Chapter 7

　　Mira's POV

　　At the largest hospital in Mooncrest Pack, I was forced into the examination room by Pack guards. The doctor and nurses were already waiting. Cold instruments glinted beneath the lights. My father might in the director's office, drinking tea and complaining about the trouble his daughter had caused him.

　　Inside the examination room, several nurses held me down. The gynecologist pulled on a rubber glove and said impatiently, "Miss Mira, if you truly haven't been marked, there's no reason to refuse the verification. Your resistance only raises more questions."

　　I was sick with hatred.

　　This had nothing to do with having something to hide. I resisted because the process was degrading. Why should I have to prove my purity to everyone like this? This was an insult, plain and simple.

　　The nurses pinned down my arms and shoulders. I shook my head desperately, tears streaming down my face. I tried to curl into myself, but their grip was like iron.

　　Just as despair was about to swallow me whole, the examination room door was kicked open.

　　"Stop."

　　His voice carried an authority that brooked no argument, like ice water thrown into boiling oil. The entire room went silent.

　　I wrenched myself free from the nurses and stumbled toward the door. But the moment I burst out, I collided with a solid chest.

　　I looked up in panic. Cale's striking face was right there. He stood in the corridor, backlit by the overhead lights, looking as though he had stepped straight out of the shadows.

　　I hadn't expected to see him here. But I was still reeling, and my legs were so weak I could barely stand.

　　He reached out and caught me around the waist, steadying me.

　　The doctor rushed out after me, snapping, "Who are you? This young woman is the heiress of Mooncrest Pack. Alpha Marcus is waiting for the results! I'd advise you not to meddle. Pick a fight with the wrong person, and you'll regret it."

　　I was terrified Cale would leave me. I clutched the sleeve of his shirt with both hands, a helpless whimper escaping my throat. "Cale... take me out of here. Please. I don't want this test."

　　Cale glanced down at me, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. Then he gave Ryan a look.

　　Ryan understood immediately. He stepped forward and slapped the doctor across the face.

　　"You dare use someone else's power to bully people? Who gave you the right?"

　　The doctor stood frozen, one hand covering her cheek. She had never heard the name Cale in Mooncrest Pack. She only knew that Alpha Marcus himself had contacted the director to arrange this examination. But the man standing before her was clearly someone she couldn't afford to offend. No one without serious backing would dare behave like this.

　　She hurried away, clearly intending to report the incident to the director.

　　The antiseptic smell in the examination room made me feel sick. Tears still wet my cheeks as I stood there numb, as if my soul had been emptied.

　　It wasn't until a warm hand gently rested on my head that I came back to my senses. Still trembling, I grabbed his hand.

　　"Can you get me out of here? Consider it repayment for saving your life last time."

　　The doctor had almost certainly gone to report this to my father. If Cale didn't take me away, my father wouldn't stop. I'd be right back on that examination table, enduring that humiliation again.

　　Cale's dark eyes fell on my small hands clutching his. He studied me as if he were weighing his options.

　　He tilted my chin up, his voice low and rough. "Then tell me. Have you been marked by someone else?"

　　I stared at him in shock.

　　I never expected him to ask that. How was this any different from my father?

　　I stepped back, pulled my hand free, and said coldly, "That's none of your business. I have no obligation to answer that."

　　He smiled, let go, and nodded indifferently. "Fine. Since it has nothing to do with me, I was out of line. Good luck."

　　He turned and walked away, his hand already reaching for the door handle.

　　Just then, my father's furious voice thundered from outside. "Who's the fool causing trouble? Let me see!"

　　All the color drained from my face. I knew that if Cale left, my father would make sure the examination continued.

　　Cale turned the handle. A sliver of light cut through the crack of the door.

　　I lunged forward and shoved the door shut. My back slammed against it with a dull thud. His left hand was still on the handle, his knuckles whitening as if he could pull it open at any moment.

　　His other hand braced against the door beside my head. He leaned in, trapping me in the narrow space between his arms. His tall frame cast a shadow over me.

　　"What's this? Won't let me leave? Hmm?"

　　His clean scent washed over my face, carrying the faint medicinal scent from his healing wound and the burning warmth that was uniquely his. My ears burned.

　　I looked up at him, biting my lip as I forced the words out through clenched teeth, shame burning with every syllable. "I have never been marked by anyone."

　　A flicker of surprise flashed in Cale's dark eyes.

　　After all, Cale had sent Ryan to investigate me. He knew I had dated Elias for three years and lived with him for over a year. Everyone in Mooncrest Pack knew I had chased Elias for years. Given that history, it was no wonder he found it hard to believe I was unmarked.

　　He said nothing. He only looked down at me, as if trying to determine whether I was telling the truth. After several seconds, he reached out and brushed away a stray tear from my cheek. His fingertips were cool.

　　"You'd better not be lying to me."

　　Before I could react, he swept me into his arms. I lost my balance and instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck.

　　Ryan pulled the door open. My father was about to storm in, but he stopped dead when he saw me in the arms of a stranger. A man who was not Elias.

　　My father roared, "Who are you? How dare you come here and cause trouble!"

　　Cale carried me two steps toward the elevator before stopping. He turned his head, the corner of his mouth curving into a cold smile.

　　"I'm her Fated Mate."