Page 59 of Marked By the Alphas

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” I said, but the person didn’t even stop to acknowledge me. Instead, she continued on her way like I had not just walked into her.

I was about to look away when the person turned in my direction and a cold dread immediately washed over me. Her eyes, apiercing shade of blue, held a knowing glint, and across her lips was a sick and twisted smile.

It was Scarlett, one of Silas’ favorite Sirens.

Chapter 30

Elara

I felt a gentle shake on my shoulder, and it jolted me awake. Someone had pulled open the curtains, and the bright light that filled the room made it hard for me to completely open my eyes. With a groan, I turned away from the open curtains, but Naya’s soft laughter reached my ears, forcing me to open my eyes once more. A chorus of hushed whispers made me pull myself into a sitting position and at the foot of my bed, I found Rose and a handful of maids hovering, their faces a blend of anticipation and excitement.

Today was the day of the mating ceremony and now that I was more awake, I could hear the whole household buzzing with activity.

Rose clapped her hands delightedly. “Elara, we've planned so much for you!” she exclaimed and Naya, along with the other maids, agreed in a rush of excitement, causing me to laugh.

“Come on, we need to start with a bath. It’s going to be a very long process to get you ready today, and we need to move fast. I’ve made it my absolute mission to get you looking perfect and gorgeous,” Naya urged, pulling the quilt off my body so I could move out of the bed.

I felt a mixture of anticipation and apprehension at the thought of facing the entire pack, I didn’t know the first or last thing about how this mating ceremony was supposed to go and certainly didn't relish the idea of the grand feast that wassupposed to happen afterward, especially as the thought of the incident in the mall came flooding back.

“Where’s Kai, Rhys, and Rowan?” I needed to talk to them first.

“They left the house quite early this morning to finish up some last-minute preparations. I’m sure they will be back soon,” Rose offered, and disappointment washed over me.

After I saw Scarlett yesterday, I had told Naya about it, and together we had begun combing through the mall, hoping to run into her again. It was to no avail, because it had seemed like she had simply disappeared into thin air, but I knew that was the way she worked.

Scarlett was one of Silas’ favorite Sirens because not only was she ruthlessly cunning, but her ability to manipulate minds and scents made her nearly impossible to catch. She could imitate whatever scent called out to a person the most and use it against them. Scarlett was usually very successful with every one of her missions, and it usually took a very strong mind to be able to resist her temptations.

My anxiety grew as I knew that she had to have been sent by Silas himself, and she was living freely within this pack, manipulating her way in and out of situations while masking or imitating various scents to make sure she was never caught. The thought of it all was enough to make me sick.

I had hoped to discuss it with Kai, Rhys, and Rowan the moment I got home last night, but they had been out and busy. Even the texts that I left them were unanswered. I barely remembered them coming back to bed last night, and it saddened me to know that they were out again.

I moved into the bathroom and stripped out of my clothes before settling into the bathtub, where I scrubbed and washed with sweet-smelling soaps and soothing fragrances that helped to calm my nerves.

Once I was out, the maids sprung into action. Oil was massaged into my skin, and I was dressed in the most elegant green dress I had ever seen. The dress was the perfect compliment for my eyes, and it fit me like a glove, regardless of my baby bump that was starting to form. Anyah had told me to expect to grow much bigger to accommodate the twins.

My hair was brushed out until it shone like polished gold, and my arms were adorned with bracelets and cuffs. On my neck sat a beautiful necklace, and my feet were slipped into dainty slippers.

Naya and Rose managed to convince me to wear a bit of makeup, and I agreed. By the end of it, I was a vision of beauty and elegance.

“Wow! Goddess, Elara, you look like a Luna already! Told you it was my mission to make you look so perfect! I’m so impressed,” Naya complimented me and the maids around agreed along with her, causing me to blush.

A knock came on the door, and it was pushed open to reveal a maid who approached carrying a delicately wrapped box. “This is a gift for you from the Alphas,” she said.

I took the box out of her hands, my curiosity piqued. The maids that had helped prepare me all filed out of the room to give me some privacy and only Naya and I remained. As I unwrapped the box, my eyes widened in surprise when I looked at the contents. Inside were a variety of exquisite items packaged in different,equally beautiful boxes: a diamond bracelet, a pair of emerald earrings, and a sapphire necklace. Each piece was undeniably beautiful, but it was the accompanying notes that truly caught my attention.

One note, in bold, confident handwriting, was from Kai. It was short and sweet, expressing his admiration for me. Another, in a flowing script, was from Rowan, filled with poetic compliments that made me blush to the tips of my toes. The third was in a scrawl that I recognized as Rhys’, and it was wishing me a magical day. I smiled as I read through the messages again. The gestures were sweet and thoughtful, and they made my heart skip with joy.

But then, at the bottom of the box, sat another box, much smaller than the previous three that I had unwrapped. My heart pounded as I picked it up, the familiarity of it causing a churning to begin in my stomach. Inside was a pearlescent white opal necklace that hung with delicate silver chains and it had a note attached to it that sent a chill down my spine.

“With Love, Silas.”

I immediately let go of the box like I had been burned by it and the world around me seemed to blur from the panic that I felt.

“This is impossible. How could this be?” I heard Naya say as she picked up the box and the note that had fallen out of my hands.

My mind was racing. How was this even possible? Panic crept into my mind. There was no way that Silas would have made it into this house unnoticed. Someone here on the compound was responsible for this and my first thought was the maid who had delivered the box. I moved out of my seat with speed,determined to find her and do whatever it took until she told me the truth.

“Where are you going?” Naya called, moving ahead of me to block my path.

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