Chapter 154 Chapter 154

Chapter 154 Chapter 154
THE UNWANTED 

EZEKIEL’S POV

With my body still buried deep inside her, I pulled off the scarf, then leaned in to mark her, but stopped abruptly as my eyes landed on something I never expected.

There was a bite mark on Tiana's neck. A mark I knew nothing about until now. A mark that shows that she's been claimed by someone.

Shock rippled through me instantly, followed by a wave of confusion so strong it almost made me dizzy. 

My wolf went silent for a second, then growled low in my chest, a reaction that suddenly slit my heart apart.

I pulled back slightly and stared at the mark as if it might disappear if I looked hard enough.

I wasn't unhappy because one of my brothers had marked her. I wasn't unhappy because they had hidden it from me. I was unhappy because I wanted to be the first to mark her.

I had dreamed of it. And now that chance was gone.

The thought of it stung more than I wanted to admit. I had imagined this moment in my head so many times. 

I had imagined holding her close, feeling my fangs sink into her neck, and watching her surrender to the bond between us. I imagined the way my wolf would howl with satisfaction when our mark finally appeared on her skin.

But now, before I could even have that moment, I was staring at a mark that shouldn't be there at that moment.

I didn't know whether I should be angry at Ethan or Ezra. They are my brothers, and I know none of us can control the fact that Tiana is ours. 

But that doesn't stop the jealousy from clawing at my chest. I pulled out of her slowly and sat back on my heels, breathing heavily.

Then I dragged a hand over my face, trying to steady myself, but my thoughts were already spiraling in directions I didn't want to follow.

Tiana looked up at me, her cheeks still flushed from pleasure. I believed she had no idea about what I had just seen.

“What is that?” I asked, and she glanced around as if she didn’t understand the question. 

“What?”

“You’re marked.” I pointed at her neck. “Who did it? Ethan or Ezra?”

Tiana's expression changed in an instant. The soft, satisfied look vanished, replaced by pure fear. 

She started shaking profusely. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

Surprised by her reaction, I reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Are you alright, Tiana?”

Tiana didn't say a word. Instead, tears started sliding down her cheeks uncontrollably, while she wiped them off with the back of her hand.

My chest tightened at the sight of seeing her crying. I didn’t understand anything. Why was she crying? Why did she look so terrified?

“Talk to me,” I said as I cupped her face with both hands, forcing her to look straight into my eyes.

“I’m here for you, Tiana. Whatever it is, you can tell me. I promise, I won’t leave you. Just… talk to me.”

Tiana bit her lower lip and started fidgeting with her fingers. When she decided to speak, her voice came out small and broken. 

“I didn’t mean to, Zik." She began. "I… I’m really sorry.”

“Look at me.” I tilted her chin up with the tip of my finger. “Why are you sorry? What’s the problem, Tiana?”

Tiana didn't respond immediately. She hesitated for a long second before she finally decided to let out what was on her mind.

“It’s not Ethan that marked me," She said. "Not even your brother, Ezra. It is someone else.”

Everything in me stilled as soon as she finished speaking. For a second, I thought I heard her wrong.

I looked at her face, waiting for her to say something that would make this feeling in my chest disappear. But unfortunately, she didn't say a word.

“What the hell did you just say?” I blurted out in disbelief.

“I was… I was marked by someone else." Tiana repeated. "None of your brothers marked me.”

My heart twisted violently. For weeks I had believed she belonged only to us. For weeks I believed we were the only ones who had the right to claim her. 

The idea that she had been with someone else, and that another male had marked her, felt like a knife sliding between my ribs.

At that moment, I regretted being with her. I regretted trusting her. I regretted everything that happened between us.

Confusion, pain, and anger surged through me so hard that it became difficult for me to think clearly.

I stood up slowly and dusted the grass and sand off my legs.

“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” Tiana said quickly, her voice shaking. “As a matter of fact, I don’t even know how it happened.”

I turned a deaf ear to her ranting and decided to do what was on my mind.

Without a second thought, I turned away from her and started walking back toward the path that led home.

“Ezekiel!” she called after me. “Please! Wait!”

I didn’t stop;p, I couldn’t bring myself to do that, especially as the image of that mark on her neck burned in my mind. 

Behind me, I could still hear her calling my name, her voice breaking with tears. But I didn't care to look at her at all.

I clenched my fists until my claws cut into my palms as I continued to ponder it. Someone else had marked her. And I had no idea who it was.