked, even though I knew what he’d say.
“Stay with me,” he said, intertwining our fingers. “Your existence is all I need, my love.”
I offered him a small smile. “I am always by your side, Zane. Always and forever.”
He leaned in and leaned his forehead against mine, and I closed my eyes, breathing in his scent.
I was going to find answers. If The Order were so interested in me, it meant I was more important than we initially thought. And if we didn’t know why, we wouldn’t be able to stop them.
“I still want you to mark me,” I whispered. “It would be safer.”
His expression shifted, eyes turning black for a split second. “Soon,” he promised. “But not rushed. Not like this.”
He touched my face again, thumb brushing over my cheekbone.
Tears pricked my eyes. “Okay.”
Zane leaned in, kissed me gently, and pulled me into his arms. I curled into him, my face against his chest, breathing him in.
I wanted to stay like that forever.
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And I would make sure of it, no matter how hard I had to fight
for it.
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