Chapter 7 The Burning Inside

• ~ Ethan ~
• I slowly pushed Helena until she laid on her back while I was on top of her. I touched her neck and then went lower, but she shook her head.
• “E-Ethan? W-what are you doing?”
• That was when I stopped. Then, as if a flashlight lighted on me, I moved back a little and looked at Helena’s swollen lips and disarrayed clothes in horror. But it wasn’t as much as when I stared at the bite mark on her neck. Later, I immediately released Helena’s body.
• “What have I done?!” I held my head with both of my hands.
• “Ethan?”
• I immediately opened the cupboard, took a shirt, and wore it. Then I returned and scooped Helena into my arms. “You should go home now!”
• “B-but, what did I do wrong?”
• “Nothing!”
• “But then, why do you want to get rid of me?” Helena bit her lower lip, and her tears fell one by one to her cheeks. “I know I’m inexperienced, but ….” She couldn’t continue her words.
• I sighed. Regret always came later, but I couldn’t undo what had happened. Then I hugged Helena. “Are you a virgin?”
• Helena was too shy to answer. She lowered her head and didn’t want to meet my eyes. But after a while, she sighed since I was staring at her and waiting for her answer.
• “Yes ….”
• I smiled tenderly, then touched her lower lip with my finger. “Don’t bite your lower lip again. It’s mine. Only I’m allowed to bite it.” Then I kissed her lips again, but softly this time.
• Helena circled her hands on my neck. “Oh, Ethan ….”
• “I love that you are still a virgin. If things were different, I would take you here and now.”
• She blushed again. She was so pretty. Then I kissed Helena again until we were out of breath and should gasp for air.
• “Never doubt that you are so precious to me, my lovely Helena. But the problem is me, not you.”
• “But why?”
• “Why did I stop and not take you here and now?”
• Helena nodded; her cheeks were red as if she were too shy to say a word.
• “I truly want it, my enchantress one, but it will harm you.”
• “Oh!”
• I took a deep breath. I could read Helena’s mind now and be relieved that she concluded it wrongly. She thought I wouldn’t want to take her virginity. “Let me fetch you home. I promise I will take care of you.”
• “Thank you.”
• Then I carried Helena in my arms again. After kissing her forehead, I brought her to my silver Lamborghini. Later, I placed Helena on the seat, entered the car, and switched it on. However, there was a movement outside, and I stopped.
• “Please wait. I won’t be long.” I got out of the vehicle. A man walked toward me.
• “Alpha, what are you doing?”
• “Red, not a word!”
• The man, Red Sutton, was my Beta and also my best friend. He looked at my car, at Helena precisely. After smelling Helena’s fragrance from afar, Red grimaced. “A human? Are you mad?”
• “Red, it’s not your place to say that. I have marked her already. Helena is mine, my mate.”
• “But she’s a human!”
• “What can I say if our God chose her as my mate?”
• “Are you sure that the Highest One chose the woman as your mate?”
• “Yes. No doubt about that. Helena’s intoxicating smells I recognized it after seeing her. I’m sure she’s my mate. My wolf also confirmed it.”
• Red shook his head. “Is it possible? It’s the first time I see a human as our mate.” He glanced at me again. “She will be our Luna. Are you sure she’s ready?”
• “No, she needs more time. Don’t tell her about Luna, mate, or even our pack.”
• Red squinted his eyes. “Don’t tell me she didn’t know you’re a werewolf.”
• “She doesn’t know about it.”
• “What?! You can’t do this! She will be overwhelmed if she knows.”
• “There’s no way back now.”
• “What do you mean?”
• I closed my eyes for a while. When I opened them again, Red crossed his arms in front of his chest, waiting for me to explain further.
• So, I told him, “I have marked her.”
• “But ….”
• “I won’t claim her. I won’t mate with her at all.”
• “It’s impossible! After marking her, your urge will be so wild to have her completely.”
• “I know! I have already felt it. I only bedded her a few minutes ago.” I shook my head. “Fortunately, I can stop.”
• “Are you sure it’s the best?”
• “I can’t leave her if it is what you meant, Red.”
• “No, I don’t ask you to do that. But for her sake, you’re better off.” Red tapped his upper arm. “It’s unlike you at all. Usually, you’re so calm and collected.”
• “I know. It was just the moment when I smelled Helena’s fragrance; I immediately recognized her as my mate and couldn’t control myself. I want her around me, to protect and have her.”
• “But if you are around her, it may lead to you mate her ….”
• I closed my eyes again. “You’re right. I’ll take Helena home. Then I will take my distance. But I need your help.”
• Red stood straight. “Name it.”
• “I want you to monitor and guard her. She is your Luna, after all. If I cannot be around her, at least I’ll feel better with you guarding her.”
• “Don’t worry, Alpha. Your word is my command.”
• “Thank you, Red. I know I can count on you.”
• “Always, my Alpha King.”
• Then I nodded and walked back to the car. Red also left.
• Helena watched what had happened. But then, she screamed, “Argh! What’s wrong?”
• I frowned. “Helena?”
• “It hurts!”
• “Where?”
• Helena placed her hand on her chest. “Here. I feel burnt. Help!”
• I immediately unbuckled the seat belt and ran to Helena’s side. Next, I opened the door and brought her outside. Then, I sat on the ground with Helena on my lap.
• “Ethan! I can’t bear it anymore.” Helena’s sweat poured heavily onto her forehead and neck.
• Then I stood and ran back to the villa with Helena in my arms. I opened my room and laid her on my bed. Hastily, I opened her dress. The bite mark was burning. There was a new red mark too on her cleavage.
• I touched the mark with my pointed finger, and Helena gasped. Then I stared at her. “Does it hurt here?”