Semua Bab Fighting For The Alpha's Mark: Bab 71 - Bab 80

Sophia I stood at the landing of my house, overlooking the foyer where three guards were walking up the staircase. They were my most trusted, even though trusting anyone these days was just a game of chess you could win or lose. They stood stiff at attention as they approached me, bowing their heads in greeting. I motioned at them to follow me, then we headed to the balcony to avoid anyone hearing our conversation."Listen to me carefully," I said, my eyes bouncing from face to face. "No one steps foot past the gate of that estate without my authorization. I don't care if they're from my husband or even my father himself." The head guard shifted uncomfortably and couldn’t meet my gaze. "I know you are loyal to him," I continued, taking a step forward. "If you report what's going on or breathe in his direction, I want you to remember something." I lifted his chin, looking him in the eye. "I know where all your family members live—your children's schools, their exact schedules. If you

Savannah The estate looked like a fortress. Armed soldiers stood at every entrance, with military dogs by their sides. This was a level of security I had never seen in my life. I sat in the dining room with my untouched breakfast, staring out the window. A maid poured juice into my glass without a word.Dread crept up my spine as I wondered how the day would end. According to the plan, this was the last time I would ever lay eyes on Xavier.Every ticking minute reminded me of the future I’d never have with him. Tears welled in my eyes; I blinked them back fiercely. This wasn't the time for sentiment. I had to obey my mother’s desperate plea to stay safe.Sasha’s return had unraveled every lie I’d carefully woven. Today, I would face the newly crowned regional alpha and offer my silent farewell.Xavier, whose presence should have filled me with pride, felt like a dagger twisting in my chest. I knew he would look magnificent, every inch the king I always believed he’d become.But he w

SavannahThe acrid smell of smoke stung my nostrils as I was pulled away from the chaos. Screams echoed through the hall, and panicked guests stumbled over overturned furniture.Smoke burned my eyes. I blinked rapidly, trying to regain focus. Moments ago, I had stood beside Xavier, moments from being crowned. Now the hall was in ruins, with guards shouting over the noise.“Xavier!” I screamed, my voice barely rising above the din. “I need to go back! He’s in there!”I pushed through the crowd, shoving past bodies that blurred into shadows and screams. My legs moved on pure instinct, unthinking, fueled by panic. I didn’t care who I hit or how hard I was shoved in return. Nothing mattered but getting back to him. Then, suddenly, a hand seized my wrist. A guard. I jerked against him with a strangled cry, my other hand swinging wildly. I scratched at his arm and kicked at his legs. The fear was feral now, clawing its way up my throat.“Let me go! He’s hurt! I have to get to him!”“Stop i

SashaAnger. That’s all I felt. A burning anger that ate at me from the inside out. My life was so messed up. This anger grew hotter every second. Life felt like a cruel joke, and I was the punchline.I’ve always hated hospitals. Hated the smell and the feeling of being trapped. Even after I had Adelaide, I couldn’t wait to get out.Now I was stuck in this place, helpless. They expected me to swallow these giant pills that probably did nothing. And the nurses—don’t even get me started on them. They ignore my calls most of the time. But when my mother walks in, they act like I’m the most important person in the world.I tried to shift in the bed, to sit up, anything. But my legs wouldn’t obey. Especially my left one. It felt like dead weight. I wanted to scream and rip my hair out.Memories of that horrible night flashed through me. This was all Gregory’s fault.He really did a number on me. He used me like a rag doll. I’d trusted him. I actually believed he loved me.God, I was such a

XavierThe incense smoke curled upwards, filling the hastily prepared ceremonial hall. Its sweet scent, usually just an annoyance, now made my stomach clench tight. I’ve always hated strong smells. Right now, with the exhaustion from the attack and the effects of whatever medication they’d pumped into me, I just wanted this whole thing to be over.I needed rest, badly.They’d set up a symbolic cleansing mound of clay and straw, a mini tower surrounded by lanterns. The High Priest, a stooped figure in an ankle-length floral robe, circled it, ringing a bell meant to ward off evil spirits.A lot of good that did, I thought bitterly. Evil had been breathing down my neck for months, and no amount of bell-ringing or sacrifices had warned anyone.I stood stiffly before the altar. The deep sound of a stringed instrument, a double bass maybe, vibrated through the air as a choir chanted traditional songs.The place was crawling with guards, mine and those of the visiting Alphas. You’d think we