Chapter 5

Elara's POV

Adrian's words shocked me to the core, and I actually thought I'd misheard him.

"W-what?" I froze in place. "What marking ceremony? Did you hear anything I just said? I said Co—"

Adrian cut me off. "I need a mate bond to strengthen my power. Even without a child, I'm still giving you the chance to be marked by me. The Alpha King has appeared." He looked down at me coldly. "You don't want to?"

My throat tightened. After last night, I hadn't thought about being marked by him even once. The idea of his bite made my skin crawl.

But Cora had been taken.

If I refused him now, who else could save her?

My thoughts spun out of control, loud and chaotic, like a nest of hornets kicked open inside my head.

I took a deep breath. "I'll do it. But you have to promise to save Cora."

Adrian was silent for two seconds.

"After the marking."

Cora was in danger. Without werewolf backup, I didn't know what she would face.

"No." My voice was steady. "Save her now, or I won't accept the mark."

Adrian frowned hard, then turned away and made another call. I couldn't hear what he said, but it didn't matter.

There was only one thing on my mind.

I had to get Cora back, even if it cost me everything.

The next day, the marking ceremony was a mess. Wolves sat scattered around the hall, casual and bored. No one took it seriously. They all knew how this would end. At some point, Adrian would walk away again.

I stood at the entrance of the hall, the red carpet stretching out before me, my phone burning hot from constant pressing. Cora still didn't answer.

How many times have I tried? Tens of calls? Hundreds? I'd lost count. I'd been trying to reach her since last night.

I wanted her to pick up so badly.

Nearby, everyone whispered to each other. "She's probably texting Marielle and begging her not to ruin the ceremony."

"Elara, do you accept being marked by Alpha Adrian and becoming the Luna of the Midnight Pack?"

No one knew how much I hoped Marielle would call and stop this.

But she didn't.

Adrian had clearly warned her already.

I couldn't help but think it was ridiculous. This was how Adrian was. No one could ever make him sacrifice his own interests.

I took a breath and opened my mouth to answer.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through the back of my neck, and my vision went black.

Adrian ignored the way I was curled on the floor. He grabbed my shoulder and yanked me up hard.

"What are you doing?" he snapped.

The pain made my words fall apart. "It hurts..."

"Elara, you always embarrass me in public." His voice was cold and sharp. "But no matter how much you hesitate, the marking ceremony will be completed today."

He lowered his head and bit down.

The instant his teeth pierced my neck, the world seemed to explode. A violent ringing tore through my mind. The air felt ripped apart by some overwhelming force, as if something massive had surged up from deep underground.

Darkness swallowed my vision, a wave of vertigo hitting me so hard my world spun. I clutched my head and grabbed the podium just to stay upright.

It took a few seconds before my senses returned. Around me, there was absolute silence.

Then screams broke out.

"Alpha King!"

"It's the Alpha King's dominance!"

The Alpha King? At my marking ceremony?

I forced my eyes open, disbelief flooding me.

Everyone was on their knees, trembling. Werewolves clutched at each other's arms like they were holding on for survival in a storm.

However, I felt none of that crushing pressure.

But I didn't feel any pressure. Instead, a warm current spread slowly down my spine, as if sunlight itself was flowing through me. Everything felt light, almost weightless.

I straightened up slowly, the world around me fading into silence, leaving only the sound of my own breath.

That was when I saw the doors of the hall swing open.

The next second, a terrifying wave of dominance crashed in. I looked toward its source.

At the entrance stood the same fierce werewolves who had taken Cora.

And when I saw the man leading them, my breath nearly stopped. I clutched my chest, barely keeping myself standing.

It was the man from that night, the stranger I had spent the night with.

He was the Alpha King?!

His expression was cold and lethal. Those golden eyes held nothing but contempt as he swept his gaze across the hall, like he was looking at a pile of trash.

The werewolves beside me trembled, letting out low, instinctive whines, a pure display of submission to the Alpha King.

But his gaze cut through them all and landed squarely on me.

"Elara, your scent!" Adrian suddenly shouted. Then his voice exploded with rage. "Your scent has changed!"

My blood ran cold. "What?"

Adrian seized my wrist, fingers digging in hard. "Your scent is different. Who did you sleep with?"

Pain shot up my arm. "It hurts..."

My silence only pushed him over the edge. He roared at me, voice shaking with fury. "You're a dull, ordinary woman! Who would ever want to—"

Bang!

Adrian was sent flying. His body slammed into the center of the hall like he had been hit by a speeding train.

My heart leapt into my throat, and I didn't even have time to scream.

The Alpha King had kicked Adrian across the hall, sending him flying more than thirty feet away.

The hall fell silent.

Everyone clutched their heads or shoulders, shrinking back in terror. No one dared to breathe.

The Alpha King looked down at Adrian's crumpled body and let out a low, mocking laugh.

"Dull, ordinary woman?"

He lifted his gaze. It moved from Adrian to me.

Every muscle in my body locked tight, and my heartbeat thundered in my ears.

He walked toward me at an unhurried pace. With every step he took, I stumbled backward.

He said softly. "On the contrary, I think she's clever. Full of lies. And very dangerous."

The truth hit me like a blow.

They were never after Cora.

They were after me!

He raised an arm, blocking my escape and trapping me in the corner.

"What do you think, Cora? Or should I call you Elara Underwood?"