Page 143 of My Forbidden Alpha

My heart stops along with time as I try to comprehend the words that Scarlett has just spoken. There’s a shrill whistling sound in my ear as I see Jackson rise from his seat. The thudding hearts suddenly muting out along with the whistling sound.

I watch in slow motion as Scarlett removes the scarf from around her neck.

No. This is a nightmare. No, this can’t be possible.

“How dare he?!” Jackson thunders, pulling me back to reality and I let out a breath I didn’t know I am holding.

Scarlett turns her head so we can see the horrifying mark. The wolf with a scar across its left eye, is surrounded by a web of black veins that look as if they are moving.

My heart squeezing in anguish.

“No!” I shout, jumping to my feet, my eyes turning a dark shade of violet as my wolf begins surfacing; a rage that I only ever have when it comes to my daughters, surges forward. “How dare he?! That sick bastard. How could he mark his own daughter?”

“Mama… calm down,” Scarlett says, her voice emotionless. Jackson walks over swiftly, dropping to his knees, and wraps his arms around our daughter tightly.

My eyes sting with tears, wishing he was her biological father too. He has been a real father to the girls, and right now I can see the pain in his eyes as he strokes her hair, holding her tightly. Her hands are holding the sofa tightly.

“This was reckless of you Elijah. You shouldn’t be making these decisions; I haven’t handed you the position of Alpha. You should have taken care of her! You failed,” Jackson snarls, now glaring at Elijah as he strokes Scarlett’s hair.

Scarlett pulls away from Jackson. “It’s not his fault-”

“It is!” Jackson cuts her off.

“I don’t need to answer to you, but I know I fucking failed,”Elijah admits quietly, looking away, guilt clear in his eyes.

“You shouldn’t say anything to him. He did enough. I wouldn’t be here if he didn’t get me out of there,” Scarlett says. Jackson frowns but clearly doesn’t want to distress her any further.

She takes a deep breath and stands up, walking over to the window. For a moment, she simply stares outside. The sun is shining, as if not realising how grim the mood is in here.

We’re all silent, trying to comprehend the sick reality of the fact her biological father marked her. How dare he?

She turns towards us, the sun hitting her head and making the strawberry blond at the roots look even lighter whilst the flaming red tips shine bright and vivid. She reminds me of a phoenix, who always rises from the ashes no matter how many times it is destroyed.

“You all know of my attacks that don’t heal quickly, and the size of my wolf. I don’t know how, but I do know that I am different. I have felt my aura. I know my calling and I know that I am an alpha wolf.”

My heart thuds. Yes, it’s something Amelia and Jackson thought could be true, but-

“And it’s my job to protect my pack from Zidane. So, I’m just letting you know, cursed mark or not, I’m not going to sit around and cry. I’m going to find a way to end his reign and take over the Desert Storm Pack. To fix the damage he has done.”

“A female cannot be an alpha,” I say, terrified at the thought of her going up against him and losing my daughter to a monster like him. “Scarlett, you don’t know how crazy he is.” I approach her, cupping her face, wishing the mark was back on my neck and not on my precious daughter’s.

Scarlett looks at me, giving me a bitter smile. “I know, Mama, I know exactly how crazy is.”

She doesn’t!

“No, you don’t! Don’t you get it? He can hurt you! Have you seen these scars?” I ask hysterically, pulling up the sleeve of my dress, unable to stop the tears from falling as I show her what he has done to me.

Scarlett looks at me almost sympathetically. “I told you, Mama, I know how deranged he is. Trust me,” she says, quietly looking at my scarred arms as she takes hold of my wrists gently. “You have to trust me.”

“You don’t know! Scarlett, I am your mother. From this day on you need to hide away from him. He cannot find you, you don’t understand-”

“Mama! I know! I know how sick he is! I am not going to hide, and I’m not changing my mind!” Scarlett snaps, her eyes flashing silver. Her Alpha aura rolling off her in waves, making me flinch. But still, I look at my daughter with sadness and determination to stop her.

I know my daughter has powers and every trait that only a strong alpha would have, and more, but I only want her to find her mate and be happy and safe. I don’t want her going to war against an unhinged monster!

“Scarlett, baby girl, please. You were lucky enough to not have suffered like-”

“Enough!” Scarlett closes her eyes for a second, but when she opens them, I don’t miss the flash of hurt in them. “My words are final!” she growls. My breath hitches when I feel the powerful Alpha command in her voice.

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