All Chapters of SECOND MARK SECOND SOUL: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

30 Chapters

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

MAVERICK POVThe messenger barely remained standing after shifting.Jaden caught him before he collapsed."Water," I ordered.Within seconds, someone handed him a cup.He drank greedily before dropping to one knee."Greetings, Alpha Maverick.""You've traveled hard.""I wasn't allowed to stop."That immediately caught my attention."No stops?"He shook his head."The Alpha King ordered immediate delivery."He reached inside his leather satchel and produced a scroll sealed with black wax.Not red.Not silver.Black.Jaden noticed it too."The Royal Emergency Seal."The messenger nodded.I broke the seal.The handwriting belonged to the Alpha King himself.Alpha Maverick,The prophecy has begun.Trust no Alpha until you reach the Royal Palace.Someone among the Northern Packs has already allied themselves with the Shadow Wolves.Travel immediately.Do not announce your route.Protect your mate.— Alpha King OrionThe atmosphere around me shifted instantly.A traitor.Among the Alphas.J

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

MAVERICK POVThe forest had always spoken to me.Every rustling leaf.Every snapping twig.Every bird that suddenly stopped singing.Years of leading my pack had taught me one thing.Silence was never just silence.It was a warning.Our horses moved steadily along the narrow trail as the morning sun filtered through the towering pines. Beta Jaden rode beside me while Gamma Ethan led the front with two scouts. Elder Miriam remained near the center of our formation, and Jasmine rode behind me, one arm loosely around my waist to steady herself whenever the trail became uneven.At first, she'd been hesitant to touch me.Now...She didn't even realize she was doing it.Jax practically purred."Mate trusts us."I ignored him.She wasn't ready.Neither was I."We'll stop near the river before noon," Jaden said quietly."If we keep this pace, we'll reach Blackwood by sunset."I nodded without taking my eyes off the forest."Anything?"He already knew what I meant."No movement."That bothered

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

JASMINE POVThe first thing I heard was Maverick calling my name."Jasmine."His voice sounded distant.Concerned.Then I felt a warm hand gently cup my cheek."Jasmine... open your eyes."Slowly, my eyelids fluttered open.The first thing I saw was Maverick kneeling beside me, his silver eyes searching my face anxiously.Relief washed over his features the moment our eyes met."Thank the Moon Goddess," he muttered.I blinked several times before realizing I was lying in his lap.Heat rushed to my cheeks."I... I'm sorry."He frowned."For what?""I fainted.""You don't have to apologize for that."His voice was softer than usual."You scared me."Those three words settled somewhere deep inside my chest.He was worried about me.Again.I slowly sat up, though my head still throbbed.It felt like someone had reached inside my mind and stirred memories that didn't belong to me.Around us, the entire travel party stood frozen.Every pair of eyes was on me.Elder Miriam looked more shaken

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

MAVERICK POVNo ordinary werewolf.The words echoed in my mind long after the stranger disappeared.Every instinct screamed that chasing him would be a mistake.He wanted us to follow.Jax snarled inside me."Coward.""No," I answered silently. "He's disciplined."A coward runs because he's afraid.That man left because he'd already accomplished what he came to do.He'd seen Jasmine.That was enough.I slowly scanned the forest one last time before turning to my warriors."We move."Jaden frowned."Shouldn't we search the area?"I shook my head."He wanted us distracted.""And while we're searching..."I looked toward Jasmine."...someone else could be watching her."Jaden immediately understood."Form a diamond formation."The warriors shifted into position without hesitation.Two scouts took the lead.Two guarded the rear.Jaden rode to my left.Ethan to my right.Jasmine remained directly behind me.The safest place in the formation.The sun disappeared behind the mountains as we e

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

JASMINE POVI couldn't sleep.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the stranger standing among the trees.His smile.The symbol on his hand.The way he looked at me—not with hatred, but with recognition.As if we'd met before.Which was impossible.The camp was quiet.Most of the warriors had already fallen asleep around the fire while two guards patrolled the perimeter.I pulled my cloak tighter and walked toward the river.The cool night air helped calm my thoughts.Or at least...I hoped it would."Couldn't sleep?"I smiled faintly."I was about to ask you the same thing."Maverick walked beside me.He hadn't bothered putting on his Alpha mask.Right now...He looked like a tired man carrying the weight of the world."I keep replaying today," I admitted."So do I.""You think he'll come back?"He didn't answer immediately."Yes."The honesty surprised me."But not yet.""How do you know?""Because he wanted us to know he was there."He picked up a smooth stone and skipped it across t

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

JASMINE POVEveryone was staring at me.I hated it.My hands felt clammy.My breathing became uneven.Every noble.Every Alpha.Every Luna.Every warrior.They weren't looking at Maverick.They were looking at me.The girl who wasn't supposed to exist.The girl who had been given a second chance.The Alpha King slowly descended the steps from his throne.He looked older than I'd imagined.Perhaps in his sixties.His silver hair rested neatly against his shoulders.Despite his age...His aura filled the room effortlessly.Every Alpha lowered their head.Including Maverick.I quickly followed suit."You may rise."His voice was calm.Kind.Nothing as I'd expected.He stopped directly in front of me."You are Jasmine.""Yes... Your Majesty."He smiled gently."I've waited a very long time to meet you."Confusion crossed my face."You... know me?"His smile faded."I knew of you."A strange answer.Before I could ask another question...A loud voice interrupted."Your Majesty."Everyone t

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

MAVERICK POVMurder.The word hung heavily in the chamber.King Orion's expression darkened instantly, the warmth that had greeted Jasmine and me moments ago replaced by the commanding presence of the ruler every Alpha respected."Seal the palace," he ordered.The Royal Guard bowed immediately."Yes, Your Majesty.""No one enters.""No one leaves."The guard hurried out, the heavy doors closing behind him.Silence settled over the chamber.Queen Selene released a slow breath."They've become bolder."King Orion nodded grimly."No."He looked toward the carved symbol of the Eclipse Order on the stone table."They're sending us a message."Jaden folded his arms."They managed to enter the Royal Palace without being seen?"King Orion looked at him."That concerns me more than the murder itself."I understood exactly what he meant.The Royal Palace was the safest place in the werewolf kingdom.Its walls had never been breached.Its guards were among the strongest warriors alive.If someone

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

The palace bells continued to ring.Each toll echoed through the ancient halls like a warning from the Moon Goddess herself.One.Two.Three.My heart pounded against my ribs.The moment King Orion drew his sword, everyone in the Hall of Kings sprang into action."Selene," he ordered, "take Jasmine."The Queen frowned."And you?""I'll deal with the attack."Maverick stepped forward immediately."You won't face them alone."King Orion met his gaze before giving a firm nod."Very well."He turned to Beta Jaden."Protect your Alpha's mate with your life."Jaden placed a fist over his chest."With my last breath."I hated those words.They sounded too final.Maverick turned to me, his silver eyes softening despite the urgency around us."Jasmine."I looked up at him."I need you to listen carefully."I nodded."No matter what happens..."His hand gently cupped my cheek."...stay with the Queen.""I don't want to leave you."His thumb brushed away the tear that had escaped before I even r

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

MAVERICK POVThe palace erupted into chaos.Steel clashed against steel as warriors fought to push the masked intruders back from the eastern courtyard. Smoke curled into the night sky while frightened servants hurried toward the palace shelters.I swung my sword, blocking a rogue's attack before driving my blade through his shoulder. He cried out and stumbled backward."Take him alive!" I ordered."We need answers!"Before my warriors could reach him, the rogue bit down hard.Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.His body went limp.Poison.Again."Damn it!" Jaden would've cursed if he were here.Every member of the Eclipse Order was willing to die before being captured.That made them even more dangerous.Jax growled."This wasn't their objective."I knew.This attack was too...organized.Too small.They weren't trying to conquer the palace.They were buying time.But for what?My blood ran cold."Jasmine."I turned toward King Orion."Our mates!" he barked."They're the targ

CHAPTER THIRTY

JASMINE POVSilence.The kind of silence that only followed death...Or disaster.The black feather drifted gently to the marble floor, spinning lazily before coming to rest between Maverick and King Orion.No one moved.No one dared.The chamber still carried traces of the Raven's strange aura, making my wolf retreat further into herself.She whimpered."Danger... ancient danger..."I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to stop the trembling that refused to leave my body.Maverick was beside me in an instant.His large hands gently gripped my shoulders."Jasmine."His voice was calm.Steady."I'm here."The moment our eyes met, something inside me settled.The fear didn't disappear...But it became manageable."I'm okay," I whispered.His brows knitted together."No.""You aren't."He gently brushed a strand of hair away from my face."And that's okay."The tenderness in his voice nearly broke me.I hadn't realized how terrified I was until that moment.Without thinking, I buried m

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