Page 21 of Stolen By the Lycanthrope

I stand on shaky legs, my body starting to tremble again. I hate how weak I am. I need to be stronger if I’m going to stay here. I take a hesitant step toward him, my hands balled into fists at my sides.

“Why did you do this?” I ask.

He turns around, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

“You could have been caught by someone worse,” he says. “You should be grateful.”

I stare at him, my mouth falling open.

“You…no, of course I’m notgratefulto you,” I say. My breath burns in my throat, tears sting my eyes. “You kidnapped me…you hunted me…you bit me without my consent…and youcollaredme.”

I reach up and grab the ring on the collar, which is now slippery with blood. The wound is starting to close thanks to lycan healing, but he wasn’t gentle with me, and the only thing that can really soothe a mating bite is a mate’s kiss. His teeth sank deep enough to leave a permanent mark. Even if I find my fated mate one day, if I get out of here alive…I’m stuck with Javi forever.

He scoffs. “You think I wanted any of this?”

“I…” I pause, my brow furrowing. “You…but you joined the hunt.”

“To stop someone worse from claiming you,” he says.

He chews on the inside of his cheek, placing his hands on his hips like he’s measuring what he’ll say next. I’m struck dumb, unable to comprehend what I’m hearing.

He took my innocence. We’re bonded for life. And he doesn’t even want me.

He doesn’t evenlike me.

“Once we got here, I realized you don’t deserve this,” he says, “and now we’re both trapped. Trust that I’m kicking myself for it.”

Shame colors my cheeks bright red, and I hang my head so that my hair will hide my face. I’m sure he’s trying to set me at ease—ormaybehe is—but he doesn’t seem like the nicest guy in the world. All I can think about is how I’m unworthy of even the worst alpha out there, that the one who claimed me doesn’t feel anything for me.

“Sorry,” I whisper.

“Now come here,” he commands. “You need to bathe. You’re a mess.”

I hold back tears as I shuffle toward him, eager to get out of these clothes and into the bath. At the same time, I’m nervous about him seeing me naked, judging me, regretting his choice. I manage to pull the tatters of turquoise fabric from my torso, but then a searing pain pulses through me from my neck to my extremities.

The bite.

It needs tending. Care.Love.

I don’t think I’ll find any of that here.

Javi’s hands are suddenly at my neck, and I jerk my head up to find him concentrating on the collar. He undoes the clasp and tosses it on the bed, where it leaves a stain of red blood. It wasn’t all that tight, but I feel a sense of freedom without it that almost makes me feel better. The self-consciousness and shame comes racing back, though, when Javi’s hands land on my shoulders, his eyes somewhere behind me.

He won’t evenlook at me.

“You don’t wear that when it’s just the two of us,” he rumbles.

He’s so ashamed of me that he doesn’t even want to look at his mark. He doesn’t want any sign that I’m his mate.

If that’s what I am at all.

“Okay,” I say.

“Get in the bath,” he orders.

He turns off the faucet as I step in, finding it almost scalding. I hiss out a breath, but I get in as he tells me, helpless to do anything else. I can already feel the power of the lycan bond working its magic, and without my bite on him, I’m subject to each and every one of his whims.

I’m entirely at his mercy and I don’t even know him.

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