“You suffered just as much as them, didn’t you?” He asked softly.
Scarlett looked at him, her eyes stinging. How could she tell him she suffered a lot more? Where her mother would end up bedridden for days after a brutal beating, Scarlett was often subjected to weeks of punishment, remembering how she would lose consciousness, but then be forced awake and tortured again.
She pushed the thought away. She had blocked it out, most of it lay locked up at the back of her mind only to return to haunt her at night. Her mother would think she had gone to some training camp and Scarlett would never deny it, sticking to what Zidane threatened her to say. She knew he would hurt Indigo if she told her mother. Jessica would always check her for bruises, but she would be perfectly blemish-free and it eased Jessica’s mind. Over time, she began believing that Zidane did not hate Scarlett as much as he did her and Indigo. It was often the reason her mother would shout at her, thinking Indigo had gone through a lot more, but Scarlett didn’t mind. She would never say it to Indigo, but she would protect her little brat of a sister no matter what. She looked away from his cerulean blue eyes.
“I was stronger…” she whispered, not daring to tell him the truth. Elijah frowned. He had heard the change in her heartbeat, She was keeping something from him.
“When you were 13… remember when you fell from that tree and hurt your arm… you were in a cast for two weeks.” He asked, “Your mother doesn't know about your quick healing, does she?”
“I kept it a secret… I didn’t want it to be used against me, so I never said I was healed. When I was little and used to fall, she’d say I have a guardian angel because I never had much of a bruise and I never told her it hurt much. But the Alpha…” she trailed off. Elijah’s stomach twisted. He had gotten his answer. Zidane had known about her ability and he had used it against her. Elijah still wanted to hear it from her, hoping that somehow he was wrong.
“He knew about your healing?” He asked quietly, taking hold of her chin in his rough fingers. His hold was kept gentle, yet firm, as he tilted her head up and forced her to meet his eyes. Her chest rose and fell erratically, she knew he knew already. So, she simply nodded. Elijah let go of her as if she had burned his skin.
Rage blazed within him like molten lava. His Alpha aura rolled off him in waves. His eyes darkened, his wolf was screaming for him to go back to the Desert Storm Pack and shred the fucking bastard to pieces. He didn’t fucking care what happened to him in the process as long as the fucking monster was sent to the burning pits of hell where he belonged. He walked to the door, about to pull it open when Scarlett stumbled from the bed and ran over to him, grabbing his arm.
“Elijah, no!” She yelled, pulling him to face her. She was strong, her own aura rising. She stared into his eyes, her own a steely silver. “Please… don’t go… I need you.” Her words ended in a whisper. He looked into her eyes, his anger lessening slightly. The feel of her soft hands on his arm calmed him. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, before he pulled her flush against him, one hand on her slender waist, the other cupping the back of her head as he pressed her five-foot-two-inch frame completely into him. She was so small… How could her father have treated her like that?
“I’m never fucking leaving you, I promise, sweetheart. No matter what, I’m always going to have your back, I promise,” he murmured. Until the day I die… He added in his head. Scarlett slowly wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him tight and inhaling his intoxicating scent. Would he really be there for her? She tightened her arms, a stray tear slipping out of her eyes. If he was so worked up over a few small scratches, how would he even cope with knowing what she had been through? Because of that, she knew she could never tell him the true extent of her father’s abuse. He kissed the top of her head. “Come on, you should still rest,” he said, not wanting to let go of her. She nodded, rubbing her neck and wondering why it hadn't healed. The entire area throbbed and felt like it was burning. It was then she froze, He had bitten her. She pulled away from Elijah, her eyes scanning the room until she saw the small mirror on top of the washbasin. She rushed over to it.
“Scarlett, listen to me -”
“Fuck…” she swore, her face paling. She felt sick to her stomach. Her own father had marked her. A mark was something sacred, that was meant to completely tie together two mates, and here he had gone against the very law of the Goddess and marked his own daughter. She felt numbness wash over her. Once again he had her trapped. She could no longer hear Elijah. She did not feel anything when his arms locked around her, whispering comforting words in her ear. Only the disgusting mark on her neck filled her mind. Zidane’s malicious look of victory… She had been wrong… No matter how hard she tried, no matter how old she got or how far away she went, he would always win.
Her legs gave way but she did not even realise Elijah had caught her, lifting her bridal style and carrying her to the bed. His heart was racing, he felt useless, why couldn't he do anything for her?
“Scarlett, listen to me, baby girl. It’s going to be okay.” He cupped her face once he had her in his lap on the bed, but she did not respond. Her eyes looked glassy and she was simply staring ahead in shock. “Scarlett! Fuck look at me please!” He closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around her. Why was he so fucking useless? He placed soft kisses on her face, her shoulder, on her neck. It was only when his lips met her burning mark that she jerked, trying to jump away from him, but he held her tightly.
“What are you doing?” She asked coldly.
“I was worried, Red,” he said. He could see the signs, she was trying to shut him out, to push him away. “I can see it, but it changes nothing. We will remove that mark from your neck, I promise you. Just don’t think you’re in this alone.” His arms wrapped around her waist, her breasts rested on his arm as he held her firmly. She struggled but he was stronger.
“Why? You got what you wanted, didn’t you? I gave you my all! So just… just leave me alone, I don’t need anyone!” She yelled in frustration. Her words cut him, but he did not show it. He knew she was trying to get a reaction from him and he was not going to give her what she wanted.
“But I need you. Call me fucking selfish but when I want something, I'm not giving it up,” he said huskily, she tensed in his arms. His words threw her off, her eyes stung with treacherous tears.
“Until your mate comes along and then those emotions will be gone,” she whispered.
“I will reject her for you. If you want me even if it's half of how much I want you, I’m yours. Just give me the word, Red,” he whispered, placing soft kisses along her neck. Her eyes stung with tears. She was scared, she hated the feeling of being vulnerable. If she gave in to him, she would be lowering all her walls, walls she had taken years to build from the very first time her father had laid his hands on her. There was so much more to it, their parents were married…
She did not know what to do or say. Defeated, she slumped against his chest, letting him bury his nose in her neck and inhaling her scent. It angered him that he could smell a slightly different scent merging with hers. It was subtle as the bond was not complete, and he would never allow it to be. Once again, she didn’t really say how she was feeling... apart from her whispered confession when they had made love. That was ok, when she was ready, he would be waiting. His kisses felt cool against the burning skin, but then she remembered how disgusting it looks. She shrugged him away.
“Don’t… that place is tainted.” She felt her lips quiver but clenched her jaw not wanting to let it show.
“You’re not tainted, sweetheart. That fucker can try but he won’t get any further than that. We’re going to fucking destroy him,” he assured her, but, sensing her discomfort, he moved his lips to the other side of her neck. He gently rocked her side to side, his hard chest against her back, his arms tight around her. She felt so protected in those arms she wished she would never have to move.
“Yeah… it’s the only way,” she said. She was not sure how to do it or how the mark would affect her, but she was going to kill him.
“So, what do you wanna do now? Are you hungry? Thirsty? Tired?” He asked, placing a hand on her stomach, making her heart skip a beat. She bit her lip looking up at him.
“I want…” she started, teasingly placing her hand on his thigh as she turned to look into his eyes, not missing how they darkened. She tilted her head up, her gaze falling to his lips.
“Yeah?” He asked leaning closer, their lips centimetres apart. Her hot breath fanned his face, her sweet fresh scent making him close the gap. His lips met hers and she kissed him back, smiling against his mouth.
“I didn’t finish,” she murmured. Elijah smirked.
I don’t really care… He said through the mind link, only for him to feel no connection. He tensed; he could tell from her amusement that she did not hear him. Scarlett, can you hear me? She did not reply. Moving back, her green eyes held their familiar spark that he loved. He was glad she did not realise the change in his already racing heart.
“So, what do you want?” He asked out loud caressing her face.
“A shower, I feel dirty,” she said, wrinkling her nose. He smirked, an image of her with her legs spread came to mind.
“I like you getting down and dirty,” He teased, kissing her neck. She rolled her eyes.
“Well, right now, I want a shower.” She nudged him. As much as she wanted to fuck him, she wanted to wash all traces of Zidane off her.
“Sounds good…” He glanced towards the door that led off to the bathroom. He looked back at her, his smirk gone, his now intense eyes staring into hers.
“Want to join?” She asked softly, her heart thudding.
“I thought you’d never ask,” he said, tugging her close by the back of her neck and kissing her hard.