Chapter 23: Needs answers (Sabine's POV)

Pain pulsed through my body as I tried to sit up, every movement sending a reminder of the chaos that had unfolded. Owen stood a few feet away, his arms crossed, concern etched into his face. His presence was a constant weight in the room, grounding but suffocating at the same time. I swallowed hard, forcing the words out despite the lump in my throat.

"Where's Cole?" I asked, my voice trembling but resolute.

Owen hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. His gaze flicked to the door as if weighing whether to answer me or not.

"Sabine, you need to rest," he said cautiously, taking a step closer.

Rest. That word again, like it could magically solve everything. But rest wasn't going to answer the questions burning in my mind. It wouldn't fix the fact that my life had been turned upside down without my consent.

"I don't need rest," I snapped, forcing my legs over the side of the bed. The sharp pain in my side made me wince, but I pushed through it. "I need answers."

Owen reached out as if to steady me, but I glared at him, daring him to try and stop me.

"I need Cole," I repeated, my tone firmer now.

He let out a resigned sigh and stepped back, his shoulders stiff with tension. Without a word, he opened the door, and a moment later, Cole entered the room.

The air shifted the second he walked in. Cole's presence was magnetic, commanding, and infuriating all at once. His dark eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw something like regret flash across his face. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the guarded expression he always seemed to wear.

"You wanted to see me?" His voice was calm, but there was a rough edge to it, like he already knew what was coming.

I didn't waste time with pleasantries.

"What the hell is going on, Cole?" I demanded, my voice shaking with barely-contained anger. "Why did you mark me? Why did Owen? Without asking me, without explaining anything—what gives you the right?"

Owen closed the door behind Cole, staying silent as he leaned against the wall. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp, watching the exchange like a hawk.

Cole didn't answer right away. Instead, he moved closer, his hands shoved into his pockets, his gaze fixed on me.

"Sabine," he started, his tone low and careful, "I know you're upset—"

"Upset?" I cut him off, my voice rising. "You think I'm just upset? You've completely upended my life! My body feels... wrong. My blood—there's something in it. And you're standing here acting like I'm overreacting!"

He flinched at my words but didn't interrupt. When I stopped to catch my breath, he finally spoke.

"It wasn't supposed to happen like this," he said quietly. "None of this was planned."

"Then why?" I demanded. "Why did you do it?"

Cole hesitated, glancing at Owen as if seeking backup. But Owen remained silent, his expression unreadable.

"The rogue's attack," Cole began, his voice steady but tense. "It wasn't a coincidence. It was targeting you, Sabine."

I froze, his words sinking in like stones. "Targeting me? What are you talking about?"

"Rogues don't just attack randomly," Owen interjected, his voice calm but firm. "There's always a purpose. And in this case, they were after you. We didn't have time to explain or ask for permission. Marking you—it was the only way to protect you."

"Protect me?" I repeated, my voice laced with disbelief. "By marking me? Without even telling me what it means? You've bonded me to you, tied me to something I don't even understand!"

Cole took another step forward, his expression softening. "The bond isn't just about us, Sabine. It's about survival. The rogue's venom—it was already in your system. If we hadn't marked you, you would've died."

His words hit me like a blow to the chest. My mind raced, trying to process what he was saying. "So, what? You marked me to save my life? And now I'm just... stuck with this?"

"It's not that simple," Cole said, his voice tight with frustration. "The bond—it's more than just a mark. It's a connection. One that can't be undone."

I stared at him, my anger giving way to a sinking feeling of helplessness. "So, what does that mean for me? For us?"

Cole hesitated again, and for the first time, I saw genuine uncertainty in his eyes.

"It means we're bound to each other," he said finally. "You, me, Owen. The bond ties us together, whether we like it or not."

The room felt like it was closing in around me. My whole body was trembling, my hands clutching the edge of the bed to keep myself steady.

"This isn't fair," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I didn't ask for any of this."

"I know," Cole said, his voice soft but resolute. "And I'll do everything I can to make this right. But for now, you need to trust us."

"Trust you?" I said bitterly, looking between him and Owen. "You've given me no reason to trust you. You've made decisions for me, about my body, my life, without my consent. How am I supposed to trust you after that?"

Cole didn't answer. For the first time since he entered the room, he looked unsure, like he didn't have all the answers.

Owen stepped forward, his voice steady and calm. "We made a choice to save your life, Sabine. You don't have to like it, but you're alive because of it. That's the truth."

I turned away from them, my chest heaving as I fought back the tears threatening to spill. I hated the vulnerability, the powerlessness I felt.

"Just leave me alone," I said finally, my voice breaking.

Neither of them moved at first. But after a long pause, Cole nodded and stepped back toward the door.

"I'll give you space," he said quietly. "But we're not done talking about this."

The door closed softly behind them, leaving me alone in the suffocating silence.

I pressed my hands to my face, the reality of everything crashing down on me. My life, my freedom, my very identity—it all felt like it was slipping away, out of my control.

And yet, somewhere deep down, I felt the bond they spoke of. A pull, a connection I didn't fully understand but couldn't deny.

I wasn't sure what scared me more—the bond itself or what it might mean for my future.

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