Derek’s POV
While Erika fell into a deep sleep after being marked, I lost balance and fell to bed with a frown. It hurt so much but I didn’t regret it. I was very angry at her for her betrayal. As an Alpha, I could tolerate mistakes. But I couldn’t tolerate being cheated by the woman I cherished the most. I had thought of a lot of ways to punish her after she woke up. Should I punish her with electricity and forbid her from using her gift for a long time? Or should I lock her up in prison since all she wanted to do was escape? But after I saw her cuddle up in the shabby room with her body full of injuries, I had to admit I was softened. I just hoped that she could recover as soon as possible. The sex also relieved my anger. At least I took her virginity if I couldn’t make her give up escaping. And I lost my virginity a long time ago.
I knew that getting all the injuries from her body must be very painful, but I didn’t expect the pain to be so overwhelming. All of a sudden, pains could be felt all over my body. It felt like every part of my body was aching. Before I knew it, scars and injuries were all over my body from my chest down to my leg. There were also some whipping injuries on my back. I couldn’t see them but I could feel them. Yes, I not only transferred all her injuries, but also her new scars. I had promised to protect her and I was serious.
My gaze fell on Erika’s body. She didn’t seem much difference because all her injuries were bandaged. I placed my hands on the bandage on her leg. I held my breath and began to remove the bandage. I couldn’t wait to see her body without the injuries. When she was unconscious, I would wipe her body with a towel myself every day no matter how busy I was. So I knew clearly how scary and horrible they looked. It seemed that Erika didn’t care about the scars at all, but I knew that she cared about them very much deep inside.
After all the bandages were removed, I stared at her body fixedly. As expected, the injuries all disappeared. It was the first time that I looked at her naked body carefully. I also saw her naked when she was still unconscious, but at that time, all I cared about was when she would wake up.
She lay on the bed without any clothes. She was so beautiful. I knew she didn’t think so. She didn’t pay much attention to whether she was beautiful or not, but she was beautiful with her tan skin, shapely body, and her long black hair. Training and fighting didn’t make her skin rough. Instead, her skin was tight and smooth and her muscles firm. I looked at her face and traced down the scar on her face with my finger. I wondered who did it to her as she was such a good fighter. But I could wait for her to tell me about it.
I carried her in my arms easily despite the injuries on my body and tucked her in.
The challenge between Erika and Emma would take place today.
Almost everyone knew that the challenge would be a blowout. But the result was not important, what mattered most was that Erika would debunk the rumors about her.
These days, rumors about Erika abounded. Some said that Erika was badly ill and that her days were numbered. Others even said that she was assassinated. There were still rumors that Erika was a very difficult guy as a Luna and that I was unable to get along with her. Some even said that I began to date Emma and planned to make Emma the next Luna, which made me disgusted the first time I heard about it. It was Emma who spread the rumors. There was no doubt about it. Emma was trying to make everyone believe that she was going to replace Erika as the next Luna. Her plan was to manipulate public opinion and then push me. Many pack members indeed bought the story. I didn’t do anything about it because I knew Erika would prove to them that she would be my only mate and the only Luna.
But there was one thing that I was very curious about. How was Emma going to fight with Erika since Emma wasn’t a fighter at all? She didn’t even know the slightest about fighting. After all, she was not Angel. I wondered what she was up to. But no matter what, Erika was bound to win now that all her injuries were transferred to me. She would show to the public that all the rumors about her were wrong. The pack members were growing more dissatisfied with her absence and it was also a good chance to improve public confidence.
I sat in the first row, waiting to see what would happen.
Emma had arrived here half an hour before the challenge began. Although she tried to look calm and confident, I could tell that she was very nervous. From time to time, she glanced around the training ground and waited for Erika to show up. Emma bet that Erika wouldn’t accept the challenge so that she could smear Erika. It must have shocked her greatly when she knew that Erika had accepted the challenge.
It was time and Erika hadn't shown up. Emma’s face shone seeing that Erika hadn’t shown up. She must have thought that Erika got cold feet.
Three minutes passed. Emma walked to me and said, "Alpha, Erika hasn’t come. I wonder if something happened to her." She lowered her head, trying hard to hold back her smile.
The audience also began to gossip.
I sneered and didn't say anything. I knew that Erika was simply dressing up. She told me in advance that she would be late.
After one minute, Erika indeed showed up.
I’m here. Sorry, I’m a little late. Erika mind-linked with a big smile on her face.
She was in a long white dress with her hair pulled back and braided. She pinned a tiara on her head and wore makeup. She looked as if she had come here for a pageant instead of a challenge. Applause burst out from the crowd as she walked into the training ground.