The morning sunlight spilled through the windows, softly into the dining room. The smell of fresh bread, eggs and bitter coffee hung in the air. Orion sat at the far end of the table, dressed in black, his face unreadable. Leo sat between us, humming quietly as he spread jam on his toast.
I took my seat like nothing had happened. My neck still burned badly, the mark hidden by my hair. My wolf stirred, restlessly, calling his name over and over in my head but I ignored it.
If he didn't remember then neither did I.
I reached for the teapot. My fingers brushed his.
A spark shot through me. The mark throbbed once making me flinch for a second. I pulled back slowly, pouring the tea as if nothing happened. Leo laughed, smearing jam on his sleeve. I wiped it away, my movements steady. I didn't look at him. I didn't need to. I could feel his eyes on me, watching me for a single slip. Something that would expose that last night did happen.
But I wasn't going to let it slip.
After a while, Orion got up, his eyes lingering on me one last them before he left.
By midmorning, I was in the study with Leo helping him do his assignments. Leo was a smart kid, some times too smart and hardworking. I have never seen a kid like him that didn't like to play but rather wanted to do his assignments all day.
Leo frowned as he stared at the book in front of him. "What's the synonym for brave?"
I smiled, "Bold"
Leo nodded his head, his eyes returning back to his book. As he continued to stare at it, my eyes darted around to Orion outside. He was shirtless. His body glistening under the morning sun as he trained with the guards in the courtyard. Sweat rolled down his neck, tracing the sharp lines of muscle that flexed and coiled with each swing of his blade.
I tried not to look. Tried to focus on Leo's book, the scratch of his pencil but my traitorous eyes kept finding him.
Orion's blue eyes flicked up suddenly, catching mine through the glass. My breath hitched. He didn't stop moving, didn't even break rhythm, but I knew he'd seen me. Knew he was aware of the way I couldn't look away.
I forced myself to tear my gaze back to the table. "Alright, next question," I said, pretending my pulse wasn't pounding in my throat. "What's the opposite of fear?"
Leo thought for a moment. "Brave," he said finally.
My lips curved faintly. "That's right."
Outside, Orion's blade came to a stop. He stood tall, his chest rising and falling, eyes still fixed on the window. On me. All of a sudden, one of the guards almost caught him off guard. Although he recovered in time, his hand scrapped the ground and I groaned in pain. I clenched my hand in the other, staring at him.
Could it be.....
" Wolf Lord!" They called outside.
I turned away before Orion's eyes would notice anything. Seducing him was supposed to be easy. I had already planned everything in my head. But why did it seem like the entire universe was against me?
Leo looked up at me, puzzled. "Miss Ava? Are you okay?"
I forced a smile, hiding the tremor in my voice. "I'm fine, sweetheart. Just a paper cut." I waved it off, even though my palm still tingled from where his pain had seared through me.
It shouldn't have been possible. I had long heard about mates being able to feel each other's pain but it was only supposed to be fated mates. Although Orion had marked me, I had not yet accepted the bond. He couldn't be my fated mate, Adam was.
And he betrayed me for my best friend.
Leo blinked, accepting my answer, and bent back over his work. I, on the other hand, couldn't think straight. Every breath I took carried his scent. It clung to the air even from across the courtyard, making my wolf stir restlessly.
The sound of clashing blades stopped. I couldn't help it so I looked up again. Orion was standing with his sword hanging loosely at his side, his eyes fixed on the window. On us.
Our gazes locked. The world seemed to go silent for a second.
I dropped my eyes first, pretending to adjust Leo's paper. "You spelled fear wrong," I muttered.
"Did I?" Leo leaned closer, squinting. "Oh... you're right."
But I wasn't even looking at the page. My heart was beating too loud, my skin too hot. I needed air. Space. Anything that wasn't filled with him.
"Finish up the last two questions," I said softly, standing. "I'll be right back."
I stepped inside, grabbing the first aid kit before I stepped outside. The sunlight hitting me full in the face. The courtyard was empty now, except for Orion standing near the edge, his sword buried in the dirt beside him as he stared at his palm. The red injury marks glistened in the sun looking extremely painfully.
"You shouldn't be here," he said, his voice calm.
He didn't even raise his head to stare at me.
I crossed my arms, tilting my chin up. "Neither should you. You're bleeding."
His brows drew together slightly as he glanced at his scraped hand. "It's nothing."
"Then why did it hurt so much?" I whispered under my breath.
Orion's eyes snapped to me. "What did you just say?"
I swallowed, trying hard to control myself. I couldn't let him find out the truth.
"I said, then why does it look like it hurts? You should get it treated immediately." I shoved the first aid kit into his arms before walking away.
My wolf growled at me as I walked back to the house, my pace fast as if I was running from the devil. Shutting the glass door behind me, I rushed to the kitchen and hid near the wall, away from his view.
Resting my head back, I closed my eyes.
"Holy moon goddess, this is not going to be easy," I whispered to myself.
******************************************
By evening, the house had grown quiet. The guards were gone, their clashing swords replaced by the soft crackle of the fire downstairs. I sat by my window, a book open on my lap, though I hadn't turned a page in minutes. My mind was elsewhere.
Suddenly, a gentle knock broke the silence.
I straightened quickly. "Come in," I said, hoping my voice sounded calm.
The door creaked open and Leo peeked in, his small face half-hidden behind the frame.
"Miss Ava?" he whispered.
"Yes, Leo?"
"Can you tuck me in tonight? Dad said he'll be back late."
My chest softened. "Of course."
I tucked him under the blanket and sat beside him for a moment, watching his lashes flutter as he drifted off. He looked so peaceful, so untouched by the weight the rest of us carried. For a moment, I envied that innocence.
When I finally stood and slipped out, I closed the door quietly behind me. A sigh escaped my lips before my eyes darted up. I froze.
Orion was there, leaning against the wall, arms folded, eyes locked on me. The bright light in the hallway made his gaze even more terrifying.
"You're back?" I managed, forcing a steady breath. "Leo said you'd be late. I made sure he ate and-"
"Tell me the truth," he cut in, his voice low, dangerous. He pushed away from the wall and took slow, deliberate steps toward me. Each one made my heart quicken.
Before I could speak, he reached out, grabbing the collar of my shirt and pulling it aside. My eyes widened.
His eyes widened as they fell on my bare neck. The mark, his mark, was gone.
"How" His voice faltered, confusion flashing across his face.
I backed up, covering my neck. "What are you doing?"
Before he could answer, footsteps echoed down the hallway.
"What's going on here?" a sharp voice demanded.
Orion stiffened and turned. I followed his gaze. An older woman stood behind him, regal and cold-eyed.
"Mother," he murmured, stunned.
My breath caught. His mother.
