Chapter 3 Doctors Without Borders

"Don't touch me!" he shouted, his voice filled with fury. It felt like a dagger piercing my heart. He was angry again. I wiped away the tear that escaped my eye. "Marcus, I--" I tried to speak, but my voice faltered.

"Are you okay, Luna?" L.A. asked with concern as she gently placed a hand on my shoulder. I forced a small smile in response before heading to my room. Why do I keep hoping Marcus will change? My thoughts whispered the painful truth-I already knew the answer. I smiled bitterly.

Because I love him. Because I love him, I keep waiting for the day he'll finally treat me like his mate.

Marcus' POV

I slowly opened the door to Anya's room, stepping inside quietly. She was fast asleep, her expression serene. I sat beside her, watching her peaceful face. Gently, I brushed a few strands of hair away and lightly caressed her cheek.

"M-Marcus..." she murmured softly. Was she dreaming about me? I smiled, but my gaze darkened when I noticed the bruise on her arm. My fists clenched. Memories of her begging me to reject our bond resurfaced. Instead of setting her free, I had kept her close, hurting her in the process.

"I'm sorry for hurting you, but it's the only way to keep you by my side," I whispered with quiet intensity. She belonged to me. She was mine alone.

"Alpha, everything is ready for the attack," my Beta informed me through the mind link.

"I'll be there soon," I replied. I pressed a gentle kiss to Anya's forehead, lingering for a moment before leaving her room. I gave L.A. strict instructions not to tell her I had been there.

"You're going to pay for this, Damien. I will kill you."

Anya's POV

"Where are you going, Anros?" my mother asked my father as he put on his shoes.

"I need to grab some things from Andres' house," he replied before stepping out.

My mother turned to me. "Are you heading to the Pack House today?"

I shook my head while washing the dishes. "Not yet, Ma. I need to run. My wolf needs to stretch her legs. I'll head there later."

After finishing the dishes, I went to my room to change. My father was already gone when I came back downstairs. Stepping outside, I shifted into my wolf form-a brown-furred wolf-and took off running into the forest. The wind against my fur felt exhilarating.

I ran and ran until exhaustion set in, then collapsed onto the grass. I closed my eyes, letting the sounds of nature surround me. Suddenly, the scent of chocolate mixed with cinnamon filled the air. My heart raced.

My mate was near.

My eyes snapped open. A magnificent gray wolf stood in front of me, staring with intense eyes.

"Mate," he growled.

I jolted awake. Why was I dreaming about that day? The day I first met Marcus Cepheus Kingsley. Sighing, I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom.

"Good morning, Anya," my wolf greeted.

"Morning," I replied, yawning.

After brushing my teeth and freshening up, I went downstairs to eat.

"Damn it!" Marcus' furious voice echoed through the house. My heart pounded. What was going on? I hurried to the kitchen and was met with broken dishes scattered on the floor.

"What happened?" I asked, my concern growing. Marcus didn't respond. Instead, I turned to Michael, who stood off to the side, watching the chaos unfold.

"Michael, what's going on?"

"Damien and his men found out about our attack plans. Someone warned them, and they escaped," Michael explained grimly.

I glanced at Marcus. His expression was deadly, his hands clenched into tight fists.

"Marcus," I whispered, stepping closer and touching his fist. Who could have betrayed him?

"Call the Silver Moon Pack," Marcus commanded. "Tell Alpha Jhoseph I need his help tracking Damien. And find the traitor, Michael. I want them dead."

Michael nodded and left immediately. A traitor within the pack? That meant Damien still had allies here.

Marcus turned his gaze to me. "I want you now, Anya," he murmured huskily, pulling me against him. My heart pounded at the way he said my name. He kissed me fiercely, and I responded with equal intensity, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Ahem."

We turned to see Michael standing there awkwardly.

"What!?" Marcus snapped, annoyed by the interruption.

"Alpha Jhoseph and his pack will arrive tomorrow," Michael informed him.

Marcus nodded before grabbing my hand and leading me toward his room. "Now, no more interruptions," he said before capturing my lips again.