CHAPTER FIVE

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• Marked by the Red-Eyed Alpha   CHAPTER TEN

  KairoIt was noon when we arrived at Frost Pack, the cold biting at my skin, though my heat radiated outward like armor. My boots crushed the light frost that glazed the stone path, every step steady, unhurried. The wind here howled louder than ours back home, but it carried no threat.Weeks ago, my beta, Cael, had brought word of the upcoming summit. The location had been set for BloodClaw, as it always should have been. Ours was the oldest, strongest, most feared pack. But tradition had long been broken. I never allowed outsiders past our borders, and no one was foolish enough to insist. They’d chosen Frost Pack instead.I hadn’t planned to attend. I never did. Crowds, speeches, politics—pointless. Cael had already prepared to go in my place, like he always did but I changed my mind after hearing the reports. We had been standing near the edge of the northern cliffs, the late sun casting shadows over the jagged terrain below. Cael's expression was hard, jaw tight.“We lost three,” h

• Marked by the Red-Eyed Alpha   CHAPTER NINE

  It was finally the day of the summit. My pack compound buzzed with nervous energy, and even the wind felt sharper than usual. Wolves moved around with purpose, rushing to finish last-minute tasks, setting up tents, checking guest quarters, preparing food. A few guards had been posted along the outer ridges since dawn, and omegas were being assigned like pawns across the estate.Elder Mette, head of the servant ranks, stood in front of the announcement post with her usual no-nonsense scowl. She held a clipboard so tight I half-expected it to crack. One by one, names were called and tasks assigned. Naturally, she gave the cushy posts—Alpha offices, summit chambers, and high guest suites—to her favorite, tail-wagging Omegas. The overly obedient ones who knew how to keep their heads low and eyes down.Then she got to me."Auren. You're on outer stockroom and water duty. Report to Elder Dren."I blinked. Outer stockroom? That was practically in the trees.Figures. Elder Mette hated me. No

• Marked by the Red-Eyed Alpha   CHAPTER EIGHT

  Arnou walked across the yard near the water trough, alone, with his gaze fixed directly on me. That look wasn’t just dislike or irritation, it was colder and sharper. It carried a promise.My shoulders stiffened, but I didn't flinch. I held his gaze, kept my face blank. He wasn’t getting anything from me. Beside me, Mira shifted slightly. Neither of us spoke until he turned the corner.She let out a slow breath, rubbing her palm on her dress. “You saw that?”“Yeah.”“That look… It was so ominous.”I gave a small shrug. Not because I didn’t care, but because I didn’t want her to worry.“The fact that Zara and the others haven’t said a word since that day? That’s what scares me. It's like they're planning something dangerous.”“Probably,” I said, wiping my hands again even though they weren’t dirty.“Ren. I’m serious.”“I know.”“You’re too calm.”I shrugged. “You want me to panic? I’ll do it later. Privately. With snacks.” She rolled her eyes, but didn’t smile.The truth? I was worried

• Marked by the Red-Eyed Alpha   CHAPTER SEVEN

  I crouched low in the storeroom, sorting dried herbs into old cloth sacks. My fingers itched from the dust, but I liked the quiet. Mira was beside me, gently wiping salve jars with a cloth, her hum soft under her breath. She didn’t talk much. That’s why I liked working with her.“Do you think this batch is still good?” she asked, holding up a pale green bottle.I leaned in, sniffed. “Smells like tree bark dipped in swamp water.”“So… bad?”“Very bad.” She chuckled and set it aside. I smiled to myself. Mira's laughter was rare, but real. Then the storeroom door creaked open.“Herbs and harmony,” Rowan said, stepping in. “Never thought I’d find the great Ren kneeling like a kitchen hand.”I smirked. “Careful. These kitchen hands know how to crush your windpipe with a cinnamon stick.”He chuckled and dropped to a crouch beside me, easy and familiar. “Need a hand?”“We’re managing just fine.”“I can see that,” he said, brushing dust off a jar. “Mira, you okay letting me take over?”Mira g

• Marked by the Red-Eyed Alpha   CHAPTER SIX

  We gathered in the courtyard as soon as the bell stopped ringing. Every pack member, from the smallest pup to the oldest elder, stood shoulder to shoulder in silence. No one spoke. Not even the warriors, who usually couldn’t keep their mouths shut unless ordered. I shifted my weight, trying not to show the way my ribs protested. Mira stood beside me, her fingers twitching. Then he came. Alpha Boris stepped forward, towering in dark leathers that hugged his broad shoulders. He didn’t need to speak to command attention. His presence did that on its own. Cold grey eyes swept over us like a blade, calm but lethal. His dark hair, streaked faintly with silver, was pulled back from a scar that ran along his temple. No one knew how he got it, and no one dared ask. Beside him stood Beta Magnus. Younger, leaner, always with his jaw tight like he was biting back words. And then Luna Nora, regal and still, with that unreadable expression she wore like a mask. Even her beauty was sharp. Untouc

• Marked by the Red-Eyed Alpha   CHAPTER FIVE

  The wolf lunged. That’s when I moved. I reached into my boot and whipped out a slim, silver blade. I drove it hard into Sylah’s hind leg as she soared toward me. Thud. She hit the ground howling, her form flickering in and out and her leg twitching violently. Zara’s scream tore through the clearing. “You bitch! You used wolfsbane on her?!” Duhh… I wasn’t stupid enough to show up empty-handed. I knew they wouldn't fight fair so I brought my own backups. They were illegal, of course. But laws meant little where they were concerned. “She’s still breathing,” I said, backing away. My ribs screamed with every breath, but I stood tall. “You guys never planned to have a fair fight, right?” Derek grabbed my shoulder and slammed me down hard. My ribs flared with agony. His boot pressed to my back. I pushed it off and staggered backwards. Arnou came at me next. I barely ducked. His fist skimmed my shoulder, but I grabbed a chunk of broken wood from the crate behind me and swung it hard.