Marked By The Ruthless Alpha King

ie Whit

into the Forbidden Forest, where I nearly los

th my skin, spreading from the wound and slowly pushing back the cold that had settled deep inside me. I could barely

y where it came from, but the clean, damp freshness eased the panic lingering in my mind. Beneath my che

fingers curled weakly against the unfamiliar fabric beneath me as the stranger's hand tigh

ponded before my mind could resist. The warmth spreading through my veins gradually dull

iliar presence remained close. Every time I tried to pull away, I felt the firm support around my wai

tbeat beneath my cheek, the warmth of his breath against my skin, and the strange energ

mories

the solemn atmosphere of the mate ceremony. I had stood on the dais in a simpl

y heir. We had known each other since we were young, and as we grew older, the Moon Goddess chose us as fa

er questioned whether Jared would accept me. To me, the bond between us was so

d me a weakness that brought shame to the Whitmore name. I had learned to ignore those voic

ed forward and

Hayes, do you accept Annamarie Whitmore a

l silent. All eyes

tried to calm the un

bond. A fated mate was a blessin

e had always maintained the appearance of acceptance, responded to my feelings, an

given him enough honor and responsibility to

y, I didn't wan

would happen after

ore family. I would become nothing more than an abandoned piece, a

t let tha

s as I looked at Jared. For a moment, I waited fo

ion on his face made the uneas

crowd and spoke in a clear, steady voice lo

ect you, Annamarie W

's words fell, m

d blurred into a distant noise. The pain from the broken mate

cannot shift, you cannot sense the emotions of our wolves, and you cannot carry the responsibilities expected

others exchanged knowing glances. A few even nodded in agreement, as

ingers against the edge of my dress, us

ouder, and every word carried the same conclusion: a

t, Carrie rus

ried. "I know this hurts. Seeing my siste

d and I had been chosen as fated mates, something in her changed. She had always been the Whitmores' precious biological daugh

red and me, quietly turning small misunderstandings into conflicts a

entually overcome anything she tried to do. Now, after Jared had rejected me in front of t

w that the bond between Jared and me was broken, she h

de me take a step back. I looked

trying to comfort you. Why are you looking at me like that?"

mediately looked at

d her sister

only tryin

why Jared mad

pers gre

this. Whenever she wanted something, she would put on that innocent, wounded expression and let everyone else see her as the kind, considerate sister while mak

pond, the Elder's

re, you must acce

before I could speak, I

was no lo

ng inside me go completely still. I suddenly understood that his rejection was not only because I was wolfless. His heart had

ieving that our bond meant we were meant to be together, yet at that moment, I felt

the fabric of my dress. There was

as quiet b

hitmore, accept

ds, the final connection bet

ood filled my mouth, but I swallowed it. I refused to collap

toward Carrie. The crowd surrounded

m the dais and hea

s appeared in front of me. Beside him stood

greed, as if he were looking at a valuable

, smiling. "Come here. I ha

e him. The man's eyes lingered on me with undisguised

In his eyes, I was no longer a daughter, but a re

ched for my arm, I step

N

Cornelius's

nger gentle. "You should be grateful. After losing the futu

t deeper tha

rything that had happened tonight, after Jared had publicly rejected me, I refused

ched for me again,

op

erupted

immediately, closing the

h the crowd, ignoring the shocked v

hey caught me. I pushed through the s

ead. A place even Rogues av

e's possession. If I ran, at least

he darkness. Behind me, the people chasi

crazy. She actually ran

. Their voices faded into the distance a

oing in th

nd the path behind me vanished completely. Branches scratched my skin, and roo

ep, but I kept moving. Survival w

ion faded completely. The laughter, music, and cheers from the ceremony disappe

rful scent

ood scent mixed with som

top

ng echoed through the trees. I followed t

ons reflected a silver glow. Silver blades, weapons designed to kill werew

noticed every attack before it reached him. He moved instantly, his strikes pr

hed into the oak tree behind me. The impact forced m

y gaze turned toward me. Includin

before walking toward me. His expression remained col

the middle of the Forbidden Forest during an assassi

wolf appear in a place even

was low an

ked at me carefully.

ng, but the rejection, betrayal, and fe

d, and my body l

ng arms catch me, their touch cold and steady as