CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONEAria's POVThe forest was darker than usual.No moonlight or sounds of animals just silence and shadows of the trees.I walked deeper, following the path Miriam had shown me weeks ago. My heart pounded but I kept my breathing steady.Stay centered. Remember your training.After what felt like an hour, I reached a clearing I'd never seen before. In the center stood Miriam, but she wasn't alone.Three figures surrounded her,cloaked in darkness,their faces hidden."Aria," Miriam said calmly. "Welcome to your final test.""What is this?""A trial. To prove you can control your power under pressure,to prove you understand what it means to be a Light Bearer."The three figures stepped forward. As they moved, the darkness around them grew thicker."Shadow wielders," I breathed."Yes. Not corrupted like Ethan was. These are trained practitioners. They've agreed to test you." Miriam's expression was serious. "You must defend yourself using only light magic no physical combat

Last Updated : 2026-01-16

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWOAria's POVDawn came cold and gray.I stood with my team in the courtyard, checking supplies one last time. Kira adjusted her weapons and Garrett reviewed the map. Derek and the others were quiet, focused.Lucas's team was assembled on the opposite side. Nikola's team near the gates.Three groups. Three artifacts. Three different strategies to stop the Shadow Council.Miriam walked between the teams, inspecting preparations."Remember," she said loudly enough for everyone to hear. "These artifacts are ancient and powerful. They'll be protected and trapped and hidden for good reason.""What exactly are we looking for?" one of Jared's warriors asked."The Sunstone, the Mirror of Truth, and the Eternal Flame." Miriam pointed to each team in turn. "Lucas, you're after the Sunstone in rogue territory. Jared, the Mirror in neutral lands and Aria..." She looked at me. "The Eternal Flame in the Ruins.""What do these artifacts do?" I asked."The Sunstone amplifies light mag

Last Updated : 2026-01-16

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREELucas's POVSomething was wrong.I felt it in my bones, in the mate bond I'd been trying to ignore. A sudden pain I couldn't explain."Alpha?" One of my warriors approached. "Are you okay?""Fine. Keep moving."We'd been tracking the Sunstone for four days following Miriam's map through the rogue territory. So far we'd avoided major conflict but I couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible had happened,to Aria.I pulled out the communication stone and pessed it. "Aria, report."I tried again. "Aria. Come in."Nothing came out.My chest tightened."Try Kira," I told my Beta.He did. After a moment, his face went pale. "Alpha. Kira's responding but she's... she's panicking."He handed me the stone."—gone! They took her! Lucas, they took Aria!"My world stopped moving. "What happened?""They surrounded us and—" Her voice broke. "She traded herself for the artifact. We have the Eternal Flame but they have Aria."Rage flooded through me."Where?""The Ruins bu

Last Updated : 2026-01-18

All Chapters of Marked and forgotten by the Alpha : Chapter 31 - Chapter 33

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE