Claimed by the Enigma

Chapter 4

Something Has Changed
Pavel opened his eyes slowly.
The first thing he noticed was the ceiling.
The second was the arm around his waist.
He froze.
Pooh was sitting beside him, one hand supporting his back while the other rested lightly against his shoulder.
Pavel immediately pulled away.
"What happened?"
Pooh let him move without trying to stop him.
"You fainted."
Pavel looked around.
They were still in the Kritten mansion, but he was now lying on a large sofa in one of the guest rooms.
His fingers went to his neck.
The burning sensation was gone.
"What was that?"
Pooh didn't answer.
Pavel looked at him.
"I asked you a question."
"The bond reacted."
"To what?"
"I don't know."
Pavel frowned.
That was the first time he'd heard uncertainty in Pooh's voice.
Before he could ask anything else, the door opened.
Pooh's mother walked in with a glass of water.
"How are you feeling?"
Pavel sat up.
"Fine."
She handed him the glass.
"Drink."
He hesitated before taking it.
"Thank you."
She nodded and sat across from him.
Her expression was much softer than before.
Pavel noticed.
"What happened?"
"You collapsed."
"I know that."
"You were unconscious for almost twenty minutes."
Pavel looked at Pooh.
"And nobody thought to call my family?"
"Your father knows," Pooh said.
Pavel relaxed slightly.
Then he remembered the strange sensation that had passed through his body.
He looked down at his hands.
"Something felt different."
Pooh's mother exchanged a glance with her son.
Pavel caught it.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Don't lie to me."
She sighed.
"Your pheromones changed."
Pavel's eyes widened.
"What?"
"Only slightly."
Pavel immediately looked toward Pooh.
"What does that mean?"
Pooh answered this time.
"It means the bond is becoming stronger."
Pavel stood.
"I don't want it to become stronger."
Pooh's eyes followed him.
"Neither did I expect it to happen this quickly."
Pavel's anger faded for a moment.
"You didn't?"
Pooh shook his head.
"No."
Pavel stared at him.
He had expected Pooh to have all the answers.
For the first time, he realized that maybe he didn't.
That somehow made everything even more frightening.
"What happens if it keeps getting stronger?"
Pooh's mother stood.
"We don't know."
Pavel's eyes narrowed.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
"Because Enigma bonds are unpredictable."
She walked toward the door.
"For now, you need rest."
Pavel wanted to argue, but she was already leaving.
Before she stepped out, she looked back at him.
"One more thing."
Pavel waited.
"Do not let anyone outside this family examine your mark."
His eyebrows drew together.
"Why?"
"Because there are people who would pay a fortune to study an Enigma bond."
The door closed.
Pavel stood silently.
Pooh was still sitting on the sofa.
"Your family has a lot of enemies."
Pooh gave a faint smile.
"More than you can imagine."
Pavel sat back down.
"Why are people so afraid of Enigmas?"
Pooh looked at him.
"Because they don't understand us."
"Do you?"
Pooh was quiet.
"Sometimes."
Pavel studied his face.
There was something about Pooh that he couldn't figure out.
Everyone described him as dangerous.
Powerful.
Untouchable.
But right now, sitting quietly in front of him, Pooh looked almost normal.
Almost.
Pavel looked away.
"Can I go home?"
"Yes."
Pavel looked at him.
"Really?"
"If you want to."
That answer surprised him.
Pooh stood.
"I'll take you."
"I don't need you to."
"I know."
Pavel frowned.
"Then why?"
"Because there are reporters outside."
Pavel sighed.
Of course.
He had almost forgotten.
They left the room together.
As they walked through the mansion, Pavel noticed several people watching them.
Some whispered.
Others immediately looked away.
He wondered what they had heard.
At the front entrance, security guards were already waiting.
Pooh's car stood outside.
Pavel stopped.
"I can take my father's car."
Pooh shook his head.
"Your father's car is surrounded by reporters."
Pavel looked toward the gates.
He could hear the shouting.
"Mr. Kritten!"
"Is Pavel Naret your bonded partner?"
"Is the marriage happening?"
"Why did you mark an Alpha?"
Pavel's stomach tightened.
"Marriage?"
He looked at Pooh.
"Why are they asking about marriage?"
Pooh's expression didn't change.
"My family hasn't announced anything."
"Then where did they get it?"
Pooh looked toward the reporters.
"Someone started the rumor."
Pavel frowned.
"Who?"
Pooh didn't answer.
Instead, he opened the car door.
"Get in."
Pavel hesitated.
Then he climbed inside.
The drive was quiet.
Pavel stared out the window.
He couldn't stop thinking about everything that had happened.
The mark.
The bond.
His changing pheromones.
The strange pain.
And now the rumors.
He turned toward Pooh.
"Do you actually intend to marry me?"
Pooh kept his eyes on the road.
"If you don't want to, I won't force you."
Pavel was silent.
That wasn't the answer he expected.
"But your family..."
"They can say whatever they want."
"And your grandfather?"
"He isn't the one making my decisions."
Pavel studied him.
"So what do you want?"
Pooh glanced at him briefly.
"You."
Pavel's heart skipped.
He immediately looked away.
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
Pavel shook his head.
"You barely know me."
"I know enough."
"How?"
Pooh was quiet for a moment.
Then he said, "Because the bond lets me feel things about you."
Pavel turned sharply.
"What things?"
"Your emotions."
Pavel's face changed.
"You can feel what I'm feeling?"
"Sometimes."
"Since when?"
"Since I marked you."
Pavel stared at him.
"Can you hear my thoughts?"
"No."
Relief washed over him.
Then Pooh added,
"But I can feel when you're afraid."
Pavel looked away.
"I'm not afraid."
Pooh's lips curved slightly.
"You're afraid right now."
Pavel glared at him.
"I hate you."
Pooh nodded.
"I know."
The car stopped outside Pavel's home.
His father was already waiting.
Pavel opened the door.
Before he stepped out, Pooh spoke.
"Pavel."
He turned.
"Don't ignore the changes in your body."
Pavel frowned.
"What changes?"
"Anything unusual."
"Why?"
Pooh's expression became serious.
"Because the bond is still developing."
Pavel stared at him.
"And if something happens?"
"Call me."
Pavel almost laughed.
"Why would I call you?"
"Because I'll know before anyone else does."
Pavel closed the door.
He walked toward his house without looking back.
But he didn't see the way Pooh watched him until he disappeared inside.
Neither of them noticed the black car parked across the street.
A man sat inside, watching Pavel through tinted glass.
He lifted his phone.
"The bond is active."
A voice answered from the other end.
"And the Alpha?"
The man smiled.
"He has no idea what he's carrying."
A pause.
"Good."
The call ended.
Inside the house, Pavel suddenly stopped walking.
His hand went to his chest.
His heart had started beating strangely again.
Then he felt it.
A faint warmth beneath his skin.
He looked down at his stomach.
For a moment, there was nothing.
Then the warmth spread.
Pavel's face slowly changed.
Something was happening.
And this time, Pooh wasn't there to feel it.