Page 44 of Marked By the Alphas

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked after what felt like a long time, turning from my position so I could look him in the eyes as he spoke. He didn’t respond for a while, and it felt as if I held my breath, waiting for him to speak.

“Elara,” he began. His voice was low, and there was a dangerous edge to it that made my heart pound. Coupled with his intense gaze, I knew that I wouldn’t like what he was about to say.

“I need to know the truth. Who are you?”

The question hung heavy in the air, and it made my breath catch in my throat. A part of me had always known this moment was bound to come eventually, but it still felt like a shock now that it had arrived.

“W-what do you mean?” I managed to stammer out, unable to control the trembling that had begun in my voice, no matter how hard I tried.

Rowan leaned forward, his eyes boring into mine.

“Don’t do that. I’ve known what it’s like to be with you. I want to believe that I’m a good judge of character, and I cantell when someone’s intention isn’t pure. I’ve never gotten bad energy from you, so I know for a fact that whatever it is that has happened, there’s an explanation for it. But I need to know the truth, babe. I need to know the whole truth,” he whispered to me.

And his words seemed to break the dam. The tears that I had been fighting so hard to keep at bay came running down my cheeks.

“I was raised to be a weapon,” I started, swallowing heavily when the weight of the situation settled on my mind.

“I don’t remember much about my childhood. I can’t exactly tell if Silas is responsible for completely wiping that out, but I’ve never questioned it anyway, because it wouldn’t have made a difference. What I’ve known all my life is the training that Silas has brought me up with. For years and years, all I’ve known is using my powers to lure people to their deaths. He severed my connection with my wolf and uses a magical artifact to keep me bound to his will.” I paused, taking deep breaths to calm myself down.

Rowan’s fingers on my arm, tracing an invisible pattern, helped to keep me grounded and they also gave me the strength to keep going.

“I hated it, Rowan. I hated the violence. I hated the fear in people’s eyes whenever they realized who and what I was. I hated the destruction, but I didn’t know anything else. It was all I’d ever known. Then I started planning my escape. Silas believed that he had us completely brainwashed and under his control, which was a mistake of his, because the older we got, the more freedom he gave to us. I waited and prayed for the perfectopportunity to finally escape. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. I didn’t think I would even survive it. Until I saw that cave…”

The rest of the words got stuck in my throat, and Rowan pulled me into his arms, tracing gentle circles behind my back.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell any of you. Nobody wants to believe a Siren for fear of being manipulated, but I swear that this is the truth. I understand if it’s a lot to take in or if you don’t believe me.”

Rowan squeezed my body tighter. “None of this is your fault. I believe you, Elara, and I promise that he’s never going to get to you again. You’re safe now.” He whispered into my hair, and his words caused the tears to fall faster down my cheeks.

I clung to him. The warmth of his touch was like a lifeline in the storm of emotions that was raging within me.

“You have to tell Kai and Rhys eventually. They deserve to know, but you can do it in your own time,” he said, pressing a kiss to my head. I nodded rapidly at his words.

I still didn’t know how I would broach the topic with them or what their reactions would be, but at this moment, the weight of the world seemed to lift from my shoulders. I felt a glimmer of hope for the first time in what felt like forever.

Chapter 22

Rhys

The scent of blood filled the air and the crack of bones and a maniacal laughter followed after, jolting me from my sleep. I woke up drenched in sweat, my heart pounding like a trapped animal and my senses reeling from the horrors I had just witnessed in my sleep.

Ever since the official start of my relationship with Elara a few weeks ago, the world seemed to be painted in hues of tranquility. Elara, with her infectious laughter and bubbly personality had quickly brought warmth and color into my life, and she had succeeded in seeping into the cracks of the solitary existence which I had fought to maintain since my escape from Silas.

I had never thought myself to be fit enough for a relationship of any sort, but being with my mate brought this sense of safety and solace that was unlike anything I had ever known. Her presence was like sunlight piercing through dense fog, illuminating corners of my soul I thought would forever remain shrouded in shadows. But beneath the surface of this newfound peace, a tempest had begun brewing. A darkness that I had struggled to bury deep was slowly resurfacing, threatening to consume me whole.

My nightmares, which had once been infrequent and distant, had morphed into something more vivid and haunting. Every time that I closed my eyes, these images tormented me, and the worst part was, it wasn’t just a figment of my imagination forcing me to relive my horrors anymore. They felt tangible, suffocating,and all too real. They were almost driving me to the edge of madness.

The nightmares were bad enough, but the flashbacks were worse. They came unbidden, triggered by the slightest thing—a sharp noise, a sudden movement, even the warmth of Elara's touch. It was almost as if the amplified emotions and the deepening bond with Elara were like a kindling to a fire, igniting the dormant demons within me. They were like acid burns on my mind, searing through my defenses and leaving me gasping for breath.

And so, I did the only thing that made sense to me. I avoided her, not wanting to expose her to this darkness that was threatening to overtake me. But the more I avoided her, the more the nightmares intensified, feeding on my isolation. The guilt gnawed at me. I was hurting her, pushing her away, when all she wanted was to be close, but I was afraid that this darkness would cast a shadow over our growing bond.

A knocking came on my door, pulling me out of my reverie, and before I could respond, it was pushed open to reveal Elara. The sight of her had my heart skipping a beat. I still couldn’t understand how she managed to look so beautiful every second of the day without a break. She was always such a pleasing sight, and her presence always seemed to come along with a sort of peace. She had a tray full of food balanced in her hands, and I moved quickly out of the bed to help her with it.

“Thank you,” she said, offering me a smile that made my inside sing with happiness. “I know you haven’t been feeling too well lately…” she started, and I felt guilt pool in my stomach at her words, knowing that it was all a lie to avoid her.

“So, I thought of making something special for you. Well, Rose cooked it, but I helped,” she finished, giggling as she spoke, and I couldn’t help the smile that painted my lips at the sight of her being so carefree.

“It looks really good,” I commented, watching as she began serving some of the food onto a plate for me. She did the same for herself, and soon we settled down to eat in silence.

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