Betrothed To An Alpha? I Don't Think So!
Chapter 21: Don’t Go

Chapter 21: Don’t Go

Zayne’s heart pounded in his chest like he could taste her pain, her fright on his tongue.

There was nothing he wanted to do at that moment more than get rid of everything causing her pain. Yes...he would kill for her without a second thought if it meant she’d have anything but tears on that face.

His hand reached out before he could think, grabbing her. He pulled her into his frame, hugging her.

Her arms came around him, face buried in his solid chest, her crying growing louder.

The man weaved his fingers through the dark of her hair, combing through...soothing her.

"S-should I just give the company away? Maybe this isn’t for me after all..." she mumbled, sniffling.

Zayne cupped her cheek and pulled her head back to make her look into his eyes. "And is that what you want to do?"

She shook his head.

"Your father chose you, Evelyn, over his sons who everyone assumes are better than you. Do you want to let him win? To take it from you?"

"But what would be the point if I lose my life?"

"I promise you, that will not happen. And you know why?" He lowered himself, resting his jaw against her shoulder. "I’d let myself die first before you lose your life. What does that mean? I’d keep my promise, even at my last breath, baby girl. So trust me. When you’re scared, I’ll be here, always. After all, you’re never going to get away from me. I told you."

Evelyn blew her eyes wide, completely frozen and staring into nothing. He’d go that...far?

"Hey, that tickles." She laughed suddenly, feeling the brush of his nose against the curve between her shoulder and neck.

"Relax," he said. "I want to do something for you."

She blinked incredulously. "S-something for me." What could he even—

One of his hands glided down to grab at the small of her waist, while the other curled into the back of her hair.

"Zayne, w-what are you doing?" She was falling deeper into confusion, eyes dropping close.

His touch. Why did it feel so soft, so gentle, and almost soothing? It felt so nice, she rather gripped onto his shirt, unable to bring herself to push him away. She felt like she had no will whenever it came to him.

And it’d been this way since the very first day she met him. Maybe it’d been the other reason why she’d proposed the deal. To prove to herself that she was in control and that she felt no attraction towards him. That, whatever was those sparks she felt whenever she touched him meant nothing.

Her heart was racing. Pummeling.

Was there something about him that—

A gasp tore out of her mouth, and she gripped tighter at the abrupt tingling feeling she felt at her neck. It was sizzling, burning slightly.

She could vividly feel him nuzzling her neck, something sharp grazing against her skin, but not digging in. Teeth? Was he trying to bite her?

"Zayne—ugh."

She threw her head back, breathing rapidly. Her eyes felt heavy, her mind growing hazy as if she were being lulled to sleep.

"Z-zayne..."

Her body felt weak, anyone could almost think she was drunk on fine wine.

What was he doing to her?

What is happening to me?

Zayne breathed against her neck, the blue of his eyes having switched to a burning pitch black.

He wasn’t hurting her and nothing was going wrong with her. All he was doing was merely scent-marking her. Alphas of course used the action to get rid of others’ scent on their mates. He, however, was not just doing that, but he was also trying to soothe her—her panic and possibly put her to sleep for a while.

If her panic went on any longer than it already has, she might just collapse.

He felt her fingers dug into his shoulders. The thing though was, that she wasn’t pushing him away. If anything, she seemed to be pulling him closer. She was human, and he’d expected the mate bond wouldn’t be as strong with her as it would be with an omega.

But that wasn’t the case with Evelyn. She felt the matebond just as thick as he felt it, enough that even the sparks were as clear as day to her.

Holding her much closer, he leaned into her scent. It drew him in like some drunkard. Although, he’d never admit it, not even omega’s scent smelt as good as hers did, he could almost taste it on his tongue.

Was she really human? She had to be. Evelyn smelt everything human, and any other scent on her was nothing but the one that messed with his head.

His canines slowly, but surely sank into the flesh of her shoulder, earning a low hiss from Evelyn. Her mating gland was right in front of him, on the spot close to her earlobe, but he wouldn’t bite there.

He craved to, but he wouldn’t mark her, not without her consent. And that meant, she’d have to know what he truly was first.

Mate-marking was deeply intimate for his kind. She didn’t know the real him and marking her regardless would be akin to taking advantage of her. That, he could never do.

How would she react if she ever knew what he was? Would she think he was a monster? Would she run from him?

The black of his eyes grew darker and he subconsciously gripped her closer, almost merging himself with her.

His mood had grown worse than it’d been earlier.

"Zayne... I feel...uh weak...sleepy, please don’t let go," Evelyn slurred, voice almost fading. "Smells so...nice."

Maybe it was all in her head, but there’s been this scent filling the room. And it was addicting, comforting, sweet even.

"Zayne..."

Her eyes fell shut, head falling backward.

Zayne paused. He raised and glanced at her face, peaceful and devoid of the panic she’d been drowning in before.

"Sleep well, Evelyn."

He lifted her limp body into his arms and turned, walking off to the guest room.

As stubborn as she may be about having the guest room, she would use it whether she wanted it or not. The girl was persistent, knew how to cut his sleep short, and as he told her, he didn’t joke about his sleep.

Putting her to bed, Zayne pulled the cover over her. He turned on his heel to leave, Evelyn’s hand however shot out, grabbing his wrist.

He whipped his head around. But she was still asleep.

"Please...don’t go," she muttered. "Valerio...please."