Chapter 3 What have I done

Rebecca's POV

"Oh my God, Rebecca!" someone yelled in horror, jolting me awake instantly. I sat up in bed and looked around. My stomach dropped when I saw the crowd of people in the room. All eyes were on me. "What have you done?" The person was Diane, who stood beside a murderous-looking Leon. I swallowed. What was all the chaos about? Then I looked down, and my blood ran cold. I was undressed. The only thing that covered me was the duvet. I was stark naked as everyone watched me, their expressions betraying their shock and disgust. I heard murmurs. I heard "slut," "whore," "bitch," but my eyes did not stray from the man whose gaze bore into me the most. "Leon-" "Everybody, out, NOW!" he ordered. No one needed to be told twice. I tried to scramble for words, but Leon's voice boomed, drowning out any attempt at explanation. "How dare you?" he snarled, his fists clenched at his sides. "You betrayed me-our bond, our trust-and for what? To sleep with another man?" He advanced on me, his rage palpable, every step like thunder in my ears. "You think this changes anything? You think I won't marry you? You will be mine, Rebecca. Even if I have to drag you to that altar kicking and screaming. You'll regret this, I promise you." My breath hitched as Diane's smug voice sliced through the tension. "But Leon, look." She pointed to my neck, and my stomach twisted in horror. Leon's gaze followed her finger to the fresh mark on my skin-the unmistakable imprint of a bite that I had asked for. It was a good thing the man was gone, or else he would be dead by now. But the realization hit Leon like a slap. "Who. The. Fuck." His voice cracked with fury. "You let someone mark you?" His eyes went wild, burning with hatred. "You let someone else claim you?" Before I could respond, his fist slammed into the wall beside me, the force making the room tremble. He turned on me, his rage now turned inward, and his words dripped with venom. "You've ruined everything, Rebecca. Now, I will make you pay. I'll take everything from you-your dignity, your pride, everything. I will show you what happens when you betray me." He stepped closer, his face twisted in fury. "You will live in hell, and I will be the one to make sure you never forget it." Diane's smirk widened as she watched him unravel, but I barely registered her presence. My mind was spinning, and my heart pounded against my chest. I had no idea how this was going to end, but I knew one thing for sure-there was no turning back now. "Just let's end this," my voice trembled. "This can't go on. Not when I have another man's mark on my body." He froze before he smiled, but it was all teeth and sharp edges. "Then I will make you my whore. You will not have a life outside of me. You will exist simply to pleasure me and to bleed for me." A chill ran down my spine. It sounded worse than death. "I can't believe you would do this," Diane cried. "After everything. I expected better than this from you." This had been her plan all along, and I had foolishly fallen for it. Again. When would I learn? "I am marked by another man, Leon," I reiterated. "I don't belong to you." Leon's eyes burned with fury as he stepped closer, his voice dripping with venom. "You really think you've won, don't you? This-this pathetic mark on your neck-means nothing. The man who claimed you? A nobody. He'll never acknowledge you in public, let alone claim a witch whore like you." I clenched my fists, fighting the panic clawing at my chest. "I don't belong to you, Leon," I spat, my voice shaking but defiant. His lip curled into a wicked smile, and I knew what was coming next. His hand shot out, the slap meant to tear me apart, but just as it swung toward my face, a voice rang out from behind. "Don't touch what's mine, brother." A growl made my heart stop. My heart skipped. The figure that emerged from the bathroom was built with bronze skin that seemed to gleam. His eyes were so dark, they were onyx. My eyes widened when I recognized him. Lysander Castille. Tall, imposing, his eyes locked on Leon with a dangerous calm. His mere presence sent a ripple through the room. I had slept with him. He had marked me. Leon froze, his expression twisting in disbelief, as the weight of Lysander's words hung in the air. "You?" Leon's voice wavered, his anger turning to something darker. Lysander stepped forward, his gaze never leaving Leon. "Yes, me." "You can't be serious," Leon sneered. "You marked my wife." Lysander stepped forward, his gaze cold and unyielding. "Last I checked, she wasn't your wife. And last I checked, you had no claim on her. I do." His voice was final, slicing through the tension. Before Leon could react, Lysander moved with inhuman speed, his hand gripping Leon's arm and effortlessly throwing it away from me. "Let me make this clear," Lysander's voice was low and dangerous. "Rebecca is my mate. And I want her. I don't care what you think or what you say. She's mine now. And no one, not even you, can take her from me." The room was deathly quiet. My heart pounded in my chest, disbelief and fear twisting in my gut. My world was spinning. Lysander had marked me, but to claim me like this? To say it so publicly? The weight of his words-of his intentions-landed like a storm, and the world I knew cracked wide open. "Rebecca will never agree," Leon growled, then turned to me. "Reject him. Reject him right now." He glared at me. I looked from Leon to Lysander, and my choice was made. "I accept the mate bond."