I walked out of the bathroom after shutting the shower off and wearing a bathrobe. I was numb below the abdomen and could only feel the beast's unseeable vexation still resting between my thighs.

Leaning against the bathroom door, I got a glimpse of him, wandering around my room, taking notice of my things. "Well, since you have already marked me without my consent, is there anything else you want to talk about?" I asked him, crossing my arms across my chest.

Mrs. Pitts had told me everything I needed to know about the beast and who he was. It wouldn't have been confusing if he had just told me that he was my mate rather than marking me without my approval. I wanted to take my time, make the right decision but he just jumped in, imprinted his claim over me and now, was appearing everywhere.

The beast dropped the tiny antique piece I had over my dressing table and he walked over to me.

"What is your name?"

My lips tightened. That was all? "Lilliana,"

"Right, Lilliana, I don't want you telling anyone that we are mates." He said. I held my breath back as he rolled my name off his tongue.

Shrugging away the connection, I asked, "Why shouldn't I?" I had already told my parents, my friends, and now, it was going to be the entire town—in a few days.

The beast smirked at me. "Because I told you so and you are to obey my every command," He stepped in closer, meeting my gaze.

It hadn't been a second and this man was already commanding me and using his authority. Pfft. What did he think he was?

"In hell," I gave him an eye-roll before closing the bathroom door and going back to my bed. It was going to take a lot for someone to believe that I was going to obey them.

"Now, now," the beast whipped around, "I rather prefer if you don't use that language, especially when we are not in bed." He said, standing in the light where I could see his face clear.

What a cock!

"Excuse me? Who are you again?" I said with the same attitude. No one could control me, not like this at least.

"Your mate. Do I have to imprint that word over my head so you can remember it next time?" He snapped at me, giving me a stern look. His eyes were light gray, lashes thick and his hair was dirt brown.

I tore my eyes away from his perfectly muscular body and replied, "You might need to because I see nothing except for an arrogant, cocky man standing in front of me."

His head narrowed slightly and he let out a small scoff before approaching me. "Think whatever you want, love. I'm here to warn that there will be problems if you run around like some princess and claim I'm your mate."

"Pfft." My eyes were going to disappear if I kept rolling them at him. Backed up to the wall, he raised his arm, pressing it on the wall beside my head and staring in closely. "I know who you are," I said, trailing my finger down his chest.

"Oh, really?" His breath fanned over my cheeks. So close. So fucking sexy.

I gulped, "Yes. Someone told me everything about you," I didn't want to mention Mrs. Pitts for my own reasons. Dreaded whether or not the beast would kill her or anyone else.

For fuck's sake—he fed on people.

"Well, you must know then that I was presumed dead for fifteen years and was cursed to not have a mate—" He paused for a second, his eyes away from mine as he smirked. "Although, those curses were from females who had warmed my bed but still, I need to stay low until I'm ready and when I am, I will decide what needs to be done with you." His last few words were filled with ignorance and he acted like he was my Dad.

"Excuse me?" My brow turned crooked. "What needs to be done with me? Am I a toy?" I asked because he was clearly objectifying me.

His gaze roamed over my face and I felt his cold fingers brushed against my cheeks. "You were acting like one a few seconds ago." He whispered to me and I was confused for a whole moment until I realized that I was being controlled in bed, while having sex, acting as a toy.

I slapped his hand away from my face, my shoulders straightening as I replied, "I will reject you," If this was how my mate was going to be, I wouldn't think twice about rejecting him.

"You can't reject me, love. I've already marked you," A flash of fury passed his face as he slammed me back to the wall, his hand against my neck. "And, why would anyway?" He growled at me.

I pursed my lips together, allowing his finger to brush through my mouth.

"Because you feed on people, I know that." I mumbled out of fear before continuing, "And, you're a beast, you're old and dead, and you're so fucking rough."

I didn't want to be thrown around and dominated for the rest of my life by someone who was claimed to be dead and old.

His face relaxed and his anger eased down. He stepped closer, his head disappearing into my neck as he nuzzled down, taking a sniff of my wolf's scent.

"That's all?"

I closed my eyes and exhaled heavily as he pressed his lips against my neck. My veins throbbed against his against his touch and a raspy breath came out of me.

"I have a boyfriend!" I blurted out, testing his patience and seeing if he was right for me.

The beast didn't flinch at my words, instead, I felt his tongue skimming over my skin. "He'll be dead by morning," I heard him whisper with no sign of anger.

A groaned mumbled it's way out of me as I felt the heat again. If we continued at this pace, I'd be dead with sex long before he could even come out of his shadows and take me as his mate.

I placed my hand over his chest and moved him away before saying the truth. "I don't have a boyfriend,"

"I know,"

"How?"

"You wouldn't be in heat if you had a boyfriend," Smart and a domineering man, I liked it.

"Fine, fine." I moved him further back away from me. "I have already told my friends and my parents that you're my mate. And, I'll have to tell my Alpha soon, it's the way how things work here." I answered to his previous commands. Hiding it wasn't an option.

"You won't."

"I have too,"

Before I could walk away, he yanked my elbow and dragged me back to his dangerous embrace. "You don't have too. Don't be a stupid girl, be smart, and keep that little mouth sealed. Open when it needs to be opened,"

"Like?" I licked my lips and asked, acting innocent.

His hand went behind my head and he tugged me closer, almost meeting with my mouth.

"Like when I need to be pleased,"

I witnessed a hint of lust in his eyes when he stared back at mine. "You should do the same with yours,"

"Mine are sealed, love."

I snapped out of my delusional world and asked the real questions that needed to be discussed.

"For how long? Everyone can smell you over me, it won't take a while before everyone here figures out you are my mate."

"Mask your scent, and be a good girl. I like good girls." He replied, our gazes still locked. It had been a day since I met him—my mate and he was already expecting things out of me.

Brother, calm down.

I didn't even know him yet and neither he knew me but I could already assume that this was going to be a troublesome year.

"I like good boys. Can you be one?" I asked in the same tone as his.

"No,"

"Neither can I. Sorry,"

The next few moments were in complete silence. Red flashed his eyes and he sniffed my hair again. Christ.

"I like your smell," His grip over my hair tightened as I felt his body harden against mine. "And, all I want to do right now is eat you up."

I sighed heavily and swallowed back the moan that wanted to leave my lips. When I gathered my thoughts, I realized that he didn't want to eat me in that way, he actually wanted to eat me up—literally.

"Lilliana!" I heard my Mom coming upstairs and knocking on my door.