Chapter 6
594words
The moment I stepped off, I saw him: Samuel Blackwood, standing before a pack of towering wolves.
Even from dozens of yards away, I could feel the immense power rolling off him—the undeniable aura of the Alpha King.
He had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and sharp, chiseled features. His eyes were the color of ink, so deep you could fall into them.
I suddenly remembered the rumors.
They said he was ruthless, a killer who never blinked. And that he never took a woman to his bed.
But the instant he saw me, his gaze softened.
Heat crept up my neck, a blush I couldn't explain. I took a deep breath and started walking toward him.
But then my legs gave out. I lost my balance and pitched forward.
A strong hand caught me, steadying me.
"Easy there."
A deep voice rumbled by my ear, carrying the scent of cedarwood.
Samuel’s fingers were wrapped around my arm.
The second his skin touched mine, a jolt of pure electricity shot from the point of contact, searing through my veins.
It was a feeling I couldn't describe.
Like the world had frozen, and in that single moment, only the two of us existed.
It was the mate bond. The Spark.
My eyes went wide. I stared at him, unable to believe it.
Samuel let out a soft chuckle. He slowly bent his head and pressed a gentle kiss to my fingertips.
"Welcome home, my mate."
He looked up and his smile vanished, his eyes locking on my swollen cheek.
I’d left in such a hurry I hadn’t even thought to treat the injury.
His touch was feather-light as he brushed my cheek, his eyes dark with a barely contained fury. "What happened? Who did this to you?"
I opened my mouth to say something, but my vision suddenly went black.
"Sylvia!"
When I woke up, I was lying in a soft, massive bed.
The room was huge, its decor lavish but warm.
"You're awake?"
Samuel was sitting on the edge of the bed with a first-aid kit, gently dabbing at my face with a cotton swab.
His movements were so careful, like he was handling a priceless treasure.
"Don't move," he murmured. "The doctor said you fainted from exhaustion. Aside from the bruise on your face, your left eardrum is a little damaged. You need to rest and heal."
I bit my lip, trying to hold back the pain.
But the moment the antiseptic touched the broken skin, a sharp cry escaped my lips. "Ah!"
Samuel froze, a flash of pain in his own eyes.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I'll try to be gentler."
This was nothing like the tyrant from the rumors.
"All done."
He set the first-aid kit aside but didn’t move away. He just watched me quietly.
"Your injuries," he said suddenly, his voice low. "Who caused them?"
I stiffened.
I opened my mouth, wanting to explain, but the words wouldn't come. I didn't even know where to begin.
Six years as his "intended mate"... a title I was now ashamed to even think about.
Samuel didn't push. He just waited.
After a long moment, he reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from my face.
"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it."
He leaned down, pressing his forehead against mine. His voice was a low, steady rumble.
"Whatever happened in the past, it ends today. You are under my protection now."
"No one will ever hurt you again."
