Bound by Secrets

Aftermath

ELENA’S POV:

I woke slowly, blinking against the soft, unfamiliar light. The sheets beneath me were smooth—too smooth. Silk. This wasn’t my room.

My gaze swept upward. Even the ceiling was different. Panic slowly crept in as I sat up, only for a sharp, radiating pain to shoot through my lower abdomen. My breath hitched. Instinctively, my trembling hand drifted down between my thighs.

Sticky. Tender. Sore.

I sucked in a breath, trying to steady the rising tremor in my chest. I turned my head, heart pounding against my chest.

And then I saw him.

No. No, no, no.

I screamed inside.

The man from last night—tall, godlike, dangerous—lay beside me, calm as if nothing had happened. His bare chest rose and fell in rhythm, his face peaceful in sleep, a cruel contrast to the storm unraveling inside me.

A scream tore through my mind, silent but deafening.

What have I done?

Shaking, I peeled back the duvet and pressed it tightly against my chest, shielding whatever dignity I had left. My bare feet touched the cold floor as I tiptoed around the room, eyes darting, searching for my clothes.

I found them—crumpled, torn, ruined. Just like me.

I pulled them on with trembling fingers, refusing to look at him again. Not when the scent of his skin still clung to mine. Not when the memory of his touch lingered like a curse.

I tiptoed to the door, my fingers gripping the handle, breath held tight in my chest.

Then a voice rang behind me.

“Leaving already?”

I froze. The deep rasp of his words sent a chill through my bones. My knees buckled, and I nearly collapsed from the weight of fear alone. But I didn’t turn around. I couldn’t.

Without answering, I yanked the door open and stepped outside, not sparing him a single glance.

I paused for a heartbeat. The fresh morning air did little to clear my mind. My heart was still racing and In chaos.

Where was I? Which way led home?

I paused, disoriented, but the sound of footsteps behind me jolted me into motion. I picked a direction and started walking, ignoring the sting between my legs and the burn in my chest.

All I wanted was to find the old oak tree—the one I waited beneath for Alex last night.

Alex...

Oh God, what if he’d waited? What if he thought I abandoned him?

Tears welled in my eyes, spilling before I could wipe them away. I kept moving, blinking rapidly, praying no one saw me like this. Just when I thought I was lost, the tree appeared in the distance.

My legs gave out as I reached it. I fell to the ground, clutching my knees to my chest, sobs wracking through me as the weight of everything crushed down. Shame, regret, fear—it all consumed me.

What do I do now? I whispered to myself.

Please don’t let him be a pack member. If he is… I’m ruined. I murmured a silent prayer to the moon goddess.

I sat there for what felt like forever, crying beneath the morning sun until the tears dried on my cheeks. Finally, I forced myself to stand. I had to go home. I needed to go before my disappearance became obvious.

As I approached the house, I froze.

They were all there.

Alex. Elaine. Rachael. My parents. Huddled together, whispering. Their faces were filled with worries and their arms crossed tight. Their heads turned at the sound of my approach, but I ducked before they saw me.

I couldn’t let them see me like this—not when I looked like I’d crawled out of a battlefield. My clothes were torn, stained, and I reeked of an unfamiliar scent.

Staying low in the bushes, I circled to the back of the house, praying no one spotted me. I reached my bedroom window and quietly climbed in, landing softly on the floor.

I breathed out sharply.

I stripped off the filthy clothes and tied them into a bundle, shoving them under my bed.

Then I rushed to the bathroom and locked the door behind me.

The hot water hit my skin, but it didn’t soothe me. I scrubbed harder, desperate to erase him—his scent, his touch, his memory.

After drying off, I slipped into fresh clothes and stood before the mirror. My reflection looked pale and hollow.

Still, I had to face them, I knew I couldn't hide in here forever.

I stepped out and slowly descended the stairs.

The moment the door creaked open, every pair of eyes turned to me. My throat tightened as I swallowed hard, trying to hold myself together under their intense stares.

“Where have you been?” my mother's voice cut through the silence.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

My father's jaw clenched with rage. “You're going to tell us where you've been, young lady,” he shouted, raising his hand.

I flinched, bracing for the slap—but it didn’t come.

Elaine beat him to it with her mouth.

“I bet she was out whoring around with some guy,” she said, grinning like it was funny. Then she turned to Alex. “Your girlfriend’s a whore.”

Alex’s expression collapsed. His eyes widened, filled with confusion and hurt like someone had knocked the air out of him. He took a step toward me, slowly reaching for my hand.

“Elena…” he whispered, his voice aching with disbelief and his eyes searching mine for answers.

I couldn’t meet his gaze. I slowly pulled my hand away.

Then my mother stepped closer. She leaned in, sniffing around me like a hound, trying to catch a scent. I had scrubbed myself with every soap I could find—hoping, praying it would cover any trace of him.

But still, I panicked.

My father’s eyes narrowed. Before I could blink, his palm cracked across my face, sending my head snapping to the side. The sting burned, and the sharp taste of blood filled my mouth.

“Where have you been, you fool?” he barked.

Rachael rushed over, grabbing my hand in panic, but I yanked it free. I shoved past Alex, who tried to block the door and raced up the stairs.

Tears blurred my vision. My chest ached like it was being torn apart from the inside.

I slammed the door shut behind me and crumbled to the floor, knees against my chest, arms wrapped tight.

I couldn’t tell if it was the slap… or the guilt… that hurt more.

I curled up, tears falling freely, my whole body shaking.

“Elena! Elena!” someone called from outside my window.

I didn’t need to look.

It was Alex.

But I couldn’t face him. Not after what I’d done. My body was supposed to be his. We were supposed to be somewhere far away by now, starting over. Instead, I was here. Stained by a stranger. Broken in ways I couldn’t explain.

I buried myself in the sheets, wishing I could disappear.

Then—knock knock knock.

"Who is it?" I snapped, voice hoarse from crying.

“It’s me,” Rachael said. “Open up, or I swear I’ll climb through that damned window.”

She meant it. And honestly, I didn’t have the strength to argue.

I opened the door, and she slipped inside, her eyes immediately softening at the sight of me.

“Girl, you’ve been crying. What happened, you scared the hell out of us. We were all worried—especially Alex.”

I tried to speak, but nothing came out. My voice just... froze.

“Did something happen to you?” Rachael asked again, her tone softer now. “You know you can tell me. I’m here for you.”

I wanted to tell her everything. I wanted to pour it all out but I couldn’t.

How do you tell your best friend that you slept with a stranger?

Tears welled up again, and without saying a word, Rachael pulled me into a tight hug.

And then—she stiffened.

“Elena...” she pulled back, her eyes wide. “You’ve been marked.”

I blinked. “What?”

She grabbed my collar and tugged it aside. “You have a mate’s mark on your neck.”

My heart stopped.

“That’s impossible,” I whispered.

Rachael’s voice sharpened. “No, Elena. It’s not. You’ve been claimed. Now start talking—what the hell happened last night?”