All Chapters of Marked For Ruin: Chapter 21 - Chapter 28

The door to Lucian's office opened before Kara could take another breath. Milo entered first, his eyes finding hers with a look of deep compassion. He was followed by Zaide, whose face was a mask of hard, professional neutrality, but Kara could see the tension in his shoulders. Finally, Caius slipped into the room, a phantom who settled in a dark corner, his presence a chilling void. The combined power of the four Alphas in the enclosed space was a physical force, pressing in on her from all sides.Lucian's gaze swept over his pack, his authority absolute. "Kara has made a decision regarding her heat," he stated, his voice calm and clear. "She has chosen the path of partnership. She has also, bravely, admitted that she is overwhelmed and does not know how to choose."He looked at each of his men in turn. "She needs information. Honest information. I want each of you to tell her what you can offer, so she can make the choice that is right for her. Milo, you begin."

 Later that day, after the emotional exhaustion of the meeting had faded into a nervous, buzzing anticipation, Milo came for her."Are you ready?" he asked gently.Kara wasn't sure what she was ready for, but she nodded anyway, grabbing her crutches. She followed him out of her suite and down a quiet, isolated hallway she hadn't seen before. At the end stood a heavy wooden door, which Zaide, who had been standing guard with his arms crossed, unlocked with a key card and a quiet nod. The west wing.The suite was beautiful, but the bedroom was breathtaking. In the center of the room, the floor dipped down into a large, circular space, creating a sunken, den-like

For the first time in what felt like a decade, Kara felt a spark of genuine, uncomplicated joy. Sitting in front of the glowing laptop screen, she was a queen in her own right, with a limitless budget and a kingdom of choices before her.At first, her clicks were hesitant, her choices safe—a simple beige blanket, a plain set of gray pillows. The old habits of being unobtrusive and practical died hard. But then, Milo's teasing voice echoed in her memory: I wouldn't put it past him to only order it in dull colours, too.A real, defiant grin spread across her face. No more dull colors. No more tactical khaki.With a renewed sense of purpose, she deleted the safe choices from her cart. She began to choose things she truly wanted, things that were beautiful and alive. A cashmere throw in a deep emerald green that reminded her of the forest outside her window, silk pillowcases the color of a vibrant sunset, and string after string of delicate,

The world dissolved into a blinding wave of heat and need. One moment, Kara was standing in the hallway, clutching Lucian’s shirt; the next, her knees gave out, her body consumed by a fire so intense it stole the air from her lungs.She didn’t hit the floor.Strong arms caught her, scooping her up against a chest as solid as ancient rock. She was vaguely aware of being carried, of the scent of pine and ozone surrounding her, a grounding presence in her swirling delirium. She was laid down gently on the soft, waiting mattress of her nest.Through a hazy blur of pain and fever, she saw Lucian looking down at her, his face a mask of grim concern. His voice cut through the haze, not with a command, but with something so unexpected it momentarily cleared her head."I apologize, Kara," he said, his voice a low, serious rumble. "For entering your nest without your express permission. I will not cross this threshold again until you invite me."