Amber
A sharp, searing pain tore through me, dragging me out of my sleep with a strangled gasp. At first, I thought I was having another nightmare, but this—this was so much worse.
My heart felt like it was being ripped apart, an invisible force clawing at my chest, crushing my ribs until I could barely breathe. My throat tightened as a scream built up, but all that came out was a choked whimper.
Then came the burning.
A fire ignited at the base of my neck, scorching through my skin like a branding iron had been pressed against it. My mate mark pulsed with an unbearable heat, radiating pain down my spine and into my very bones. I clutched at my neck, fingers digging into the scarred flesh as if I could claw it off—tear it from my body and free myself from this torment.
I wasn’t stupid
