Chapter 71
Chapter 71
Nathan’s POV
“ You need to see this for yourself, Alpha? She left a message in blood. It’s for you. ”
Blood? That crazy girl had finally lost her mind.
I stood up slowly from the table, trying not to break the peaceful atmosphere of the dinner. Behind me, the sound of laughter continued as my family acted as if the world were safe.
I felt Emily’s eyes on me. She followed my every move, her expression tight with worry. She could feel the sudden hift in my emotions – our bond was growing, and soon she would feel everything.
I walked outside. The warmth of the house already felt miles away. I knew that Tessa’s escape was only the eginning. Emily would be terrified when she found out that the most dangerous woman we had ever caught was
oose again, already planning her next move.
When I arrived at the cells, I wasn’t just surprised – I was livid. It was happening all over again. It felt like the night with the witch. Once again, my people were dead. Once again, blood stained the floors.
But this time, there was a message smeared across the stone wall.
“ He is coming for her. You cannot stop him. ”
‘ Bitch! ”
I slammed my fist into the wall, the stone cracking under my knuckles.
“ Alpha, the guards were doubled, but we didn’t expect them to have help from the inside. ”
“ Who? ” I growled.
“ Stella. She charmed the soldiers, distracted them … and then she slit their throats before they could blink. She reed Tessa, and Tessa did the rest. ”
“ Stella? ” I repeated the name, and it felt like poison in my mouth. “ She helped that bitch? ”
‘ Yes. ”
I watched the security footage. Tessa’s training was obvious – the way she took down my warriors in seconds, with cold, calculated movements. She wasn’t just a rogue; she was a spy who had been raised for this.
They reached the edge of the forest and vanished into the trees.
“ We lost their trail by the water, ” the guard whispered. “ They knew exactly where to go. ”
“ Of course, they did, ” I snapped, slamming my hands onto the table. “ Tessa had years to study our weaknesses. She lived among us like a parasite. ”
I got mindlink to my Beta, my voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone.
“ Everything changes today, ” I growled to my Beta. “ Scrap every patrol route and security protocol. I want more sameras, more men, and a schedule that has no pattern. ”
I dreaded the moment Emily would find out.
“ Are you going to tell her? ” Blake asked, reading my mind.
“ I have to, ” I said, rubbing my face with my hands. I felt ancient. Exhausted.
The dinner was over. The house was finally quiet, the guests gone to their rooms. I knew one thing for sure: I
didn’t want to talk about blood and betrayal tonight.
All I wanted was to feel her pulse against mine. I pushed open the door to her room and stepped inside, seeking
: he only peace I had left.
Emily’s POV
He walked in looking exhausted, as if he were carrying the weight of the whole world on his shoulders. But the noment his eyes met mine, a smile broke across his face – soft, tender, and only for me.
“ Do you mind if I stay with you tonight? ” he asked. It wasn’t an order. He wasn’t speaking as an Alpha; he was just
man asking to be near me.
“ I don’t mind, ” I replied, watching him. He was tall and massive, a mountain of muscle covered in intricate attoos. He was beautiful. And he was mine.
“ If you want, I can bring the sofa over here and sleep separately, ” he said, pointing to the empty space by the
vindow.
“ No, ” I said, shaking my head. That was the last thing I wanted.
“ No? ” he repeated, a mysterious, playful smile tugging at his lips. “ Then what do you want p>
I stayed silent, but I couldn’t help smiling back at him.
୮
“ Do you want me to lie down next to you? ” He crawled onto the bed, his movements quiet and predatory. “ And ust breathe softly against your neck? ” His breath was hot against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.
“ Oh, ” I breathed, my eyes fluttering shut.
“ Or do you want me to keep my hand right here all night? ” His hand slid gently along my side, over my
nightgown.
“ Mmm, ” I whispered, biting my lip.
“ Or maybe I shouldn’t move it at all … ” His hand slipped beneath the hem of my nightie, resting against the skin of my inner thigh.
I froze. A sudden, violent flash of the Rogue’s hands touching me flooded my mind.
Nathan fett the shift In my mood instantly.
“ Emily? It’s okay. ” He pulled his hand back immediately, and the pressure in my chest eased.
“ I guess … I’m not completely better yet, ” I said, my voice small. I couldn’t look him in the eye.
“ I’ll go get the sofa, ” he said, starting to get up.
“ No! ” I grabbed his massive arm, my fingers digging into his muscles. I felt them tense under my touch. I wanted im so badly, but my mind was still fighting the shadows of the past. “ I want you here. Right next to me. ”
I patted the pillow beside me. “ Please. ”
He gave in. He lay down and pulled me into his arms, wrapping his strength around me like a shield. I felt his breath stir the hair on the top of my head.
“ I’m not going anywhere, ” he murmured into the dark. “ I’m right here. No one is ever taking you away from me
Igain. ”
He squeezed me so tight that I let out a tiny squeak.
“ Easy, big wolf, ” I joked, my voice muffled by his chest.
He relaxed his arms slightly, but he didn’t let go. Wrapped in his strength, I finally fell asleep, drifting off to the teady, rhythmic drum of his heart.
I woke up because I felt him. It was a heavy, warm sensation, like a physical weight pressing against the air. I pened my eyes, and he was right there. Nathan.
The morning light was soft, and his face was right there.
He was lying on his side, propped up on one elbow, just … watching me. He looked at me as if he were checking to ee if I was actually real. I didn’t trust my voice yet – the only thing could focus on was the sound of breathing.
Mine. And his.
୮
“ Morning, sleepyhead, ” he whispered. reaching out to brush a hair from my face. His fingers grazed my skin, and I vent perfectly still because of how right it felt.
“ Mmhmm, ” I hummed. I kept my mouth shut, suddenly self – conscious about my morning breath. I had never voken up next to a man before.
“ What do you want to do for breakfast? ” he asked. “ We can head down to the kitchen, or I can have something > rought up here so we can stay in bed. ”
I hesitated. I didn’t know how to answer. I wasn’t used to having choices. He saw my confusion, but his expression suddenly turned serious.
“ Actually … there is something important I need to tell you. ”
My stomach dropped. I gripped the edge of the blanket, my mind racing. The ceremony. Stella. Did he mark her
5.56 pm
while I was gone? I didn’t think I could survive that.
What is It? Lasked, tuy voice barely audible.
“ It’s about Stella. And Tessa They escaped last night. ”
He saw me start to tremble and moved closer. “ Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you. No one is ever going to touch you
again. ”
“ That’s not what I’m afraid of, ” I said quietly.
He looked confused. “ Then what’s the matter? ”
I looked him straight in the eyes. “ Tell me the truth. Did you mark Stella or not? ”
He let out a long breath of relief. “ Emily, no. I didn’t mark her. I knew what she was planning. The whole: eremony was a setup. ”
“ A setup? ” My voice rose. “ A setup?! You mean I ran away for nothing? ”
“ I don’t even understand why you ran! ” he shouted back.
“ Oh, really? I was just supposed to sit there and watch you two happily mark each other?! ” I screamed.
The room went dead silent. Our voices had echoed through the whole house. A second later, Liam’s head popped hrough the doorway. He looked between us, wide – eyed.
“ Um … guys? Is everything okay? ” his voice was cautious p>
“ Fine, ” the Alpha growled, his voice vibrating with a dark energy.
“ Yes, ” I snapped at the same time, my eyes locked on Nathan’s.
“ Right … I’ll just go then, ” Liam muttered. Once he was gone, the tension in the room shifted.
Nathan was the first to break. The anger left his face, replaced by a look of deep regret.
“ I’m sorry, Emily. I never meant to cause you so much pain. ” Nathan said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “ You re mine. If you’re doubting that … I’ll fix it. ”
He closed the distance. When he kissed me, it was slow at first. Cautious. He was giving me every chance to pull way. I didn’t move. The kiss deepened, turning into a desperate storm of emotions. His lips were hungry, lemanding a response I was all too willing to give.
He cleared the headboard with one sweep of his arm and lifted me up. My legs wrapped around his waist, pulling im closer. His hands are sliding beneath my nightie.
Suddenly, my body remembered before my mind did. The cold. The hands. The rogue.
“ Stop! ” I slammed my hand against his chest. “ Stop, Nathan! ”
He froze. The haze of desire was still in his eves, but he forced himself to pull back. He breathed heavily, sighting
: 56 pm
for control.
That damn rogue, he spat, his voice thick with tage. “ If he hadn’t escaped, I would have torn him apart with my bare hands. I’ll do anything to help you forget what he did. ”
“ So will I, ” I said. He looked at me, surprised by the hardness in my voice
“ You think I’m just going to sit here and cry? ” I asked, a new kind of fire burning in my chest. “ I want to train. I want to be so strong that no one – no rogue can ever touch me again. ”
A slow, proud smile spread across his face. He pulled me into his chest, resting his head against mine.
“ That’s my girl, ” he whispered.
“ Will you train me? ” I asked, looking up at him. “ I want to learn from the best. ”
Tessa’s POV
“ Please … stop … I’m begging you. I’ll get her for you. I’ll drag her back myself, even if I have to break every bone In her body. Just … please. Let me prove it. I’ll bring her to you! ”
Next Chapter
Chapter 72
Rate Chapter
Send Gift
Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.