CHAPTER 102: CHAPTER 102: CONFUSING CONNECTION

I stared at the mate mark on Leo’s neck, my mind spinning with confusion. The mark was unlike any other mate mark I had ever seen. It was red and raw, and some portions of the flesh didn’t look like it had healed properly but instead scarred over.

However, weird-looking or not, the meaning was the same. Leo already had a mate.

“You have a mate,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Leo’s hand flew to his neck, covering the mark as his eyes darkened with fury. “Don’t touch me again.”

“If you have a mate, why am I here?” I demanded, stepping back. “Why did you say I belong to you when someone else already does?”

While there were exceptions, most werewolves only had one mate. I certainly didn’t feel the same bond with Leo that I did with Lucas, Liam, and Levi.

Leo’s jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle twitching. “It’s complicated.”

“Complicated?” I laughed without humor. “You kidnapped me, drugged me, and said all those funny things about how I ‘belonged’ to you. Now I find out you already have a mate? What kind of sick game are you playing? You have no respect at all for your fated mate!”

He turned away, his shoulders tense. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Then make me understand!” I shouted, my patience snapping. “Where is she? Your mate?”

Leo whirled around, his eyes flashing with something raw and painful. “She’s gone.”

The words hung heavy in the air between us. The grief in his voice was unmistakable, but it didn’t excuse anything he’d done.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” I said, softening my tone slightly. “But that doesn’t explain why you want me.”

Leo’s gaze pinned me in place. “Doesn’t it?”

A chill ran down my spine as the pieces started clicking together. The photograph that looked like me but wasn’t quite me. His obsession. The strange familiarity I felt toward him despite never having met him before.

“Did I... did I look like her?” My voice trembled.

“You don’t just look like her,” Leo said, his voice tight with emotion. “You’re identical to her.”

My heart pounded against my ribcage. “That’s impossible.”

“Is it?” Leo stepped closer, his eyes tracing my features. “Hazel, don’t you ever wonder why you feel like a piece of you is missing? Why you’ve always felt incomplete?”

I backed away until I hit the wall. “Stop it.”

“You had a twin sister,” he continued, ignoring my plea. “Helena.”

“No,” I shook my head violently. “I don’t have a sister. I would know if I had a twin.”

“Would you? When everyone has been lying to you your entire life?” Leo’s voice turned bitter. “Your precious triplets. Their parents. They had been lying to you your entire life about your parents. What makes you think this would be an exception?”

Anger flared inside me. “Don’t bring them into this. Lucas, Liam, and Levi have nothing to do with your delusions. They couldn’t have known.”

Leo’s face darkened. “Those three are just as corrupt as their parents. You think they care about you? They’re using you, just like they use everyone.”

“You don’t know them,” I snapped, defensive heat rushing through me. “They’ve changed. They care about me.”

“Care about you?” Leo scoffed. “Is that why they let you walk straight into danger? Why they couldn’t protect you from being kidnapped? Some mates they are.”

“At least they’re not planning to replace me with my own sister!” I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth.

Leo’s face transformed into something dangerous. He strode forward, closing the gap between us quickly. I moved back instinctively to avoid him.

However, before he could reach me, a sudden, searing pain cut through my neck, right where the triplets’ mark was. I gasped, my hand flying to the spot where Leo had applied the cream. It felt like someone had pressed a hot iron against my skin.

“What’s happening?” I choked out, legs trembling as the pain intensified.

Leo’s anger melted into surprise. His eyebrows shot up. “The cream... it shouldn’t be reacting like this.”

Another wave of agony crashed through me, stronger than before. My knees buckled, and I would have collapsed if Leo hadn’t caught me.

Instantly, I was engulfed in his warmth and a wave of sandalwood. The smell instantly brought tears to my eyes. It was oddly soothing. All my instincts screamed at me to curl further into the comfort. It took all my remaining strength to hold back.

“It burns,” I whimpered, clawing at my neck. “What did you put on me?”

Leo’s arms tightened around me. “Something to weaken your bond with them. It wasn’t supposed to hurt you.”

The pain sharpened, and I couldn’t hold back anymore. A howl of agony tore from my throat, my wolf responding to the attack on our bond mark. My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes.

“Make it stop,” I begged, pride forgotten in the face of overwhelming pain.

Worry flickered across Leo’s face. “I didn’t think it would be this bad. The connection must be stronger than I realized.”

I struggled to stand upright as another wave of pain radiated through me. Tears began to stream down my face uncontrollably as I cried out. I couldn’t even hold myself upright; if it weren’t for Leo holding me still, I would’ve been curled on the floor.

“Hold still,” he suddenly said.

Before I could protest, he tilted my head to expose my neck. His lips hovered over the burning mark, his breath cool against my inflamed skin.

My lips trembled as I tried to push him away, but I was too weak to do so. “What are you—”

Then his teeth sank into my neck, right over the triplets’ mark.

I expected more pain, but instead, relief washed through me like a tidal wave. The burning sensation vanished instantly, replaced by something else entirely—pleasure.

Pure, undiluted pleasure shot through every nerve in my body. My back arched involuntarily, a moan escaping my lips before I could stop it.

Leo’s touch seemed to set fire to my skin, and I let out a shaky breath as my body trembled. Pain slowly melted into pleasure, and the relief of it all had my eyes rolling to the back of my head. Strength slowly returned to my body.

Then, my eyes snapped open.

With a gasp, I shoved Leo away, my hand flying to my neck. The mark no longer burned, but I could feel wetness there—a mixture of his saliva and my blood.

“What the hell?” I exclaimed, finally gathering the strength to shuffle away.

Leo collapsed onto the floor as well. He sat a distance away, his eyes slightly gazed as he raised his hand to his lips. His pupils were dilated, breath coming in short pants.

“Are you serious?” I asked, horrified. “Did you just... did you just try to mark me?!”