Page 13 of Marked By the Alphas

“You might not be staying for very long if you can’t give me the answers that I seek.” His voice was calm, but I could feel the frustration that coated his words.

“There’s not much to tell, though. I already told you all that I have to share.”

Kai stopped eating as I spoke and his piercing grey eyes held me captive for a fleeting moment. It sent a shiver down my spine and forced me to look away. Thankfully, he didn’t say much else and only returned to his food, but sadly, my own appetite was lost. The tension in the room was suffocating, and it was pressing down on me with an unrelenting weight.

The tense silence felt like a simmering storm trapped within my chest, a constant reminder of the impossible situation I found myself in. I was here, and my fate rested in Kai’s hands while I stayed here, yet he was the very person that I clashed with so intensely. Yet, my body seemed to betray my mind, yearning for the Alpha in a way I couldn't understand.

Unable to bear the stifling atmosphere any longer, I rose abruptly from the table. The scraping of my chair against the floor echoed in the sudden silence, drawing Kai’s attention.

“I need some fresh air,” I blurted out, my voice barely a whisper. “Thank you for a lovely meal,” I said, before rushing out of the room without another word, ignoring the look of confusion on Kai’s face as he watched me go.

I decided a walk to the garden might help clear my head. The moment I stepped out of the house it was immediately as if I could breathe better. The stifling air was gone and the morning breeze washed over me, bringing me relief. However, as I walked along the winding paths, my steps faltered. A low growlresonated in the distance, and fear ran through me at the sound, but then another sounded out, and it began pulling me toward its source. Curiosity momentarily overrode my trepidation enough for me to follow the sound.

The growl grew louder the closer I got to it, and I stepped into a secluded training ground hidden amidst a grove of towering trees. Pushing through the undergrowth, I emerged into a clearing, and my breath caught in my throat.

There, in the center of the clearing, stood a man. His stoic demeanor was matched by a fierce concentration that was admirable. Sweat glistened on his toned body, his muscles rippling with each powerful blow he delivered against the wooden training dummy in front of him.

He was shirtless, his skin gleaming in the dappled sunlight. He had long, beautiful hair that reached his shoulders and looked like it was well cared for. His movements were a blend of raw power and graceful precision, a dance of sheer athleticism that captivated me.

Suddenly, he stopped his movements, which in turn, made my heart skip a beat. Before I could think about sneaking away, the man turned to face me, causing my heart to drop to my stomach.

Chapter 8

Rowan

“The sun is out already. It’s been a long night. I think you all can retreat and go back to your homes now. Smith and I will wait for the daytime patrol to get here before we leave. Make sure you get plenty of rest. We have another long night ahead of us,” I said to the young warriors that I had patrolled with through the night, and they all seemed grateful to disperse and head home.

“What makes you think I don’t want to go home immediately?” Smith, Kai’s second in command and a very good friend, said beside me, a smile playing over his lips.

“Well, that’s tough because we both don’t get a choice,” I responded, slumping against the nearest tree while I waited for Rhys and the new warriors who would take over border patrol for the day.

I looked at the clearing in front of us, my gut clenching when I spotted the place where we had found our Omega lying almost dead days ago. I could remember the storm of emotions that had brewed within me. The pull of the mate bond I had immediately recognized, but nothing could have prepared me for how hard it hit me. It was a raw, undeniable force that threatened to devour me. Yet, woven into its intensity was a chilling thread of fear—fear of letting myself give in to this pull, fear of opening myself up to the possibility of betrayal again.

The memory of my former lover filled my chest with an ache. It had been several years now, yet her betrayal still left me feelingshattered enough that I still refused to talk about the incident out loud. The betrayal had left a gaping hole of mistrust within me that threatened to swallow me whole.

But just days ago, staring at our Omega, so impossibly beautiful and vulnerable, the ghosts of my past had clawed at me once more.

“Have you had the chance to talk to the Omega?” Smith asked, and I turned my attention back to him.

“Not yet. I don’t want to overwhelm her so soon. I think that we can both agree that encountering Kai is enough to need a week to recover.”

Smith chuckled, nodding his head at my words. “Of course, but she might need a little help from you to recover from meeting Kai,” he responded, a serious note slipping into his words.

I was saved from responding by the sound of a dirt bike approaching, which interrupted our conversation. Rhys’ mop of blonde hair soon came into view and I shook my head, wondering if Rhys would ever agree to be safe and use a helmet.

“Would it kill you to wear a helmet, Rhys?” Smith said the moment Rhys parked his bike and began approaching us. The idiot only grinned at us.

“Never. It took me a long forty-five minutes to get the perfect hairstyle. I know neither of you can relate because I mean...” he trailed off playfully while pointing in our direction.

I rolled my eyes at his antics as I pulled myself to my feet. “I’m not ruining my hair with a damn helmet,” he said with a smirk that made me roll my eyes. “Plus, we heal so fast, why bother?”

“Suit yourself. I’m too tired for this conversation. Good luck!” I said, giving him a pat on the back before making my way toward my Jeep with Smith trailing behind me.

“Will you be okay?” Smith asked and I slowed down to turn toward him.

“Of course. Why?”

“You look troubled, Rowan.” He shrugged as he spoke and I chuckled softly.

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