Irina’s POV

My brain went blank.

Everything happened too fast.

I didn’t even have time to react before that searing, burning sensation pierced through the side of my neck—exploding outward from the marking spot like a red-hot branding iron stabbed straight into my nerves.

The pain was immediate. Absolute. All-consuming.

I screamed.

The sound tore from my throat, raw and primal. I heard it echoing through the auction hall, bouncing off the high ceilings and concrete walls. It didn’t even sound like me. It sounded animal. Broken.

My hands flew up on pure instinct, shoving desperately against his chest. Pushing at the man who held me pinned in place, who’d caged me against his body like I was something precious and dangerous all at once.

But he didn’t budge.

His strength was like iron. Immovable. Absolute.

One of his hands gripped my waist, fingers splayed possessively across my ribcage. I could feel the heat of his palm through the thin fabric of my dress. The other hand had tangled in my hair, holding my head at the exact angle he wanted.

Keeping my neck exposed. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Keeping me still while he marked me.

His teeth were still locked on my skin. I felt them break through, felt his canines sink deeper. Felt the sharp sting followed by a rush of something else—something that made my wolf howl inside my mind.

*Mate. MATE. OURS.*

No. No, this couldn’t be happening.

I struggled harder. My fingers clawed at his shoulders, my body twisting in his grip. But all my fighting did was drain what little energy I had left.

He was too strong.

His mouth worked against my neck, his tongue sliding over the wound.

It hit like lightning. Like something that had been waiting my entire life suddenly clicked home. The connection blazed between us—hot, demanding, *inevitable.*

My body responded before my mind could catch up. Heat pooled low in my belly. My skin felt too tight. Every point where we touched burned.

Through the haze of pain and unwanted desire, I heard the crowd.

Gasps. Murmurs. Shocked whispers that built into a roar.

"Did he just—"

"The King marked her—"

"In front of everyone—"

"She’s his now—"

"Maxim’s going to lose his mind—"

Maxim.

Through blurred vision, I saw him.

He stood near the back wall, Grigori still at his side. But he wasn’t standing still anymore.

His entire body surged forward. One step. Two. His face was twisted with something beyond rage. Beyond fury.

His hand reached out, reaching for me even though I was twenty feet away. His mouth opened, forming words I couldn’t hear over the ringing in my ears.

His future beta grabbed Maxim’s arm with both hands, yanking him backward. Maxim tried to shake him off, his superior strength nearly breaking free.

But Grigori didn’t let go.

"Don’t," I saw Grigori mouth. "You *rejected* her."

Maxim’s eyes locked on mine.

His jaw clenched so hard I thought his teeth might crack. His hands fisted at his sides. Every muscle in his body was coiled tight, ready to attack.

But he couldn’t.

Because Nicolas still held me. Because Nicolas’s teeth were still in my neck. Because I was being marked, claimed, *taken* right in front of him.

And there was nothing he could do about it.

The pain intensified suddenly. I gasped, my body arching involuntarily against Nicolas.

He made a low sound in his chest. Not quite a growl. Something deeper. More satisfied.

His hand on my waist tightened, fingers digging in possessively. Not enough to hurt. Just enough to remind me exactly who held me.

Who owned me now.

Finally—*finally*—his teeth released my neck.

I sucked in air like I’d been drowning. My chest heaved. My hands were still pressed against his chest, and I could feel his heartbeat under my palms.

His face was still close to mine. Close enough that I could see the ring of gold around his pupils. Close enough to feel his breath against my lips.

Close enough to kiss.

His thumb stroked along my spine—just once—and I felt that touch everywhere.

My legs chose that moment to give out completely.

The strength just... left. One second I was standing, the next I was falling.

Nicolas caught me effortlessly.

One arm swept under my knees while the other supported my back. He lifted me like I weighed nothing, cradling me against his chest.

My head lolled against his shoulder. I wanted to push away. Wanted to demand he put me down. Wanted to run.

But my body wouldn’t cooperate.

The pain was fading now, replaced by a bone-deep exhaustion. The mark on my neck throbbed with my heartbeat—not painful anymore, just... present. Impossible to ignore.

Through half-closed eyes, I saw Nicolas turn.

Slowly. Deliberately.

His gaze swept across the auction hall, cataloging every face. Every witness to what had just happened.

Then his eyes landed on Maxim.

And he smiled.

It wasn’t a kind smile. Wasn’t even a happy smile.

It was the smile of a predator who’d just won.

Then I sank into the dark.