**Elena**
The morning dew cooled the earth. The scent of damp soil filled the air—earthy and fresh, like the world had just been washed clean. But I didn’t feel clean. I felt… raw.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, barely recognizing the girl looking back at me. My cheeks were sunken, my eyes hollow, and the bite mark on my neck..it had slightly burnt out.
A dull ache lingered there, like a scar that refused to heal.
That was from yesterday.
From him.
Xavier had been too close. Too warm.
I should’ve pushed him away.
But I didn’t.
I sighed..The price I had to pay for having a witch cast a deceiving spell on the mark.
“It'll burn out when close or pulled by the mate bond “ Her voice rang in my head.
And Lira… she nearly lost control. One more second and she might have lu
