Page 548 of Cheaters: A Dark Romance Anthology

“When he found out who you were, did he promise to set you free from the spell?”

“No, but he would never harm someone I love.” Not in the way Markus did.

“Our people have been living a half-life for years because of the Dutchmen family. Was he going to use the moonstone? You might’ve thought he liked you, but really, it was your blood that got him excited.”

I can’t argue with his logic. Titan never offered to set me or my people free. He’s never proven his loyalty to me. Am I a fool in love with a man who doesn’t love me back?

Markus uses my moment of hesitation and lunges for my neck, but I’m quick enough to move out of the way. I push him back, and he loses his footing. His back paws dangle from the cliff as he scrambles to climb back up. I move to the edge.

“Help me, Rose. You know our coven needs me. You do too. Who will guide you when you have nobody else?”

I put my paws on his, holding him in place. “I don’t need you, and the coven will be better off without your evil hanging over their heads.” I forcefully push his leg off the cliff and watch him fall to his death. As he hits the ground with a thud, he changes back into human form. His lifeless body lays there for the world to see what I’ve done. I back away from the edge until I hit a rock, and the tears flow freely. I’m all alone and have nowhere to go.

Markus did have a point; Titan hasn’t given anything up for me, only the things I’ve taken. If he looks through my clothes, he will find the moonstone, and he could use any member of my coven to get his own realm.

Silvi. Just thinking her name breaks my heart. I should’ve asked her to come with me.

I’m still sobbing when the stars begin to shimmer against the backdrop of the night sky. At some point, I shift back to human form, and I sit with my arms wrapped around my cold body.

* * *

I wake in the early hours to a steady cradling motion. There’s a blanket placed over my cold body, and I pull it tighter over my legs. A lot of people are riding in the wagon with me. The feet surrounding my position are comforting rather than threatening. As I look up towards the rising sun, I see the familiarity of my coven.

“Shhh. Don’t try to speak,” Clary says.

“Silvi,” I say.

“I’m sorry, my sweet. She’s gone.”

I fight back my tears, but it’s a losing battle. The horse’s footsteps and my sobs are the only sounds as we travel. Nobody speaks until we arrive back at the coven. Some of my people help me to my tent, which only reminds me of my loss. I thank them for their help and crawl into bed, where I stay for the rest of the day.

As the sun sets again, people speak loudly outside my tent. The whispers that started soft turn into voices loud enough for me to know they want something. I wish I didn’t have to deal with this right now, but if they’re going to burn me at the stake, we might as well get it over with.

I pull back the material of the door, and everyone quietens as they stare. My face feels raw, and I hold my breath, waiting for my fate. The women twist hair to the side to bare their necks and everyone takes the knee.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“We know you’re grieving, Rose, but we need our leader. We are left open to the other covens unless we unite and show a strong front,” Clary says.

“Markus is our leader,” I say, realising afterwards what the problem with that is. “He was going to kill me. I…”

“We know. It’s okay, dear. You did what you had to. We all did before the curse was broken. Packs of wolves choose their champion alpha to take the place of the old leader. We’d like to keep this tradition.” She bows her head.

I touch my chest. “Me? You want me to be the alpha?” I ask in disbelief.

“You’ve shown great character. You rescued the moonstone and set us free.”

“I got my sister killed, and I let the prince go.”

“Markus was the one who made the bad choices. We trust your judgement.”

“Is this what everyone wants?” I look around, studying their faces in disbelief.

“Yes,” the crowd says together, and I’m blown back by their response.

“What if you don’t like the changes I want to make?”

“You’re an intelligent, kind, beautiful woman, and we put our faith in you.”

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