Chapter three

Alice's POV

A hand tipped with wicked-looking claws sliced through the air towards me. I ducked just in time, feeling the rush of air brush against my skin before delivering a hard punch to my opponent's stomach.

Marcus let out a grunt and stumbled backwards, one hand pressed against his stomach.

I smirked as I straightened up. "Still too weak, Marcus."

I walked towards the table, grabbed a bottle of water, and drank half of it in one go. My chest rose and fell slightly from the exercise, but I wasn't nearly as tired as I expected to be, considering I had barely slept after last night.

"Damn, you're good," Marcus admitted, rubbing his stomach. There was genuine admiration in his voice. "But how do you manage to fight like this when…" He trailed off, letting out a heavy sigh.

I knew exactly what he wanted to say. How could a girl without a wolf take down the leader of the pack warriors? It was unheard of.

I turned towards him with a smirk. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? Next time, don't judge a book by its cover."

I placed my hands on my waist proudly.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it." Marcus bent slightly, still trying to catch his breath. "But are you ever going to tell your family about this strength of yours?"

I dropped heavily into a chair and took another sip of water.

"Let them think whatever they want. I don't care."

"And what about Nathan? Have you forgotten about him already?"

My grip tightened around the bottle. Of course I hadn't forgotten Nathan. Three years wasn't something I could erase overnight, no matter how much I wished I could. But I wasn't about to tell Marcus that.

"I'm used to disappointment." I shrugged, forcing a calmness into my voice. "Besides, what am I supposed to do? Meet him somewhere and slap the hell out of him?"

Marcus snorted. "Honestly, I've never liked that guy."

I glanced at him and almost laughed. With his brown hair, brown eyes, and surprisingly delicate features, Marcus hardly looked like the kind of man who could take down a warrior twice his size. Yet he had earned his position through hard work, and he had never treated me like I was worthless just because I didn't have a wolf.

He was the closest thing to family I had outside my own miserable home.

A thought suddenly crossed my mind. What if I asked him to marry me?

I stared at him for a moment, imagining how ridiculous the conversation would be. Marcus would probably think I'd lost my mind. Besides, I couldn't drag him into my family's mess just because I needed a way out.

I sighed.

"What's wrong?" Marcus asked, his expression turning serious. He reached over and brushed his fingers lightly against my arm. "Alice, you know you can tell me anything."

"Oh, it's nothing." I quickly looked away. I didn't want him worrying about me again.

"Well, well, look who's here."

Eliza's familiar, sly voice came from behind us.

I rolled my eyes before turning around. Of course. Apparently, the Moon Goddess had decided I hadn't suffered enough for one day.

Eliza stood at the entrance with Nathan beside her. He looked as handsome as ever, but his expression changed slightly when his eyes met mine. His gaze lingered for a moment before he frowned, as though he wasn't pleased to find me there.

What was wrong with him? Had he expected me to spend the day crying over him?

Eliza handed a bag to Nathan before walking towards me, her lips curling into a mocking smile.

"So, sister, how's the search going? Have you found yourself a husband yet?"

I leaned back in my chair. "Why? Are you worried I'll borrow yours?"

Her smile faltered for a second before she recovered.

"You're still as delusional as ever." She looked me up and down. "The seer must have been blind to think anyone would want you."

I clenched my jaw, but before I could reply, she pulled a card from the bag Nathan was holding and waved it in front of my face.

"Actually, I came to give you something." She placed the card in my hand. "Nathan and I are getting married on the next Eve Festival. I hope you'll come, sister."

I stared at the invitation. Nathan and I had been together for three years. He had held my hand, kissed me, and promised me a future together. He had encouraged me to reject my mate because he claimed I was the only woman he wanted. Now he was inviting me to watch him marry my sister.

How thoughtful.

"You're welcome to keep the invitation," Eliza added sweetly. "I'm sure you'll enjoy watching us begin our new life together."

Before I could throw the card back at her, she turned towards Nathan, grabbed the front of his shirt, and pulled him into a kiss.

I looked away, but not before seeing his hands settle on her waist. They kissed for several seconds, completely unconcerned about the fact that I was standing right in front of them.

My fingers tightened around the invitation until the edges bent.

When Eliza finally pulled away, she smiled at me as though she had just won something. Then she took Nathan's hand, and they walked away together. I watched Nathan follow her without looking back.

"You're not going to let them get away with this, are you?" Marcus asked behind me.

I looked down at the invitation in my hand. Let them get away with it?

No. I had spent too many years allowing people to treat me however they wanted. If Nathan and Eliza thought I would spend the rest of my life hiding in a corner while they laughed at me, they had another thing coming.

My gaze drifted towards the card again, and suddenly, a thought occurred to me. Nathan hated Rowan.

The moment Rowan had entered the hall, Nathan had looked as though he had seen a ghost. He had practically jumped out of his seat at the sight of him.

Nathan had told me Rowan killed his father. Nathan had also told me he loved me. I wasn't sure I believed either of them anymore.

And Rowan was handsome. Annoyingly handsome, actually.

I had been so blinded by my feelings for Nathan that I had barely paid attention to the man I was supposed to spend my life with.

A slow smile spread across my face. What if I married Rowan?

It would solve my problem with the Brickwells, and Nathan would have to watch the woman he had discarded marry the very man he seemed to despise. Two birds with one stone. Of course, there was one tiny problem. I had rejected Rowan only yesterday. And I had absolutely no idea whether he would agree to marry me.

"Alice?" Marcus called, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I stood up and tossed the invitation onto the table.

"I'm leaving."

"Where are you going?"

"To see someone."

"Who?"

I gave him a smile. "Someone who might just save me from a very inconvenient marriage."

Before he could ask another question, I hurried out of the training hall.

The journey to Rowan's residence felt longer than it should have. My father had given him the old Beta's house at the edge of the pack lands, the one nobody had lived in since Nathan's father died. By the time I arrived, I was beginning to question whether this was a good idea.

His house stood apart from the other residences, surrounded by tall trees and an unnerving silence. The dark exterior gave the place a cold, almost threatening appearance. I swallowed and approached the door.

What was I supposed to say? Hello, I rejected you yesterday, but would you mind marrying me anyway? I nearly turned around.

No. I had come this far, and I wasn't going to leave without trying.

I knocked.

After a couple of minutes, the door finally opened. A middle-aged man with black-and-white hair stood before me, his eyes narrowing slightly when he recognised me. It was Garrick, who had served the old Beta before Rowan was sent away.

"Miss Alice. What brings you here?"

"I came to see Rowan." I straightened my shoulders. "My father asked me to deliver a message."

The lie slipped out before I could reconsider it.

Garrick studied me for a moment before stepping aside. "Come in."

I entered cautiously, my eyes scanning the dimly lit interior. Before I could ask where Rowan was, I saw him standing a short distance away.

Those ocean-brown eyes settled on me, cold and unreadable. My confidence wavered.

"Drop the message and leave," he said flatly, already turning away.

Panic rose in my chest.

"Wait!"

He stopped but didn't turn around. I hurried forward and caught his hand. The mark on my wrist flared hot the moment my fingers closed around his. His head turned slightly, and his gaze dropped to my fingers wrapped around his. A frown appeared on his face. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet his eyes.

I had one chance. One chance to escape the marriage my father had arranged and perhaps get back at Nathan at the same time.

"Marry me, Rowan," I blurted out.

He slowly turned to face me fully, his expression so cold that I almost wished I could take the words back.

"Have you lost your mind, Alice?" he asked.