Chapter 12: TWELVE

J A D E

I was staring up at the ceiling, wondering what was going on with my life. How had I ended up here? From escaping the clutches of Alpha Dane and Mason into the arms of my mate.

But, why did it feel so wrong? What was going on with me? Why was my wolf silent? Why was my human side silent? Was this the effect of having a mate bond?

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" I asked, sitting up and turning my attention towards the door.

"It's me. Can I come in?" Markov's voice came from the other side of the door.

My heart skipped and before I could even respond, he already let himself in. He was putting on a white shirt while walking inside my room. He was dressed in his usual black jeans and black t-shirt.

He smiled at me and I looked away, unable to hold his gaze. "Are you alright?" He asked, coming to stand beside my bed.

"Yes, I'm fine."

"I'm glad. I wanted to apologize for the way I acted last night. It wasn't right. You didn't deserve it. And, for that, I'm sorry."

I nodded, not knowing what else to say. He looked at me with concern and then he sighed.

"Jade, I need you to know something. You can trust me. I won't hurt you. I don’t know what got over me, but seeing that man put his hands on you… my protective instincts kicked in and I couldn’t help but be angry. I know this may sound strange, but I promise you that I won't do it again."

I looked up at him, wondering if he was telling the truth. Did he mean what he said? Or was he lying? I had no idea.

But, what he said earlier, was he serious about it? Could I trust him? Could I trust him to protect me? Could I trust him not to hurt me?

I knew the answer.

Yes.

Yes, I could.

He had shown me that he was capable of caring for me. He had shown me that he was concerned about my well-being. And, he had shown me that he was willing to fight for me.

All those times when I was hurt or sick, he had been there. He had been my support. He had been the one who took care of me. He had been the one who looked after me. And, he had been the one who protected me.

"Thank you. Thank you for saving me."

He smiled and sat beside me. "It was my pleasure. I will always be here for you, Jade. Always."

He took my hand in his and gently kissed it. I stared at him, my heart beating rapidly in my chest. His touch sent shivers through my body and I felt goosebumps covering my skin.

“I’m worried about my wolf.” I said when he pulled away. I noticed how he flinched at the mention of my wolf.

His expression darkened and he looked away. "Don't worry, she is fine. She just needs some time to adjust. This is a new environment for her. She will get used to it soon."

“But, change of environment doesn’t mean she wouldn’t like you, would it? We’ve suffered long enough in the hands of Mason and his father and all we wanted was to finally meet our mate who will treat us right and love us and make us feel safe, but when we met you, something was off.”

“Your aura was different, your scent was different, and the way you talked to me and the way you looked at me, everything was different. Something doesn’t add up, Markov. I can sense it. I know it. You are hiding something from me. Tell me. What is going on? Please, I want to understand. Why does my wolf hate you so much?”

Markov didn’t reply. He just looked at me, his eyes burning with anger. "She doesn't hate me. She is confused. This place is unfamiliar for her. It's natural for her to feel uneasy. Just give her some time."

I shook my head. "No, it's not like that. It's something else. I know it. There is something else bothering her. And, it's not the fact that this place is unfamiliar for her. She- she said I didn’t know you, she said you were no good for us. What does that even mean? Do you have any idea how scared I am?”

“This is the first time that I can feel my wolf's emotions, and they are mixed and confusing. What is going on, Markov? Please, tell me the truth. Why is she saying these things? What is happening to her? And, why is she so silent now? Is it because of you? What did you do to her?"

Markov sighed. "You don't understand. It's not easy to explain. But, it will pass. Soon, everything will be fine."

"No! Stop lying to me! What is happening to her?!” I raised my voice at him for the first time ever, feeling absolutely frustrated and scared.

Markov's expression turned grim and he glared at me.

"What is happening is none of your concern. It's between me and her. And, that's final. End of discussion. She will come around like I told you, she just needs time. If you have any more questions, please keep them to yourself."

"What the hell?! This is my wolf we are talking about! Of course, I'm concerned. She is my responsibility. So, yes, it's my concern! Why can't you see that? Why can't you understand that?! And, stop talking about her like she is a damn pet!"

Markov growled and grabbed my wrist. He tightened his grip on my arm, making me cry out in pain.

"Don't. Ever. Talk. To. Me. Like. That. Again. I don't care who you are or what kind of relationship we have. I will not tolerate disrespect. If you have any more questions, keep them to yourself. This discussion is over."

He released my hand and stood up, walking towards the door.

I was shocked. My whole body was shaking. Tears rolled down my cheeks and I covered my mouth, trying not to sob.

I couldn't believe what had just happened.

He had hurt me.

He had hurt me physically.

He had hurt me emotionally.

He had hurt me mentally.

He had done what every man has done to me, he was just like them.