Mark By The Ruthless Alpha

The Hunt Begins

Elias couldn’t take his eyes off the screen.

ROYAL OMEGA BLOOD — SEALED THREAT CLASS ALPHA

The words seemed burned into his mind.

They shouldn’t exist.

Neither should he.

The realization left a bitter taste in his mouth.

For twenty-one years, he had believed he was ordinary.

Maybe a little unlucky.

Maybe a little lost.

But ordinary.

Now everything he thought he knew about himself was crumbling.

“What does Royal Omega mean?” he finally asked.

The room remained silent.

Vivian exchanged a glance with Kael.

A glance Elias immediately noticed.

His stomach dropped.

They knew something.

Or at least suspected something.

“Tell me.”

Kael folded his arms.

“We don’t have enough information.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the truth.”

Elias stared at him.

Then looked back at the screen.

Royal bloodline.

Threat level.

Erased at birth.

Every answer seemed to create ten new questions.

Before anyone could speak again, an alarm suddenly blared throughout the study.

A sharp red light flashed across the monitors.

Vivian’s eyes widened.

“No.”

Kael immediately stepped toward the nearest screen.

“What happened?”

Vivian typed rapidly.

Her face paled with every second.

“We’ve been breached.”

The words hit the room like a bomb.

Again?

Kael’s expression darkened.

“Location.”

“Outer security network.”

Another alarm sounded.

Then another.

The monitors flickered.

One by one, camera feeds disappeared.

Black screens replaced them.

Someone was attacking the mansion’s systems.

And they were good.

Very good.

A moment later, James entered the room without knocking.

Something he never did.

That alone told Elias how serious the situation was.

“Alpha.”

Kael looked up.

“Report.”

James’ usually calm expression was tense.

“Three security checkpoints have gone offline.”

Vivian swore under her breath.

Kael’s silver eyes turned icy.

“How many intruders?”

James shook his head.

“We don’t know.”

The room fell silent.

Because that was worse.

Much worse.

Not knowing meant the enemy wanted confusion.

And confusion created fear.

Elias felt the bond stir uneasily.

Danger.

Close.

Approaching.

Kael noticed immediately.

His attention snapped toward Elias.

“What do you feel?”

The question caught him off guard.

“What?”

“The bond.”

Elias hesitated.

Then answered honestly.

“Danger.”

Kael’s jaw tightened.

“From where?”

“I don’t know.”

The feeling was too vague.

Too distant.

Like trying to hear a whisper through a storm.

Then suddenly—

Pain exploded through his chest.

“Ah!”

Elias staggered backward.

The room blurred.

His vision flashed white.

The bond surged violently.

Images flooded his mind.

A symbol.

A door.

Blood.

And a voice.

“Find the heir.”

Elias gasped.

The vision disappeared instantly.

Kael caught him before he could fall.

“What happened?”

His voice sounded distant.

Concerned.

Urgent.

Elias blinked rapidly.

Trying to steady himself.

“I saw something.”

The room froze.

Vivian looked shocked.

“Saw what?”

“A vision.”

Kael’s grip tightened slightly.

“What kind of vision?”

Elias swallowed.

“A symbol.”

“The same symbol?”

“Yes.”

Silence.

Then—

“A door.”

Vivian frowned.

“What door?”

“I don’t know.”

The frustration in his own voice surprised him.

“It happened too fast.”

Kael studied him carefully.

Every detail.

Every reaction.

Then his expression shifted.

Not much.

Just enough for Elias to recognize it.

Determination.

Kael had made a decision.

“What are you thinking?” Vivian asked.

The Alpha looked toward the monitor displaying Elias’s classified file.

Then toward the city beyond the windows.

“They’ve started moving.”

Vivian’s face tightened.

“You think the organization is responsible?”

“I know they are.”

Another alarm rang.

This one louder than before.

Security officers suddenly appeared outside the study.

One of them rushed inside.

“Alpha!”

Kael turned.

The guard looked shaken.

Terrified, even.

“We found a message.”

The room went still.

“A message?” Kael asked.

The guard nodded.

“It was left at the north gate.”

“What does it say?”

The guard hesitated.

Then swallowed hard.

And spoke.

“They want Elias.”

The room froze.

Elias felt his blood run cold.

Kael’s expression became unreadable.

The guard continued.

“There was more.”

No one interrupted him.

The man looked directly at Elias.

Then repeated the exact words written in the message.

“Return the heir, and no one else dies.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

Elias felt sick.

Because for the first time—

This wasn’t just about him.

People could get hurt.

People already had.

The organization wasn’t hiding anymore.

They weren’t watching from the shadows.

They were making demands.

Openly.

Boldly.

Fear settled deep in Elias’s chest.

But before it could take hold—

Kael spoke.

His voice was calm.

Cold.

Certain.

The kind of voice that made people listen.

“No.”

The guard blinked.

“Alpha?”

Kael’s silver eyes darkened.

“They don’t make demands in my territory.”

A dangerous smile appeared on his face.

One that sent chills down everyone’s spine.

Even Elias’s.

Because that smile promised war.

And Kael Draven looked ready for it.

The Alpha stepped toward the window overlooking the city.

Then spoke quietly.

But everyone heard him.

“Let them come.”

The bond pulsed.

Strong.

Steady.

Protective.

And for the first time since all of this began—

Elias realized something terrifying.

The people hunting him weren’t the most dangerous thing in this city.

Kael Draven was.

And now…

The ruthless Alpha had officially declared war.

To Be continued