Chapter 13

Jason turned to face his Alpha, who was staring at me nervously. I was already aware that he was interested in learning why I had a panic attack while in one of his cells, but he was showing me patience by allowing me to explain it to him at my own pace. There were a lot of things I couldn't express to him, and this would only pique his curiosity.

"I said no!" But it won't hurt, Kylie. The wolves in the room flinched at the loud noise I made. "I want him to stay away from me at all with that monster. You really can't force me to do this, Derrick." At the sound of his name on my lips, he stilled, and I saw his eyes move to meet mine. His heart pounded fiercely in his chest, just like mine did.

"Are you scared of needles?" He appeared to shake from his reverie, and I nestled against the headboard. My entire body went into attack mode, and my wolf was prepared to charge at the first sign of weakness.

"I am scared of what they can do to me." My response was met with a frown, but he saw my defensive posture.

"And you don't trust Jason." With an understanding mumble, he glanced sideways at his pack doctor. "Do you trust me?" When he inquired, I brushed my hands over the pillows, feeling about a weapon. My response would have been different if he had known that I was a witch blood wolf, but he was ignorant, and I was confident he wouldn't hurt me.

I gently nodded my head.

"Jason, walk me through it." As he approached me with the syringe, he spoke.

In a daze, he helped me back to the edge of the bed and knelt down in front of me. He held my arm, rolled up my sleeve until it was bunched over my elbow, and then rubbed his thumb over the area where the needle would touch, setting off sparks.

"As long as I am with you, I will not let anyone harm you—do you understand?" We looked at each other, and his words were real.

I was only looking for acceptance and protection from my partner. I knew that accepting him would cost me his protection, even though I had it.

"Wipe down the area with an antibacterial wipe first." We were both rescued by Jason from the depths of our feelings. Derrick tore open the packet his pack doctor had given him, then shifted the syringe to his other hand. I flinched as the wipe made contact with my skin because it was so cold.

Before Jason spoke again, Derrick muttered under his breath, "Relax," and threw the used wipe onto the bed.

"You may need to try a few times to find a vein. I've done this before, but I appreciate your advice, doctor, as I don't want to hurt her." Derrick tapped the injection site with his fingers and spoke to my arm. There was a mental battle going on between the feel of his fingers on my skin and his plan for me.

The needle came close to my skin, and I whined. Derrick paused his movement and looked back up at me. I knew he could see the glassy look in my stare, and I knew he could see how uncomfortable I felt.

"You don't have to look; put your head on my shoulder." He told me, but I couldn't take my eyes off the needle. He moaned when he lifted his palm to my face and cupped my cheek. For a time, he continued like that until his hand slipped towards my neck. He gradually pushed my stance towards his body, and I allowed him. My heart was thumping quickly as his hand slid through my hair and my cheek pushed against the bare skin of his chest.

"That's better." He muttered. His voice was smooth and lovely, but it wasn't enough to bring me off the edge.

When the needle pressed into my flesh, I growled loudly—I didn't have much of a choice considering my wolf was pushing against my human side. Derrick slid the needle further into my flesh, and I pushed my face into the crook of his neck. The usual feeling of anguish and torment gripped me as I began to lash out. My nails sharpened into claws, and my teeth extended into fangs. Derrick held me in my place, and it was the last straw.

I yelled and I kicked, and my teeth dragged into the skin of his throat.

Derrick snarled loud enough to rock this home, though I'm not sure when he took the needle out. With his own teeth lengthened and his eyes black with the presence of his wolf, he pushed me into the bed and growled. He was looming over me, his hands clenched into painful grips above my head. I stared into his familiar eyes and felt my wolf grow subdued at the sight of him.

"Were you trying to mark me?" His guttural, low voice gave me chills all over. I could still feel the excitement from my struggle with him coursing through me, and my eyes focused on the damage I had caused.

Because of the way my fangs had punctured his throat, his neck was dyed red. Fortunately, my fangs hadn't dug themselves too far.

"Please let go of my hands." Even when he was the one holding me, I didn't like it.

"Answer my question!" Instead, he demanded as I struggled to free myself from his hold.

You were holding me down, and I wasn't paying attention. Please release my hands. With a grimace, he did as I asked, but his hands only went to grasp my chin.

"I want you to know that you are marking me when you do. Do you understand, Kylie? I want you to want it." When I nodded, he released his hold on me.

His black eyes settled on the blood that had found its way into my garments as he hovered over me for a time before vanishing from my line of sight.

I was completely perplexed as I looked up at the ceiling. I was feeling so many different things at once, and none of them made sense.

I was on the verge of making a grave error.

My wolf had almost decided for me, but I could never brand him until he knew the truth about me. It was imperative that I keep her away from him and move a short distance away from the bond. When his attachment to me was founded on a fabricated version of who I was, I was unable to become attached.