la'

his isn't some fairy tale where I could just wave my fingers to make it all g

s, he stood in front of me and blocked my way. "You don't understand what you're

east I won't have to constantly wonder if you will turn on me going forward."

ace of his raw emotion. "I don't know what to think anymore. All I know is t

. "You're not a pawn to me, Calla. You never were." "Then prove it," I said, my heart pumpi

he mark," he said. "It serves as a power emblem. It is a lighthouse, but as well. Ind

" With my voice shaking, I asked. "I'll protect you," he growled angrily, staring blankly

Why do you care so much?" My voice just above a whisper, I asked. His

oods before I could answer. Lucian froze, his eyes narrowing as he looked over

wls got louder, suddenly they were upon us-two big wolves with blazing eyes l

form. His glittering eyes gleamed with lethal determination, his black fur bri

t felt anchored to the earth. Lucian was a natural powerhouse with unequaled

cian pulled down the second wolf. "Well, well," he murmured, his voice moc

ntial. "Darius." The name made me shudder from the bottom u

ne with the mark." Lucian snarled, his body coiled like a spr

to glimpse the face of the girl meant to bring about the end of a

arning for now. Little buddy, the mark is not a gift. It's a curse. And it'll ruin you." Darius d

ty; dread twisted in my stomach. A reminder that things were far from finished, the mark seared on my skin. "Yo

d his shirt. "I'll live," he said, his voice strained but calm. "That's n

strong even with his frailty. "Start caring about yourself instead of me

o this situation. You marked me, and today I am the one everyone wants dead!"

better!" Pulling away from him, I said, "You keep saying it's fate, that

I don't know! You are carrying the mark that I have spent millenni

my heart twisted agonizingly. "For you," I repeated,

motions were tumultuous, and his close proximity furthe

ilt. "I have never misled you on my feelings." "But you h

u have done is conceal the truth, how am I supposed to believe you?" His voice low an

wrecked!" Tears flooded my face, I yelled. "Don't you