Page 106 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow

His smirk vanishes.

Then— A sharp crack.

Pain explodes across my face, blinding and searing as my head snaps violently to the side. For a second, I can’t hear. Just a loud, ringing static in my ears. My cheek burns, my skin stinging, and my vision blurs.

A cold, rough grip wraps around my throat. I choke, gasping, as Valerian squeezes, pressing his fingers into my skin, cutting off my air.

“You know nothing of this world,” he hisses, his breath hot against my face. “You don’t understand what power does to people. What it will do to Alex.” His grip tightens. “You think love is enough? You think he’ll throw away everything for you?”

Spots dance in my vision. My nails dig into his wrist, but I’m too weak. My body is already exhausted.

The edges of my world start to darken.

But out of nowhere, I hear a sound. A roar. Distant, but powerful.

Valerian’s grip loosens, just slightly, his head snapping up.

More noise. A clash. A howl.

And finally, a voice. Loud. Furious. Unmistakable.

“Valerian!”

Alex.

My heart lurches.

He’s here.

For a moment, Valerian just stares.

His dark eyes flicker with something—confusion? Frustration? It’s brief, barely a flicker across his sharp features, but I see it. His brows furrow, his lips part slightly, and then, just as quickly as the doubt appears, his expression hardens.

“How?” he mutters, his voice low, almost to himself. “How did he know I was here?”

His fingers twitch at his sides, his body rigid, like he’s running through every possible explanation in his head. A man who always thinks he’s three steps ahead, suddenly realizing—he’s not.

But then his eyes darken again, and slowly, a smile creeps onto his face. A wicked, knowing smile.

“Well,” he murmurs, voice dropping into something almost pleased, “it doesn’t matter, does it?”

He turns to me again, and there’s something new in his expression. Something even more dangerous.

“Now,” he says, drawing the word out, savoring it, “both of you will die.”

Before I can even move, his hand snaps out—grabbing a brutal fistful of my hair.

Pain explodes through my scalp as he yanks, dragging me forward so fast my legs barely keep up. A raw, gut-wrenching scream tears from my throat.

“Let go—” My hands fly to his grip, clawing at his fingers, but he’s too strong.

He doesn’t stop. He just drags me, my feet stumbling, my body lurching forward as he hauls me like I’m nothing more than a ragdoll. Tears blur my vision from the sheer agony radiating from my scalp, but I fight. I twist, thrash, my nails digging into his wrist, trying anything to loosen his grip, to make him stop.

He doesn’t even flinch.

“Struggle all you want, little human,” he sneers, voice thick with amusement. “It won’t change a thing.”

The wooden door bursts open, and suddenly, we’re outside.

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