[Decode]

Так?

<style>
    a {
      display: inline-block;
      padding: 10px 20px;
      border: 2px solid red;
      font: 1em/1.2 Tahoma, sans-serif;
    }
    
    a:hover > span:before {
      content: 'bla-bla '
    }
    
    a:hover > span {
      color: red;
    }
</style>

<a href="">
    <span>Link</span>
</a>