Tasting

407–Mark Her With Force

Nash:

Months Ago:

She kept staring at me, her innocent eyes brimming with tears. She had been asked to leave, and she had come to talk to me about it. I knew she

was here to plead for the chance to stay, but I couldn’t allow it. She had to

go and not return for a while if she didn’t want to face a horrible death at the hands of me and my brothers. And it wasn’t a threat or a warning- just the harsh reality of our lives.

“Mark her!” My wolf was losing control. He kept urging me to mark and mate with her, but that would be far too dangerous right now.

I had to let her go.

She would return in a few months, and by then, I’d be back to myself. I couldn’t force her to stay here and suffer because of my curse.

“What are you thinking? Look at her neck–doesn’t it tempt you?” My wolf had never been like this. He was losing control earlier than usual.

The effect of my curse.

As long as she stood in front of me, I felt the overwhelming urge to be violent with her. Even marking her would be brutal.

“Shut up! Do you want me to lose her forever?” I yelled at him, and he whimpered.

“I don’t know what’s happening to me. I can’t control the urge–kick her

out, Nash. Or else… I’ll do something I’ll regret. Please.” I understood what he was saying, and I was trying to act on it.

My mind was in chaos. I just knew I had to get her out before I completely lost control.

“But she won’t listen,” I hissed at him. When I looked at her, my heart softened, and I knew I had to be harsh to make her leave.

“Then reject me if you’re truly over me and don’t want me, reject me.”

The moment she said those words, my heart flipped inside my chest. I swallowed hard but kept my gaze fixed on her, trying to appear unfazed.

“She’s asking for a rejection,” I mumbled, confused.

Had I pushed her too far?

Damn it! I couldn’t even focus on my own thoughts. What had I done?

“Don’t worry. Play along. Tell her you won’t reject her because you don’t want to admit she’s our mate. She’ll take the bait. Don’t you dare let her reject us,” my wolf growled, and he was right.

I couldn’t let that happen.

We had come too far. After enduring this torment, I might be able to sit her down and explain what’s wrong with me. By then, I could prepare her for the next torture months in three years.

She was already terrified, and she’d barely seen anything of Ryker.

I had to push her away–to keep her safe until I had things under control.

“Why would I reject you when we’re not even mates? Do you have proof the wall, and mate with her until she-” I covered my ears, unable to hear him speak about her that way.

But soon, I wouldn’t be able to resist. Soon, I wouldn’t be able to protect But soon, I wouldn’t be able to resist.

her. My curse would take over, and my rage would consume everything.

I walked downstairs, tears in my eyes, and saw Silas watching me with the same sadness mirrored in his. For him, it was different–he cared about her as his stepsister. But for me, the pain was far greater.

She is my mate. And now she’s leaving to stay with that bastard.