My Fated Alpha's Cruel Game (Elena and Marcus) novel Chapter 196

Chapter 196: Chapter 196 Orchestrated Deception

Elena’s POV

We had barely made it past the tree line when a gunshot cracked through the air behind us. Every warrior in our group froze and turned back toward the sound.

Blackwood stood there in the clearing, weapon raised and aimed directly at our retreating forms. Damien’s growl rumbled low and threatening beside me.

"You honestly believed that pathetic cell could contain me? I have people inside that facility who would die for me," Blackwood called out, his voice carrying across the distance between us.

Our warriors immediately moved to form a protective barrier in front of us, but I raised my hand to stop them.

"Is this really the hill you want to die on?" I shouted back.

Blackwood remained unmoved, his stance unwavering.

"Every hero meets their end eventually," he replied with cold indifference.

"Heroes don’t get themselves killed for nothing. And deep down, you know no council member is worth this bloodshed." My words seemed to hit their mark as something flickered across his expression.

"You have been keeping tabs on me all along," he said, and I could hear the realization dawning in his voice.

"Talia proved quite useful in that regard. Tell me something, Blackwood. Do you honestly believe Holloway plans to share his spoils with you once he eliminates every werewolf who refuses to kneel? All that wealth he’s going to accumulate?"

Blackwood looked genuinely puzzled. "Money isn’t his motivation."

The absurdity of his naivety made me laugh outright.

"Every time he destroys an Alpha, he claims their territory. Along with that territory comes everything they own. Every pack controls significant financial assets. Are you really this dense?"

"But why would he target his own species?"

"Because he wants what they have. We won’t submit to his demands, so he’s using you as his weapon to eliminate us," Damien snarled.

I watched Blackwood struggle to piece together the truth, his face growing darker as understanding dawned. He was beginning to see how thoroughly he’d been manipulated, how completely he’d been excluded from Holloway’s real plans and profits.

"Incredible. He actually is that dense," I muttered to Damien.

Blackwood raised his weapon higher, the barrel now pointed straight at my chest.

"I wouldn’t recommend that course of action," I warned.

"Why not? You’re not as invincible as you pretend. You were my prisoner, after all," he sneered.

"True enough. But don’t you find it curious that your facility was the only one that managed to capture me? You allowed me to meet with Briar, then locked me up again. You gave me that convenient tour of your entire operation between my cell and your office." I paused, watching his face change as the pieces fell into place. "Doesn’t any of that seem strange to you?"

The full weight of his situation crashed down on him and he began screaming in rage. The realization that he’d been outmaneuvered, that his supposed cleverness was nothing more than an illusion, that everyone had been playing him from the beginning.

We had orchestrated everything.

While he believed he’d accomplished what no one else could, he finally understood that it had only happened because we wanted it to.

"Elena." The way she said my name, so formal and distant, felt like a blade between my ribs.

I couldn’t fault her for it. She didn’t know me as anything more than a stranger who shared her blood.

"Are you safe? Any problems?" I asked.

"No. Asher got me out without incident. Corbin knows I’m gone by now, but I can’t tell which direction they’re searching. It doesn’t seem like they’re heading toward this cabin."

"Good. That location is well concealed. They won’t find it unless they know exactly where to look," I assured her.

"Are you free now?" she asked.

"Yes. Damien and I are heading your way. Stay inside where it’s safe."

"Alright. I’m relieved you’re okay," she said, and despite everything, I smiled.

"Me too. See you soon."

After ending the call, Damien could see how her words had affected me. He approached and wrapped his arms around me.

"She’ll come to know you as her mother," he said gently.

I didn’t respond with words. I just held onto him, letting his presence provide the comfort I needed without having to explain the ache in my chest.