The daily ritual of the Alpha Scent became Anya's worst humiliation. Every morning, Kaelan would apply the potent, masculine cologne to her pulse points—a declaration of ownership to the Pack and a constant psychological weight on Anya. The scent, a synthetic twin to Kaelan's primal musk, was suffocating.
Anya tried to fight it. She scrubbed her skin raw in the shower, attempting to wash away the scent and the heavy, calming influence of the bond, but it was futile. The cologne was designed to linger, and the bond was designed to accept the Alpha's mark.
One morning, she refused to cooperate, standing stiffly as Kaelan approached. "I am not your property, Alpha," she hissed. "This stops now."
Kaelan paused, his blue eyes intense. "Alpha Command: Submit to the Scent Affirmation."
The Command struck her, sharp and undeniable. Her knees threatened to buckle, but she forced herself to remain standing, trembling with the effort. Kaelan recognized the violent resistance but ignored it. He walked forward and applied the scent forcefully, his fingers lingering on her throat, right over the bite mark.
"The more you fight, Mate, the more the bond will punish you," he murmured, his breath hot against her ear. "The Clan sees the scent. They know you are untouchable. This is for your safety."
But his words rang hollow. Anya knew this was for his control.
Later, as she worked on the computer, Kaelan brought her a mug of coffee. It was a gesture of strange domesticity, completely at odds with his earlier dominance. The bond pulsed with a stabilizing warmth. As she took the mug, their fingers brushed. The contact was brief, but the resulting surge of possessiveness from Kaelan was so potent that Anya nearly dropped the hot mug. His possessive instinct was spiraling out of his control.
Anya realized the scenting was triggering Kaelan's own primal urges, making him constantly aware of his claimed Mate. The ritual designed to control her was beginning to break him.