Marco's pov
I stood outside her door, listening.Her voice was soft, barely more than a whisper against the night air, but it held me captive.
I had come to check on her, to see if Ana had managed to get her to eat. Instead, I found myself rooted in place, my chest tightening at the sound of her song.
There was pain in it.
Loss. Longing.
And something inside me… broke.
I clenched my fists, the urge to go in there overwhelming, but I stayed still. She would only be afraid.
I had taken her from everything she knew.
Her home. Her freedom.
She didn't understand why she was here, why she was mine.
And I had never been a patient man.
But for her? For my mate?
I had to try.
I exhaled slowly, stepping away from the door, giving her space for now.
But I swore to myself one thing.
I would make her understand.
Understand that she wasn't my prisoner.
She was my Queen.
And I would spend eternity proving it to her.
I stormed into my office, my patience hanging by a thread. Darius was already there, seated casually in one of the chairs, sipping a drink like nothing in the world troubled him.
"She won't eat," I growled, slamming my hand against the desk. "She's only hurting herself."
Darius exhaled, setting his drink down. "You knew she'd resist."
"Resist is one thing. Starving is another." My jaw tightened. "She's human. She's fragile. She'll get sick."
Darius leaned back, studying me. "The pack is worried, you know."
I stilled.
"About what?"
"Their queen." He shrugged. "They're wondering if she's safe. If she's." He paused, choosing his words carefully. " being treated well."I let out a low growl, my claws itching to extend. "She's mine. I'd never harm her."
"Then prove it." Darius met my glare without flinching. "Bring in someone she might listen to. Someone softer. Someone… like my aunt."
I narrowed my eyes. "Your aunt?"
He nodded. "You know she's good at handling things like this. She raised half the pups in the pack. If anyone can get through to Matilda, it's her."
I exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down my face.
I hated the idea of needing help.
But this wasn't about pride.
This was about Matilda.
And if bringing in Darius' aunt was the only way to get my mate to eat, to understand, to accept her place here…
Then so be it.
"Fine," I muttered. "Bring her."
Darius smirked, already pulling out his phone. "Smart choice, Alpha.
was in my office when my men told me they saw the luna running through the woods,I stood up immediately and went after her.
I stormed through the halls, my grip firm around Matilda's wrist as she struggled against me."Let me go!" she screamed, twisting, but she was no match for my strength.
She had tried to escape again.
Did she not understand? There is no escaping me.
I kicked open her bedroom door and dragged her inside, shutting it behind us. She shoved at my chest, her small hands weak compared to my build, but I felt her desperation.
"You will not run from me again," I growled.
Her chest heaved as she glared at me, her blue eyes burning with defiance and fear.
I reached for the lamp and flicked it off.
The reaction was instant.
She gasped, stumbling back, her breath ragged."No… please," she whispered. "Not the dark."
She was terrified.
I tilted my head, watching as she clutched herself, trembling.
Afraid of the dark?
My jaw tightened. A part of me wanted to soothe her, but she had to learn.
"If you try to escape again," I said coldly, "I will lock you in a dark room. Alone."
Her breath hitched, and she frantically nodded. "I won't. I won't run."
I turned the light back on.
She sagged against the bed, shaking, refusing to look at me.
Good.
She would stay put now.
I stepped toward the door, pausing before leaving. Darius was right. She was human, fragile, afraid, and completely unprepared for this world.
If I wanted her to accept this life to accept me I needed to handle her differently.
Tomorrow, I would have Elera come to her.it will take days and I can't watch her starv this way.it hurt.what will I do.
Not long Ana walked out with a filled bowl again she still refused to eat,that's it I rushed to her.when I entered i watched Matilda sit stiffly on the bed, her lips pressed into a firm line, her arms crossed. The untouched bowl of oatmeal sat in front of her, getting colder by the second.
She refused to eat.
I exhaled sharply, my patience wearing thin. "Eat."
She turned her face away, jaw clenched. Defiant. Stubborn.
I stepped closer, picking up the spoon, and held it out to her. "You're weak, Matilda. You haven't eaten in days. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
She didn't move. Didn't speak.
Enough.
With a growl, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto my lap, ignoring her startled gasp. She fought, pushing against me, but I easily pinned her arms down with one hand.
"You want to starve yourself?" I hissed. "Not happening."
Scooping up a spoonful of oatmeal, I forced it into her mouth. She choked, twisting her head, but I held her firm.
"Swallow."
Tears welled in her eyes as she glared at me, but she swallowed, her breath shaky.
I scooped another spoonful. "Again."
She fought harder, but I was stronger. With every bite, her resistance weakened until she finally stopped struggling, her body going limp against me.
When the bowl was empty, I set the spoon down, loosening my grip. She didn't move.
Her head was lowered, her shoulders trembling.
I expected her to fight, to scream but she just sat there, defeated.
Something sharp twisted in my chest.
This wasn't how I wanted my mate to look at me.
With fear.
I set her down gently on the bed, stepping back. "You need to eat," I said quietly. "I won't watch you waste away."
She didn't respond. Didn't even look at me.
I clenched my jaw, turning away.
I left the room, shutting the door behind me, but the image of Matilda's broken expression stayed with me.
She had stopped fighting.
Not because she had accepted me, but because she had given up.And that did not sit well with me.
i had expected her to be stubborn, to lash out, to curse me, even scream at me. That fire in her had been both frustrating and enticing. But now, after forcing food down her throat, I had extinguished that fire.
I had won.
So why did I feel like the villain?
Darius was leaning against the wall, arms crossed as he watched me with amusement. "Well, that was rough."
I growled. "Not now, Darius."
He shrugged. "Just saying. Forcing food down her throat isn't exactly the best way to earn your mate's trust."
I clenched my fists. "She was starving herself."
"And now she's terrified of you."
I stiffened at his words. I already knew it, but hearing it out loud made it worse.
Darius sighed, pushing off the wall. "Look, Marco. She's human. She's not like our kind. We're used to orders, to dominance. But she's from a world where she had to survive on her own. She's not rejecting you just to be difficult she's scared. And you're not exactly helping."
I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temples.
"So what do you suggest?" I muttered.
Darius smirked. "Maybe stop treating her like a captured enemy and more like… I don't know, your mate?"
I shot him a glare, but he wasn't wrong.
This had to change.
I would not lose my mate.
Even if I had to learn a different way.
"Fine," I said. "Hope Elera Get here soon. I want her to help Matilda adjust."
Darius nodded, satisfied. "Good call, Alpha. Now let's just hope she doesn't try to stab you in your sleep."
I growled, shoving past him, but his words lingered.