Chapter 2-mark

In an instant, she stopped her movements.

His touch sent a shiver through her.

All of her fear was gently yet cruelly scraped away by his fingers. Every inch of skin he touched with his fingertips felt as if it were lightly grazed by the claws of a beast, carrying an oppressive sense of dread.

In the next moment, he effortlessly lifted her, and her back scraped harshly against the rough bark of the tree, sending a sharp pain that made her gasp. But he didn't stop. His scorching body pressed tightly against hers, like a predator in pursuit, trapping her between his rock-hard chest and the straight apricot tree.

Her breath was completely stolen away.

The dangerous, burning pressure made her heartbeat wildly erratic. Her heaving chest pressed against his muscular torso, and through the thin fabric of silk, his body heat was so intense it felt like it would burn her, like drowning in a wildfire that was about to devour everything.

He easily captured both of her hands, lifting them high above her head and pinning them firmly against the tree trunk. His palm was scorching, the pressure of his fingers carrying a hint of feral cruelty. And his breath... that mix of forest, blood, and aggressive wildness, lingered heavily in her ear, as if it sought to penetrate deep into her very soul.

His deep, hoarse voice spilled into her ear, like the low growl of a wolf in the dark night—mocking and dangerous.

"Camille, don't you find this game getting more interesting?"

His warm tongue slowly entered her ear, teasing the tiny earlobe, even gently sucking on it. He knew where her sensitive spots were, and he understood them better than she did herself.

And then...

He chuckled darkly, suddenly increasing the pressure, his chest pressing against her delicate, vulnerable spot. His muscles tightened, like a beast locking its prey in a fatal kill. His narrow waist and chest moved in sync, heavily impacting her, blocking any chance of escape.

Instinctively, she struggled, tears wetting the corners of her eyes as she choked out, "No, stop… stop… mmm…"

But the terrifying strength left her no room to resist. It was as if even the slightest movement would crush her.

The man laughed lowly, his voice hoarse, filled with the excitement of a hunter: "My little wolf cub, do you know how thrilled I am watching you try to run away over and over again?"

He slowly leaned down, inhaling the delicate scent of her neck, where fresh, hot blood flowed, carrying the sweet fragrance that every beast instinctively craved. It was an irresistible temptation, an urge to bite.

His tongue gently slid along her neck, tracing the pulsating vein, before suddenly, his fangs emerged, and without hesitation, pierced her skin—

"Mmm—!"

The searing pain hit her all at once, blood flowing out, trickling down her neck. He extended his tongue, licking it away bit by bit, closing his eyes in satisfaction, like a beast savoring the wound of its prey, clinging to its scent.

Hunted, possessed, consumed.

Her escape was always just part of the hunter's game.

- She, destined for nowhere. 

He lifted his head from the nape of her neck, and in the depth of his eyes, a blood-devouring and gritty fury erupted instantly. 

"Don't even think about it!"

His lips were heavy as they bit down on hers, the pain forcing her mouth open. His tongue, sharp as a storm, entered her small mouth, sweeping through the tender cavity. It gathered and scraped the sweetness within, dominating every inch of softness with wild, untamed force, his tongue twisting and curling, pulling with relentless suction. Crimson liquid overflowed from the corners of their lips. 

She kept pounding against him, her armor cracked and broken, her clothes scratched by the force of his movements. Her fingers left marks on the solid muscles of his back. 

His force did not waver in the slightest; his movements only became more savage and uncontrolled. 

The tip of his tongue plunged deep into her mouth, the suction so intense that it seemed to swallow her soft tongue whole. The pressure on her chest and lungs felt as though her ribs might break, his knees pushing up, cutting through her defenses, and the source of burning lust was firmly embedded, grinding against her with desire, waiting to erupt. 

"Ah-"

The spine-tingling pain forced a shriek from her, a cry that only fueled his hunger. The dark flames in his eyes burned hotter. 

"Camille, no matter how much you run, you'll never escape me."

The ear-piercing sound of tearing flesh filled the air, and she opened her eyes wide to meet his cruel, merciless black gaze. Once more, he broke through her defenses, attacking her with brutal force, tumbling like a flood through the dry riverbed of her will. 

She bit her lips, determined not to make a sound. Just one cry would be a surrender. Even if he captured her again and again, she would never bow down. She would never yield. 

"Camille, scream for me, scream it out loud—"

He wrenched her mouth open with brutal force, even as her teeth dug into his fingers. As soon as he found a gap, two fingers plunged into her trembling mouth, twisting, probing, making her whimper with pain. 

At the same time, his attack grew fiercer, each collision of their bodies sounding like a savage storm. 

"Ugh... Edric... I hate you... I... hate you!"Her voice trembled, fighting against the madness within her, brimming with anger and despair. 

"Hate, so that you can truly feel my power,"he growled, his voice low, like the dangerous growl of a wolf king. 

The heat of his tongue traced the stormy outline of her lips, and his laugh, sharp as a wolf's howl, pierced the darkness of the night, seizing her fragile heart. His power crushed into her like a beast, each impact tearing at her soul and shaking her very nerves. 

"I'm going to kill you..."she gritted out, her voice hoarse.

He crouched against her undulating snow-white skin, his voice laced with dangerous sneers. "Heh, heh, heh, well, I'll be sure to drag you to hell with me."

Each impact felt like the invasion of a wolf pack, swift and profound. She trembled uncontrollably, an unspeakable shudder rippling through her, overtaking every cell of her body, almost bringing her to the brink of unconsciousness. But the searing pain in her back kept her from surrendering, and it was only her sharp awareness that held her upright. 

With one hand supporting her, he spun her around, the other biting hungrily at the back of her neck. His wolf-like teeth raked violently across her fragile skin, each assault feeling like an eternity, burning with agony. Her resistance seemed helpless, her body trapped by arms as firm as steel. Her vision blurred, but she clenched her teeth, determined to never show weakness. 

His demonic claws tore into her already shredded shirt, quickly finding the softness of her body. His fingers were cold, yet irresistibly powerful as they kneaded her skin. His heated breath, like a wolf's panting, slid down her spine, stinging at her already broken wounds. 

"Such a poor little wolf cub,"he growled, his voice thick with malice and hunger. 

He pressed harder against her left shoulder, the old wound flaring with pain, forcing a sharp exhale from her. But instead of easing off, it only spurred him on, igniting a greater fire in his movements. She stifled a low moan, but it only made him increase the pressure, relentless and unforgiving. 

"My little wolf cub, you always sound so seductive,"he rumbled, the words low and feral. "Scream, scream louder!"

She fought to suppress the cries threatening to escape her, her mind swirling with curses at him. "Edric, you… maniac… demon... you must not die…"She used every curse, every angry word to mask the turmoil and desire spiraling inside her. But he pushed her further, his attacks becoming even more vicious, dragging her toward the brink of collapse. 

"Yeah, scream louder,"he growled, whispering in her ear like a ravenous beast. "Maybe I'll change my decision."

"What decision?"Her voice cracked with confusion and pain, teetering on the edge of breaking. 

With a sharp motion, his arm snapped upward, forcing her to stifle a whimper as pain broke through her throat like the cry of a wild animal. 

"Get your best friend and buy the grand prize of a ten-day trip to the Silver Moon Pack."

Trista? 

"No, don't. You... you can't, you can't…"

"It's up to you,"he muttered, his voice low and predatory. "Now, I'm going to mark you."He sank his teeth into the back of her soft neck and struck again. 

"Ah…"

The fireworks of endless pain ignited the last trace of hope in her eyes. She gazed at the distant shore, the stars twinkling like yellow flames. Her fingers dug deep into the tree bark, blood staining her skin, coloring her world red. 

If only—just if only… 

If she hadn't stumbled upon that beautiful golden beach by mistake that night... 

Then she'd still be an omega in the Red Moon Pack, working twelve-hour days, struggling to sell enough electricity to buy fresh fruit for the children at the orphanage. Looking at their smiling faces, being happy in the simplest way, was like having a real home. 

A spine-tingling pain shot through her head, and she finally lost her strength, slipping into the dark world of unconsciousness.