On the other end came a short, incredulous laugh that curdled into a curse. "Touching? Eli, that man doesn't touch; he steamrolls. I bet he plastered that mark on you the second he thought you wouldn't bite his hand off for it. No patience, no finesse, just… mine, done. Typical Victor."
Elias pinched the bridge of his nose, mouth twitching despite himself. "…You're not wrong."
"Of course I'm not wrong." She sounded half triumphant, half furious. "He doesn't know the meaning of restraint. And you…" her voice cracked sharper, protective to the bone, "you let him, didn't you? Don't even try to lie. You accepted it. You're carrying around that mark like it's just an alpha's bite on an omega, a trial run. Test the waters first, right?"
The words hit harder than he liked because they were true. His silence stretched too long, and that was all the answer she needed.
