All Chapters of Marked and forsaken : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

I have waited for her to give birth. Waiting a little longer will not break me. I have loved Serenya since childhood. Even now, I cannot understand why the Moon Goddess ever bound her to Varyn. It should have been me. I feel it in my bones—in my wolf. I am the second mate. “Alpha—Alpha!” I turn as Lucan rushes toward me, breathless. “What is it?” I ask, already moving. “Serenya,” he whispers. “She’s in pain.” Oh no. I bolt. I shoulder the door open and find her collapsed on the floor, gasping, her body trembling as though something inside her is tearing loose. “What’s wrong with her?” I shout at the midwives. They say nothing. My gaze snaps to the shaman—the Moon Speaker of the outcast. She meets my eyes and gives a single, grave nod. “Mating pains?” I breathe. I drop to my knees and gather Serenya into my arms. “Easy,” I murmur desperately. “Breathe. I’m here.” “Get something,” I bark. “Anything to ease her pain. She just survived a hard labor—” No one mo

The world narrows to the sound of my son’s body hitting the earth. “Elarion!” His name tears from my throat as if it can call him back from the brink. My knees collapse beneath me, and I stumble to his side. Mia is already there, her hands trembling as she reaches for the shaft. Her lips shape words, prayers maybe, but I can’t hear them over the thunder in my ears. Blood—dark, too dark—pools against the grass. My palms press down, desperate, useless. “No, no, no, stay with me, light. Stay with me.” Rauth is gone in a flash of muscle and fury, his growl shredding the silence as he dives into the trees. My body jerks as though I can follow him, but I can’t—I won’t leave Elarion’s side. Mia lifts her gaze, fear written all over her face “We have to move him,” she whispers, “Not yet.” My words come sharp, as if force alone can stop the bleeding. My vision blurs—tears or panic, I don’t know. “If we move him, it might—” Her fingers close over mine, firm despite her trembling.

Do you think this is the right step to take?We didn’t have to flee our den for him.He can’t come here and show dominance.“Please—trust me this once, King!” I plead, voice raw.I urge it hopelessly at Rauth.“How long do you think the sentinels can hold him?” He mutter That question heats my chest. Knowing Varyn’s kind, it’s obvious: they won’t hold him long.“Keep faith, King.” I force the words.“Rauth—show your face!”The challenge startles the hidden pack. A silence snaps. Then Varyn’s voice rises, venom bright.“Are you both an abomination and a weakling? Show your face. I dare you to fight me.”At Varyn’s taunt Rauth’s wolf flares like a flare of fire across his pelt. I drop to my knees without meaning to.“Please, King—don’t.” I try to stop him. “It’s you he seeks. If you go out there, it will be the ruin of us .”From the line of sentinels Varyn’s pack is pressing advantage. In Rauth’s eyes I see a pain he can no longer hold.Then I know: I must make the choice I fear most.

😲Yes. Rauth is Vaelor. 🥀The childhood memory claws back: Vaelor stretching out his hand, pulling me free when I was stuck. My name is Vaelor, and I told him mine. He has always known who I was. The realization tightens my skin. Now I see why his smiles always struck me as awkwardly familiar. “You remember me?” the male says. “I am Caelorn, his maternal cousin. From the south—Sun-Haven. We met the day I came, when he was not home, because you two loved to wander from the flowered fields to the riverbank to watch pheasants.” That day comes back clear: Vaelor punished by his father, called weak for wasting time with pheasants. They’re the lowest, scarcely deserving the name of prey,” his father remarked of pheasants. I let out a thin chuckle. “I never watched pheasants again after that.” “Nor did Vaelor,” Caelorn answers. “But why is he Rauth now?” I press. Caelorn exhales slowly. “This is no place for that story. I only need you to trust me—and know I am on your side

🖤💔 “Give her to me,” Rauth says, voice low but iron-hard. He reaches for Otsana’s lifeless body. His eyes—cold, unreachable—never find mine. The sentinels surge forward to lift her, but Rauth halts them with a single look. “I don’t want to wake her.” The words freeze the air. Shock ripples through the others—wake her?—but my stare cuts them off before any can speak. Rauth gathers her himself. Every step he takes is deliberate, measured, as though the earth itself might rouse her if he’s careless. We follow at a crawl, afraid to pass him, afraid to stir the anger coiled under his grief. He does not look at Caelorn. He does not so much as acknowledge his presence.” “Lucan,” I whisper. “Where’s the pack?” “In the hideout?” “No, my lady. Rauth moved everyone south. They should reach Sun Haven by now.” Caelorn’s gaze dims. “If only that would keep him there too.” “It seems so,” I murmur. “And Elarion?” “He’s well, my lady. Mia is always by his side.” “Mia…” The name tastes