Irina’s POV

I couldn’t breathe.

His mouth was everywhere. My lips. My jaw. My throat.

Hot. Demanding. Taking.

I tried to turn my head. To pull away.

His hand tightened in my hair. Held me still.

"Stop—" The word came out muffled against his lips.

He didn’t stop.

His weight pressed me deeper into the mattress. His chest crushed against mine with each breath.

I pushed at his shoulders. Weak. Useless.

Like trying to move a mountain.

His mouth moved to my neck. Found the mark he’d left.

Pain exploded through the bond. Sharp. Overwhelming. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

I gasped.

His teeth scraped over the sensitive skin. Not biting. Just... claiming.

Reminding me who I belonged to.

My heart hammered so hard it hurt. Each beat sent pain radiating through my chest.

I couldn’t do this. Couldn’t—

His leg pushed between mine. Forced them apart.

No. No no no—

I thrashed. Bucked beneath him.

Trying to throw him off. To escape.

But he was too heavy. Too strong.

His hands found the hem of my shirt. Started pulling it up.

"No!" I twisted violently. "Please—"

The fabric tore.

Cool air hit my stomach. My ribs.

Exposed.

Vulnerable.

His palm pressed against my bare skin. Hot. Possessive.

I froze.

Every muscle locked up at once.

Because suddenly it wasn’t Nicolas anymore.

It was Maxim.

Maxim’s hands on my body. Maxim’s weight pinning me down. Maxim’s breath hot against my neck.

*You’re mine, little rabbit. Say it. Say you’re mine.*

My vision blurred. The room tilted.

I couldn’t tell where I was anymore. Couldn’t separate then from now.

All I knew was hands. Weight. Violation.

Nicolas’s mouth found mine again. Harder this time.

His tongue pushed past my lips. Invaded.

Just like Maxim had done.

My stomach turned.

The nausea hit like a fist. Sharp. Vicious.

Everything from earlier—the sickness, the medication, the fear—crashed together.

I shoved at his chest. Put everything I had into it.

He didn’t budge.

But I twisted. Wrenched my face to the side.

Broke the kiss.

His grip on my wrists tightened. Bruising.

"Irina—"

The nausea surged. Bile rose in my throat.

I couldn’t hold it back.

I threw myself sideways. Used every ounce of strength to roll away from him.

My wrists tore free from his grip.

I barely made it to the edge of the bed before I started heaving.

Nothing came up. Just painful dry heaves that made my entire body convulse.

I gripped the edge of the mattress. Doubled over.

Retching. Gasping.

Behind me, the bed shifted.

"What the hell—"

Another wave hit. I gagged. Throat burning.

Tears streamed down my face. From the force of it. From the fear still coursing through me.

Hands grabbed my shoulders.

I flinched so hard I nearly fell off the bed.

"Don’t touch me!" The words ripped from my throat. Raw. Desperate.

The hands released immediately.

I stayed there. Hunched over. Shaking.

Waiting for the nausea to pass.

For the room to stop spinning.

For my heart to stop trying to break through my ribs.

"Look at me."

Nicolas’s voice. Cold. Hard.

I couldn’t. Couldn’t move.

"I said look at me."

His hand found my chin. Forced my head up.

Made me face him.

His eyes were black again. Completely black.

Rage burned in them. Hot. Vicious.

"You think I’m disgusting?" Each word came out sharp. Clipped. "Is that it?"

I tried to shake my head. His grip tightened.

"You can fuck Maxim but not me?" His voice dropped lower. Darker. "You can spread your legs for him but your own mate makes you sick?"

"No—" The word came out broken.

"Don’t lie to me." He leaned closer. His breath hot against my face. "Your wolf recognizes me as your mate, doesn’t it?"

I nodded. Couldn’t help it.

"Then tell your wolf to come out." His fingers dug into my jaw. Not quite painful. But close. "Let her out. Let her show me you actually want this."

My vision blurred. Fresh tears spilled over.

"I can’t—"

"Can’t or won’t?"

"Can’t." My voice broke completely. "My wolf... she can’t..."

"No," I whispered to the empty air. To myself. To no one. "My wolf... she can’t..."