Chapter 468 - MARK

During the five minute drive, no one talked inside the car. Hope was staring at the flashing trees out there, yet the truth was; she was checking on Kace through his reflection on the surface of glass. 

Deep down, she was thrilled knowing Kace had returned and was sitting next to her, but she was also anxious because he didn't say anything ever since they were only alone inside the car. 

Hope wanted to break the silence, but was unsure about what she had to say to him. a 'hallo' would be too weird. 

When the car finally stopped in front of the house, Calleb turned off the engine, but didn't get out from the car while Hope unbuckled her seatbelt. 

"Don't you want to say something to me?" Kace turned his body and stopped what Hope was doing. He strapped her again. 

"No." Hope raised her head and snapped at him, she could see Kace furrowed his eyebrows. 

"Are you sure?" Kace ignored Hope attempted to free her hand from his grip. 

"Yes."

"You don't want to scold me?"

"No."

"Curse at me?"

"No."

"Hit me or kick me?"

"Will you hit me back?" Hope narrowed her eyes. 

Kace chuckled upon hearing that. "I will never do that, even if you kill me I will die in peace."

"You are being hypocrite." Hope bit the hand that gripped her. She thought, she would hear Kace's scream or at least his breath hitched. But there was nothing. 

When Hope peeked at him through her long lashes, she watched how Kace didn't even flinch, he stared at her with this serene look on his face. 

Realized it was a futile attempt to hurt him, Hope let go his hand and opened the car door, stomped her feet toward the house. 

However, before she could reach the door, Kace had stopped her by pulling her body against his sturdy chest. His warm breath fanned her nape and this sent shivered down her spine along with the spark that erupted from their skin to skin contact. 

Hope remembered how she missed this feeling. 

"I miss you my sweet Hope." Kace whispered to her ears, his hoarse voice laced with longing. 

"You don't miss me enough to call me." Hope said those words through gritted teeth. She didn't know she was this upset because of Kace's absence. But, right now she felt like crying because she was agitated. 

"I want to, but it's a little bit complicated back then." Kace frowned when he remembered what he had been through just to settle down here a little bit longer. 

"But, you called Lana. You talked to her." Hope remembered how she caught Lana was talking to Kace over the phone and he would hang up without asking about her. 

"I can't talk to you. There was something going on at that time." Kace said in apologetic tone. His arms tightened around Hope's body as he buried his face on her shoulder. 

Being hugged from behind like this, has its own advantage because Kace wouldn't be able to see her face, which had turned into a bright red. 

But, she forgot, Kace could hear her heartbeat that thumping wildly against her chest and he smiled to know he had this affect on her. 

Hope, being angry, was within his prediction. However, it was also warm his heart to know she still cared for him. 

"Can you stop doing that in front of my house?" 

Hope was startled when she heard Serefina's cold voice, she immediately wiggled her body out of Kace's arms, but Kace didn't seem to mind it when the witch glowered at him. 

Kace put his arms around Hope's waist as he turned around to face Serefina whose face had turned unsightly.

"Can you explain it to me why the hell you are a teacher in her school?!" Serefina's short red hair tied in the same style as Kace. 

Kace grinned. "Let's go inside and talk." 

"Really Kace! I really wanted to burn you alive!" Serefina bellowed as she sent the lycan a dagger look. 

Behind Serefina it was Lana, she was still wearing the same clothes that she used in the school. Apparently she just came. 

"I hope she really burns you alive." Hope commented as she swatted Kace's hand away from her waist. 

"Do you think you can escape?" Kace grabbed Hope's wrist and pulled her back until her small body bumped his chest. "We still have something to talk to."

"No, we don't." Hope refused to look at into his eyes. Her voice was coming hoarser. "There is nothing I want to talk to you."

That was a lie. Hope really wanted to pursue his explanation for leaving without any news. 

"Of course there is. Let's start with the guy named Oliver." Kace grabbed Hope's shoulder and put her arm- length. "Do you think you can escape after you betray me, you foolish girl." Kace knocked her head gently before he leaned down and kissed the spot where he hit her, just like years ago. 

"I don't betray you!" Hope snapped at him, but couldn't help the blush that spread around her face. "I don't accept that mate thing, remember?!"

Kace shrugged and grinned at her. "Whether you accept it or not, since you have marked me, I will stake my claim on you."

"Mark? When did I mark you?" Hope frowned, as long as she knew from the sibling, the lycan would stake their claim by leaving a mark on their mate's neck.

Hope had seen the mark on Sophia's neck and it was beautiful. She wanted it too… 

Ah! No! No! 

Hope shook her head inwardly. 

"You bit me and left your mark." Kace raised the hand that Hope had bitten when they were inside the car. "Wait for my turn to mark you, babe." He winked at her before walked inside the house to face the angry witch. 

"That's not a mark!" Hope screamed in frustration, but all she could hear was Kace's laughter.