All Chapters of Marked by the Ruthless Alpha: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Aliya. The knock slammed through the room like a thunderbolt.“Aliya?” it was Kai’s voice.Deep. Controlled. Already suspicious. My whole body froze up, Jackson and I locked eyes instantly, both of us breathing too fast, too close. I had been so caught up in what was going on between me and Jackson that I had completely forgotten about Kai. My heart pounded so violently I was sure Kai could hear it through the damn door.Jackson’s hand tightened around my wrist.“Aliya,” he whispered, barely moving his lips, “listen to me. You have to leave. Now.”“What?” My voice was a breath, strangled and small.“I can’t just”“Yes. You can. And you will.”His tone sharpened with the force of an Alpha or something stronger, something ancient and hybrid.Another pound on the door, harder.“Aliya.

AliyaThe moment I shut the dorm door behind me, I lock it and lean my forehead against the wood, breathing like I have just outrun death itself. Maybe I did.Marcus saw me getting out of that tunnel, it was only a matter of time before he told Kai, but maybe he might forget. I kept encouraging myself. My heartbeat is a wild, uneven drum. My palms are shaking. My wolf is pacing in circles in my chest, furious and worried at the same time.He shouldn’t have taken the hit.He shouldn’t have protected you.He shouldn’t have suffered for you.But the worst part?I had let him and ran to save my own life. I squeeze my eyes shut and feel the mate bond like a rope pulled tight between two cliffs. A taut, invisible pull that hasn’t relaxed since the moment I ran from that room.He is hurting, and I can feel it.A flash of pain shoots across my chest sharp, hot, like someone dragging claws beneath my ribs. It steals my breath for a second. I grip the doorknob so hard my knuckles ache.“Oh Go

AliyaKai’s knock isn’t just a knock, it’s a warning. A silent declaration that he already knows something, or thinks he does, and he’s here to rip answers out of me whether I’m ready or not.My pulse slams against my throat so hard I taste metal. The pain from the mate bond claws through my chest again, vicious and sharp Jackson’s fear, Jackson’s pain, Jackson’s struggle bleeding into me like poison.I grit my teeth, press my palm flat against my sternum, and pray I can keep my face neutral.“Aliya,” Kai repeats, his voice colder now. “Open. The. Door.”My hand trembles as I reach for the handle. I open the door only a fraction.Kai stands in the hallway, his arms crossed over his chest, his muscles tense under his black shirt. His jaw is locked, his eyes narrowed to dark slits. He looks like a storm given flesh.He steps forward, forcing me to either back away or let him collide into me and I immediately step back.He walks into my room without waiting for permission.My heart pound

AliyaThe moment Kai’s door clicked shut, the world shrank to the space between my chest and the bond that screamed for me. Jackson. Every pulse in my veins demanded I run, demanded I find him before Kai’s control could tighten like a noose around his throat.I press my back against the wall and close my eyes, letting the darkness of my room focus me. My fingers find the edge of the duffel under my bed. Clothes, a few supplies, a small knife I’d hidden months ago. Not much. But enough to get me moving.The lock on my door is sturdy, but I have watched the servants of the pack long enough to know they have habits. Windows that aren’t latched properly. Vents that could be loosened. Shadows that could hide a quick escape. My heart hammers so violently my ears ring. Every step must be silent. Every breath must be measured. Jackson’s life depends on it.I slide the duffel onto my shoulder and creep to the window. Cold glass presses against my cheek as I peer out. The yard is empty, moonligh

AliyaThe training grounds are dark, silent, and abandoned, but the air hums with danger. Moonlight filters through the cracked roof, illuminating the dust in streaks that make it feel alive, as if it’s watching us, waiting to judge. My wolf presses against my mind, trembling, alert, sensing every tremor, every vibration from Jackson beside me.Jackson leans heavily on me, his chest rising and falling in ragged rhythm. The hybrid inside him pulses, silver and gold veins glowing faintly beneath his skin, flickering like wildfire contained by thread. Every pulse sends a shiver through me. Every heartbeat screams mate, and I feel it in every fiber of my body.“Aliya,” he whispers, voice hoarse. “I can’t keep this up much longer.”“I know,” I murmur, brushing my fingers along his chest. “But you’re alive. That’s what matters. Focus on me. My voice, my touch, my scent. It’s all you need.”He swallows, trembling, and for the briefest moment, his eyes meet mine with something I’ve never seen