Chapter 32 – Bite of Regret
Ethan saw me coming and barely dodged the first attack. His movements were fast but I knew he was holding back—for her. I wanted him to fight, to hit back, to stop pretending he was better than me.
A savage growl ripped from my throat as I lunged again, this time slamming into him with enough force to send us both crashing to the ground. I pinned him down, teeth bared, a snarl rumbling deep in my chest. My wolf wanted blood. My wolf wanted him gone.
Ethan's voice was calm, infuriatingly steady. "Luca, stop. Not like this."
But I couldn't hear him. All I saw was red. My claws dug into the dirt as I pressed harder, teeth inches from his throat.
Then she screamed.
Quinn's voice shattered through the chaos, piercing the fog of rage clouding my mind. Her scream was desperate, raw, and it cut straight through to the part of me that was still human. I faltered for a split second—but it was enough.
She was there, her small hands grabbing at my fur, tugging with everything she had. "Luca, stop! Please!"
Her voice wavered, but it was strong enough to crack the beast inside me. I wanted to stop—God, I wanted to stop—but I was too far gone. The wolf didn't care about her pleas. All it saw was a threat that needed to be eliminated.
Her grip slipped, and before I could register what was happening, my jaws snapped toward her.
The taste of blood hit my tongue like a jolt of electricity.
Everything froze.
Quinn's scream sliced through the night, echoing in my ears like a death knell. My heart stopped as I realized what I'd done.
I bit her.
I hurt her.
Quinn stumbled back, clutching her arm, blood seeping through her fingers. Her eyes were wide with shock and pain, but there was something else there too—something I couldn't bear to see.
Fear.
My legs buckled under the weight of my guilt. The wolf inside me whimpered, the rage dissolving into a pit of cold dread. I backed away, ears flat, my body trembling. I didn't mean to. I never meant to hurt her.
Ethan was beside her in an instant, his body tense as he cradled her protectively. His eyes locked onto me, blazing with fury.
"What the hell were you thinking?" he snarled, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and fear.
I couldn't answer. My throat was tight, the words lodged somewhere deep in my chest. All I could do was lower my head in shame.
Quinn's voice was barely a whisper. "I'm fine," she said, even though we both knew she wasn't.
Ethan's jaw clenched. "Fine? He bit you, Quinn! Do you even understand what that means?"
She shook her head, trying to downplay it. "It was an accident."
Her words gutted me. She was defending me, even now, when I didn't deserve it.
Ethan's hands were shaking as he held onto her. "Quinn, you don't get it. That bite—it could change everything."
I wanted to say something, to apologize, to explain, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, I did the only thing I could think of—I crouched low, my head down, and inched closer to her, hoping she would understand how sorry I was.
Her hand reached out, trembling, and brushed against my fur. The warmth of her touch seeped into me, grounding me, pulling me out of the spiral of guilt.
"It's okay," she whispered, more to me than to Ethan. "You didn't mean it."
Ethan yanked her hand away, his body rigid with barely contained anger. "Quinn, stop. He hurt you. You shouldn't be letting him near you."
"I'm fine," she insisted, her voice firmer now. "It wasn't his fault."
Ethan paced, his hands running through his hair as he struggled to keep it together. "This is a mess," he muttered. "A goddamn mess."
Before we could process what had happened, a chilling howl sliced through the night. The sound was sharp, cold, and filled with a malice that made my blood run cold.
The woods around us darkened, the shadows shifting as if they were alive.
Ethan stiffened, his eyes locked on the treeline. "We need to go. Now."
But it was too late.
From the darkness, a figure emerged. Tall. Menacing. Eyes as red as embers glowing in the night. The air around him crackled with dark energy.
The Echo.
My hackles rose, and a snarl ripped from my throat. I stepped in front of Quinn, my body tense and ready to fight.
The Echo's lips curled into a sinister smile. "She's mine now," he said, his voice smooth and confident.
The words ignited a fury in me unlike anything I'd ever felt. He had no right. No claim.
I charged at him, claws extended, teeth bared. I slammed into him with every ounce of strength I had—but it was like hitting a wall. The impact sent me sprawling to the ground.
The Echo laughed, a cold, mocking sound that made my blood boil.
"You think you can stop me?" he taunted, his gaze flickering to Quinn. "Pathetic."
Ethan was there in an instant, his body vibrating with raw energy. "You won't touch her," he growled.
The Echo's smile didn't waver. "Oh, Ethan," he drawled. "Still playing the noble hero. But it's not your place to protect her anymore."
He looked at Quinn, his eyes gleaming with possession. "He marked you. Now you're mine."
My heart stopped.
What?
I looked down at the bite on Quinn's arm, blood still oozing from the wound. My stomach twisted with dread. I hadn't just hurt her. I'd marked her.
Ethan moved, shielding Quinn with his body. "She is not yours," he snarled.
The Echo's grin widened. "Oh, but she is. The bite sealed it."
Panic clawed at my chest. No. That couldn't be true. I didn't understand what he meant, but one thing was clear—I had to protect her.
Even if it killed me.
I took a step forward, my body trembling with determination. Ethan was by my side, his gaze fierce.
The Echo's laughter echoed through the night. "This is going to be fun," he said.