Silence.
Then—
A raw, guttural scream tore from Rayla's throat as her hand slapped against the side of her neck. The mating mark—that delicate swirl of ink in a howling wolf shape nestled between her ear and shoulder—erupted in a violent crimson glow. The skin around it bubbled and blackened, tendrils of smoke curling upward as portions of the design disintegrated into ash before their eyes.
Mark's outstretched hand froze mid-air, his fingers inches from her arm. "No no no—" His voice cracked with panic.
Daniel whirled toward them, empty hands flexing uselessly at his sides. "f**k! It's a severance burn!"
Pierce moved like lightning, catching Rayla as her knees gave out. She writhed in his arms, her breath coming in short, agonized gasps. "Make it stop—" she sobbed, fingernails scrapi
