Tasting 275
275-Leaving Unmarked
Nora:
“I am ready,” I finally conceded, pushing my hair off my shoulder, stretching my neck to one side, and closing my eyes. I was in my human form, so I was aware of the pain I would feel once his canines pierced through my skin.
Brody had worn a very apologetic smile all this time. He knew I didn’t want to do this, but I was compelled to in order to avoid being taken advantage of or exposed by someone random from the pack. Running away into the woods wasn’t an option either. With the monsters lurking around, how long could I stay there? And if I let Akira out, the packs would add my name to the hit list alongside the other monsters
Brody wrapped one arm around my back and buried his face in my neck. He then pressed his sharp teeth into my skin, causing me to close my eyes and wince in extreme pain.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
“Ow!” I mouthed as the pain intensified. I thought it would ease with time, but then I realized he didn’t push his teeth deep in, almost like only trying to show it to the council that he had marked me. Soon, everything began to blur. What was happening to me?
Was it because my wolf feared he would mark me while I still had my fated mates connected to me? I didn’t understand what was happening to me at this point.
However, I couldn’t really ask this question to anyone because I soon lost consciousness. The whispering wind and the noise of the honks woke me up. I stirred in my seat and looked around to find Brody sitting outside on the side of the road with the car parked nearby and the door to my side open.
“Ah!” I grimaced in pain and opened my eyes to alert him that I was awake. He smiled and got up, his body hunched over my door to check on me.
“Are you awake now?” he asked.
“I am, but what happened to me, and where am I?” I glanced at the busy road ahead and then turned to Brody.
“Back at the council’s court, you passed out. I took you to the hospital, and they said you needed rest and some food,” he spoke in a soft and gentle voice. His hand held mine lovingly and rubbed it with concern.
“Thank you for not marking me,” I said with a broken smile, and he winked at me.
“It was so tempting,” he admitted. I knew how badly he had wanted to mark me all this time, yet he respected my choice and held back. My heart was filled with comfort, but then I remembered an excuse that might allow me to go back home.
“Then we should have stayed at the mansion for today. Why are we on this journey when I passed out?” If I were in my right senses, I wouldn’t have asked him that and upset him. He was doing so much, and I wanted to be grateful, but part of me was still reluctant to leave.
“I did call them and informed them of the situation.” He looked away subtly, as if to avoid making eye contact with me.
“And? What did they say?” I asked, curiously studying his face. If the brothers had found out I was in this state, they would definitely not have recommended traveling.
“They didn’t want you back for some time. They said it wasn’t serious and that it was fine for us to continue traveling. You can visit them after a few days,” he said, taking little pauses to avoid looking my way. I bet he couldn’t see the disappointment on my face.
“Oh! Maybe it’s because of–well, you know, Ryker’s case? They’ll have to take care of a lot of things to bring him back home and manage the aftermath,” I suggested, offering a plausible excuse for why they might not want me back just yet.
“I think so too.” Suddenly, Brody seemed energized. He rushed to the driver’s side, shut the door, and started the car again.
“Really? You also think that’s why they didn’t want me back home?” I noticed that whenever I asked him such questions, he looked sad, but the moment I came up with an excuse, he seemed relieved. But all things aside, I was now going with him to his pack.