Scarlett (Second Edition) by Karima Saad Usman novel Chapter 117

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Scarlett

Chapter 117

Scarlett’s POV

The intensity in his gaze deepened, his neon–blue eyes glowing softly, and I felt a strange pull, an urge to trest him despite my instincts to stay hidden. “My. magic can sense lies,” he added, his tone unwavering. “I’ve told you my intentions. I’m not here to hurt you. But I need honesty from you.”

I was conflicted. Every part of me screamed to keep my secrets buried, to guard my heart, but something about the way he looked at me–steady, open- made me wonder if he could truly be trusted. And something deeper, something instinctual, told me he was being sincere. Perhaps it was better to have Keith as an ally rather than risk him as an enemy.

Taking a shaky breath, I began to speak.

“My name…isn’t Annika. It’s Scarlett. Scarlett Vladislav. I am the last of the Vladislavs.” His gaze softened, but he didn’t interrupt, letting me continue. “Because I was wolfless, my father’s Beta sold me to my mates. They claimed the South through me, but my life with them was nothing but pain and humiliation. They treated me like I was nothing until, eventually, things began to improve. I thought we had a chance, that we might finally live in peace.”

I paused, my voice catching on the memories. “Then a merchant named Gregory Olsen from the West somehow ended up in my bed. I was drugged–I didn’t even know he was there until the morning. He claimed we’d…had relations, but I knew it was a lie. Despite my innocence, I was tried and found guilty of infidelity. My title as Luna of both the North and South was stripped away. They sentenced me to three years of hard labour, then banishment. They were so blinded by rage and betrayal that they couldn’t see the truth.”

Keith listened, his face unreadable, but his eyes–those neon–blue eyes–never left mine.

“I couldn’t endure it anymore, Keith. I was…desperate. So I attempted an escape. I drugged Redcape’s water supply with Garnician pollen and a bit of wolfsbane, hoping to put everyone to sleep so I could get away unnoticed. But I made a horrible mistake. Not everyone drank the water, and the pollen ended up being too strong. Half the settlement died in their sleep.” I swallowed, the guilt and sorrow bubbling up as I spoke. “My mates captured me, tied me to a stake, stripped me bare, and left me to freeze to death. I thought that was the end for me.”

Keith’s face grew tight with anger, but he remained silent, letting me finish/

“Then…someone–a woman–came in the night. She risked her own life to set me free. She gave me clothes, food, some money, and told me to come here. To find work, to start over. That’s the truth, Keith. Everything I’ve told you now is the truth.”

For a moment, silence settled between us, so thick it was almost suffocating. His eyes were misty, filled with a depth of emotion I hadn’t expected: Anger, sadness, something like regret–it was all there, mingling in his gaze as he took in every word.

“Scarlett,” he murmured, his voice warm and soft. “It’s a beautiful name.” The sincerity in his words made me smile, a feeling of unexpected comfort washing over me.

“Know that you’re safe here, Scarlett. No one will ever mistreat or disrespect you again. You’re free to have whatever you desire, and I’ll do anything to make sure of it.” His gaze held a promise, an intensity that made me want to believe him. “I let those women go because I sensed something powerful the moment I met you–a deep attraction, yes, but also your strength, your pain, and your resolve. I felt it all. I want to be yours, to make you mine. Those men had no idea what they lost. But I do.” His fingers traced a gentle line down my cheek. “I will cherish you and take care of you, Scarlett. I’m a patient mou, sa I’ll be here whenever you’re ready.”

He bent closer, pressing a soft kiss to my neck, right over the marks that still haunted me, and an involuntary moan escaped my lips. But before I could even react, a sharp pain bloomed in my chest, fierce and sudden. My breath caught, and I felt Keith’s voice in my mind.

“Be still, Scarlett; I need to block the bond,” he linked me gently, his voice steady but commanding, I stilled, feeling the pain dull slightly as he continued. His hand slipped under my shirt, his touch warm and reassuring. What I’d thought was just a clever way to distract me became something more as his

11:46 am P P P P

Chapter 117-

caresses seathed the ache, easing me through the pain of breaking that awful bond.

I couldn’t believe how my body responded to him, how natural it felt to be close to him, to allow him this closeness. But I held myself back. It was too soon. I wasn’t ready to fall so easily, not after everything I’d been through. Yet somehow, my defenses felt weaker with him, like he understood every scar, every wound, without needing to hear a word.

The pain in my chest slowly ebbed, and then I felt a snap, like the cutting of a taut cord. The bond was broken. I couldn’t quite understand what I’d just experienced. Magic had never been a part of my world, but Ruth’s power was unmistakable. I could see why people both feared and revered him. He was something beyond ordinary.

A slight emptiness settled in me, a hollow feeling, but it was bearable. A small price to pay to finally be rid of that painful tie. Keith pulled back, beads of sweat dotting his forehead, his face weary but triumphant.

“We’ll need to do this every six months,” he said, his voice strained. “Otherwise, the bond will try to reconnect. That empty feeling–it’s part of the side effects but I know you can handle it.” He sounded exhausted, as if he’d given more than he could afford to spare.

I watched him, seeing how drained he was, his energy spent. “Are you sure you don’t want to lie down?” I asked gently.

He nodded and moved over, settling himself on my bed, his eyes heavy with fatigue. I realized, in that moment, how much he had just done for me, how vulnerable he’d allowed himself to become. I’d shared my darkest truths, and instead of judging me, he’d shown compassion, accepting me fully without hesitation. His willingness to exhaust his own strength to free me from that bond struck a chord deep within me.

I didn’t know why life had brought me to him when I was at my lowest. How different my life might have been if I’d met him first. Why hadn’t David sold me to someone like him? I could have had a life without scars, without betrayal. But I was here now, with Keith, and for once, I felt a glimmer of hope.

“Stay with me,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. I nodded, slipping into bed beside him. Facing him, I watched him as his breathing slowed, his face softening as he drifted into sleep. I felt a deep gratitude settling over me, a quiet sense of peace, and as I lay there, I allowed myself to believe that maybe this was where I was meant to be.

Comments

Michele Gremillion

what will her mates think when they feel the bond break.

7 days ago

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