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Chapter 22

-Alisha, Alisha, wake up, we’re here,” Cristián parked the car in front of the mansion and got out without looking at her, taking the suitcases and walking towards the entrance with a strong step. The trip had not lessened his discomfort. Not even the sight of his partner’s sleeping frown didn’t help him, it made his wolf more upset. He pushed through the door, almost knocking Steicer over on the way.

-Hey brother, you don’t live alone,” The beta barely flinched at his words, “What’s gotten into him?

Steicer turned to continue on his way when he saw the red-haired woman get out of the car and lose her balance.

He ran as fast as he could, cursing to hold her in his arms.

-Hey Alisha, you’re okay, don’t play games, it’s no fun.

-I’m…I’m fine,” she said in a mushy voice, her body feeling heavy and her head spinning in every possible direction.

Using his arms, not as thick as Cristián’s, as support, he tried to stand up but it was useless. His legs gave way under his weight.

-What the hell does my beta think he’s doing leaving you alone, as you are,” the wolf frowned at the mark on his neck, not as ugly as the first one he’d made but deep. He brushed it with his fingertips and the girl let out a m**n of pain.

When Cristian had touched his own mark her body had responded pleasantly, but now it was different, she rejected the touch of another person altogether. Now he understood why he left the wounds so visible. Total domination of her.

-It’s not her fault, I brought this on myself,” she didn’t want to talk about what had happened.

Her head fell on the wolf’s chest as she couldn’t keep it upright.

Steicer clenched his fists, them without a mate and the idiot leaving his own alone and sick. That wouldn’t stand, he would tell her a few truths. But his words went to hell when he heard a loud growl behind him.

Steicer removed his hands from Alisha’s shoulders and stepped away so that his beta could walk past him and carry her in his arms, taking her with him.

-You should appreciate your mate more,” he blurted out in annoyance without thinking about his words.

-I do, even if the feeling isn’t reciprocated.

Cristián walked up the stairs to his room with the woman in his arms. She barely moved and only touched her head, moaning under her breath. He was upset but he couldn’t help but worry about her, he thought he would kill Steicer when he saw her in his arms even if it had been to help her. He hadn’t wanted to leave her alone in the car when they arrived, it hadn’t escaped his notice that her scent was getting heavier along the way denoting something wasn’t right, but he needed a few seconds away from her. His wolf was very restless and was almost eating him up inside, demanding that he not do what his wild instinct dictated.

He opened the door with his foot and laid her down on her bed.

Alisha barely opened her eyes and stirred uncomfortably. He ran his hand over her forehead, which was damp with sweat, and noticed that her temperature was rising rapidly. He cursed. Whatever he had dreamed had not done him any good.

He pulled off her damp clothes, receiving a shake from her and her accusing yet weak gaze.

-What are you doing?” she tried to sit up but it was no use, her limbs were unresponsive. She was stark naked before him, her cheeks red from the temperature rise and she was beginning to shiver with cold.

-Taking care of you is part of my responsibility,” he replied with harsh words, but deep down he had swallowed hard, restraining himself from taking her right there.

He avoided staring at her breasts and the curve of her h**s as he had done the first time he had slept with her. Though that cost him an argument with his inner wolf more violent than he could have imagined.

He fetched a towel from the bathroom and wiped his fur. Alisha closed her eyes and swallowed her shame as she almost slipped into unconsciousness, but she couldn’t hide the fact that she shuddered as she ran her fingers over the most sensitive areas.

He ran the cloth over her neck, over the wound, and she m****d after a small gasp. The skin was always very sensitive after it was broken. Her eyes turned golden with the wolf losing his mind and Cristián breathing hard. Having his mate naked, helpless for him was more than he could ask for. Only saving her was the fact that she was suddenly ill.

Tossing the towel aside he took off his clothes as well. He lay down and pulled her into his body sideways as their legs intertwined at the thighs.

-Christian,” she exclaimed, barely audible as she felt the evidence of his aching e******n against her abdomen.

-Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you.

He stroked the back of her neck as she closed her eyes again and licked over the wound to help it heal faster. Alisha m****d again and Cristian had to restrain himself from having an o****m right there. Her being sick was really bad but it had some advantages, the girl was barely shying away from physical contact with him, and boy did she need it.

Her partner’s body had been put under a lot of pressure. Maybe it was time to stop pushing her. Even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness.