Chapter 126
Another day. Another pack captured.
I stood by the window of my tower room, watching the courtyard below. My eyes were flat as I watched the rogues Irag wolves through the gates like animals. Usually, the prisoners kept their heads down. They looked broken.
Defeated.
But then–one familiar blond head turned sharply, openly studying the castle walls. He looked like he was ightseeing instead of walking into hell.
Marcus.
If he hadn’t been looking around so shamelessly, I might not have recognized him. And beside him–Oh Goddess.
>wen?
What the hell were they doing here? My stomach turned. Then I saw who was leading them.
‘yan.
That lying bastard. I’d actually trusted him.
The second realization hit me, panic exploded through my chest. I knew what happened to prisoners here. election. Breaking. Execution. I spun toward the door and started pounding on the wood until my hands hurt.
“Open the door!”
Nothing. I slammed my weight against it.
“Open it right now!”
Finally, the locks clicked. The rogue guards barely had time to react before I shoved past them and into the orridor. I ran down the stairs so fast I nearly tripped over my dress.\
No. Not Marcus.
୮
The closer I got to the courtyard, the louder the sounds became. Chains. Shouting. Crying. I burst onto the stone laza, but I was already too late.
The rogues had forced most of the captured wolves onto their knees. Some were bleeding. Some were out cold Marcus and Owen were both being held by their throats while a rogue laughed in their faces.
Marcus somehow looked more annoyed than scared, Idiot.
My heart hammered against my ribs. I had to stop this now. The rogue holding the blade suddenly lifted it toward
Marcus’s throat.
“STOP!”
1:35 pm P PTM
Every head turned toward me.
Silence crashed over the courtyard.
Then, I heard footsteps behind me. Smooth Calm. Dangerous.
Declan.
I hadn’t even realized he was already there.
He stood near the stairs with Ryan beside him. Both of them were watching me. Watching my reaction. Watching exactly who I was desperate enough to run down here and save. Declan’s eyes gleamed with dark amusement.
“Well…” he murmured lazily. “Look who Ryan brought us.”
My blood burned. Ryan. That lying, pathetic coward.
I had trusted him. Goddess, I’d actually trusted him. And because of that trust–Marcus was here now. Owen, too.. Another innocent pack was kneeling in the dirt because Ryan kept choosing survival over loyalty.
Rage burned through me so fast I didn’t even think about what I was doing. I marched straight toward him and slapped him across the face as hard as I could. The sound cracked through the courtyard.
Several rogues laughed. Ryan’s head turned from the impact, but he didn’t fight back. He didn’t even flinch. That
somehow made me hate him more.
“You spineless bastard,” I hissed.
His jaw tightened, and pain flickered briefly across his face. Good. I wanted him to feel even a fraction of the lamage he’d caused.
I wanted to scream at him. I wanted to expose Ryan’s fake loyalty right then and there. But Beatrice flashed hrough my mind instantly.
So instead I swallowed my rage and turned toward Declan.
I forced myself closer until I stood beside him. Near enough to feel the warmth of his body beneath the black coat.
‘Please.”
Declan’s eyebrow lifted. “You’re begging for him?” His eyes slid toward Marcus. “Should I be jealous?”
“No,” I said, answering too fast. “He’s not mine.”
Declan’s gaze sharpened. I forced myself to keep talking.
“He’s my friend’s mate.”
“His mate is pregnant,” I said quickly. “Please… don’t leave her alone.”
Declan looked at Ryan without taking his eyes off me. “Is that true?”
1:35 pm P P
For one horrible second, I thought Ryan would ruin everything.
Then he answered quietly. “Yes.”
Relief nearly made my knees weak.
He understood.
Goddess. He hadn’t betrayed me. This was still the slan.
I kept my face completely expressionless even while hope flickered violently inside my chest.
Declan studied all of us carefully. Too carefully.
“And what exactly are you willing to give me in exchange for his life?”
My eyes flicked toward Marcus. Then Owen. Then the terrified wolves kneeling across the courtyard. Not just
hem. The women, too. The children. All of them.
“…For their lives,” I corrected.
Declan’s brow lifted. “What?”
I forced myself to point toward the entire captured pack. “All of them.”
The courtyard went still. Even the rogues looked surprised, Declan stared at me for a long second, and then he aughed. It was low, dark, and genuinely amused.
“Well now…” His thumb brushed slowly across my jaw. “That’s becoming expensive.”
Fear crawled down my spine. But they would live. That was all that mattered. Declan leaned closer, his breath hot
gainst my skin.
“And what exactly could you possibly offer me in exchange for an entire pack?”
୮
Every instinct I had screamed at me to stay quiet. But Marcus was still breathing. So was Owen. I swallowed hard
nd forced the words out anyway.
…Anything.”
Declan’s eyes darkened instantly with hunger.
Anything?”
Every instinct I had screamed at me to take it back. Instead, I stayed right where I was.
‘Yes.”
A slow smile spread across his face. It wasn’t warm or kind. it was possessive. Dangerous.
1:35 pm P P
“Good.”
His thumb brushed slowly across tny lower lip.
The bond–that damn mark–pulsed with a sudden, sharp hunger. It didn’t matter that I hated him. My body didn’t care. Every nerve ending screamed for more, a desperate need for his touch to go further, to feel his hands
everywhere.
“Because tonight,” he murmured, “I want something special from you.”
The look in his eyes made my stomach turn. He looked back at Marcus.
“This is wonderful,” he said with a dark laugh. “Another way to control you.”
My nails dug into my palms until it hurt, but I nodded anyway.
‘…Okay.”
Declan tilted his head. “No.”
My pulse stumbled.
“Say it properly.”
I stared at him, saying nothing. His hand tightened on my jaw.
“Go on, little wolf.”
The entire courtyard was watching. Marcus. Owen. Ryan. The rogues. Everyone. Humiliation burned hot under my
kin.
“…Yes, my King.”
Declan’s smile widened. He looked satisfied. Then he leaned down close to my ear.
“I can’t wait for tonight.”
My blood turned to ice.
“Take the prisoners away,” he ordered.