23. Zara

23

ZARA

T he warm water cascades over me as I stand numbly in the shower, trying to process everything that has happened. I can still feel Aksel's possessive grip on my body, his passionate kisses trailing fire across my skin. My fingers caress the tender spots where his mouth and teeth marked me as his earlier. But my mind keeps flashing back to the bloody violence I witnessed between him and Tor.

I scrub at my arms, desperate to remove the blood he got on me while we fucked. The memory of Tor's dead body haunts me, even though Aksel swore he only killed his brother to protect us. My stomach churns as I recall the sickening thud of flesh striking flesh, the feral rage in his eyes.

The steaming water turns my skin pink, but the thoughts swirling through my mind won't disappear.

Why did Tor call me "little bird" when he burst into the room? How long was he lurking outside, observing us to hear Aksel call me that? A chill runs through me despite the heat of the shower.

Right now, Aksel is digging a hole to bury his brother. It's hard to believe how fucked up his family was. I recall how gentle Aksel was after their brawl, patiently explaining his tortured past.

He claims he has left that toxicity behind, but it's clear it's not entirely true. He invited me here so he could "hunt" me to the death. When he fought with Tor, I saw his love for the fight and the inner demons raging within.

My heart aches, wanting to believe Aksel can conquer that darkness with me by his side. But Tor's attack shattered the illusion of safety in this cabin. I don't know who to trust anymore in this foreign wilderness.

Shutting off the water, I step out and dry myself. Wiping the fog from the glass, I steel myself and assess the constellations of purple and red adorning my neck. Revulsion and arousal war within me, this visible proof of Aksel's claim on me confusing.

Dragging on layers of clothing like armor against my host's magnetic pull, I need space to think. Could I give up everything and continue down this path with him? My research was supposed to be the purpose of this trip.

The sudden ring of my phone makes me jump, my heart racing as I see David's name flash across the screen. Shit. I knew this call was coming, but I'm not prepared to face his wrath after everything that's transpired.

Steadying my trembling fingers, I accept the call. "H-hello?"

"Zara? What the hell is going on?" David's voice booms through the speaker, dripping with impatience. "I expected your first report days ago. This is completely unacceptable!"

My chest tightens as his accusations pierce me. He can't understand the horror I witnessed in this twisted wilderness only a few hours ago. How can I possibly explain the tangled web of obsession and violence that's ensnared me?

"I...I know, David. There have been some complications," I stammer, my words failing me.

"Complications?" He scoffs. "That's no excuse, Zara. This research is crucial, and you're jeopardizing everything with your lack of professionalism."

White-hot anger flares within me at his callous dismissal. Doesn't he understand that my life has been in danger? That I've been forced to confront the darkest depths of human depravity?

"You've got no idea what I've been through," I snap, my voice trembling with barely contained rage. "I've faced things you couldn't imagine in your worst nightmares."

There's a pause on the other end, and I can almost envision David's stunned expression. But at this moment, I don't care about decorum or propriety. I'm done being the meek, obedient scientist.

"Listen here, you arrogant prick," I seethe, the words tumbling from my lips. "I've been through hell, and you berate me like some incompetent child? Fuck you, David. Fuck this research, and fuck everything else."

His sputtering protests sound on the other end, but I've reached my limit. I end the call with a vicious tap, enjoying the satisfying silence that follows. My hands are shaking, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I struggle to catch my breath.

Free, that's how I feel. Unshackled from the constraints of my former life. Aksel has awakened something primal within me, a ferocity that refuses to be tamed or controlled. I may be his "little bird," but I'm no longer content to remain caged and docile.

I type a quick text to David.

If it wasn't obvious. I quit.

And then send it to him, my heart hammering at a thousand miles an hour. A newfound freedom washes over me as I gaze out the window at the vast, untamed wilderness surrounding the cabin. This rugged world is my domain now, a place where I can spread my wings and soar without the suffocating expectations of society holding me down.

A slow, satisfied smile tugs at my lips as I toss my phone aside. Whatever challenges lie ahead, I know I'll face them with the same untamed spirit that courses through my veins.

I watch Aksel through the cabin window, his powerful muscles rippling with each thrust of the shovel as he fills the grave. A chill should run down my spine at the sight, but an unexpected sense of pride swells within me.

Tor's lifeless body lies buried beneath that freshly turned earth, a casualty in Aksel's battle to protect what's his. To protect me.

The memory of Tor bursting into the hunting room, his eyes wild with obsession as he declared his intent to claim me, still sends shudders through my body. But Aksel didn't hesitate. He fought with a primal ferocity to defend his territory, his mate.

I was his prize, the object of their brutal conflict. Even as I witnessed the savagery of their clash, I felt no fear of Aksel. His violence wasn't directed at me but was a means to eliminate the threat Tor posed. Aksel's nature was laid bare before me. He is the alpha, the apex predator who'll stop at nothing to safeguard what belongs to him.

And I belong to him, wholly and completely.

The nausea I felt at the sight of Tor's broken body has dissipated, replaced by an overwhelming sense of belonging—of being chosen. Aksel could have let Tor take me and surrendered his claim to avoid bloodshed. But he didn't. He fought for me, risking his life in the process, all to keep me by his side.

As Aksel finishes filling the grave, his gaze lifts, meeting mine through the glass. His eyes lock onto me, blazing with that untamed intensity.

This man, this powerful, dangerous hunter, has claimed me as his mate.

He's my protector, my lover, my everything. And I'm his, forever marked by his passion, strength, and unwavering determination to possess me.

A slow smile curves my lips as I watch him approach the cabin. I may have been the unwitting prey when I first arrived in this wilderness, but now, I embrace my role as Aksel's mate with open arms.

His gaze burns into me as he enters, igniting a fire deep within my core. I move toward him, drawn like a moth to his flame, and without a word, I wrap my arms around his sweat-slicked body, reveling in the scent of earth and musk that clings to his skin.

There is no guilt, no fear, no hesitation. Only the certainty that I am where I belong.