Alpha," he whispered.
I heard it in my bones.
Felt it in the bond—like something ancient and sacred echoing through my veins.
Nine stared at me like I was the center of his entire world.
And maybe I was now.
Nyx practically shrieked in my mind. HE SAID IT—HE SAID IT—OURSOURSOURS—
"Nyx," I hissed internally.
Bite him again—no, wait, let's just cuddle him forever—can we mark him twice? Can we—
"Nyx, I need to think."
She whined, reluctantly quieting, but I could feel her vibrating with joy beneath my skin. I couldn't blame her. The bond was fresh, electric—more than scent and heat. It was real. Whole. And mine.
My hand was still cradling the back of Nine's neck, my body still braced against his. The scent of the bond was everywhere—warm and sweet and impossible to ignore. I could feel it radiating off him, pulsing in the bite mark.
Which was still glowing.
Shit.
I pulled back slowly, fingers brushing across the mark. The skin there was flushed, raised ever so slightly, and tinged with faint silver light. Beautiful. Inescapable.
"Rhea?" Nine asked, soft and uncertain now. "Did I do it wrong?"
"No," I said quickly. "No, not at all."
He blinked. "Then why do you look… scared?"
Because I was.
The bond was real. Irreversible. And if anyone saw that mark, if anyone even suspected—
"They'll kill you," I whispered before I could stop myself.
Nine stiffened.
"Not because you did anything wrong," I said, grabbing his hands. "But because now… you're mine. And I'm not the person they built you for. They'll see it as theft. Treason. Rebellion."
His eyes dropped. "But I thought…"
"I wanted this," I cut in. "More than anything. But I need time. I need to find a way to protect you before anyone notices."
Nine was quiet for a long moment.
Then he touched the mark on his neck again, tracing the edges like it was a secret he didn't want to let go of.
"Should I hide it?" he asked, voice small.
I nodded. "We both have to."
"But I don't want to," he murmured. "I want everyone to know I'm yours."
The simplicity of it broke me.
I pulled him back into my arms, burying my face in his shoulder.
"I know," I whispered. "But not yet."
The mark didn't fade.
Hours later, it still pulsed with faint silver light, even after I tried to cool it with damp cloths. Even after I smeared makeup across the skin. Even after I begged whatever cruel gods ruled this world to let it dim just a little.
Nine watched me try, silent and calm, like he wasn't the one in danger.
"We could say it's a training implant," I muttered under my breath. "Or a surgical error. No, that would raise flags. It looks too deliberate."
We could kill everyone who sees it, Nyx offered cheerfully.
"Not helping," I growled.
Nine tilted his head. "It's warm. I like it."
"You liking it isn't the issue," I sighed. "I need to keep you alive."
"I'm not afraid," he said. "Not anymore."
And that terrified me most of all.
Eventually, I found a loose bandage wrap tucked in the bottom of the supply drawer. It wasn't perfect, but it would do.
"Just until the glow fades," I told him, even though we both knew it wouldn't. Not really. Not unless I was dead.
Nine didn't complain. He sat still, neck bowed, letting me wrap it like I was dressing a wound instead of hiding a promise.
When I tied it off, he smiled at me. Small. Glowing.
"You're glowing," I whispered.
He nodded. "It feels like I can finally breathe."
I kissed his forehead.
And tried not to cry.