When I woke up, the events of last night flooded back like a powerful wave. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I took in the sight around me. My clothes lay torn and scattered, remnants of a wild night, but what truly captivated me was him—still asleep beside me. Unlike in my last life, he was here, right here, his strong form sprawled across the bed.
Yet something felt different. I should have felt exhausted, but instead, I was invigorated. As I shifted slightly, my eyes traced the many bite marks scattered across his back and shoulders. One mark near his neck caught my attention, standing out among the others. I reached out, my fingers brushing the skin around it, and that's when the memories surged in.
I… I marked him! The realisation hit me like a jolt, sending my heart racing. It was a moment of primal connection, and I could tell—deep down—I had done it successfully. I could feel it in my very bones. He was an alpha, no doubt about it. The way he took control, the strength he wielded, it all made sense now.
But I had marked him! It had always been the other way around, a privilege bestowed upon alphas, not the wolfless girl I had been. I was left utterly flabbergasted, my mind swirling with the implications.
I remembered exactly how it went down. In the heat of the moment, I did it. I remembered how he just abandoned me in my previous life, got angry and worked up. I just… Did not expect it to work. For the first time, an Alpha is marked.
Just then, he stirred awake, his red eyes flickering open as they settled on me. In one smooth motion, he caught my hand, the one that had touched his scent glands, and tugged me closer. My breath hitched in my throat as he brought my hand to his lips, biting my finger gently before kissing it.
His gaze was intense, filled with a mix of affection and possessiveness that sent shivers down my spine. I could feel the weight of our bond, the significance of my actions from the night before.
When he finally woke up, the sheets slipped from his body, revealing a toned, muscular figure that made my heart race. Thank goodness the sheet covered him from the waist down, or I might have fainted right there. My cheeks burned as I quickly turned my head away, trying to shake off the overwhelming rush of embarrassment.
But before I could fully compose myself, he reached out and gently grabbed my chin, turning my face back to him. My heart thudded in my chest, and I expected some backlash—maybe humiliation, anger, or even fury for marking him. Instead, he simply asked, "Why are you turning your face away?
I didn't expect him to ask so directly, and my mind raced for a response. The blush on my cheeks deepened as I mumbled, "You should cover up… You're naked."
His lips curved into a smile as he replied in that deep, gravelly voice of his, "Well, so are you."
I opened my mouth to protest, but the words tangled in my throat. Sure, but the sheets were covering my body. It was different—he was showing himself off! My heart raced, a mix of embarrassment and something more thrilling coursing through me.
He stood up and headed toward the bathroom, his confident stride only heightening my flustered state. I quickly turned my head away, the shyness creeping back in. Even after everything we had shared last night, I still felt vulnerable. I didn't want to think about the time in my past life, about how I was barely conscious during that time.
This was different. This was my first time in this life, and it had been… Amazing. Each kiss, each touch, felt like a revelation, igniting something deep within me. But now, with him standing there, so unapologetically exposed, I couldn't help but feel shy, like I was on the edge of something new and exciting, yet terrifying.
With the door to the bathroom shutting behind him, I took a deep breath, trying to steady the whirlwind of emotions inside me. I checked my own neck, he did not mark me in my past life, so why would he do it now?
I couldn't help but stare as he emerged from the bathroom, a towel tied securely around his waist, droplets of water still glistening on his skin. My heart raced, and this time I didn't look away, captivated by the way the muscles in his arms and shoulders flexed with each movement.
Speak Serena, don't just stare!
"About last night…" I finally ventured, my voice barely above a whisper. The words felt heavy on my tongue, I did not know how he would react, and I was afraid. I waited for him to respond, but he remained silent, his gaze fixed on me. After a moment of silence stretched between us, I felt my confidence wane. My heart sank a little, and I went quiet, unsure of how
"What about last night?"
The question sliced through the silence like a blade.
His voice was low, rough, but there was no warmth in it, just disinterest.
I froze. My lips parted, but my throat tightened. "It– It was…"
It was my first time.
The words nearly slipped out, trembling on my tongue, but I couldn't bring myself to say them. What good would it do? He wasn't asking because he cared. He wanted to erase it, he considered it a mistake we could both pretend never happened.
"Look," he said flatly, cutting me off before I could gather my courage. "It didn't mean anything. Someone tampered with my suppressants, and we ended up in this position."
Suppressants.
That single word made my stomach twist.
The redness burning my cheeks was no longer from being shy. It was from shame.
What did you expect, Serena? He was a stranger, is a stranger and will be a stranger.
I forced myself to breathe. "I see," I whispered, though my voice cracked.
He quickly got dressed. "If you're seeking financial compensation," he said coolly, "take this."
Something landed on the bed beside me. He tossed so casually.
A card.
The faintest shimmer of silver print caught the morning light. His name gleamed across the surface in bold, unmistakable letters:
Adrian Valois.
My breath caught.
Valois. The Alpha of the Blackridge Clan, the most powerful bloodline in the world.