All Chapters of Marked and forgotten by the Alpha : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

CHAPTER ELEVENAria's POVThe early morning air was cold against my skin. I sat on a flat rock near the stream, watching the water flow past like it had all the time in the world. My fingers traced the crescent mark on my neck, feeling the faint warmth beneath my skin.Three days had passed since the rogue attack. Three days since Lucas found me in the clearing. Three days since I realized I wasn't as alone as I thought.But I still felt lost.The silver-gray wolf girl, who finally told me her name was Kira, was gathering herbs nearby. She moved quietly, like she'd done this a thousand times before. Every now and then, she'd glance at me, probably checking if I was okay.I wasn't okay but I was trying to be."You're thinking too much again," Kira said without looking up.I blinked. "How do you know?""Because your mark glows when you're stressed." She walked over and sat beside me, dropping a handful of green leaves into a small cloth bag. "You need to learn how to quiet your mind, Ar

CHAPTER THIRTEENAria's POVI didn't tell Kira about Selene. I don't know why, but because I was still trying to process it myself because some small part of me was afraid of what Kira would say.When she came back with her herbs, she took one look at me and frowned."What happened?""Nothing," I said quickly.Her eyes narrowed. "Your mark is glowing and you look like you've seen a ghost.""I'm just tired from training."She didn't believe me. I could tell through her expression but she didn't push, and I was grateful for that.The rest of the day passed slowly. I tried to practice more, but my head wasn't in it. Selene's words kept playing over and over in my mind like a song I couldn't forget.''You're a weapon, Aria. A beautiful, powerful weapon''Was that all I really was? Just something dangerous that people either wanted to use or wanted to destroy?That night, I couldn't sleep again.I lay on my bed, staring at the cave ceiling, watching shadows dance in the dim light from the

CHAPTER FIFTEENAria's POVDawn came too fast. I barely slept and every time I closed my eyes, I saw faces. Mira smirking, the council's giving me cold stares. The crowd watching as I was cast out like garbage.It felt like walking into a trap but staying out here felt like waiting to die.Kira was already awake when I opened my eyes. She was sitting by the entrance, sharpening her knife again. She did that a lot when she was thinking."You're going back," she said without looking at me."Yeah," I said quietly. "I am."She nodded slowly. "Then I'm coming with you."I sat up. "What? No. You don't have to—""I'm not asking permission, Aria." She finally looked at me. "You think I'm just going to let you walk back into that pack alone? After everything?""But you don't belong there either.""Neither do you. But here we are." She stood up, sliding the knife into her belt. "Besides, someone needs to make sure they don't try anything stupid."A lump formed in my throat. "Kira...""Don't get

CHAPTER SEVENTEENAria's POVThe main hall felt like a tomb. The cold stone walls, high ceilings and twelve pairs of eyes staring at me like I was something weird.The council was in a semi-circle on raised chairs. Old wolves, most of them have gray hair and hard faces. They'd been running this pack long before Lucas was born.Lucas stood beside me while kira was at my back but even with them there, I felt small."Aria Vale," the head councilman said. His name was Elder Rothwin. He had a voice like gravel. "You've returned.""Yes, sir.""Against our better judgment, I might add." He leaned forward. "When you were cast out, it was for the safety of this pack and for the protection of our people.""I understand that.""Do you?" Another council member spoke up. A woman with silver hair pulled tight. "Because from what we've heard, you've only grown more dangerous. and more unpredictable."My jaw tightened. "I've been training and learning how to control it.""Control," Rothwin repeated.

CHAPTER NINETEENAria's POVI didn't sleep that night.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Selene standing in the corner, hearing her voice saying those things about the rogues and about me being a danger and about Lucas eventually choosing the pack over me.By the time morning came, I was exhausted with all the thinking but I dragged myself out of bed anyway and got dressed then splashed cold water on my face until I felt almost human.Kira was waiting in the hallway when I opened the door."You look terrible," she said."Thanks. That's exactly what I needed to hear."She smirked but her eyes were full of worries. "Come on. Lucas wants to see us."We found him in his office. A small room with a big desk covered in maps and papers. He looked as tired as I felt."Did you sleep at all?" I asked."Some." He motioned for us to sit. "I've been going through reports. Trying to figure out if what Selene said is true.""And?"His expression was grim. "Our scouts confirm unusual rogue activity