“STOP!” I yelled at the top of my lungs. My eyes were clenched closed. I was waiting for it to happen. For everything I had saved, to be stolen in one swift movement, but nothing happened. I wondered if he had second thoughts, so I waited for some type of movement. Not even so much as a breath. Then I realized I wasn’t even hearing the cars moving outside. I didn’t hear anything but heartbeats. I opened my eyes slowly in fear that if I was too fast I would have to witness it happen. Instead, I saw him frozen in place and was shocked. "Asher?" I asked, but got no reply or reaction. Then it hit me that time was frozen. Did I really do this?

I looked around the room as if I was expecting some sort of answer to line the room’s walls. “Hurry” I heard the woman’s voice in the back of my mind. I didn’t hesitate at her words and continued with my original plan. When I freed my two hands from the cuffs, I pushed Asher off me and he fell to the floor. I then freed my cuffed legs. When I got up from the bed, I felt a bit dizzy but not enough to stop me. I stood still looking down at Asher. He was completely naked except for the cloth of pathetic that covered his existence. I no longer viewed him as a man nor did I feel any attraction to him at all. He was pathetic, disgusting and tainted by jealousy. Guilt crept up me. And I knew part of this was because of me. Had I not wished him to be my mate, he wouldn’t have been. I brought this on him and on myself.

He started moving slowly and I realized the magic was starting to wear off. I started running as fast as I could with the dizziness the wolf's bane had caused, but just as I touched the door handle I was pulled back. I looked backwards and saw Asher’s face. I head butted him with the back of my head as hard as I could. He fell backwards but his arms were still locked around my waist, refusing to loosen their grip. I heard Lucian howl and my heart jumped. Asher also heard it and fear seemed to cloud his eyes. Asher tried to cover my mouth to stop me from howling back but I bit his hand so he pulled it back. I howled as loudly as my lungs allowed me to. Asher got up and gripped my hair. He pulled me all the way to the lounge. “You stupid bitch. Now you’ve made this a whole lot more complicated and left me no choice.”

He laid me in the middle of the lounge where I had once set up a romantic night for us. One I regret. One he didn't deserve. His canniness grew and my eyes widened as I realized what he meant. I started to fight back trying to stop him, but he gripped my hair and knocked my head against the floor, making me dizzy from scratch. “I'll make you mine”, he said in a demonic tone, evident that he had lost his mind. Blood dripped down my forehead and the dizziness started shifting into darkness. I could feel his canines penetrate the top layer of my skin. The sound of broken glass filled my ears before the darkness swallowed me whole.

Lucian:

I sprinted through the woods and ran into the busy streets of LA. I spotted a building and knew she had to be in the penthouse. I started climbing up the brick wall and broke through the window. I smelled her scent strongly and saw the bed with cuffs at either point of the bed. I could smell the wolf bane that laced them as the smell burned my nostrils. I ran through the room and entered the open-planned kitchen and lounge. I saw Asher lying on top of her in the middle of the lounge with blood dripping from my mate's neck. His teeth were slightly sunken into her neck. He was fully naked with my mate having only her bra on.

Without hesitation, I ripped him off her and threw him across the room. HE shifted and showcased his big black wolf that was still smaller than mine. We stood facing each other ready to fight. He lunged at me and I dogged him. I used his momentum against him and he rolled across the room, destroying anything that was in his way. I pinned him to the floor and started slashing my claws on his chest until he passed out. I looked over to my mate, who laid on the floor unconscious. Anger swallowed my whole existence and I ripped his canines from his mouth. The blood splattered on my face. In some way, it felt refreshing and reassuring. I walked over to my mate and picked her up. Her whole body was limp and my heart broke at the sight of her.

Scarlet:

I was battling to open my eyes. “beep…beep…beep” filled my ears. I opened my eyes, which were fighting to stay closed. I saw Lucian sleeping soundly in the chair next to my bed. A smile crept onto my face. I tried to rub my eyes to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. But when I saw the drip that was inserted into my hand, everything rushed back to me. I sat up in the hospital bed and grabbed at my neck. A bandage was stuck to it and I ripped it off. I started scratching at my skin, trying to scratch the mark away that Asher had left . A hand gripped my hand softly. I looked up and saw Lucian's hazel eyes staring at me.

Anger was evident in his eyes but there was also care and worry that filled the space right next to it. "Scarlet, what are you doing?" He asked me and I wondered if it was as clear as daylight. Could he not smell it? Could he not see it? Could he not feel it? "Asher marked me Lucian" tears fell down my cheeks. He pulled me into a tight hug. "Dont worry". He whispered into my ear “Doc said it's OK. He didn’t go deep enough to mark you. I was just in time” he said through gritted teeth. I knew part of him blamed me. I did too. I was stupid and careless. I don’t know why I thought it would be a good idea to go back. “Im sorry”