Defying the Rogue Alpha

Ava leaned forward. Her shoulders were straight now, no longer bowed by fear, but braced with fury. Her eyes—red-rimmed and glassy moments before—now gleamed with sudden steel, a glint of fire igniting deep in her soul. "You are a fool, Alaric," she said with quiet venom.

Alaric had expected fear. Not the confident defiance of a woman who still had fight left in her.

She straightened further, squaring her stance. "Lucas will come for me," she said. "You may rip the mark from my skin, but you will never tear him from my soul. And when he gets here?" She smiled. A slow, terrifying smile of a woman who knew what her mate was capable of. "Goddess help you."

Alaric clapped slowly, his rings tapping mockingly against his palm. "Oh, but we want him to come," he said. "He is the most powerful alpha in the East. His downfall will be our first step in claiming everything beyond the border. And you, my dear," he said, walking toward her with confidence, "you will be the one to take him down... with your submission powers."

"And you think I’ll do that?" she spat, "Not even if you rip my heart out of my chest and feed it to the king on a silver platter."

"Oh, no," he said, voice low. "I won’t force you. You’ll do it all on your own. Because by the time I’m through with you, you will hate anything that reminds you of Alpha Lucas."

For a brief second, Ava’s confidence faltered. Her fingers clenched into fists. "What will you do to me?"

Alaric turned to Lucia. "Ensure she is presentable to dine with the king tonight." He turned to Ava again. "I suggest you be on your best behaviour or Zoe’s screams will pierce your ears all night."

But Alaric was already turning. He left without another word.