The Mark I Didn’t Want-The Mate I Never Expected Chapter 04
The guards were all crying tears of joy now, egging me on.
“Iknew calling Ms. Vance would work!”
“Ms. Vance, from now on, don’t believe a single word that comes out of his mouth. He’s a total fake tough guy-saying no with his mouth while his whole body’s screaming yes!”
“Look at his ears-they’re practically on fire. His voice is so hoarse it sounds like it’s burning. He’s just shy, and he doesn’t want to put you in a tough spot. But hey, what can we do? Your heart’s still.
with Shane!”
Baron lifted his head and shot the guards a freezing glare.
“Shut up.”
But they ignored him completely. His life was on the line, and they weren’t backing down.
I took the chance, bold as anything. I turned Baron’s handsome face toward me, grabbed the back of his head, and sealed my mouth over his.
No matter how stubborn his words were, he’d saved me twice. I couldn’t ignore that. And I couldn’t
let it go to waste.
The moment our lips touched, I felt Baron tremble-his whole body shaking with desire.
But he was still clinging to the last shred of his sanity.
“Elara, are you deaf?”
“I don’t need you to repay me out of gratitude.”
“What kind of man do you think I am? I don’t need your pity.”
Tears welled in my eyes.
“Baron, I’m doing this because I want to. There’s nothing forced about it.”
I grabbed his hand and pressed it against my chest.
His pupils contracted sharply, like he’d touched something forbidden. He tried to pull his hand
back.
But I held on tight.
“Baron, feel my heart.”
“There’s nothing forced about this. Don’t put pressure on yourself.”
Baron’s throat bobbed faster. He was holding back harder than ever.
“Don’t lie to me. I know there’s only room in your heart for Shane.”
“I overheard the guard calling you earlier.”
“You said Shane needed you more tonight.”
I opened my mouth to explain, but Baron’s phone on the nightstand suddenly buzzed.
I glanced at the screen.
It was Shane.
Baron looked at it too, then swiped to answer.
“Shane? What’s up?”
Shane’s voice came through the speaker, strained and miserable.
“Baron, I went through my awakening tonight. It’s killing me.”
“And Elara still hasn’t shown up.”
“I thought I could handle it, but I overestimated myself.”
Baron shot me a look. “Elara, she-”
I kissed him. Right on the mouth, cutting off whatever he was about to say.
Baron lost it when I kissed him again-his pupils blew wide, his large hand instinctively grabbing
the back of my head like he wanted more.
But reason won out.
He pushed me away. Before he could tell Shane I was there, Shane’s voice crackled through the
speaker.
“I know Elara’s probably stuck in traffic or something.”
“She’s probably dying to get here and help me.”
“Her heart’s probably about to explode with joy.”
“But honestly? Getting something that easy always feels cheap.”
“I really don’t want her to take advantage of me in this state and trap me into marking her. Why
does our kind have to be hardwired for monogamy?”
Baron’s crimson eyes flickered with shock and anger.
“You don’t want to be faithful to her?”
“Then why have you been stringing her along since you were kids?”
Shane laughed casually-like he was talking to a buddy, not his brother.
“Come on, I was young back then. I hadn’t seen much of the world yet.”
“Didn’t know what else was out there.”
“Shane.” Baron’s voice dropped, heavy and cold. “If you don’t want her, then don’t blame me when
I do.”
