I groaned lowly, a burning flame attacked the pit of my stomach, sending heated goosebumps all over my skin — I could feel beads of sweat drip down my forehead.

"Celine?!" I couldn't make out the voice that called out to me, but I could make out the worry — I took in a dragged breath, my lungs felt tight and my throat ached.

The memory of Dustin's hands squeezing my neck tightly replaying in my mind made me whimper while shaking my head, I could almost feel the memory replaying itself realistically upon feeling a feather like hand touch my skin — right below my chin making me flinch.

"Shh." I heard the whisper but I couldn't stop trembling, everything was dark around me and the fire suddenly built up inside of my stomach making me internally scream out; my legs flew up and down, my heels were scraping against the sheets below me aggressively, trying to fight against the pain.

"She needs help! Go get Dustin!...Get out of here Luke! Her scent is getting stronger." Everything was like a whisper as I  tried to listen to what was being said around me, but my mind could only focus on the burning heat that continued growing inside of me.

"Celine? It's all going to be okay, I promise." Was it?

I felt my breathing get louder and more strained, my back arched and my fingers numbly gripped onto the sheets as I groaned out loudly — the heat intensifying inside of me wildly.

"He's here!" Suddenly, a familiar alluring scent of wood, cologne and salt water flew up my nostrils — cooling the heat inside of my body.

"Get out." I wish I could see but my vision was completely black; seeing as my heavy eyelids were shut and I couldn't open them because I barely had the strength to.

I bit my bottom lip roughly upon feeling a harsh stab like pain in my left hip, I groaned out loudly and inhaled deeply through my nose — my lungs burned.

"Celine, open your eyes please." It was a male voice but I couldn't make out who, his voice was like a soft whisper to my ears, I could feel a hand being placed on my thigh making my whole entire body freeze.

I sighed out in satisfaction when the burning heat eased, and a coolness took over right under the skin he touched.

"Open your eyes." As if complying to the order, my eyes fluttered open, my vision was blurry but I could make out the broad male figure before me.

I blinked rapidly before my vision finally came back, and the male was completely evident making me gasp loudly and sob out right after while pushing my body back; wanting to be far away from him.

My numb hand flew around my neck and I massaged it subconsciously, his stormy blue eyes landed on my hand and I saw something change in them but right away he cleared his emotions, almost as if on cue to prevent me from seeing them.

"You're in your heat." He stated tensely, his hand not once removing from my thigh making my stomach churn crazily, I nodded slowly.

"A-and you almost killed me." I whispered hoarsely, my throat was scratchy but that didn't matter. Our eyes were locked and I watched mine gloss up, my heart was beating slowly as I waited for his reaction.

"Yes I did." Was his cold reply making me whimper and drop my intense gaze, what did I expect? Some regret or remorse? It's Dustin, he doesn't even know what that is.

"Why?" I asked curiously, using my unoccupied numb hand to wipe a stray tear that absentmindedly trailed down my cheek — Dustin cleared his throat making me flinch.

"I don't know." He whispered hoarsely making me raise my head to look at him once again, his brows were furrowed and his strong gaze was still on me; not once averting.

I took in a deep, and shaky breath while scoffing.

"You don't know? How could you not know? Dustin, you tried to kill me. Your own Mate. Doesn't that mean anything to you?" I cried out hopelessly my eyes searching his own for anything that will prevent me from going to extreme measures, but I got nothing other then a stormy glare making me shake my head slowly.

"All my life I hoped for freedom, and a chance to escape the life that I was given not too long ago. I've gone through so-so much, and once I finally gained enough courage to leave, once I got a glimpse of freedom and how it feels not to fear being killed — I got captured once more. The amount of fear and anxiety that I previously had in CreekSide only increased and grew once I came here. And sadly, once I met you — things only got worse. So much worse. We were supposed to be Mates. You were supposed to be my other half, my protector and my savior. But instead you were the complete opposite — still are. You abused me, physically, emotionally and mentally. You tried to kill me, more then once and threatened my life many times. I feared instead of loved you-" I paused to wipe the tears that completely blurred my vision and inhaled deeply, trying to catch my breath.

"-and you don't understand how badly I wanted to love you, I still do and maybe I do love you — but the hate that I have for you is larger and more stronger. You caused this, you made me like this. Everybody can see it, other then you. Ever since we met, I have never done you wrong, I never angered you or maybe I did because I always got punished in the end....But honestly, I knew the kind of curse I was given; you are the Alpha of the second strongest pack, the most ruthless and deadliest Alpha out there. It only took you bringing me to my death bed to actually make me believe." I continued sadly, my gaze not once averting from his even when it was blurred by unstoppable tears.

His brows were furrowed as he listened and I watched his eyes darken with unexplainable emotions making my heart skip a beat, but once his face hardened I knew he didn't know how to express any emotion other then hate and anger, even now — when I'm spilling my heart out for him.

"I-I never meant to-" he paused to inhale deeply making me flinch once he spoke up, I placed my hands over the sheets and listened to him carefully with furrowed brows.

"Never meant what?" I urged harshly, my chin raising and my eyes narrowing at him.

"Never meant to kill you." He continued blankly, his voice and face still void of any emotion, making his words completely unbelievable. I sobbed and shook my head, the feel of my tears trailing down my neck made my heart clench tightly.

"Yes you did! You know you did!" I yelled out angrily, inching closer to him and letting out a deep growl, he shook his head and stepped closer, growling himself.

"I didn't! You just won't believe me Celine!" He protested in frustration, his stormy eyes roamed my whole face and I wanted so badly to slap my hands over it — just to hide away from him because I knew how terrible I looked, but I refrained from doing so.

"I want to believe you but what have you done in all the time you have known me — that did me right?" I asked softly, lowering my voice and slouching my shoulders in defeat, my body was growing hotter under his gaze and the burning fire was erupting once again; but for other reasons, I could see he noticed because once he inhaled the scent in the air, his eyes darkened hungrily making me squirm uncomfortably.

"What have you done to make me feel good and safe? You made me feel like your prisoner and you've called me that many times — I never felt wanted around you! All I have ever wanted was to feel safe and wanted!" And loved, I wanted to continue with saying just that but I stopped myself because I have no right to say that — I don't deserve love and I certainly know that even if I did, Dustin would never give it to me.

"You need to believe me Celine, when I say that I didn't mean or want to kill you!" He claimed loudly, his hand unknowingly gripped my thigh sending sparks up my body making me sigh out in the cool relief — he noticed and his lips almost tugged up into a cocky smirk.

"Prove it!" I yelled out angrily, almost defeatedly while gazing at him through hazed and glossy eyes, his orbs completely darkened and he growled out, I took in a deep breath under his heated gaze.

"Fine, I'll prove it." His voice was husky and deep, and once I sniffed the air I could feel his powerful scent consume me; and before I knew it, his hand flew to the back of my neck and he smashed our lips together, making my eyes widen.

I could feel his plump lips move rapidly against my own, I was frozen for a second before sparks erupted all around us and I kissed back — equal pace and all.

Before either of us could even realize what was going on, he had laid me back and the bond blinded the both of us — all that I could remember was the the feel of his body against my own.

Proving only one thing — that he could make me feel wanted.