anymore. You can be a proper family. Her supposed departure to another pack was all part of the plan. We don’t blame her for the deception – she did what was
necessary.”
Each word cracked Marcus’s control like ice in spring, his Alpha power leaking out in waves that made nearby wolves flinch away.
His parents‘ triumphant expressions carved wounds deeper than any claw. How had he never seen their true nature before?
He remembered all the times he’d questioned Rachel about her supposed mate.
How she’d always deflected with practiced ease, changing the subject so smoothly he’d barely noticed.
Never once sharing even a single detail about how they’d met or fallen in love.
Her social media and pack records completely devoid of any evidence of another Alpha’s claim.
He’d been such a blind fool, willing to accept any lle that served his purposes.
And for what? To bring Oliver home openly?
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He’d destroyed his intended mate for nothing but smoke and mirrors, burning her body and killing her wolf for a deception.
Sarah had no pack, no allies in this territory. She’d been completely alone.
She’d stayed for him, believing in his promises despite everything.
He’d sworn to be her protection, her future, her shelter from the world’s cruelty.
Vowed never to betray what grew between them, even if it wasn’t the love he’d promised.
But what had he done instead?
His wolf howled in anguish as the truth crashed over him like a tidal wave.
He’d orchestrated Sarah’s burning without a moment’s hesitation.
Ordered silver to kill her wolf while pretending It was for her own good.
All for a mate who’d never truly been marked by another.
All for a lie.
Guilt and regret warred in Marcus’s heart like battling wolves, his Alpha power fluctuating dangerously with each surge of
emotion.
After a long moment, his voice emerged cold as winter, each word carrying the weight of an Alpha command:
“Sarah is my only mate,” he growled, fangs dropping. “My wolf chose her, even if I was too blind to see it.”
“Whether she lives or dies, she is the only one I will claim. The pack bonds don’t lie they never accepted Rachel.”
–
His claws emerged as he continued, “I don’t care if Rachel is mated or single. It means nothing to me now. All her lies, all her manipulations – they’re worth less than dust.”
“That night three years ago was a mistake,” he spat the words like poison. “If I’d known Oliver would come of it, I would never
have touched her. Never have started this chain of destruction.”
His power crackled visibly now, making the ceremonial candles flicker. “This ceremony was what you wanted – you can deal with
the aftermath. I’m done with your schemes.” D
“My mate is out there,” his voice rose to a roar, “and I will find her if it costs me my life! My territory, my position, everything-
I’ll sacrifice it all!”
He turned to leave, his Alpha power so strong it made lesser wolves whimper and bare their throats.
Before he could reach the door, Rachel rushed forward, her perfect facade cracking with genuine fear.
She cradled Oliver in her arms, panic in her eyes as she blocked his path.
“Marcus!” she cried desperately, clutching their son. “Oliver’s burning with fever – his wolf is fighting something! He needs a
healer! Where are you going? Please, help our son first!”
The pup’s face was flushed red, his small body trembling with an unnatural heat. Even at this distance, Marcus could smell the
sickness on him.
At that moment, his phone rang with a distinctive tone – his Beta calling.
He didn’t even look at Rachel or their suffering child. His voice was ice: “Take him to a healer yourself. My parents will handle his care from now on. You’ve managed to manipulate them well enough.”
Then he strode from the ceremonial hall, leaving his son’s whimpers behind.
The moment he was outside, he answered the call with trembling fingers.
“Any news? Have you found Sarah?” His voice cracked with desperation.
His Beta’s heavy sigh carried clearly. “Alpha, I’ve searched everywhere possible. All we know is she spent two nights in a hotel before leaving, and then took that car toward the border. There’s nothing else – no scent trail, no witnesses, nothing.”
“You should talk to the search parties. After this long, they might have found her remains…”
Marcus hung up before he could finish, his phone cracking in his grip.
He refused to believe it. His wolf howled in denial
Refused to accept that Sarah would leave him willingly, after everything she’d endured.
Refused to believe she’d died in that rogue attack, her body left for scavengers.
He jumped into his car, the engine roaring to life.
Raced toward the search party’s base, pushing the engine to its limits, taking curves at dangerous speeds.
But after two intersections…
He slammed to a stop by the roadside, the tires screaming in protest.
Struck himself twice across the face in anguish, hard enough to draw blood.
The t
The truth couldn’t be denied any longer.
He had arranged the fire himself, chosen the timing precisely.
Had ordered the silver injection with his own voice, watched them poison her wolf.
Now Sarah was weak, her once–powerful wolf dying inside her.
Even a healthy wolf might not survive a rogue pack’s attack.
In her condition…
His wolf howled in despair as reality finally sank in.
He had killed her himself.
In his emotional spiral, Marcus opened his phone to our message thread.
–
My profile picture smiled back at him a moment frozen in time when I still believed his lies.
Only these digital traces of my existence could bring him any semblance of peace now.
His fingers trembled as he traced my image on the screen.
The last messages were from two days ago
His desperate explanations about the ceremony preparations.
My telling silence in response.
I had never ignored his messages before.
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No matter what I was doing, his messages always got immediate attention.
His calls were always answered on the first ring.
When had that changed?
Marcus hadn’t even noticed the shift.
Everything had been different after the fire, after the silver.
He scrolled up through our history.
Found messages about the marking ceremony I’d spent five years dreaming of.
“Marcus, what do you think of these ceremonial robes? I want something that sparkles – might as well show off these legs while I
can!”
“Can we use this style for our bonding photos? I want them displayed at the ceremony where everyone can see. I want the whole pack to see how happy we are, how much my mate loves me!”
“Marcus, the ceremonial band you chose is a bit loose. Could we exchange it? Unless… are you designing something special like you promised? You’re too good to me.…..
He had designed a ceremonial band.
But it had been for Rachel’s finger all along
The robes, the ceremony – all props in his elaborate deception.
The marking ceremony I’d dreamed of for five years…
He’d been lying from the very beginning.
But I’d never suspected, too wrapped up in the joy of what I thought was true love.
Believing I’d found a mate who would cherish me above all others.
The happiness in my messages made Marcus break down completely, his wolf’s howls of anguish echoing through the empty car.
Every heart emoji.
Every excited plan.
Every trust–filled word.
They all burned now like acid in his chest,
The worst part was remembering how excited I’d been about the ceremony.
How I’d spent hours researching ancient pack traditions.
Wanting everything to be perfect for our supposed destiny.
While he’d been planning my destruction.
His claws dug into the steering wheel as he remembered my joy over each detail.
The way I’d light up when discussing our future.
Finally, the powerful Alpha burst into tears.
