My Fated Alpha's Cruel Game (Elena and Marcus) novel Chapter 114

Chapter 114: Chapter 114 Taking the Bait

Elena’s POV

My gaze darted between Damien, Marcus, and this vile creature standing before us. The thing moved first, its twisted features contorting into a malicious grin as its eyes locked onto mine.

"Well, well, princess. I was counting on seeing you again," it purred, its voice like nails on glass.

"What the hell is happening here, Marcus? Are you actually working with this monster?" The words came out sharper than I intended.

"We’re not working together," Marcus snapped back.

"Then what the fuck is this about?" Damien’s voice was a dangerous rumble, his eyes never leaving Marcus. I stepped closer and placed my hand on Damien’s arm, a silent warning to keep his temper in check. We couldn’t afford to lose Marcus now, not when we needed answers.

"That’s not your concern. I can do whatever I damn well please in my own territory," Marcus snarled.

"Why are you talking to this thing?" I pressed, forcing my voice to stay level despite the rage building inside me.

"Who else do I have left to talk to?" Marcus’s shout caught me off guard.

I stared at him with wide eyes before turning back to the creature, trying to process what he’d just revealed.

"What do you mean?" I demanded.

"I have nobody else. My wife is nothing but a lying cheat. My Beta, my Gamma, the entire pack leadership - none of them give a damn about what I’m going through. Nobody in this pack shows me any respect anymore. I’ve allowed these monsters to exist outside our borders for too long, and now everyone’s pointing fingers at me for the disaster that’s about to destroy us all," Marcus’s voice cracked with frustration.

"The pack blames you for not dealing with these creatures?" I asked.

"Exactly. They think I’m failing as an Alpha. They believe I should have eliminated them the moment I discovered they were the ones slaughtering humans."

"So why didn’t you?" Damien’s question cut through the tension.

It was a fair question, but then the answer hit me like a punch to the gut. I remembered the truth we’d discovered.

These things couldn’t be destroyed. At least, not by conventional means. Not by anything Marcus possessed.

"Because only I can destroy them," I said quietly.

"And that’s exactly why you’re standing here now. With your shiny new mate and your powerful new family, ready to make me look like a complete failure," Marcus’s voice was bitter.

"You’ve been murdering innocent humans just to get my attention? Just to force me back to the one place I despise more than anywhere else?" The realization hit me like ice water.

The creature’s grin widened, confirming my worst fears. All those innocent lives, all that blood and terror, had been nothing more than bait. Bait to lure me back to this cursed place.

"Every single death was necessary to bring you home, princess. My master has been very patient, but his patience has limits. He’s waited long enough to claim what belongs to him."

"She belongs to no one," Damien’s voice was pure violence.

"We shall see about that," the creature replied smoothly.

The pieces were falling into place now, creating a picture that made my blood run cold. This wasn’t about Marcus’s failures as an Alpha. This wasn’t about pack politics or territory disputes. This had always been about me. About dragging me back to face whatever nightmare was waiting in the shadows.

Marcus looked between us, realization dawning in his eyes. "All of this... the attacks, the deaths, the fear in my pack... it was never about me at all."

"No," I said quietly. "It was always about me."

The creature’s laughter echoed through the basement, a sound that promised nothing but darkness ahead.