Marked by the Terrible Alpha

Avery’s POV “Is this really how it ends?” I whispered. “If it does,” my father said beside me, “then we make it count.” The ground was soaked in blood. Bodies—people I had known all my life—were scattered around us. We had been fighting since sunrise, but the truth was clear now. We never stood a chance. “We’re not soldiers,” Mr. Oak muttered, shaking. “We were never meant for this.” “You have to stay strong,” said Alina quietly. Her hand rested on her round belly. “We should have given up when we had the chance. That was our mistake.” “Shut up,” my father snapped, not cruel, just sharp. “We still breathe. We still stand. So we fight.” We were farmers. Teachers. Builders. The real soldiers—our warriors—had died in the first wave. What was left now? A pregnant warrior. A gatekeeper. A butcher. And me. “I shouldn’t be here,” I said out loud without meaning to. Alina heard. She turned her head, eyes hard. “Then leave. Go cry in the trees like always.” “Alina—” Mr. Oak warned. I looked up Mr. Oak with surprise and gratitude. He’s never spoken up for me before. No one has. “No, let her speak,” I said. “She’s right. I’ve never belonged here.” “I didn’t say that,” Alina muttered, looking away. “Just… don’t die stupid.” Alina and I have known each other since birth. We’re practically the same age. Did that make us close? No. It was the opposite. She was better at everything than me, and she made sure I knew. She had been my life long torturer. My whole life I’d pray to the goddess for reprieve from her disdain. It looked like the moon goddess decided to fulfill it as a dying wish. Suddenly everyone was being so nice. Even if it didn’t look like it, trust me when I say, she was being nice. My hand tightened around my sword. I wasn’t strong like them. I had never shifted properly. My wolf… weak. Quiet. Maybe broken. I was a beta, but even the omegas had more respect. Suddenly, something had changed. Maybe it was the smell of blood in the air, or maybe it was my father’s presence. Maybe it was the fact that death was staring us in the face and we’d just happen to share this time together. We would also all fall together. “Look,” the butcher said suddenly. “They’re coming.” We heard them first—marching footsteps like thunder. Then the ground began to shake. And then—he appeared. Michael Damire. “Stars save us,” Mr. Oak whispered. “He’s here.” He walked like death in armor—black as midnight, smooth and silent. His eyes… I couldn’t look away. Deep midnight blue with flecks of gold. Like the night sky was trapped in them. Alina gasped softly. “What sort of man is that?” She didn’t need to say more. I’ve heard devils don’t take the shape of grotesque monsters, but are temptingly beautiful. Michael, he had an allure. One that drew out your breath. And drew you to your death. It was bone chilling. “Don’t look away, men,” my father warned. “If we die, we won’t go down lying down. We have something to protect!” I felt it. The fear. It crawled up my throat and choked me. Even my fathers unwavering will couldn’t mask the reality of the situation. “I never even got to kiss someone,” I said quietly. “Not once.” Mr. Oak gave me a sad smile. “I never left this town.” “Never saw the ocean,” the butcher added. “Always meant to, when I was a lad .” “Stop it now, all of you!” Alina said as she eyed me. You couldn’t have paid me to believe that the people of this pack wanted anything outside of what they’ve always known. It seemed only Alina’s brain was still screwed on right. No wonder my father loved her more than me Even in the face of imminent death, the status quo must still be upheld. I shrank. Tightening my already tight grip till it ached more than the fear at the pit of my heart. “Now!” my father growled. “Now we fight here.” He raised his sword high. “Swords up, Cawthorne! If death comes, let it meet warriors!” His voice rang like thunder. For one moment, I forgot to be scared. I raised my sword too. Even Alina lifted hers, belly and all. Then the enemy charged. They were fast. Too fast. Shadows with blades. One by one, our people fell. “So many dead bodies” I quaked. I turned to Alina. “Watch your left!” She spun—too late. A sharp cry tore from her lips as blood burst from her side. “ALINA!” I screamed. She crumpled, clutching her stomach. “No, no, no—” I rushed toward her, but a soldier slammed into me. My head snapped sideways. Pain exploded across my cheek. Blood filled my mouth. “Please—stop—” I started. I begged. I swung at him. Weak. Worthless. He laughed. “Easy kill.” Then—he didn’t laugh anymore. My father’s blade drove through his chest. “Avery!” he barked. “RUN!” I stood frozen. “But—” “RUN, damn it!” His eyes met mine. They were angry. “Why?” I choked. “You always—” “I’m not interested in your pouting Avery ,” he said with the same anger and violence I’m terribly familiar with. “Now go.” He turned and faced the enemy, swinging like a beast. I ran. I didn’t think. I just ran. Through the bodies. Through the fire. Toward the trees. But then I stopped running. And I just had to look back. My father was still standing, blood dripping from his arm. His sword was chipped. But he didn’t fall. Michael Damire walked slowly toward him. Calm. Deadly. Unstoppable. Then—he turned. He looked straight at me. My breath caught. His eyes locked with mine, and something inside me shattered. “Why me?” I whispered. “Why is he looking at me?” I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I just knew I had to run. Behind me, my father’s voice rose one last time. “Run… Avery…” Then—nothing. I screamed. A sound I didn’t know could come from me. Michael was still walking toward me. “You wanted him! He’s dead!” My voice betrayed me. Tears welled up in my eyes. I didn’t want to say that. “Leave me alone!” I croaked. “Leave me alone!” I continued to sob and stumble backwards. He was inching closer and closer to me. “Stop, please” He frowned. “You’re one scared little girl daughter of the mighty Chase Cawthorne.” What just happened? I never saw his lips move. Michael’s lips twisted up into a cruel smile. Something broke inside. A scream. A spark. A crack. I don’t know what. But it happened. And I ran deeper into the forest. Farther. Faster. Michael Damire was coming for me. And I didn’t know why.