LOGINShare
Chapter 21
publish date:
2026-04-18 15:07:10The air changed first.
Not loudly.
Not obviously.
Just… subtly wrong.
Eli noticed it while walking with Charlotte.
The way people nearby seemed to drift further apart.
The way conversations dulled.
The way even the wind felt… delayed.
“…Do you feel that?” Eli muttered.
Charlotte tilted her head.
“Feel what?”
Eli stopped walking.
“…Nothing.”
But his instincts weren’t calming down.
They were sharpening.
Charlotte stepped closer to him instinctively.
“You’re doing that thing again,” she said softly.
“What thing?”
“The one where you get quiet like something’s wrong.”
Eli let out a small breath.
“…Something usually is.”
Charlotte didn’t laugh this time.
She just looked at him.
“…Is it him again?”
Eli hesitated.
Then—
“…No.”
That was the truth.
For once.
Because this didn’t feel like Kieran.
This felt… external.
Wrong in a different way.
A car passed slowly behind them.
Too slowly.
Eli turned his head slightly.
“…Okay. That’s weird.”
Charlotte frowned.
“Eli?”
Before he could answer—
The sound of footsteps cut through the street.
Multiple.
From different directions.
Eli’s body reacted before his mind did.
He stepped slightly in front of Charlotte.
“…Stay behind me.”
Charlotte stiffened.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know yet.”
That was worse.
Because Eli never said that.
The footsteps stopped.
Silence.
Then—
Three figures stepped into view.
Not locals.
Not random passersby.
Their presence felt… organized.
Intentional.
Charlotte took a small step back.
“…Eli…”
Eli didn’t move his eyes from them.
“…Yeah. I see them.”
One of the men tilted his head.
“Eli.”
His name.
Eli’s stomach tightened.
“…Who are you?”
No answer.
Instead—
They moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
Eli pushed Charlotte back instantly.
“Run.”
“What—”
“RUN.”
She hesitated for half a second—
Then turned and ran.
Good.
Eli exhaled sharply.
“…Okay.”
He cracked his knuckles slightly.
“…Now it’s my problem.”
The first attacker reached him—
Eli dodged.
Not perfectly.
But enough.
He felt the strike graze his side.
“…Tch.”
Second one came in—
Eli blocked.
Barely.
The third circled.
Smart.
Coordinated.
“…You’re trained,” Eli muttered.
No response.
Just pressure.
Movement.
Force.
Eli fought back.
Messy.
Raw.
Not polished like Kieran’s training—but effective.
Still—
They were stronger than expected.
Eli staggered slightly after a hit to his shoulder.
“…Okay. That hurt.”
Then—
A shift.
The air broke.
A pressure dropped into the space like gravity changed.
All three attackers froze.
Even Eli felt it.
He turned his head slightly.
“…No way…”
Kieran stood at the edge of the street.
Still.
Quiet.
But his eyes—
Were not.
They were locked onto the attackers.
Not Eli.
Not Charlotte.
Just them.
“…Step away,” Kieran said.
Soft.
Controlled.
Dangerously calm.
One attacker hesitated.
Then attacked anyway.
That was their mistake.
Kieran moved.
It wasn’t a fight.
It was an execution of efficiency.
One step.
A strike.
The attacker dropped instantly.
The second tried to react—
Already too late.
Pinned.
Disarmed.
Done.
The third tried to retreat—
Kieran appeared in front of him.
Like he was never moving at all.
“…You touched him.”
The words were quiet.
But final.
The attacker didn’t answer.
He didn’t get the chance.
A sharp movement—
And he was down.
Silence returned instantly.
Too fast.
Too absolute.
Eli stood there, breathing slightly heavier.
“…Yeah,” he muttered. “That’s not normal.”
Kieran turned slowly.
His gaze finally landed on Eli.
Then—
Charlotte, who had returned halfway, frozen at a distance.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“…You let her run,” he said.
Eli frowned.
“…Obviously.”
Kieran stepped closer.
“Why is she involved in this?”
Eli exhaled sharply.
“…Because she’s with me.”
That sentence—
Hit something.
Kieran’s expression shifted.
Barely.
But it was there.
“…That’s why they came,” Kieran said quietly.
Eli blinked.
“…What?”
Kieran didn’t answer immediately.
Then—
“…You were exposed.”
Eli’s stomach dropped slightly.
“…Exposed to who?”
Kieran’s gaze darkened.
“People who shouldn’t know you exist.”
Charlotte stepped forward slightly.
“Eli… what is he talking about?”
Eli didn’t answer.
Because he didn’t know.
Not fully.
Kieran stepped closer again.
Now between them.
Protective.
Possessive.
Focused.
“…This doesn’t end here,” he said.
Eli frowned.
“…It just did.”
Kieran shook his head.
“No.”
A pause.
Then quieter—
“They know you matter now.”
Eli stared at him.
“…Matter to who?”
Kieran finally looked directly at him.
And for the first time—
There was something almost… conflicted there.
“…To them.”
Eli exhaled sharply.
“…Great.”
Charlotte stepped closer to Eli again.
“I don’t understand what’s happening,” she said softly.
Eli looked at her.
Then back at Kieran.
Then—
“…Neither do I.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Broken.
Then Kieran spoke again.
Quieter.
“…You should leave her.”
Eli snapped his head toward him immediately.
“…No.”
Instant.
No hesitation.
Kieran didn’t react loudly.
But something in his eyes tightened.
“…Then she becomes a target.”
Charlotte went still.
Eli stepped forward.
“Don’t talk about her like that.”
Kieran held his gaze.
“I’m stating fact.”
Eli’s voice lowered.
“…Then I’ll deal with it.”
Kieran’s expression darkened slightly.
“…You can’t.”
Eli scoffed.
“…Watch me.”
Silence again.
Then Kieran looked away slightly.
Not defeated.
Not convinced.
Just—
Thinking.
Then he said quietly:
“…You don’t understand what you’re protecting.”
Eli exhaled sharply.
“…Then explain it.”
Kieran didn’t.
Of course.
But this time—
His silence felt heavier.
Less like avoidance.
More like restriction.
Like something inside him was holding him back from saying too much.
From a distance—
Two figures watched everything unfold.
“…So that’s him.”
“…Yes.”
The first smiled slightly.
“He’s stronger than expected.”
The second replied:
“That’s why he’s dangerous.”
A pause.
Then—
“And the boy?”
Silence.
Then—
“…Still unaware.”
A faint chuckle.
“Good.”
Kieran didn’t move immediately.
His gaze stayed on Eli.
Longer than necessary.
Then—
“…Go home,” he said quietly.
Eli frowned.
“…You don’t tell me what to do.”
Kieran’s eyes narrowed slightly.
But he didn’t argue.
Instead—
He stepped back.
Creating distance.
For now.
But the look he gave Eli before turning away said everything:
This wasn’t over.
Not even close.
Latest chapter
Marked by the Alpha King Chapter 45
Grief didn’t disappear.It just… shifted.Less explosive.More constant.Like a weight Eli had learned to carry—But not one he had learned to live with.MORNING__The next morning came quieter.Not empty like before.But fragile.Like everything could still break if pushed too hard.Eli sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his phone.New.Unfamiliar in his hand.But necessary.Because there was something he hadn’t done.Something he had been avoiding without realizing it.His parents.He pressed the call button.Held the phone to his ear.It rang.Once.Twice.Three times.Then—Nothing.Call failed.Eli frowned.“…Network?”He tried again.This time it rang longer.But still—No answer.No callback.No message.Nothing.Eli lowered the phone slowly.A strange feeling crept in.Not panic.Not yet.Just… unease.“…That’s weird.”He tried again.Same result.And again.Still nothing.His grip tightened slightly around the phone.Because something didn’t feel right.Not after everythi
Marked by the Alpha King Chapter 44
Morning didn’t feel like a new beginning.It felt like something that came too soon.The curtains were slightly open.A thin line of sunlight slipped into the room.Soft.Uninvited.Eli stirred.Slowly.His body felt heavy.Like sleep hadn’t rested him at all.Like something inside him was still… aching.His eyes opened halfway.Blurred.Then clearer.And that was when he realized—He wasn’t alone.He was leaning against something warm.Solid.Steady.His fingers were curled into fabric.Someone’s shirt.Eli blinked.Then stiffened slightly.Kieran.The memory didn’t come all at once.Just pieces.Fragments.The crying.The words.The way he… broke.And the fact that—He hadn’t pushed Kieran away.That realization alone made his chest tighten.Eli moved carefully.Slowly untangling himself.Like sudden movement would make it worse.Kieran didn’t stop him.But his eyes were already open.Watching.Quiet.“…You’re awake.”Eli avoided his gaze.“…Yeah.”His voice was rough.Not just from
Marked by the Alpha King Chapter 43
Grief doesn’t always explode.Sometimes—It waits.It builds.Quietly.Until one moment—One small, insignificant moment—Breaks everything.EVENING — TOO QUIET__The room was dim again.Not completely dark.Just enough light to exist in.Eli sat on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing.His hands rested on his knees.Still.Too still.Kieran stood by the window, arms folded, watching him without making it obvious.He had learned—Eli didn’t like being watched.But he also couldn’t leave him alone.Not anymore.It was small.So small it shouldn’t have mattered.A sound.Soft.Faint.From outside.Someone laughing.Light.Carefree.Normal.Eli’s fingers twitched.Just once.Then again.His breathing shifted.Shallow.Uneven.Kieran noticed immediately.“…Eli?”No response.Eli’s head tilted slightly.Like he was listening.“…That laugh…”His voice came out barely above a whisper.“…It sounds like her…”Kieran’s chest tightened.“…It’s not—”“I know.”Eli cut him off.Quickly.Too qui
Marked by the Alpha King Chapter 42
Grief didn’t pass.It settled.Heavy.Permanent.Like something had taken root inside Eli’s chest and refused to leave.DAYS LATER__Time moved.But Eli didn’t.He stopped keeping track of days.Stopped caring about morning or night.Everything felt the same.Gray.Empty.He barely left his room anymore.Barely spoke.Barely ate.Sometimes he drank.Sometimes he just sat there doing nothing.And sometimes—He lay there staring at nothing for hours.Not sleeping.Not thinking.Just… existing.KIERAN__Kieran noticed everything.Every skipped meal.Every restless night.Every moment Eli tried to disappear into himself.And this time—He didn’t stay distant.Eli had fallen asleep sitting up.Back against the wall.Bottle still loose in his hand.His head tilted slightly, breath uneven.Not peaceful.Never peaceful.Kieran stood at the doorway for a moment.Watching.Something in his chest tightening.Then slowly—He walked in.Quiet.Careful.Like approaching something fragile.He crouch
Marked by the Alpha King Chapter 41
The estate became quiet again.But this time—It wasn’t calm.It was empty.THE DAY AFTER__No one spoke loudly anymore.Even the guards moved differently.Carefully.As if sound itself might break something fragile.Because everyone knew—Something had broken.And it wasn’t something that could be fixed.Eli hadn’t moved much since it happened.At first, they tried to take Charlotte away.Prepare her.Lay her to rest properly.But Eli didn’t let go.Not immediately.Not easily.“…Leave her.”His voice had been low.But final.No one argued.Not even Kieran.So they gave him time.More than they should have.Because no one had the strength to force him.He sat alone in the room they gave him.Curtains drawn.Lights off.The air felt heavy.Stale.Untouched.Eli sat on the floor, back against the bed.Charlotte’s bracelet was still in his hand.He didn’t remember picking it up.But he hadn’t let it go since.His eyes were open.But unfocused.Like he was looking at something that wasn’
Marked by the Alpha King Chapter 40
The tension that had been building for days finally snapped.Not quietly.Not slowly.But violently.BEFORE THE STORM__The estate was too calm.That kind of calm that made even breathing feel loud.Eli stood outside near the training grounds, rolling his shoulders after sparring. Sweat clung to his skin, his chest rising and falling steadily.Charlotte sat nearby, watching him with a small smile.“…You’re getting better,” she said.Eli huffed lightly.“…Don’t let him hear you say that.”Charlotte laughed softly.“…Why? You think he’ll get jealous?”Eli glanced away.“…He already is.”Charlotte noticed the shift in his tone—but before she could respond—A sound cut through the air.Sharp.Wrong.Not training.Not normal.“INTRUDERS!”The shout echoed across the estate.Everything moved at once.Guards rushing.Weapons drawn.Orders being barked.Charlotte stood abruptly.“…Eli—”“Stay close to me.”His voice changed instantly—firm, protective, alert.The first attacker appeared like a
You may also like
Pregnant, I left him To His First Love
Collins Patrick 492.4K viewsHer Forbidden Alpha
Moonlight Muse1.0M viewsThe 5-time Rejected Gamma & the Lycan King
Stina’s Pen1.5M viewsThe Red Wolf's Mate
VikingMaiden77467.2K viewsHis Contract Luna Says Goodbye
Tai Kavari605 viewsThe Alpha's Mistaken Mate
Serena Harry318 viewsArranged Marriage To The Comatose Alpha King
Tiana649 viewsClaimed By The Wolf Kings
Fireheart.68 views
