Chapter 16

MALORY P.O.V

When I felt his cannines grazing the base of my neck, I realized Cortez was marking me. I closed my eyes as his teeth sunk deeper. A small whimper escaped from my mouth at the pain and I was sure blood was oozing from there.

As Cortez never loosened his hold on my arm, another cry broke from my throat and this time more tears rolled down my cheeks.

Cortez slowly pulled away and then licked the area, wiping the blood with his tongue. Through cloudy eyes, I looked at him when he wiped the blood from his lips. As he loosened the hold on my hands, I realized my legs were like jelly. He completely loosened his hold and I blinked repeatedly to keep my eyes open. I was exhausted as the marking drained my energy.

Before he could step away, I held his shirt in a tight fist for support. “Malory” I heard Cortez calling me and I looked at him through hooded lashes. When he realized I was exhausted, Cortez wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me against his chest. He cupped my face with his free hand and looked at me with concern.

“I’m sorry” I said and rested my forehead against his chest. I felt Cortez carrying me in his arms and walking somewhere. He then put me inside my car and started driving. Mid-way, I fell asleep.

It was a short nap as I woke up within an hour and when I woke up, I was in our room, sprawled on the bed. I looked around the room for Mumbles and sighed when I sensed him in my room.

I gasped as I realized the events that had happened before I fell asleep. Cortez marked me. Oh My God! My mate marked me. My wolf howled in pride as I traced my fingers on the mark. It felt so soft and sensitive. A small smile curved my lips which soon wiped out as I realized how and why Cortez marked me.

He didn’t even give me a chance to explain myself, instead got all possessive and bit my neck, without my permission. That’s rude!

Scrambling of the bed, I was about to get back to my room, when the bathroom door opened and Cortez walked in, dressed only in his black shorts. Dark color flared my cheeks as I shamelessly stared at his torso. He looked extremely gorgeous. I could literally feel my wolf sticking her tongue out and ogling at him.

When I raised my lashes and met Cortez’s blue-green eyes, I gulped. He had a blank face and I couldn’t ponder what he was thinking. I then recalled his accusations and decided to clear that up with him.

“The rogue, Ruben, he-” As soon as Cortez heard Ruben’s name, he growled loudly. “I helped him that day.”

“You helped a rogue. You know I hate rogues and yet, you helped one in escaping?” he snarled.

“It was even before I met you” I protested.

“It’s against a pack rule” he stated and I frowned.

“I know” I whispered lowly. “He was hurt and to me at that moment he was a patient and I don’t discriminate between patients. All I saw, was that he was badly hurt and he needed help, which is why I helped him”

“Liar” he said and I looked at Cortez with wide eyes.

“I don’t lie. You should know that” I flung back insulted by that remark.

In a swift movement, Cortez was standing right in front of me, “You helped him escape. My pack members were chasing him. They saw you driving away.” Cortez growled through gritted teeth.

“Did you seriously expect me to hand over an injured person to a pack of hungry wolves?” I growled out and glared at Cortez. His eyes darkened and he returned the glare. “I didn’t help him escape. All I did was take him to the hospital, made sure he was fine and then I returned to my home. The doctor who treated Ruben told me that he had left the hospital early morning. That was it, nothing more”

“You are lying again” he said and I growled.

“I am not” I flung back. I was getting angry, I was telling Cortez the truth word after word and he did not believe me.

“You are. If that was it, then why the fuck was he touching you? I have made it clear since the start that you are only mine” he said walking closer to me and my wolf cherished his possessiveness.

“You are crowding me” I said when he was too close for comfort. My heart was thudding heavily in my chest and his woody scent was driving my wolf crazy. She was asking me to close the distance between us and it was distracting at this situation.

“Answer me” he said holding my arms and pressing me against his chest.

“I am not going to tell you anything” I retorted furiously. He didn’t believe me and it was waste of time trying to explain him anything.

“Don’t test my patience Malory” he said, venom dripping in his tone and deep growls erupting through his chest. It was really not a good time to throw tantrums now because Cortez was livid. I had to do as he said before he could command me.

I was ready to answer him, but before that I wanted to calm him down. Which is why; I slowly pressed my body against his bare chest, without breaking the eye contact. As I did that, Cortez loosened the hold he had on my arms and wrapped his arms around my waist. I mentally did a happy dance.

“You came there before I could even push him away. You are my mate and I respect the bond. I do not cheat” I whispered slowly. “I am not lying” I added and held his strong arms as he narrowed his eyes.

His blue-green orbs were back and I sighed mentally. Well, that was a good sign.

“I am going to kill that pup if he touches you again” Cortez snarled and lowered his head. In a quick moment, he pushed my hair away from neck and nestled his nose on the mark.

My breathing spiked and I closed my eyes as Cortez smashed his mouth on the mark. My tummy flipped and sparks exploded making every nerve cell of my body to jump in excitement. I have heard that the mark is sensitive, but this…? This was terrific.

He nipped the spot and I dug my nails on his back. His hands were on my back, pressing me against his beautifully built body. Cortez pulled away and tugged a strand of my hair behind my ears. “You are never going to meet that pup again” Cortez whispered, against my cheeks and I felt myself nodding. Why wasn’t he kissing me?

Soon, his lips smashed against mine and my wolf purred. I moaned as Cortez’s tongue invaded my mouth. Oh My God! It was hot and I was shivering with desire. I wanted more.

My whole body burned in this excitement as I leisurely trailed my fingers on his abs. It felt dreamlike with all those rainbows and butterflies. Cortez surely knew how to kiss.

There was a sound of cloth ripping and I felt my dress fall from my shoulders, to my feet. However, I didn’t mind it. Suddenly, I was pushed backwards on the bed, with Cortez hovering over me. His hands were igniting fire wherever they were touching me. My heart pounded in my ears and blood rushed on my cheeks as he kissed my shoulder blade. He then kissed my neck, my jaws and cheeks while I closed my eyes and smiled delightfully.

He placed one kiss on my temple and holding my wrist, pressed my hands on either side of my head. I looked in confusion when Cortez pulled back and scrambled off the bed.

“What are you doing?” I asked him as I saw him looking for a shirt in his closet.

“Let’s go to mom’s place for dinner” he said putting on a white shirt.

I gasped and blinked once, twice. Weren’t we just making out a few seconds ago? Yes, we were, because I am sitting in his bed with only my undergarments on. Wait a second! We were arguing before that. How did I end up in bed?

My eyes widened and mouth dropped open as I realized what had happened. “You…” I growled loudly.

“I played your own game” he said with a smirk in his face and I glared at him.

“I wasn’t playing any games with you. I just wanted you to calm down” I snapped. I can’t believe he fooled me and diverted my mind from the topic, plus compelled me to agree that I will never meet Ruben. Like a fool that I am, I fell for it, for my mate’s tricks.

Shaking my head, I wrapped the sheet around me and got up from the bed. I felt embarrassed with what had happened. “You weren’t listening to what I wanted to say about Ruben” I told Cortez as he put on his jacket.

“Enough” Cortez bellowed and I flinched. “We are not going to talk about that rogue. You are never going to meet him again. Get dressed” he stated.

“Will you even listen to what I have to say?” I asked Cortez sitting on the bed.

“No” I gasped, stunned to hear his reply. “You are gullible and people will take advantage of you but I am not going to let anyone do that to you, especially a rogue. I am going to kill him as soon as I find him but I do not want a repeat of what you did today, ever again” Cortez snarled his eyes turning darker and his hands fisted on his sides. I knew he didn’t like the way I helped Ruben by telling him to run.

“But Ruben isn’t the bad guy here, Konrad is” I protested.

“Both are” Cortez stated walking towards my room.

“No. Ruben isn’t. He himself told me he doesn’t know where Konrad is and he is going to help us find him” I said following him, to my room, and blinked in surprise when Cortez gave a humorless laugh to that. Mumbles was sprawled on the floor on his stomach. When he saw me, he stood up and walked towards me. I smiled as I saw him sniffing me.