TWICE MARKED

CHAPTER THREE

BLOOD TIES

I stared at him, frozen. My brother.

Jaxon.

He was the last person I expected to see. His dark hair, the same shade as mine, was neatly cut. His sharp green eyes used to bring me comfort. But now, they were cold. They weren’t here to save me. He was here to take me back, back to Darius, back to the life I fought to escape.

“Father sent me,” Jaxon said calmly, like he hadn’t just shattered my world. “You’ve been a very bad girl, Amy.”

“Stay back,” Luca growled, stepping in front of me.

Jaxon’s smile didn’t fade. “And who is this? Your new pet?”

“Touch her, and you’ll lose your hand,” Luca snarled.

The warriors surrounding us tightened their circle. My heart pounded so loud it hurt. I thought I had time. I thought I could run far enough to start over. I didn’t expect my own family to be hunting me.

“Please, Jaxon,” I whispered, stepping forward. “Don’t do this." You don’t understand. "Darius isn’t who you think he is.”

“I understand perfectly,” he said, tilting his head. “You’re disobeying the Alpha. You’re embarrassing our family. You know what happens to traitors.”

Luca growled again, his body tense, ready to fight.

“Stay out of this, rogue,” Jaxon said, his voice sharp now. “This is a family matter.”

Luca didn’t move. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”

I grabbed Luca’s arm. “Please. Let me talk to him. He’s my brother. Maybe… maybe I can get through to him.”

“Amy…”

“Just let me try.”

Luca stepped back, his jaw tight but his eyes trusting.

I faced Jaxon, my hands shaking. “I know you think you’re protecting me, but you’re wrong. Darius wants to use me. He used me in…. In another life. He will destroy our family.”

Jaxon frowned but didn’t lower his guard. “You’re not making sense.”

“I’ve lived this before, Jaxon. He kills me. He kills your sister.”

He blinked, something flickering in his eyes; doubt, confusion, maybe even fear.

“You’re just sick. Father said "you weren’t thinking straight.”

“Because they’re lying to you!” I stepped closer. “I’m your sister." I need you to believe me.”

For a second, I thought he might. His hands twitched. His jaw clenched. But then he stepped back, shaking his head.

“No. You’re not the sister I knew.”

Pain sliced through me, but I didn’t have time to drown in it.

“Take her,” he ordered.

Luca didn’t wait. He lunged at the nearest warrior, his claws slashing, his teeth snapping. The clearing exploded into chaos.

I ducked as a warrior swung at me, barely missing my head. I scrambled for a broken branch and swung wildly, catching him in the ribs.

Luca fought like a wild storm, but there were too many. Jaxon aimed for me, moving fast. I turned to run, but he tackled me to the ground.

“Stop fighting me, Amy!” he barked.

I struggled beneath him, my arms pinned. “You don’t understand! He’ll kill me, he’ll kill you, too!”

“You’re sick, but Father can fix you.”

His grip tightened. My wolf howled inside me, desperate to fight back, but my body was too weak to shift.

Luca roared, knocking another warrior aside and charging toward us.

“Let her go!” he shouted.

Jaxon pulled me up roughly, pressing a blade to my throat. “Stay back, rogue! Or I’ll kill her!”

Luca froze, his chest heaving. “You don’t want to do that.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes to bring her home.”

My breathing was sharp and shallow. The blade bit into my skin. I couldn’t move.

“Amy,” Luca said slowly, “Trust me.”

How could I? One wrong move and my brother would kill me. But Luca’s steady eyes locked onto mine, telling me he had a plan.

“On three,” he mouthed.

I gave the smallest nod I could.

“One.”

Jaxon’s grip tightened.

“Two.”

I tensed, ready to drop my weight.

“Three!”

I slammed my heel into Jaxon’s foot and dropped to the ground just as Luca launched himself forward. Jaxon swung his blade, but Luca knocked it away, sending it skidding across the dirt.

“Run!” Luca barked.

I scrambled to my feet and ran, dodging between trees as fast as my legs would carry me.

Behind me, I heard the clash of claws and teeth, the sounds of battle echoing in the woods.

“Don’t let her escape!” Jaxon’s voice chased me, but I didn’t look back.

I ran until my lungs burned, until my legs nearly gave out. I found a fallen tree and collapsed behind it, gasping for air.

My mind screamed at me. I left Luca behind. I left him to fight alone.

No. I couldn’t leave him. I had to go back.

I forced myself to stand, my body shaking. I had to help him. I had to find him.

I retraced my steps, moving quietly through the trees. When I reached the clearing, my heart nearly stopped.

The warriors were gone.

Blood stained the grass. Deep claw marks scarred the earth. But there was no sign of Luca. No sign of Jaxon.

Only silence.

“Luca?” I whispered, stepping forward.

Nothing.

Panic clawed at my chest. I followed the scent trails, but they ended near the river.

Had they taken him? Had Jaxon captured him?

“Luca!” I called louder, my voice cracking.

No answer.

I dropped to my knees, my throat tight with tears.

Had I just lost him?

Had I just traded his life for mine?

“You should have stayed hidden, little pup.”

I spun around.

Darius stood behind me, a cruel smile stretching across his face.

“Your brother did well,” he said, stepping closer. “He delivered exactly what I wanted."

“Where is Luca?” I demanded, my voice shaking.

Darius's smile widened. "Let's just say… he's somewhere you can't reach him."

Terror and rage filled me.

“But you…you are right where you belong."

His warriors surrounded me again. I had no strength left to fight. My wolf howled helplessly inside

me.

"Take her," Darius ordered.

This time, they didn’t hesitate.

As they dragged me away, I screamed Luca's name, hoping somehow, he could still hear me.