The blood-curdling scream that erupted from Erica's lips was like a knife through my heart. The pleasure we had shared just moments before was replaced by an overwhelming pain and terror. I pulled away from her instantly, watching in horror as her body thrashed on the bed, her screams tearing through the room.
"Erica!" I shouted, trying to calm her, but it was as if she were possessed. Her green eyes, once filled with love and passion, were now wide open and wild with agony.
"Help! Somebody help!" I yelled, desperate to save her from whatever torture had taken hold of her. Suddenly, Erica went quiet, her breathing shallow. She'd passed out from the pain coursing through her veins. Fear gnawed at me as I stared down at her unconscious form, the angry red mark on her neck standing out like a beacon of my mistake.
"Help!" I screamed, praying someone would hear me and come to our aid. In mere seconds, my father burst into the room, his eyes immediately finding Erica's motionless body and the damning mark on her neck.
"Goddess son," he exclaimed, his voice filled with both worry and anger. "What have you done?"
Chapter 39
Liam
"Please,Dad,dosomething!"My voice trembled as I stared in desperation at Erica's unconscious form. Her vivid green eyes were hidden behind closed eyelids, and her light red hair splayed out on the pillow beneath her. Her breaths were shallow, and I could feel the fear clawing at my insides like a wild beast.
"Leave her be, Liam," my father commanded sternly while checking her pulse. His dark eyes narrowed at me, filled with an anger I had never seen before.
"Erica... please wake up," I whispered, reaching to shake her gently. But as my hand touched her cold arm, my father smacked it away.
"Enough! You've done enough damage already!" he snapped, his voice laced with fury. I growled involuntarily, and he glared right back at me, unflinching. "If you dare challenge me now, boy, I'll put you on your ass." My chest tightened, and I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Seeing my father so angry at me was a shock, but I knew I deserved it. I swallowed hard, feeling the lump in my throat.
"What's happening to her?" I pleaded, my voice cracking.
"Damn it, Liam!" my father exploded. "Why would you try to mark her knowing about the curse? Are you that stupid?" Tears stung my eyes, and I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the panic welling up within me.
"I thought... maybe it wasn't true or I could trick it. She was going to leave me, Dad. I couldn't let her go." His glare bore into me, and I felt the weight of my mistakes crushing me.
"Well done, son. Instead of letting her go, you might have killed her." The words hit me like a physical blow, and I couldn't contain the sob that escaped my lips. My heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces, and I struggled to keep myself from falling apart completely. I had never imagined that my love for Erica would lead me down such a destructive path.
"Please, Dad," I whispered, "save her."
The pack doctor burst into the room, his face a mask of professional concern. I barely registered his presence before growling at him, my instincts demanding that I protect Erica at all costs. He hesitated, seemingly unsure of how to handle the situation.
"Get out!" my father roared, casting a furious look in my direction. "You've done enough damage already."
"Let me help her," I practically begged, unable to take my eyes off Erica's pale, still form.
"Out, now!" he repeated, his voice filled with authority and anger. With one last fearful glance at Erica, I reluctantly obeyed and left them alone. The living room felt like a safe haven as I entered and found my mother and Damon waiting for me. I sank onto the sofa, my body trembling with shock and guilt. Had I really just killed my mate? Damon sat down beside me, his expression a mixture of concern and disbelief.
"What the hell happened, Liam?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I panicked," I admitted, my voice choking with emotion. "Erica was going to leave me." My mother's eyes widened in horror, and Damon's jaw clenched as they both stared at me, clearly taken aback by this revelation. Gathering what little composure I had left, I explained our discovery that the only way for Erica to shift was to complete the bond.
"Erica decided that I would need to complete the bond with another woman," I continued, my voice shaking with the weight of my emotions. "She thought it was the only way to break the curse and save the pack."
"Damn it, Liam!" Damon cursed, running his fingers through his hair. "What were you thinking? Why would you do this?"
"Because I'm a fool, that's why!" I snapped, my anger flaring up. "I let fear and desperation cloud my judgement, and now Erica might be paying the price for it." My mother placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, but I could see the worry etched on her face. "We'll figure this out, Liam," she reassured me. "But you need to keep a level head. Losing control isn't going to help Erica or anyone else."
"Your mum's right," Damon chimed in. I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat as I fought back tears. I knew they were right, but the weight of my actions felt like a stone around my neck, dragging me down into an abyss of guilt and fear.
My heart pounded in my chest as I anxiously awaited any news on Erica's condition. The silence in the living room hung heavy, suffocating me with each passing second. When my father and the doctor finally entered the room, their grim expressions made my stomach churn.
"Tell me what's going on," I demanded, fear gripping my every word. "How is she?"
"Erica is stable for now," the doctor said, his voice subdued. "She's fighting an infection, but she's strong. It'll take some time before she wakes up."
"An infection?" My brows furrowed in confusion. "What caused it?"
