BENEATH HER DARKNESS: The Alpha's Little Demon by Cassandra M

ALTHEA.

My eyes fluttered, but I hadn’t opened them yet. Instead, I scooted onto the warmth that enveloped me.

Despite sleeping in an upright position, I found myself so comfortable that I wanted to sleep a little more.

Warm arms were holding me as my sides leaned on a hard body, and from the musky, earthy scent that

reached my nose, I knew it was Blade I was leaning on.

I suppressed the smile from my lips because I decided I wanted to sleep more.

“Are you awake now?” His deep baritone voice echoed around the car.

I guess I couldn’t hide this from him. I snapped my eyes open and bobbed my head before leaning away

from his body.

My gaze fell on my clothes. I had new clothes now, and I assumed it was him

who dressed me up. If this were another day, I would be embarrassed and demand an explanation, but

since I just opened my legs and acted like a wanton in front of him earlier, I didn’t think I had the right to

be mad about it. Besides, this was better than the ripped clothing I had earlier. 1

Blade remained quiet as I let out a deep sigh, and my hand automatically went to my neck because I felt

a tinge of pain there, only for me to rub the wounds that were still sensitive at the moment.

“Ouch…” I hissed lowly, and our eyes met. Only then did I remember that he had marked me in the

middle of the chaos earlier.

I saw regrets cross his eyes, and it pained me. Did he regret marking me? Of course.

Mate bonds are sacred to werewolves.

“You marked me.”

“I had to. I have to stop them from attacking you. Every full moon, as long as you are unmarked, your

heat will attract unmated males. What happened earlier… that would be the scene every full moon if you

don’t have that mark?”

That was, of course, the only reason he would mark me.

I inched further away from him, my body almost touching the door on my side, as I crossed my arms

against my chest and stared at the view outside my window.

“I was left with no choice. I killed my own people, Althea. I didn’t want more blood. He was still trying to

explain more, and

I just wanted him to stop.

“It’s not my fault I went into heat. And I’m sorry he’s dead. I could have knocked him off with my spell, but

of course, you just need to come and save the day.”

I knew I should be thankful, but everything he was saying now and the words he told me in the forest

kept coming back into my head.

He stated that he had not touched a female in years, and I was sure the last one was his mate. He was

still not over her, and despite his claims that I was his Goddess’ second chance mate for him, I would

never be in comparison to her. So whatever happened between us was just because he felt guilty about

bringing this up to me.

How can we take it off?” I finally dared to ask. I straightened up from my position and looked at him,

trying to mask the real emotions inside me.

“Do you want the mark gone?”

“What will I do with it? Wear it as a medal and show off that I have a mate, but in reality, I am still alone.”

“Rejection. If we reject each other, the mark will fade soon, and then it will be gone. Forever.”

“So what are you waiting for? Say the rejection so I can accept it.” My heart clenched, but I kept a

straight face.

“I can’t. If I reject you, I might lose my wolf.”

“What do you mean?”

“When my first mate died, I thought I would die too or I would lose Buck. Buck is my wolf’s name.” He

leaned forward and rested his arm on his knees before he continued. “But we survived. But I don’t think

we can if you reject us.

Of course. It had to be the only reason he didn’t want this mark gone. Just for him and his wolf.

“So we’re just going to force this relationship to save your wolf?”

“No. I would never force you. That forced mark would be the last sin I would commit against you. Just let

me live a little longer with my wolf.”

“I’m still confused. Can you tell me exactly what you plan to do?”

“Can you let the mark stay? It will protect you from every full moon.”

“And then?” I asked, my brows hiking up.

“I will not bother you… I will go away.

I was hoping he would tell me he would stay with me, and maybe we could figure out what to do.

My lips quivered. But before I ended up bawling in tears, I snapped at him to save myself from the

embarrassment. “What am I supposed to do with your mark?

How am I supposed to live with this? I’m a marked female now. I might not be a werewolf but I am sure

shifters would see me as one. And what if I want to date someone or get to know someone else? You’re

trapping me into a life you’re not willing to share with me! This is just unfair!”

“I will not trap you with me… If the day comes that you find a guy you like, we can do the rejection.”

“So as long as I’m single, I will carry this mark?”

“Please, for my wolf.”

“And what will happen if I fall in love with someone else?”

“I will remove the mark.”

“And then I will be guilty if you end up dead?”

“Maybe by then, my wolf and I would be stronger. Either way, maybe death is better than…” He didn’t

continue, so I threw another question.

“And where will I find you when I have no idea where you are?”

“I will find you!” He said almost immediately.

My eyes squinted in annoyance. How on earth would he know I already wanted to settle down if we were

apart from each other? I was about to open my mouth to ask him when he began talking again.

“I will feel it if you get intimate with someone… If it becomes constant, then I know it is time to take off the

mark.”

“You’re impossible, you’re talking in riddles, and I don’t have time for that!”

“That mark on your neck. And the mate bond between us will let me know if you kiss or become intimate

with someone. I will have marks appear here…” His fingers trailed on his wrist, which had a large healed

gash on it before his hand went to clutch his heart. “And I will feel a pain here.”

“How about me? If you do the same, will I feel it too?”

“I can guarantee you that I will not touch anyone as long as you carry my mark. My only request is for

you to let it stay there. Buck and I will be forever grateful. When the time comes that you’re ready to

settle down, I will wholeheartedly take it off.”

I didn’t answer, but I took my eyes off him and turned my body toward the window, resting my head on it

as the car continued to drive in full silence.

Tears kept pooling in my eyes, and I was doing all I could to stop them from falling. There were so many

things on this that were so unfair, and I felt like I had no say in them.

“We’re almost at the cottage where Alpha Stone is staying.” Dalton broke the silence in the car.

“Drop her off, and when everything is clear, drive me out of the territory.”

“Are you not going to see your brother? He had been sending people to look for you.”

Brother. He had a brother, and it looked like he and Dalton knew each other. I wanted to ask, but I knew I

didn’t have any right to anything that had to do with his private life, so I just kept my mouth shut.

“I don’t have any business here.”

“Just give him thirty minutes of your time. He wants to talk with you badly, and if he finds out I got you

and let you go away without seeing him, I’m sure he won’t be impressed.” Dalton added, and Blade didn’t

even bother to reply.