TWICE MARKED

CHAPTER TWO

TRUST THE ROGUE

"There you are."

My blood froze.

Darius stood at the entrance of the cave, his warriors fanned out behind him, cutting off any escape. His blue eyes, the same ones I once thought were kind, now gleamed with cold triumph.

"You didn’t think you could hide from me forever, did you?" His voice was calm, but I knew the storm behind it. "Come back quietly, Amy. I’ll forgive you for running."

Lies. I knew what forgiveness meant in his world. Chains. Pain. Death.

"I’m not going back to you," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. My wolf whimpered inside me, afraid, but I pushed her back. I wouldn’t be the weak, frightened girl I was before.

"You have no choice. You’re mine."

"I was never yours."

His jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened. "Take her."

The warriors surged forward.

I spun, searching for an exit, but the cave walls trapped me. I backed away, panic choking me.

"You should’ve trusted me, little pup."

Luca’s voice came from behind them, smooth and sharp like a blade.

I turned just in time to see him leap from the shadows, his claws flashing, his teeth bared. He slammed into the nearest warrior, sending him crashing into the cave wall.

"Run, Amy!"

"I won’t leave you!"

"Run!"

I hesitated for a second too long, but Luca fought like a storm, clearing a path. I darted through the opening, sprinting into the woods, my heart racing. I heard the clash of claws and the growls behind me, but I couldn’t stop.

I didn’t know where I was going. I just knew I had to get away.

"Catch her!"

Darius’s furious roar shook the trees.

I pushed harder, my legs screaming, branches slapping my face. My wolf begged to shift, but I was still too weak. My body wasn’t ready.

"This way!"

The warriors were closing in again. I had no weapons, no plan, only the desperate need to survive.

Suddenly, Luca appeared beside me, blood dripping from his arm but his grin still sharp. "You’re a terrible runner."

"You came back!"

"I said I would."

He grabbed my hand, pulling me faster through the trees. I felt his strength, his steady heartbeat. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel completely alone.

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere they won’t follow."

We broke through the tree line and reached a steep hill. Luca didn’t slow down.

"Hold your breath."

"What?"

He didn’t explain. He just dragged me over the edge. We slid down the muddy slope, crashing through brambles and sharp rocks until we hit the bottom near a riverbank.

I coughed, spitting out dirt. "Are you trying to kill me yourself?"

"You’re alive, aren’t you?"

Footsteps thundered above us. Darius’s warriors scanned the top of the hill but didn’t dare follow.

"She’s with a rogue," one of them said. "The Alpha won’t like that."

"Report back. He wants her alive."

They retreated.

I sank to my knees, breathing hard, my hands trembling. "Why did you help me again?"

Luca shrugged, wiping blood from his brow. "I don’t like bullies."

"You don’t even know me."

"You’re right. I don’t. But something tells me you need someone in your corner."

"I don’t want to drag you into this."

"Too late."

He offered me his hand. I hesitated. Trust was dangerous. I trusted Darius once, and it cost me my life.

But Luca has saved me twice now. And somehow, I felt safe with him.

I placed my hand in his.

"So, what’s your story, little pup? "Why is your own alpha hunting you like a criminal?"

I opened my mouth, but no words came. The truth was too heavy, too tangled.

"It’s complicated."

"Lucky for you, I like complicated things."

We walked along the riverbank until the trees grew thick again. Luca led me to an abandoned cabin, its roof half-collapsed, but it was hidden well.

"You can rest here. It’s not much, but it’s safe."

I sat on the creaky wooden floor, pulling my knees to my chest.

"You’re not like the other rogues," I said quietly.

"Most rogues aren’t like the stories you’ve heard. Some of us were born outside the packs. Some of us were thrown out."

"Which one are you?"

His eyes darkened. "I was betrayed by my own pack."

I swallowed. "I’m… I was mated to Darius. In another life."

Luca blinked. "Another life?"

"You think I’m crazy."

"Try me."

I told him everything. The betrayal. The pup. My death. The wish I made to the Moon Goddess. Waking up six years in the past.

His face remained unreadable as I spoke, but his eyes stayed locked on mine.

"So you’re saying you already lived this life once?"

"Yes."

"And you remember everything?"

"Every painful second."

Silence stretched between us. Then, he surprised me.

"Good. That means you know the future."

"Not all of it. Some things are already different. I have never met you before."

"Maybe you weren’t looking in the right places."

"I was too busy running from him."

"Well, you don’t have to run alone anymore."

Something in my chest ached at his words. I wanted to believe him.

"What now? He won’t stop."

"No, he won’t."

"I need to get stronger. I can’t stay weak."

Luca smiled, but it wasn’t mocking. He was proud. "Then I’ll train you."

"Why?"

"Because you’re the first person I’ve met who wants to fight for their life, not just run from it."

"I’m not sure I know how to fight."

"You’ll learn. I’ll make sure of it."

He stood, stretching his arms. "But first, you need rest. Tomorrow, we begin."

I nodded, exhaustion pulling at me, but a tiny spark of hope flickered inside. I didn’t have to be the same girl I was before. I could be better. Stronger.

As I drifted off to sleep in the abandoned cabin, I heard Luca’s voice in the distance.

"I won’t let him take you. I swear it."

His promise wrapped around me like a blanket.

For the first time in my two lives, I felt safe.

---

But safety doesn’t last long.

The next morning, as Luca and I began training, a scent drifted in the wind.

Familiar. Sharp. Dangerous.

I turned just in time to see a group of warriors surrounding the clearing.

"Amy," Luca said, his voice low, "We have company."

And then I saw him.

Not Darius.

Someone worse.

My brother.

"Amy, you’ve caused quite a mess."

His smile was cold.

"Father sent me to bring you home."

My legs went weak.

I forgot. I forgot that in this life, my family was still alive and still loyal to Darius.

They weren’t here to save me.

They were here to drag me back.