I let out a sigh of relief when I see it does. My feet lead me straight to the toilet, where I quickly relieve myself, wincing at the pain. Once I’m done I stand to wash my hands, catching the first sight of myself when I look into the mirror.
All the memories of that night flood through me. They sent me into my heat early. They took my virginity. He marked me. I take hold of the hem of the large shirt I’m wearing and pull it over my head, seeing the bond mark for the first time.
It’s hideous. My eyes tear as I gaze at the teeth mark, murky black with veins spreading from it across my right breast. An Arcane bond. Immoral. Marking me as a living reminder of what was done to me, and making sure no one else will ever want me.
My hand moves before I even realize what I’m doing, opening the medicine cabinet, scanning the contents, looking for the one thing that can ease my pain. My heart races, hope of the relief drifting away from me when I come up empty. I turn, leaning my back against the sink as I place my hand over the mark, willing it to disappear.
But it doesn’t. It’s a living reminder. Not a day will go by that I won’t see it. My eyes drift over to the shower, the corners of my mouth turning up in a smile when I see it. There, perched on the shelf sitting right beside the bottle of body wash, is a razor. My legs move on autopilot, heading right for it. My fingers tremble as I manage to get the small blade out and hold it to my breast, pressing the blade into my skin. These aren't the same cuts I do to feel something other than the pain of dealing with normal life. No, this time I want to cut the mark from my flesh, removing the evidence of what was done to me.
I dig the blade in deeper. Cut after cut, my fingers covered in my blood.
I’m taking control.
Chapter 14
River
Ifreeze, hearing my brother’s panicked voice. My eyes drift up to the mirror, seeing the bloody mess I’ve created. My legs become weak, threatening to give out. I drop the blade to the floor, gripping the counter, my head hanging low not wanting to face my brother. The shame coursing through my veins is too great.
Heat. I should still be in it. But I’m not. My mind is clear. I don’t get a chance to ask Storm about it before he’s shouting again.
“Torin,” he screams. “Get up here now.” Storm crosses the room, cutting the distance between us as he yanks a white hand towel from the rack and presses it to my wound. Gathering me in his arms, he guides me out of the room and back to the bed. He doesn’t speak, and neither do I. What can I say?
Storm has me scoot back against the headboard as he continues to apply pressure to my wounds. I should be embarrassed, being naked in front of him, but how can I when he’s seen me in the middle of a haze, begging for my captors’ knots?
“What do you…” The man I vaguely remember rescuing me gasps when he steps inside the door, seeing the bloody towel against my chest. “What the hell happened?”
“She found a razor and was cutting at the damn bond mark.” Storm’s voice is frantic, mixed with…an emotion I can't place.
“I’ll be right back. I need to get my bag, then it’s time for you to think about what we talked about,” Torin says gruffly as he gazes at me with tender eyes. Storm nods his head, his eyes shifting to me.
“Fuck, River, I am so sorry I didn’t get there sooner. That I couldn’t stop…” His words drop and I reach out, my hand cupping the side of his face.
“There’s nothing you could’ve done. What happened to umm…them?” That is the only question I’m able to get out even though there’s a million more.
“Shhh,” he whispers. “There’s a lot we need to talk about, but Torin needs to take care of your chest.”
Torin. The omega.
“Is he your omega?” My voice is soft as my hand drops from his face.
“No,” a voice chuckles from the doorway. “Most definitely not. My alphas would murder him.”
“Oh,” I mumble, trying to cover my bare chest.
“Alright, move out the way Storm, so I can see what she’s done to herself,” Torin orders him, and I can’t help but smirk at how this omega is telling my alpha brother what to do. And then when he actually does it,I shake my head. I know he always bends over backwards for me, but I’m his sister. So who is Torin and why does he listen to him without a second thought?
“Are you sure you’re not my brother's omega?” I ask again when he sits down in the spot abandoned by my brother.
“Again, positive. Now let’s see the damage you’ve caused.” He removes the hand towel, gazing down at my bare chest, and themark. The hideous mark that you can still see pieces of through the sliced flesh. He opens his bag, reaching into it and pulling out a clean cloth and some antiseptic. I watch as he places some on it.
“Okay River, I’m not going to lie, this is going to burn like hell, but I need to clean the wounds before I can try to stitch them up.”
I nod. Biting down on the inside of my lip, holding back my scream as Torin starts to clean my wounds. Torin didn’t lie. It fucking hurts like hell. I catch Storm pacing at the end of the bed, knowing that it’s killing him to see me in pain.
“How long?” I ask.
“How long, what?” Torin questions softly.
