Chapter 12
Shit… It was like her world was spiraling.
It was midnight already the next day, Marissa sat curled in her bed, her breathing shallow, each intake of air a battle as pain raked through her body. She clutched at her chest, feeling the sharp ache of her blood coursing wildly beneath her skin, a river too powerful for her frail vessel to contain. The full moon‘ s glow seeped into her room, its cold, silvery light settling over her like an unwelcome weight. She could feel it, the unstable power thrumming inside her, a storm ready to break.
Her hand shot to her mouth as she felt the bile rise, but it wasn‘ t bile this time. She stared in horror at the blood coating her palm, dark and thick. The sight sent a jolt of fear through her, more potent than any she‘ d felt before. Her blood–the very source of her strength–was rebelling
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against her, its potency spiraling out of control.
The thought echoed in her mind, a bitter truth she could no longer deny. I can’t go on like this. If I don‘ t find a mate, if I don’t let the Alpha King stabilize my blood… She didn’t want to finish the thought, but the truth pressed down on her, an unmovable force that refused to be ignored.
By dawn, the pain had lessened, but her body remained frail, her skin pale and clammy, as if the moon had leeched all her strength. She pushed herself up, her limbs. heavy, as if every part of her was rebelling against the reality she could no longer
ignore. There’s no choice now, she told herself, her heart sinking. It’s him… or this.
It was no longer a matter of pride or defiance; it was survival. She might have feared the Alpha King, she might have despised the thought of being bound to
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someone she didn’t know, but she feared death more. And the idea of a death so pointless, a death that would rob her parents of everything they‘ d fought to protect–it was enough to force her hand.
Resolute, Marissa made her way to the packhouse, determined to learn all she could about this man who would soon be her mate. She would face him, but she needed to understand him first. She sought out members of the pack, beginning with the elders who had lived through more of Idris’s reign than anyone else.
She found Elder Rhea in the kitchens, her gnarled hands deftly chopping herbs, her sharp eyes fixed on her work. Rhea had once been an advisor to the council before stepping down, and if anyone knew the truth about Idris, it was her.
“Elder Rhea,” Marissa began, her voice low, “can I ask you something?”
Rhea looked up, her eyes narrowing slightly as she regarded Marissa. “Ask,”
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she said simply, though there was a
wariness in her tone.
Marissa hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “What do you know of the Alpha King?”
The knife in Rhea‘ s hand stilled, her face going pale. She cast a furtive glance around them, ensuring they were alone, then whispered, “Why do you ask about him?”
Marissa braced herself, trying to keep her voice steady. “Because… I’m to marry him. We will create a mate bond between us. Please, don‘ t tell anyone about this.”
The shock on Rhea‘ s face told her all she needed to know. The elder reached out, her fingers gripping Marissa’s wrist with surprising strength. “The Alpha King… Idris is not like others. His strength… it’s something dark, born of battles and blood. He rules with absolute power, Marissa, and he tolerates no weakness.”
Marissa swallowed, feeling a chill run
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through her. “So, the stories are true?”
Rhea‘ s eyes clouded with memories, a shadow passing over her face. “True and not true. He’s a complex man, one driven by forces none of us can understand. But make no mistake–he will kill without hesitation if he sees it necessary. And if you‘ re not what he expects…‘
Marissa’s heart sank, but she forced herself to nod. “I understand. Thank you, Elder Rhea.”
She left the kitchens, feeling the weight of Rhea‘ s words pressing down on her. Everywhere she went, it was the same. Any mention of the Alpha King made even the strongest warriors tense, their eyes shifting away. The mere whisper of his name struck fear into the hearts of everyone in the pack, and the thought of being bound to him, of tying her life to his, felt like a death sentence all its own.
As she wandered through the packhouse, her thoughts tangled, she noticed.
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movement by the Alpha‘ s private library, a place most werewolves avoided without invitation. She frowned as she caught a flash of movement, a slim figure slipping from the library doors and quickly moving down the corridor. Her wolf stirred within her, sensing something amiss.
It was Ivy.
Marissa watched as Ivy slinked down the hall, her gaze darting around as if she were afraid of being caught. Suspicion flared in Marissa‘ s mind. Why would Ivy be in the Alpha‘ s private library? That was where Alpha Nathan stored important records. and documents, things that were meant for only a select few.
Feeling a mixture of curiosity and caution, Marissa followed Ivy at a distance, keeping to the shadows as Ivy disappeared around the corner. When she finally turned back, her face had that same innocent look, though Marissa could see the faintest glint of something else in her eyes–something
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sharp, calculating.
Without hesitating, Marissa found Caleb and Hunter by the training grounds, their laughter carrying through the air. A strange sense of comfort washed over her at the sight of them, though she pushed it aside. She approached, her expression serious.
“Hunter, Caleb,” she began, keeping her voice steady, “I saw Ivy coming out of the Alpha s private library. She was sneaking around, like she didn’t want to be seen.”
Caleb and Hunter shared a glance, their expressions unreadable before they turned back to her. Caleb raised an eyebrow, his mouth curving in a small, doubtful smile.
“Marissa, are you sure? Ivy has no reason to sneak into the Alpha‘ s library.”
“I’m sure,” she replied firmly, her tone insistent. “I saw her with my own eyes.”
Hunter sighed, crossing his arms as he looked at her. “Maybe you saw her near the library, but it doesn’t mean she was
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doing anything wrong. You‘ re letting this whole thing with Ivy get under your skin, Marissa.”
Marissa felt a flash of frustration. “This isn’t about her, Hunter. It’s about the fact that she was in a place she had no reason to be. Why can’t you see that?”
Caleb’s gaze softened slightly, though his tone remained cautious. “Marissa, you’ve been under a lot of stress lately. Maybe it’s making you see things that aren’t there.”
She clenched her fists, feeling a surge of bitterness as she looked between them. It was the same as always; they were blind to Ivy’s schemes, deaf to her concerns.
“Fine,” she said coldly, forcing herself to keep her voice steady. “Ignore me, as usual.”
She turned away, swallowing the hurt that rose in her chest. Every time she reached out, every time she tried to protect them, they dismissed her, brushing off her words
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as if they meant nothing. And Ivy… Ivy was always there, a sweet, innocent face hiding whatever dark secret she was weaving.
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