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Chapter 9: Shaken
Last Updated:
2025-01-09 19:05:40
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Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 10: Desire To Escape
Scarlett’s POVThe first week with the Alphas was nothing short of hell. Every attempt I made to escape ended the same way: someone would catch me and drag me back to the house like a misbehaving pet.I had learned their names by now—the dark-haired one was Lucian, whose anger was quick and relentless; Clay, with the silver hair, was the least abusive, the only one who showed me any small kindness; and Maxwell, the dirty-blonde, watched me with a constant, simmering disdain. Of the three, only Clay had slipped me a blanket each night as I lay on the couch, even though Lucian and Maxwell made it clear they disapproved, grumbling that I deserved no comforts.They threw the worst accusations at me, calling me a slut, a betrayer of the bond. I could only guess my father had inflicted unspeakable pain on them, but it still didn’t justify the way they treated me. When I tried to explain that I’d never seen them before, that I hadn’t rejected any bond, they dismissed my words as lies.Their
Last Updated : 2025-01-09Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 11: Humiliated
Scarlett’s POVLucian’s mocking tone cut into me. “What are you shy about? Don’t you do it naked with your lovers?” he taunted, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. I felt my face heat with shame, and I looked away, fighting back the urge to retaliate.Maxwell tossed my damp dress at me, and I hurried to pull it on. The cold fabric clung to my skin, sending a shiver down my spine, but it was better than standing there exposed under their leering stares.“Don’t you ever use any of our things again!” Maxwell snapped, his gaze dark and accusing. He took a deep breath, his nose twitching as he picked up the faint scent of the lotion. His eyes narrowed as he looked directly at me.“Did you use Clay’s lotion?” he demanded. I swallowed, feeling caught.“My skin was dry, and I…” I started, but my voice trailed off. He wasn’t interested in my reasons. They both turned and went to their rooms, leaving me standing there, cold and humiliated.Left alone, I sank to the floor, curling up to con
Last Updated : 2025-01-09Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 12: Cold
Scarlett’s POVAfter they’d eaten, Lucian brought me a small plate of leftovers. I accepted it without a word, knowing it was all I’d get. When Clay took out a fresh blanket for himself and went to bed, I spread the thin blanket he’d given me across the floor and lay down. The cold seeped through me almost immediately, and despite my attempts to curl up tightly, my body wouldn’t stop shivering.Sometime deep into the night, I was so numb from the cold that I didn’t register footsteps until they were close. A figure moved quietly, the faint clink of glass suggesting he’d poured himself a drink.“Are you alright?” he asked softly, but I was too frozen to respond. My body shook uncontrollably, my teeth chattering beyond my control.Then, I felt myself lifted from the floor, strong arms pulling me close. I was too weak and too cold to protest, barely able to register my discomfort as I was carried into a warmer, softer space. He laid me down on a bed and slipped under the covers, his arms
Last Updated : 2025-01-09Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 13: An Argument
Lucian’s POVScarlett was infuriating—rude, ungrateful, and stubborn to the core. I’d gone out of my way to buy her clothes, things to make her life here bearable, and she couldn’t even manage a “thank you.” If this had been Nikolay’s household, she’d be rotting in a dungeon by now. Her defiance reminded me of her father’s cold, unyielding nature; she was truly his daughter, as spiteful and hard-hearted as he was.It sickened me to think that fate had tied us to someone like her. She was everything I’d hoped to avoid—a Valkin mate should have been someone I could cherish, someone worthy of respect and loyalty. Yet here we were, forced into this twisted bond.I needed to talk to the guys. This mate bond was already proving to be a burden, and we had to consider ending it. Scarlett wasn’t pure, she wasn’t ours, and she had given herself to others before us. To claim the magic, we’d have to be her first, and that wasn’t even a possibility. The probability of accessing the bond’s power wa
Last Updated : 2025-01-09Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 14: An Argument 2
Lucian’s POVMaxwell looked at me with a steady gaze. “Lucian, Scarlett is not Nikolay.”I scoffed, feeling my anger bubble over. “If we soften toward that bitch and accept the bond, she’ll be worse than her father. She’s the devil’s spawn, and I won’t unleash that kind of evil upon my people. Her own mother killed Nikolay’s fated mate, for goddess’ sake!”Clay shook his head, unfazed.“We promised Beta David she’d be Luna. That was the only reason he handed her over to us and forged her name on those documents. Without her wolf, she’s vulnerable—no one has rallied around her because she’s powerless. If we throw her out now, we’ll break our promise and lose the South. War will follow. Like it or not, Lucian, our hold over the South hinges on her being our Luna. If they find out otherwise, they will revolt.”“And then we’ll kill them all,” I retorted coldly.Clay’s eyes hardened. “Then we’re no different from the monster we claim to be avenging ourselves on. We’d just be new tyrants.”
Last Updated : 2025-01-09Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 15: Beneath The Scowl
Clay’s POVAs I stepped into the apartment, Scarlett immediately stood up, her movements tense and guarded. I noticed her quickly brushing her face, trying to hide the telltale signs of tears. Even though she’d never admit it, I could tell she’d been crying.She had this quiet, unbreakable strength, the kind that refused to show vulnerability, and honestly, I admired her for it. There was something deeply resilient about her, a spirit that refused to bow to anything we threw at her.“Have you eaten?” I asked gently, not wanting to push her further. She glared at me with that fierce scowl of hers, shaking her head. I couldn’t help but laugh a little. She tried so hard to antagonize us, to keep us at arm’s length, that it was almost endearing.Watching her now, it baffled me that Lucian couldn’t see through her defenses. Scarlett wasn’t just some problem to be dealt with. She was hurting and lost, her life torn apart, and the toughness was her way of coping.To reject her now, after eve
Last Updated : 2025-01-09Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 16: Tension
Clay’s POV“Lucian, may I speak with you in private?” I asked quietly, trying to steer him away from Scarlett’s line of fire, but he just looked at me, a storm in his eyes.“Don’t try to talk me out of this, Clay,” he bit out, keeping his voice low but edged with anger. “This bitch could never be half the woman Stasia is. I’d be giving up everything if I accepted the bond with her.”He was livid, his pain and frustration boiling over, so I linked him privately. “She’s afraid of you, Lucian.”“Good,” he replied through the link, cold and unmoved. “She’d better know her place.”Turning his glare back to Scarlett, he unleashed his anger without hesitation.“You ungrateful bitch. I buy you things you don’t deserve, and you can’t even say thank you. Instead, you sit there with that miserable scowl on your ugly face, acting like it’s your right, like it was your money that paid for it! Your father was a thief, Scarlett. He stole the South, took everything from the other Valkin Alphas and le
Last Updated : 2025-01-09Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 17: Defiance
Scarlett’s POVLucian’s words echoed painfully in my mind, each one like a fresh wound. All this, just because I hadn’t thanked him. I refused to let him see the hurt, to let him feel the satisfaction of seeing me break.I forced the tears back, holding them in with every ounce of willpower I had. My life had turned into a nightmare, and each day with them felt worse than the last. I’d once dreamed of freedom from my father, but somehow, my life with him seemed like a mercy compared to this.An invisible tally began forming in my mind, a list of those I’d make pay if I ever got through this. Lucian’s name was at the top. He’d spat his cruelty so easily, so casually, without a single thought about what his words did to me.I’d wished—prayed—that he’d reject me and let me go, that they’d all do it, so I could finally have peace and be free of this cursed mate bond. But, of course, Clay had stopped him. I’d almost tasted freedom for a moment, and he’d stepped in, thwarting any hope of es
Last Updated : 2025-01-09
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Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 80: In Need Of A Sign
Lucian’s POVElsa was hiding something from us. I could tell. She thought it would be better for us not to know, like she was shielding us from some truth that could break us. I prayed, deeply, that whatever she was holding back wasn’t something too awful, something that would shatter what little we had left.“I just need the spirit to give us a sign,” Maxwell murmured, his voice thick with grief as tears rolled down his cheeks.That’s all we really wanted—a sign. A clear path. We needed something solid, something real to grasp onto in this dark, foggy mess.Elsa’s face was calm as she replied, “I’ve already told you—the spirits say to form an alliance with the West. They are pointing west.”But I shook my head, frustration edging my voice. “Not for the war, Elsa. I need a direction to find Scarlett.”She lowered her head, a sad acknowledgment in her expression. “I don’t have magic, Alpha. I only know what the spirits choose to share with me. But I’ll tell you this: bittersweet news i
Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 79: Bittersweet 2
Lucian’s POVThe room was filled with a heavy, suffocating silence. I felt my heart sink as I realized what this meant. Scarlett was out there, exposed and vulnerable, in a state that made her a target for any predator, any alpha, and we had no idea where she was or how to find her. And somehow, she was trying to reach us, trying to connect, but something was keeping her from us.The silence after Elsa’s words was suffocating. Her gaze held a sorrowful understanding, as if she saw through all the bitterness and regret we carried, all the wounds we had inflicted on ourselves and on Scarlett. Maxwell, fists clenched, got up and swung his fist hard into the wall, his knuckles splitting against the impact. I could feel the anguish radiating from him, a shared pain we both bore for what we had done to her.“I’m sorry,” Elsa said softly, her eyes flickering with genuine sadness. But her words offered no comfort; they only deepened the ache within me.I took a steadying breath, forcing mysel
Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 79: Bittersweet 1
Lucian’s POV“I’m sorry, Maxwell,” I murmured, desperation clawing at my voice. “I swear, I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.”He looked at me, his face streaked with tears, his eyes hollowed by sorrow and anger. “You can’t bring her back, Lucian,” he whispered, his voice shaking. “You can’t… you can’t fix it. Don’t you see that?” He buried his head in his hands, the weight of grief pressing down on him until his shoulders slumped forward, defeated.“We took everything from her,” he continued, his words choked with guilt. “She had nothing, Lucian—no money, no security, no one. We stole it all. Nikolay was right to keep her from us… he saw what we were, what we’d do to her.” His voice cracked, and he wept openly, the kind of raw, unfiltered grief that comes when there’s nothing left to lose.“Please, Maxwell,” I urged, reaching for something—anything—that might bridge this chasm between us. “I know you felt it, too. She’s out there somewhere, and we can find her. I’ve been
Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 78: Regret 2
Lucian’s POVThe memories twisted inside me, vivid and merciless. I thought of the day Maxwell and I came home and made her wear those damp, uncomfortable clothes because we refused to let her use our things.The cold-heartedness of it sickened me now, yet she had never complained. She just bore it all, quietly, with a strength we didn’t deserve to witness. And even after everything, she had opened her heart to us. She allowed herself to love us, to see something good in us when we gave her every reason not to.I clenched my fists, feeling the fire of anger and guilt burn within me. How could we have allowed people like Bianca, Stasia, and Gregory to treat her with such contempt? We favored the pack, protected their petty feelings over the well-being of the one who was supposed to be our mate, our equal. And now, we were paying for it. This mess was ours, a twisted reflection of everything we’d allowed and encouraged.The image of Timothy and Tasha flashed in my mind, and I felt a whi
Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 78: Regret 1
Lucian’s POVLiving without Scarlett felt like drowning in darkness. Every day was an empty, colourless stretch, filled with nothing but sorrow. There was no joy left in my life, no light, no purpose. I spent most nights with a bottle in hand, numbing myself until I felt nothing at all. But even that brought no relief—it only deepened the void she left behind.Clay hadn’t given up, though. He clung to hope like it was the last shred of light in a world swallowed by shadows. He showed her photo to everyone he met, asking, pleading for any sign of her. He offered rewards, desperate promises, anything to find her again. But the days passed, and there was no news. His eyes looked more hollow with each passing day.And Maxwell… he was barely a man anymore. I saw the emptiness in his eyes, a haunting vacancy that mirrored my own. At first, he’d lash out, his anger finding no other place to go. Bianca and her child bore the brunt of his rage, but even he realised that hurting others wouldn’t
Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 77: Choosing Keith 3
Scarlett’s POVThe car came to an abrupt stop, and Keith pulled away, stepping out quickly and rounding the vehicle to open my door. He lifted me out with ease, holding me as if I weighed nothing, his arms steady and unyielding. I clung to him, my body pressed against his as he carried me into the mansion.“All male workers—leave the premises immediately!” he called out, his voice echoing through the grand halls. The urgency in his tone left no room for argument, and as we moved deeper into the house, I felt the space empty around us, leaving only the two of us alone in our need.He laid me gently on the bed, and I couldn’t tear my dress off fast enough, the fabric tearing as I pulled at it, desperate to feel his skin against mine. The ache inside me was unbearable, like a burning hunger that wouldn’t be sated. Keith’s touch was the only thing that grounded me, the only thing that eased the frantic beat of my heart.He touched my forehead, his fingers gentle, his gaze full of concern
Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 77: Choosing Keith 2
Scarlett’s POVEvery fiber of my being wanted to strike him down, to make him feel even a fraction of what he’d put me through.Before Geoffrey could mutter another insincere word, two hefty men appeared and seized him, dragging him away from the crowd and out of sight. I barely had time to process what was happening before Keith gently wrapped his arm around me, guiding me back to our table, his touch grounding me.“You can do as you wish with him,” he murmured, his voice low yet reassuring. “He’ll be locked up in the dungeon, waiting for whatever justice you decide. Let’s not let that bastard ruin our night.” I looked up at him, stunned by his loyalty.He was willing to imprison one of his own to honour what I’d been through, to make sure I felt seen and protected.In Redcape, Lucian and the others had always defended their pack above all else, turning a blind eye to crimes if it meant protecting their reputation or keeping the peace. No one had ever been held accountable, especiall
Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 77: Choosing Keith
Scarlett’s POVI froze in Keith’s arms, my entire body going rigid as my eyes locked onto the man who had singlehandedly destroyed everything I once held dear. He stood across the room, laughing casually with his friends, oblivious to the way his mere presence churned up a storm inside me.Keith must have sensed my change in mood. He leaned down, his breath warm against my ear.“What is the matter, darling?” His voice was gentle, filled with concern, and the tenderness of it almost undid me. I blinked, fighting the sting of angry tears, my throat tightening as memories flooded back—memories of the life I had been forced to leave, the home I’d lost, and the mates who had once promised to protect me.Gregory Olsen had taken everything from me. Before he entered my life, things had been… bearable. I had a place, a sense of stability, even love. But that man had twisted everything, pulled the rug from under me, and left me with nothing but betrayal and pain. Yes, my mates had failed me in
Scarlett (Second Edition) Chapter 76: Progress With Keith 2
Scarlett’s POVThe day of the event arrived quickly, and when Keith handed me the gown, I was speechless. It was a stunning, backless royal blue dress adorned with intricate pearls and tiny diamonds that sparkled as if holding stars within them. I had never worn anything so elegant, so luxurious, and I felt like someone new as I slipped into it. Standing in front of the mirror, I could hardly recognise myself. I looked… beautiful. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt like I belonged somewhere, like I deserved to be seen.As I stepped out of the closet, my breath caught. Keith stood waiting in a midnight blue tuxedo that complemented my dress perfectly. He looked like a dream, every bit the Alpha he was—a man whose presence commanded respect and admiration. His blue eyes were as deep and intense as ever, a gaze that seemed to look right into my soul.“You look beautiful,” he said, his voice soft yet filled with something that made my heart race. I couldn’t stop the smil
