My neck had been pulsing with pain. It was the only thing keeping my wolf from going absolutely wild and forcing a shift. The neck was too sensitive for a wolf.
Other than the pain, my fear was what had actually had my body trembling.

He hadn't left the house since our exchange in his study, I was sure that he hadn't even left his study. My body shuddered at simple remembrance that our male was somewhere downstairs. The mere touch that his hand had had with my neck was powerful enough to activate a stronger mate bond. With trembling hands smoothing out the dress that I was wearing, I looked outside the floor to ceiling glass paneled wall. The trees that were in my view, had their branches swaying wildly by nature. I didn't know how much more of this disguised captivity I could take with my wolf on the brink of forcing a shift. And with my wolf's mate in close proximity, my body was struggling to keep together.

The door handle rattled quietly, making me snap my head in alert to look at who exactly was entering. The insanity of my wild was making me unfocused and slightly uncaring. Vulnerable.

I craned my neck to look back at him, unmoving from my position, "Can I help you?" I said rather rudely, surprising even myself at how it came out.

One of his eyebrows raised at me in question. I heard his chest vibrate lowly. He cleared his throat, pushing the door further open before entering.

"How's your neck?" He asked, his piercing gaze had my wolf pinned down uncomfortably.

"I need to shift for my neck to heal," I say in a small voice, remembering how I had been flung inside yesterday. I turned around back to peer through the window after a mental battle to break away from his gaze. I didn't want to see his reaction.

"The ointment didn't help?" He questioned curiously, right before I felt his hands brush slightly against my skin, moving my hair from my neck.

It was so sudden, I was so unconscious of when he'd gotten so close to me, making me feel so vulnerable. The action was so surprising that my hand shot up to grasp his, in a grappling hold. My heart thundered because of the scarce distance between us, the simple touch of my hold on his hand, but underneath that I could feel the fear that it circulated in my blood. It was my neck, and it needed to be protected. Though he was my mate, I was sensitive about him touching it since it was the weak point of a wolf after all. At least this was what I had told myself was what the main reason for the unsolicited fear that ran through me. The tantalizing feel of his skin against mine barely troubled itself to help ease my mind.

"What are you doing?" The words escaped my mouth as a breathy question, fear threading in me, trembling my breath.

I could feel the heat from his body radiate across my back, my neck, my hands. His hot breath on my neck. He growled lowly, the sound vibrated through me, making me aware of how close his mouth exactly was to my face. I released his hand immediately.

As an alpha, he obviously wasn't used to being questioned, it was a direct act of disobedience. But I couldn't help myself. As a high ranking female, a pure blooded Soren, I was usually afforded the liberty to ask questions. Regardless, I was now in his territory, I would have to learn to adjust. He didn't answer so I remained quiet.

He once again picked up my hair, I trembled slightly, my hand fisted to hide its fearful convulsions, my heart palpitated with fear. He collect my hair and moved it to the other side of my neck. His left hand pinned it there, warm fingers splayed against the column of my bare neck, keeping the hair in place. The touch of his hands on my neck made jolts of pleasure and electricity spring through me. I contained my urge to tremble at his simple seeding touch.

His right hand grazed the bruised skin of my neck. My hold on the fabric of my dress increased a tenfold, I grasped onto it for dear life, pain stinging and strumming through my body. I released a harsh guttural groan. My body twitched slightly, his fingers tightened on the other side of my neck, fingers digging into my flesh to hold me in place.

"I hope that answers your question," I said contemptuously, my words thoughtlessly hurled in pain. He let out a thoughtful sigh, his breath dancing on my neck again.

"The bruise has spread," he said in thought, pausing briefly, "I suppose that I could heal you."

I trembled slightly; the alpha, the most powerful wolf in the pack could heal pack members and his mate by tending to them and grooming them. Even though he was mate, I was wary of him. He was still my enemy, a fact that simply could not be forgotten. But the pain, it was overwhelming and at the moment my mind was clouded. Clouded with weakness. I couldn't think of anything but the tantalizing promise of feeling of relief. Promises that made me feel crazy. I pushed the thoughts, the memories I had tried so hard to forget back into the subconscious of my mind. I was weak.

I turned around too eagerly, his hand releasing my hair in the process and dropping to his side. My body already missing the heat and power his touch had brought. I looked up at him with hopeful eyes.

"What's stopping you?" I asked almost greedily, before I realised he too was guarded like me; the enemy.

"I'm not allowed to touch you, like that, when it's so close to the ceremony," he answered.

"Why?" I asked him, genuinely curious.

"It's tradition, ceremonial that you're supposed to remain pure for the ceremony," he said in monotone.

"I'll still be pure though," I answered confused, "that isn't intimate like that."
My voice almost sounded desperate. I saw his mouth twitch with smugness.

"It's considered intimate," he explained, "I'm sorry I can't."

Something I noticed about him was how easy it was for him to apologize to me, which was surprising since he was an alpha and I, the enemy. I knew for sure he wouldn't let me shift, it was too dangerous. He turned to leave. I used one last tactic; one that I knew would work.

"My bruise, it won't heal in time for the ceremony. Surely, concern will be raised and questions will be asked. And what am I supposed to say to my family?

Surely they will know that someone attacked me, they will know that this pack broke the treaty. And I'm sure you know what will ensue," I said, keeping the smugness out of my voice and coaxing myself to sound innocent.

He looked down at me with narrowed brows and calculating eyes. The same expression that graced him most of the time I'd seen him.

"Please," I said softly, looking up at him before grasping his bicep gently and stepping closer. Electricity shocked through me and I felt his muscle twitch under my touch. I was used to getting what I wanted and if it meant using the mate bond then so be it.

He seemed conflicted before he sighed, "The bruise will raise suspicion," he reasoned. He looked at me with hard eyes.

"If this is what it takes then I will heal you."

I was relieved that he had agreed but the fact that he agreed to do it in order to not to raise suspicion was what gnawed at my happiness. The bond made me want to be closer to my mate and want my mate's approval and affection. I felt somewhat disgusted but that was just a small, small feeling. He moved in closer to me, my heart began palpitating at an alarmingly fast rhythm. My breath came out ragged at his proximity.

"Relax," he commanded, it calmed me slightly.

He loomed over me, dominantly. I enjoyed that. His masculine scent sent me into overdrive, he smelt amazingly wonderful. My reaction to him was not as powerful as it could be because of the pain shooting from my neck to my body. My wolf was clawing at my control to shift. I heard his chest rumble slightly, the bond making me hope that it was in appeasement.
I felt his hand clutch my waist to hold me in place, it's warmth seeping through my dress. My hand still clutched his sinewy bicep. His other moved to cup my neck opposite of the bruise, holding it gently and leaning my head to accommodate him.

He lowered his head down into the crook of my neck, his angular nose skimmed it gently, taking in my scent. I gasped at the pain, it brought causing my hand to tighten its hold on his arm, clutching the hard muscles of his bicep harshly. A strangled whimper escaped me.

I felt it after I heard myself release a vehement scream. His warm tongue laved itself across the bruise. My hand immediately clenched around the fabric of his shirt and my nails dug into his arm. The pain, it was so horrible. My mind didn't process the fact his tongue was on my bare neck, that didn't even matter. The second time his tongue flicked against my skin, the burn was so unbearable that my trembling knees finally gave out. With his hand on my waist, he pulled me against his chest, keeping me hoisted upwards.

"Al-Alpha," I managed to mumbled out incoherently before my mouth involuntarily released a harsh groan.

"I'm almost done," he said in a soft, and what sounded like a pained voice.

He continued to lick and tend to the wound on my neck, quelling the pain away. My body began to relax in his hold, my hand decreasing its grip. I panted harshly. I felt completely healed now and alive with his touch.

He placed his warm mouth against my neck, where the bruise was, and sucked it softly. No longer feeling pain, my body heated with something different. Pleasure. Blissful pleasure. He licked a path down my neck before sucking on where the bruise was, right above where a mark was to he placed. Right before we were both startled by the breathy moan I released. My cheeks heated up immediately. My hand still limply clung to his hand and shirt. He removed his lips from my neck, his breath that was almost ragged hitting my neck. I removed my hands from him immediately after realizing what I did. His arms were still firmly placed on my body.

"Thank you, Alpha," I whispered out, definitely not trusting my voice.

He removed himself from me, my body immediately feeling the absence of his warmth. He looked down at me, his eyes gleaming slightly with an emotion I could not distinguish.

"You're welcome. It's my responsibility to make sure you're safe here. You and I will deal with my delta tomorrow, accordingly."

"You need to shower immediately to get my scent off your skin. Lennox is meeting us in an hour."

I nodded in obedience still affected by the fact two seconds ago he was tasting my skin. He quickly exited my room. I stood still, shaking slightly, afraid of what trouble his father would bring if he knew the Soren's had lied.