All Chapters of Marked By Pain, Crowned By Power: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Zoriven's POV"Because I couldn't bring myself to watch it," I replied calmly, putting in a sharp edge that felt defensive into my tone to make it believable. I turned slightly, looking towards the window, letting the frustration show in the way my shoulders hung tightly. Then I returned my gaze to her sharply. "Do you think it was easy for me? Knowing what kind of man Caelrix was?” I asked and she didn't respond. “He’s a petulant, volatile boy who treats people like his property. The thought of sitting in that grand hall, watching you give your oath to someone who didn't deserve to breathe the same air as you... it turned my insides out.”I paused again to let that sink as her body shook a bit harder now despite her own hands wrapping around her.“So I stayed in my lane. I stayed away and tried to convince myself that you would be happy with him, that he would treat you differently as his Luna.”I risked a glance back at her eyes afterwards. She was watching me now with an intensit

Seravyn's POV Lirvae eyed me carefully, shifting a bit closer to where I was. “Is everything alright?” She asked.“Lirvae. Please,” I replied instead and she raised her hands to the air.“Okay, okay.”I took a steadying breath. “Did the news of my rejection, the announcement that Caelrix had broken the fated bond, did it reach the Sun Flower packhouse before Zoriven brought me through the gates that morning?"Lirvae stared at me, her energetic demeanor completely melting away as she saw the sheer, intense look in my eyes. She shifted uncomfortably, her jaw tightening as she looked at the table, then back at me. "Seravyn, you're acting really strange. What is going on?""Please, Lirvae," I urged, my voice dropping into a desperate, hushed whisper as I reached across the table, my hand wrapping around her wrist. "Just tell me the truth. Did the pack know I was rejected before he found me?"After a long, agonizing silence, Lirvae finally sighed, her shoulders dropping as she gave a def

Caelrix's POV "I will lead the primary heavy armor squad directly down the main western road,” I started again, running my finger along the path. “We will march with banners high, making enough noise to draw every single Sun Flower warrior down to the water.”My Beta carefully nodded, folding his arms over his chest as he watched on.“We play into Duskrael's expectations. We let him think I’m an irrational, grieving boy coming to avenge a bruised ego,” I added. “While he’s focused on matching my heavy line step for step, Vane slips into the compound from behind and cuts the head off the snake."Vane chuckled, a low, dry sound. "It’s a beautiful trap, Alpha. Simple, brutal, and uses their own arrogance against them.”I nodded carefully, soaking in my own plan.“Duskrael prides himself on being the ultimate shield. He won't look behind him until the inner courtyard is already on fire,” Vane added and I ran a hand over my chin.Just perfect."We rub minds on the timing now," Exovyn said

Zoriven's POV I jumped to my feet so fast my chair rattled against the stone floor, my instincts flaring instantly as my mind moved fast. "Get the men to the secondary lines! Tell Kaelen to authorize the silver traps!"Beside me, Seravyn stood up as well, her eyes wide, what had been a cold mask over her face shattered into instant panic. "I'm coming with you.""No, you're not," I said, turning on her, my voice rising heavily in command. I stepped into her path, blocking her way towards the door. "You are the target of this entire raid, Seravyn. Walking out to that wall is giving him exactly what he wants.""He is tearing your walls down because of me, Zoriven!" She shot back, her voice rising as she tried to push past my shoulder. "I am not going to sit in this room like a coward while your warriors die on the riverbank! Let me go! I can face him!""You can't face hundreds of heavy armor raiders!" I roared, grabbing her upper arms, my grip tight and firm as I forced her to stay put

Seravyn’s POVThe shockwaves from the initial blast had barely settled before the true nightmare began. Outside, the air was suddenly ripped apart by a chorus of raw, agonizing screams.The desperate shouts of women and children crying around, screams and roars of Pack warriors, and the sharp, burning touch of follow up explosions tearing through the outer buildings. The violent, choking scent of burned iron and smoke slipped through the open spaces of the window frame, filling my lungs and turning my blood to absolute ice.My mind spun out of control, a heavy mix of panic rushing through my veins as my veins plopped wildly. They are inside now, Caelrix’s men aren't just testing the borders any longer, they are tearing through the heart of the Pack. But as the screams of terrified women and children echoed from the close by paths, the fear inside me that held me down began to shift. It twisted, hardening into a sharp, cold thought.I can't just sit here. It's enough I had to sit her