Zara

I watched silently as Alpha Kane pulled me off the bed and led me to the bathroom, where a hot shower awaited us. As before, he pulled my clothes off and let them fall to the floor with a soft thud.

I savored every moment of his hands touching my skin, rubbing the soap into my skin until it lathered. Alpha Kane’s touch always awakened something sexual within me, making me crave him completely. This time, his touch was different.

He washed my hair, his rough fingers tangling in my hair. He stroked my scalp. Just as I was about to fall asleep in his arms, he rinsed the soap from my hair.

After quickly washing himself, he pulled me out of the shower. Like a fragile shard of glass, he carried me into the bedroom and easily set me on my feet.

I wanted to collapse on the bed, but his thick arm around my waist supported me. His caramel eyes darkened as he looked at my tired, sad face. My lips were dry and cracked, my eyes puffy from shed tears, and yet Alpha Kane looked at me as if seeing the sun for the first time.

"You were willing to die for me," Alpha Kane muttered in a hoarse voice, telling me of my decision.

"Of course." My voice wavered as I spoke the words, tears stinging my eyes as I looked at Alpha Kane’s heavy face, clouded with heavy emotions.

"Never give your life for mine." His dark eyes hardened, fear and anger burning deep within them. "Can you hear me, Zara?"

"I hear you," I replied, but he saw the truth in my eyes. "But I’m still here. But that woman..."

Alpha Kane’s eyes were still dark, still full of emotions he couldn’t express in words. He wrapped his arms tightly around my waist, holding me close to his chest. He slid under the covers, my body still wrapped in his arms.

Rolling onto his side, he pulled me against his chest. His skin radiated warmth, soothing my chilled bones and driving away the icy splinters that refused to go away. His hand traced gentle patterns on my bare back, his lips pressed against my clean hair, and he inhaled deeply.

Even as sobs shook my body, his hand continued its soothing touch to my skin. His touch and caress did something to my wounded heart. It began to mend the fragments and cracks slowly.

As I was about to succumb to the darkness, a fleeting thought flashed through my mind. This was what the shadows had said when I made my deal with them.

"To save the one you love, you must take a life."

The shadows were right. Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with Alpha Kane.

While I desperately tried to succumb to the darkness, tomorrow night I would have to try again.

As if in a dream, someone was taking me somewhere. The room around me dimmed and transformed. The dark walls of Alpha Kane gave way to a deep burgundy. Black sofas dotted the spacious room, and Bookshelves took up half the wall. The canopy bed, covered in black satin, and the large pillows looked strangely inviting.

Marcus’s muscular figure emerged from the bathroom, allowing the steam to descend into the room. His hair was tousled and damp, water still dripping from his skin.

Wearing only a towel around his waist, Marcus emerged from the bathroom. My eyes involuntarily slid over his body, noting every curve and dip of his muscles.

His crystal-clear eyes met mine and widened, and his carefree gait halted when he spotted me. While my heart pounded with hatred and desire, Marcus’s full lips curled into a smirk.

"What a voyeur," Marcus chuckled, continuing his way toward what I assumed was his closet.

"You brought me here." I rolled my eyes, gradually realizing this wasn’t just a literal nightmare. "Feel free to send me back."

"Send you back?" Marcus’s puzzled and lively eyes lit up, and he flashed me a glimpse of his teeth before removing the towel.

With an irritated hiss, I turned around. I heard his silky chuckle, realizing I’d turned around a second too late. I wanted to throw the nearest lamp at his head.

"I didn’t bring you here, beautiful," Marcus smirked, and I turned around angrily. His face was the embodiment of innocence, marred by a sly smile. "Looks like you found your way to me yourself."

Dressed only in low-cut sweatpants, he looked like a fallen angel. Beautiful and seductive, yet dangerous and depraved.

"I’m sleeping with Kane right now. Why would I come to you?" I winced, ignoring the coldness of my voice.

"Like I said, despite your words, you feel something for me," Marcus muttered with a seductive yet disdainful smile.

Faster than I could process, he was standing just a few feet away from me. I could easily smell sandalwood and citrus filling the air. Warmth radiated from his body, making me realize how cold I’d been all this time.

"No. I don’t feel anything for you. How many times do I have to tell you that?" My voice wavered, and an unpleasant knot formed in my stomach.

He leaned forward, his lips an inch from my ear. I couldn’t hide the shiver that ran down my spine as his breath brushed my ear. The mocking tone in his voice irritated me, helping me resist the urge to run my fingers over his bare skin.

"Darling, let me tell you a secret," he murmured, letting out a silky laugh. "Your hand wouldn’t have healed if you didn’t feel anything for me."

Fear and denial gripped me as I tried to ignore his words. My throat tightened, fighting the part of me that knew he was right. Perhaps it was only a smoldering ember compared to the explosion I’d experienced with Alpha Kane, but the attraction was there.

"You’re lying." I shook my head, taking a step back from him and the intoxicating heat radiating from his body.

"I’m not lying." He chuckled softly, and I swear his clear eyes darkened as he took another step toward me. "You know I’m telling the truth, just as I know you feel something for me."

"It’s nothing compared to what I feel for Alpha Kane." I shook my head and closed my eyes, trying to withstand his stinging words.