CHAPTER SIXTEEN

LIANA’S POV

Everywhere I went, it was always the same.

“Hi. I’m here for the job. I saw the vacancy sign.”

“Oh yes, we need someone urgently. What’s your name, dear?b” /b

“Liana. Liana Rivers.”

They’d smile. Hand me a form. Sometimes evenpliment me.

Then they’d see it.

Their eyes would drop to my neck. Their faces would change.

?????????????? ???

?????{???????

“Oh… I’m so sorry. We’ve just filled the position.”

Or…

“Please, forgive me. We didn’t realize. Luna.b” /b

Or…

“We’re not worthy to hire someone like you. So sorryb, /bLuna.”

Five different ces. all the same. And each time I walked out, it was as if a part of me was being chipped away, as if the world had already decided who I wasb, /bsomething I didn’t understand.

By the time I stepped bout /bof the fifth ce, I could barely breathe. bMy /blegs were weak, and my heart was tight in just needed a job. Something. Anything. I needed a house too. Ryan and I couldn’t keep on living like this.

I headed straight to the agent’s office. The one I’d always gone to. The man who helped me get myst apartment.

He looked up and gave me a small smile. “Liana. It’s been a while. What can I do for youb?/bb” /b

i didn’t smile bback/b. “Why did you rent out my apartment to someone elseb?/bb” /b

His face dropped a little. He rubbed his neck awkwardly. “The real owner of the building asked us to.”

bMy /bbrows furrowed. “I thought YOU were the owner.”

“I only manage it. I bnever /bsaid I owned it.”

“Then I want to speak ito /ithe actual owner.”ollist. I/li/ol

He hesitated. Then sighed heavily and opened one bof /bthe drawers He handed me a bpaper /bwith the owner’s number written

clearly on it. There was no name.

I took out my phone and dialed the number. The owner picked on the first ring as if bexpecting /bmy call

“Are you done searching yet?” A very familiar voice spoke calmly through the breceiver/b.

bI /bdidn’t need anyone telling me who it bwas /b

bIt /bwas Killian!

I bdidn’t /beven respond. I ended the call immediately.

b1/3 /b

Must find me something else. Anything. I’ll take

I turned back to the agent. “bOkay/bb, /bfine. I don’t want that ce anymore.

anything.”

He looked even more ufortable. “I’m bsorry/b, Liana. Everything’s rented out already.b” /b

“That’s not possible. You always have something. Please, just check again.”

He bowed his head. actually bowed. “Forgive me, Luna.”

That word again.

Frara

I left his office angrily. I went to another agent’s office. Then another. and another. Every single one of them said the same thing. No apartment avable for rent. Some even greeted me with small bows or hushed tones, treating me like some rare

artifact.

Respect. But rejection. Politeness. But refusal.

??? b?/b???????????????????????????????

By the time I stumbled out of thest office, my eyes were burning. I was seconds away from crying. My hands were trembling.

My eyes sighted Killian’s car parked just across the street.

angrily, bI /bcrossed the road and marched straight to his car. He didn’t even look surprised. He rolled the window down slowly.

“WHAT the HELL is WRONG with bYOU/b?!b” /bbI /byelled.

(HEST HAL

He looked at me, calm as ever. “You’re just bothering yourself, Liana. Everything you need has already been given to you on a tter of goldb./b”

“What does that even meanb?!/bb” /b

b“/bbYou /bwant a house? You already have one. You want a job? It’s ready. Waiting for you. You just have to stop running.

”

“Why are byou /bdoing this to meb?!/bb” /bI screamed, as tears filled my eyes. “Why are you ruining everything?!”

He stepped out of the car and faced me. “Because I can’t bear to be away from you again.”

b“/bYou’re insane. You really areb./bb” /b

He didn’t blink. b“/bbNo /bmatter where you bgo/bb, /bbyou /bwon’t find what you’re looking for.”

“Why not?! Why the hell not?!”

He pointed at my neck.

“Because bof /bthat.”

Confused, I turned to look into his side mirrorb. /b

That’s when I bsaw /bit.

Right where he had bitten me that morning, there was something on my skin. Faint, but visible. A mark.

I leaned closerolliWolfe/li/ol

And next to it… a wolf’s head

My entire body went cold.

“What is thisb?!/bb” /bI gasped. “What did you do to me?!b” /b

“It’s a mark,” he said simply.

“bHow/b? It looks like a tattoo but I never got one. You just bit me! That’s all

you

did!”

He nodded. “Exactly.”

b“/bbNo. /bNob! /bThis… this is crazy.”

I reached up and scrubbed at it. Rubbed it until my skin turned red. Still there. I pulled out mypact mirror and wipes from my purse. Scrubbed. Still there.

“What does it mean?!b” /bbI /bdemanded.

Killian stepped closer. “It means you’re mine.”

“This can’t stay here! I’ll go to a clinic! A tattoo ce! Aser center! I’ll get it removed!”

He just shook his head.

b“/bbYou /bcan try,” he said, his voice softer now. b“/bUse soap. Wipes. Chemicals. Evenser. It won’t matter.”

“Why not?!b” /b

“Because it’s not ink. It’s not a tattoo. It’s not even just a bite. It’s a mark. Bound to your soul.”

I stared at him, heart pounding. “You’re lying.”

b“/bNo. I’m not. bYou’re /bmarked, Liana. It’s done.”

“I didn’t ask for this!”

He looked at mei, /ihis beyes /bunreadable. “It doesn’t matter.”

”

**