I held my breath as the tension in my head increased. Asra kept his expression stern as he focused his attention on finding out what was upsetting me. I swallowed before allowing my most recent thoughts back into my mind, fresh as the moment I conceived them.

His gaze hardened, and the crease between his brows deepened. Silence beat as loudly as my heart in my chest, my stomach churning with anxiety. When he eventually pulled his mind from mine, I let out a loud exhale.

Asra ran his hand through his hair, his claws digging into the tangles. A small growl whispered past his lips as he stared hard at the blanket covering my lap. Eventually he sighed, taking my hands and holding my gaze.

"I did not know you felt this way." He murmured. "You are safe with me, Ailia."

The affirmation of my name had my eyes closing to force back tears. My shoulders sagged, my heart heavy with emotion.

Asra stood, climbing into the bed to sit beside me. His arms wrapped around my torso, pulling me into him so my head rested on his chest. My body felt alive at his warm touch. Even when sleeping, we didn't get close like this. I could hear the pace of his heart, slighter faster than a human. I assumed that was down to his quicker metabolism and healing powers.

"Nothing like that will happen to you with me around." His chest rumbled with each word. "You are my mate and holding even just my mark gives you the protection you desire."

I rubbed my cheek along his chest. A silent answer of thanks.

"Blake cannot touch you anymore. I locked him in my dungeon." Asra continued. "As for the buyer... I have my men raiding their camp today hoping to find any paperwork."

"And then what?" I sniffled.

"Then we will find anyone involved and I will kill them where they stand." He growled. "I promise you this."

I tried to swallow past the lump in my throat. The dread of his promise had my stomach churning with fear. How could someone just so willingly kill another person without guilt or conscience?

"You do not need to be scared, Ailia. Everything has just hit you all at once." He squeezed me. "I think the reality of the situation, paired with being thrown into a normal life, has caused the shock to wear off."

"Period sucks too."

He chuckled softly; the sound shaking my head. "Yes. I suppose that too. Did you like what I brought you?"

I smiled, squeezing the hot water bottle tighter between us. "I do, thank you."

"Why so embarrassed, then? I am here to help you."

I flushed. "It's just odd. I still need to get used to some of the... opinions living here."

"It is not opinion, mere fact. Females bleed to ensure fertility, but it causes great stress upon your body and mind. The least I can do is make sure I look after you." He explained. "And when you are pregnant, I will never let you lift a finger."

There he goes again, wringing every piece of emotion from my heart like a wet towel.

He noticed my distress. "What is it?"

I hesitated before sighing. "You say that so casually."

"You are my mate for life Ailia, you bear my mark and it is only a matter of time before you are mine forever." A hand trailed down my shoulder to rest on my waist.

"It's just crazy to think about." I murmured.

"To me, it is normal. But... I think I understand you more now."

"You do?" I wondered, moving my head to look at the underside of his jaw.

So delectable...

"Yes. What you have told me... shown me..." He began. "I can see how hard life has been for you and I can see how much of a change it has been for you to feel comfortable in this new world. Your town did not educate you enough. They kept you isolated and ruled by poor judgement. Married you off at a young age as though that was a normality."

"It was to my mother..." I muttered. "She was power hungry, and she finally got what she wanted until..."

"I found you." Asra shrugged. "She must think you are dead."

I swallowed, speaking through gritted teeth. "Then let her."

Asra hesitated, feeling the unspoken tension. "And your sister? You do not know if she is alive. We do not know where they are."

My heart fell into my stomach at the mention of Arabella. I had kept her at the back of my mind, my guilt unable to handle her being away from me. We may have spoken little, our mother causing a barricade in our relationship, but she was my little sister. She had never done me wrong; it was my job to protect her, and I have failed in leaving her there.

Asra's brief presence in my head did not go unnoticed, but I had no heart to tell him to go away. He was curious about my emotions and I wasn't sure how to express them, so I let him explore my thoughts as I explored my guilt. Eventually he sighed, pulling me until I lay flush on top of him. I gulped, staring down at him as his hand ran through my hair.

"You do not need to feel guilty for being here, Ailia." Asra promised, his hands falling to my waist. "Tell me what I can do to make you feel better."

"I don't know." I frowned, staring at his mouth instead of his eyes.

"When you do, tell me. I will do anything to make you feel better, Tulip." He kissed my nose, causing me to blush. "If it is more ice cream, I will get you more ice cream."

I laughed at his attempt at cheering me up, shaking my head. "As tasty as it was, I think I will pass."

His hands moved lower, grasping at my hips. I gasped as he subtly shifted beneath me, grinding our lower bodies together. He smirked, squeezing my hips once more before moving them back to settle on my waist.

"You are mine, Ailia, and I will do my best for you." He smiled, looking at me with those beautiful blue eyes.

I couldn't help but mirror his smile. "Thank you, Asra."

His eyes turned wicked suddenly. "And I look forward to the day I can sink into you and claim every single piece of your mind, body, and soul."

I scoffed, tapping his chest lightly. "You wish."

"Oh, I do." He smirked.

"Well, whatever magic your mark does to have me fall into bed with you is not working." I rolled my eyes, sitting up, so I was straddling him. "You have no effect on me whatsoever."

"Is that so?" He grinned manically. "Then earlier, whilst you were staring at me, as your arousal permeated the air. That was not an effect?"

Grimacing, I crossed my arms. "Nope."

"And this?" He asked, bucking up into me. "No effect?"

"None." I smirked before climbing off of him.

"Oh, you just wait... five days and you will eat your words."

I scoffed. "Is that a bet?"

"Let's make it one." He shrugged.

"Okay. If I am right, I get to have a job."

He cocked his head, and something flashing in his eyes that I couldn't decipher. It didn't seem to physically phase him otherwise, because he nodded, deep in thought.

"If you fall for me by the end of the month..." He hummed before his eyes narrowed with a wicked smirk. "Not only do I get gloating rights of having you as my mate, but I get to shower with you every single day."

It was May sixteenth. Did he truly believe he would win by then?

"That's it?" I mused, crossing my arms. "That's your gamble? A shower?"

"Yep." He smirked.

"You seem pretty content in your bet."

"Of course, I do." He shrugged. "Because I will win."

I scoffed, moving to grab the remote from the floor. Pushing him from my bed, he stood as I sat down, smoothing out his clothes. Climbing back into the blankets, I pulled my hot water bottle back over my abdomen.

"Oh, it is on, Asra." I smirked.

Asra grinned and left a moment later. His duty to work outweighed his instinctive need to tease me. I had found it amusing how he thought he would win this bet. He had no power over me at all. What Eve said simply cannot be true. Maybe for wolves, but not for me. I should ask Eliza, see if it happened to her. She bore Caleb's mark, so I assume they have consummated their bond.

The idea of even having sex with Asra didn't really weigh on me. Sex was sex, and I was going to win the bet. My body was not my mind, and I knew my mind better than my body did. Like with Darius, it may give in to his touches, but my head would remain clear. I would not let Asra win for the pure gloating factor of being right.

I had to win this bet.

I would avoid him, not let him even think that I was dreaming about him. I would not give him the time of day. It reminded me oddly of when he told me I would never leave, the same fire burning in my chest that wanted me to prove him wrong. A part of me wanted to taste Asra, to see what he felt like inside of me. I knew it would be wild and crazy, the man mostly a primal beast.

Even if I felt the slightest piece of arousal, I would have to force it from my head. Leave the room. Not give in. I couldn't let him win this time.

Humans are stronger than people give us credit for.

Snuggling down in the bed, I settled into watching some random animated program on the television. I must've fallen asleep because I remember being awoken by someone shaking my shoulders. I grunted and slapped them away, causing them to giggle.

Giggle?

Not Asra.

I peered through one eye, finding Piper hovering over my bed. She poked my cheek, giggling again.

"What?" I groggily asked.

"It's lunch. I figured I'd come get you if you were feeling up to it."

I shrugged, my hot water bottle cool now. "I guess. It's not so bad now."

She snorted. "Give it a day, right?"

I laughed with agreement, climbing from the bed. "What's for lunch?"

She cocked her head, watching as I hobbled into the bathroom. "Just sandwiches and pastries today."

I oohed, shutting the door to refresh myself before lunch. Once finished, Piper looped her arm through mine. I knew I was going to get stared at being on my monthly, but I felt well enough to not care right now. Besides, I had an image to uphold, one that told Asra he did not affect me.

Tomorrow I may have a different opinion. The pains and aches are always worse the next day. Plus, my emotional whiplash will most likely do a complete one eighty and I will hate every single person in this house... But for now, lunch.