My Fated Alpha's Cruel Game (Elena and Marcus) novel Chapter 175

Chapter 175: Chapter 175 Hours of Punishment

Zane’s POV 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Asher and I finished getting dressed, but neither of us felt ready to head back to the base just yet. He pulled me against him, and I let my head settle on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

"Do you ever wonder what it would be like to live somewhere other than these army bases?" Asher’s voice was quiet, thoughtful.

"Not really, no." The answer came easily because it was true.

"There’s an entire world out there beyond these walls. Is there something that’s keeping you tied to the Hunters?"

I considered his question. "I don’t know. I’m still young, and these bases are all I’ve ever known. I guess I always assumed they had some kind of claim on me."

"Nobody owns you. You belong to yourself. They can’t own a person."

"Why are you bringing this up?"

"Because I can actually picture myself building a life away from all this."

"That sounds appealing. But like I said, I’ve never really considered it." The words felt strange on my tongue.

We made it back to the bunk house before anyone noticed our absence, but his questions kept circling through my mind like persistent echoes.

Life beyond the Hunters had never crossed my thoughts because this existence had been everything I’d ever known.

What could I possibly do in the outside world? Combat training and fighting were my only skills.

I’d never sat in a classroom or formed lasting friendships. All of those normal experiences had passed me by.

Lost in these thoughts, I was walking toward the mess hall for breakfast when Asher caught my hand. I jerked it away immediately.

"Not where people can see us. If they catch us, they’ll separate us for good." My voice carried more urgency than I’d intended.

"Right. I forgot how strict they are about that." He hadn’t fully grasped how seriously the no-fraternization rule was enforced. While others might occasionally slip by unnoticed, the consequences had been drilled into me repeatedly. Getting caught would mean severe punishment.

"You seem distracted. What’s going through your mind?" he asked.

"I keep thinking about what you asked me yesterday."

"About leaving this place?"

"Exactly. It’s an interesting idea, but I’ve lived my entire life within this rigid structure. I’ve never attended school. This is literally all I understand."

"I’m not pushing you to decide anything. I was just curious about your thoughts. Change is always frightening when it’s unfamiliar territory. But don’t you ever think about marriage, raising children someday?" His question caught me off guard, and I studied his face, wondering what had sparked this line of thinking.

These possibilities had never entered my imagination. Motherhood felt like a foreign concept. What was this man doing to my carefully ordered world?

I had a growing suspicion he was going to completely upend my life.

But maybe that wouldn’t be such a terrible thing.

"I think your admirer is getting territorial."

Asher’s observation made me look up. Corbin stood in the distance, leaning against a building with his arms folded, staring directly at us.

"What’s that about?" I asked, genuinely puzzled.

"I told you before. His feelings for you go beyond friendship."

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