Chapter 8: My Mate(2)

Steeling himself, he carried her to the bathroom. He lowered her into the warm water, his fingers brushing against her skin as he washed away the dirt and dried blood.

Every touch sent a strange sensation through him—an unfamiliar mix of guilt, reverence, and possessiveness. She was fragile, yet she had survived something unspeakable.

He wanted to know what had happened to her and wanted to hunt down whoever had done this. As he carefully dabbed at her injuries, his eyes landed on a peculiar mark at the side of her ribs—a crown-shaped birthmark. He stilled.

His breath hitched as he leaned in, fingers ghosting over the mark, tracing its familiar outline. A royal mark.

He blinked, his mind racing, but before he could dwell on it further, his gaze moved downward—and his blood ran cold. Her arm. Twisted at an unnatural angle.

His hands clenched the damp cloth in his grip. His jaw tightened, fury surging through him like an unstoppable tide. How long had she been suffering like this? Who had hurt her to this extent? His vision blurred with rage as he clenched his teeth, barely suppressing the growl rising in his throat.

She was his mate. His to protect. And someone had dared to reduce her to this state.

Crassus exhaled slowly, forcing his anger down. Now was not the time to lose control. He finished tending to her wounds, wrapping her in soft robes before carrying her back to his bed. As he sat beside her, his gaze lingered on her face. Who are you? What have you been through?

He had thought he was cursed to be alone forever. Now, fate had given him a mate—but she was broken, and he did not know if he would ever be able to mend her.

One thing was certain. Whoever had done this to her… would pay.

...........

ESTELLA POV

Estella jolted awake, her heart pounding violently against her ribs. A strange, unshakable feeling crawled over her skin—someone was watching her.

Panic set in immediately. Victor? The demon wolves? Had they found her already? She didn't wait to think. Instinct took over.

She shot up from where she lay and threw a punch at the shadow hovering near her. Before her fist could connect, a strong hand caught her wrist mid-air, stopping her attack with effortless ease.

"Calm down, butterfly," a deep, velvety voice murmured. The warmth of his touch sent an unfamiliar sensation coursing through her, something that made her breath hitch. Her gaze snapped up to meet his, and for a moment, everything else faded.

The warmth of his touch sent an unfamiliar sensation coursing through her, something that made her breath hitch. Her gaze snapped up to meet his, and for a moment, everything else faded.

He was—beautiful. No, beyond beautiful. His chiseled features, the sharp angles of his jawline, the piercing gaze that held both amusement and something deeper—something that made her insides coil in ways she didn't understand.

A strange warmth spread through her chest, and her heart clenched with an emotion she couldn't name. Something clicked into place, as if a missing piece of her soul had finally been found.

"Is he—?" The thought barely formed before her wolf, Reyna, howled in pure excitement.

"Our mate! He is our mate!"

Estella sucked in a sharp breath. The mate bond. She had heard about it all her life and had been told that once she found her mate, her parents would give her away with honor, celebrating the sacred bond.

But her parents were gone. Dead. And now, when she had nothing left, fate had decided to bring her mate to her.

The realization sent a confusing mix of emotions crashing into her. She forced herself to pull away from the intoxicating warmth of his presence, straightening her posture.

"I... thank you for helping me," she said, her voice steady despite the whirlwind inside her. "But I have to go. I need to get to the Northern Pack."

A slow smirk tugged at the man's lips. "Luckily for you," he said, his voice rich with amusement, "you're already in the Northern Pack."

Estella's eyes widened. She hadn't even realized where she was. Fate, it seemed, wasn't done surprising her yet.

Estella sat stiffly on the edge of the bed, her sharp gaze fixed on the man before her. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried an air of authority that made it clear he was no ordinary werewolf. She needed to know who he was.

"What's your name?" she asked, her voice steady despite the storm inside her.

The man's golden eyes locked onto hers, unwavering. "Crassus Hayes. Alpha of the Northern Pack."

"I will introduce you to my pack tomorrow," Crassus continued, his tone firm, as if there was no room for negotiation. "They need to know who you are—their Luna. My mate."

"No." The word left her lips before she could stop it.

Crassus halted mid-sentence, his expression shifting to one of disbelief. His face, once composed, was now painted with disappointment. Even Reyna, her wolf, stirred restlessly in her mind." How could you reject him like that?"

Estella ignored Reyna's protests, gripping the blanket beneath her. "I don't want to be introduced as your mate."

His jaw tightened, but he remained silent, waiting for an explanation.

"All I care about right now is avenging my parents," she admitted. "Being scrutinized, paraded before your pack—it's the last thing I need."

The room fell into a heavy silence. Saying those words had felt like ripping something out of her own chest. It hurt. Her heart clawed at her from the inside, as if rebelling against her own decision. But she couldn't—not now, not when her mind was in complete disarray.

Crassus exhaled, his shoulders losing some of their tension. "I understand," he finally said, though the disappointment in his voice was clear. "You should eat something. When was the last time you ate?"

Estella opened her mouth to refuse, but at that exact moment, her stomach betrayed her with a loud grumble. Heat crawled up her neck. "…Anything will be fine," she muttered.

Crassus nodded, standing up to leave the room. As he walked toward the door, Estella found herself staring at his retreating figure. His height, the way his muscles flexed beneath his shirt, the confidence in his movements—Goddess, she thought, quickly shaking the distraction from her mind.