Garrett's face was expressionless as he gave his orders."Arrest them both. Take them for interrogation."The pack dungeons were notorious hellholes. Aria's beautiful face went pale with terror."No! Garrett, I'm carrying your pup!""Whether it's mine or not, we'll know after testing. Take her away!"Aria and John's pleas for mercy continued echoing as they were dragged off.Garrett quickly issued new commands. "Send search parties to find Marcus and his sister. I want them found - alive or dead!""Also, investigate exactly what happened to the siblings before they left our territory..."His subordinates worked efficiently.Soon, Garrett received the full story of what had happened to us.After he'd publicly admitted I'd interfered with his bond, I'd nearly been beaten to death.When I'd finally recovered, even our parents' graves had been desecrated.And when we'd tried to escape the territory, Aria had sent assassins after us.Garrett couldn't understand why Aria harbored such hatred
Soon, news of my and Marcus's deaths reached the pack territory.Garrett showed a rare expression of panic."How could this happen?"Aria also heard the news and quickly lowered her head to hide her satisfied smile."Garrett, don't be upset. After what Sage did, it was inevitable she'd be targeted after leaving the territory..."She pretended to comfort him.Garrett seemed triggered by something and pushed Aria away."What did Sage do wrong? She never did anything wrong at all!""If I'd known this would happen, I never should have agreed to let you claim Sage interfered with our bond."Aria stared at him in shock, her eyes beginning to redden."Garrett, are you blaming me?"Garrett realized his words had been too harsh.After a pause, he sighed softly. "I'm not blaming you. I just think Sage was too innocent.""So you fell in love with her, is that it?"Aria asked with tears in her voice, then placed her hand over her stomach. "If that's the case, then I'll take the pup and leave. I wa
When I woke up again, I was in the pack's medical den.Despite our family having decent resources, we couldn't afford to hire any attendants.Only Marcus was there, bustling around my bedside.He looked at me with gravity and sadness in his eyes."Sage, let's move away. Leave this territory and find a new pack that doesn't know us.""But Marcus, if we leave here, Mom and Dad..."Marcus cut me off. "They won't blame us.""You're all I have left, Sage. I can't watch you get hurt again in front of me."Garrett's public admission had made me a target for everyone's hatred.It had nearly cost me my life.Marcus had never hated anyone this much before.But he also knew clearly that taking me away was all he could do.The future Alpha's power wasn't something an ex-pack warrior could challenge.Marcus paused, then looked at me again. "Or are you still reluctant to leave Garrett?""No, Marcus. I stopped loving him long ago."As soon as I finished speaking, the door to the medical den was pushe
"Marcus, I'm sorry."I looked at my brother's furious face and carefully apologized.He looked at me, then did something rare - he pulled me into his arms."I'm sorry, Sage. I had no idea you suffered so much because of that bastard Garrett. I should have figured it out sooner."My brother's words broke down my last defenses, and I couldn't stop crying."I'm sorry, Marcus. I was the one who pursued him, but I truly didn't know he was with Aria..."Garrett and Aria had hidden their relationship from many people.I wasn't the only one deceived - Marcus was too.That's why he understood just how badly I'd been betrayed."I know. Mom raised you well, Sage. You're not the kind of person who would interfere in someone else's relationship."That night, my relationship with Marcus grew closer than it had been in years.But the bad news started pouring in after yesterday's disaster."Anna, why was my application to study with other packs rejected?"I stared at the returned paperwork, disbelief
My mind went completely blank, but I still instinctively tried to explain."I'm leaving the territory! Why would I want to cause problems now?"All I got in return was Garrett's cold laugh."You didn't? Then who was it that used to desperately pump Marcus for information about me when you were chasing after me?"His words cut deep because they were true."How else do you explain taking advantage of me when I was drunk and emotionally vulnerable?""You must have been so proud when I agreed to be with you, weren't you?"Each accusation was designed to strip away my dignity."You think you're so clever, playing the victim now."Before Garrett could finish his character assassination, the door burst open.Both Marcus and Aria stood in the doorway.I saw the devastation on Marcus's face as he took in the scene.His sister cornered by his best friend.The intimate way Garrett was standing too close to me.The guilt written across both our faces.Then I caught Aria's expression - like she'd e
She paused, letting her gaze linger on my casual outfit."Why don't Garrett and I treat you both? You left so quickly yesterday, we didn't get to properly host you."Her words were polite, but the undercurrents were something only we understood.She was marking her territory.Showing that she was the one with the power to extend invitations.The one with the generous, mated Alpha beside her."No need."Both Garrett and I spoke at the same time.The simple synchronization was like a physical blow to the table's atmosphere.Aria's expression shifted immediately, her smile freezing in place.A flash of something dangerous crossed her features before she masked it.Marcus caught the strange tension and declined as well."That's not necessary. You just had your mating ceremony - we don't want to intrude on your time together."He gestured between Aria and Garrett."Besides, my sister is leaving soon to train with other packs. We might not see each other for years..."Before Marcus could fin