The Alpha's Betrayal, I Married My Family's Killer - Chapter 10: Chapter 10
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The forest devoured me whole. Every gasp scorched my throat, my heart hammering like a war drum. Bare feet pounded the damp earth, twigs cracking like gunshots beneath me as I fled.
Run. Don't stop. Don't look back.
Damon's alive.
That scrap of paper had lit a fire in my veins, driving me forward even as exhaustion turned my limbs to lead. I had nothing left—no pack, no home, no safety net—just this one burning ember of hope.
Branches lashed at my skin like whips, shadows playing tricks at the edges of my vision. The wind shrieked through the trees, carrying warnings I couldn't afford to hear. My body begged for rest, but stopping meant death. I knew Ivan. His hunters would already be combing these woods!
And if they caught me this time, there'd be no second chances.
My fingers tightened around the stolen dagger—my only prize from the guards' quarters before my escape. Not much, but enough to promise I wouldn't go down without a fight.
Ivan's smug face flashed behind my eyelids. Will you stop fighting me?
In your dreams.
Movement flickered to my right—my pulse skyrocketed. I slammed against a tree trunk, straining to hear past my ragged breathing. The forest had gone deathly still. No wind. No insects. Not even a leaf stirring.
I wasn't alone anymore.
A guttural growl vibrated through the darkness. My knuckles whitened around the dagger hilt. The shadows rippled, then—
Moonlight revealed a wolf.
Not just any wolf. A rogue.
Matted fur crusted with old blood, yellow eyes burning with pure savagery. My breath caught. He was enormous—bigger than any natural wolf, muscles rolling beneath his filthy coat.
One rogue meant company. They always ran in packs.
I scanned for escape routes. Too many trees. No outrunning them.
The beast snarled, haunches coiling.
Think, Cynthia! Think!
Shifting would make me faster, but I was running on fumes. A wolf fight might finish me. The dagger bit into my palm. Wound and run—my only play.
The rogue sprang.
I twisted aside, his snapping jaws grazing my neck. My back smashed into bark, pain lightning down my spine. He whirled—coming again—I swung the blade toward his throat—
A second wolf blindsided me.
Ribs exploded in agony as I hit dirt, lungs screaming for air. I barely rolled before claws shredded earth where my skull had been. Scrambling up, dagger raised—
Too many. Too fast. This was it.
A bone-shaking howl split the night.
Everything froze.
The rogues went statue-still, ears pinned, tails tucked. Panting, I followed their terrified stares.
A shadow emerged from the black.
Tall. Broad. Impossibly familiar.
Damon.
His dark eyes blazed with fury, chest heaving as moonlight revealed him. Bloodied. Bruised. Clothes in tatters. But alive.
Relief hit me like a tidal wave—my knees nearly buckled.
He never took his eyes off the rogues. "Back off," he growled, voice like grinding stone.
The wolves hesitated, torn between fight and flight. Damon advanced—his mere presence bending the forest to his will. Fists clenched. Battle-ready.
One rogue dared a snarl.
Damon shifted.
Instant transformation—man to massive black wolf in a heartbeat. Twice the rogues' size, midnight fur bristling, golden eyes radiating pure dominance.
The rogues chose wisely. They fled.
Silence.
I swayed, adrenaline crash hitting hard.
Damon shifted back, breathing ragged. His gaze swept over my bruises, jaw tightening. "Cynthia." Rough. Broken. "You're hurt."
I exhaled shakily. "I'm fine."
Lie. But who cared? He was here.
He stepped closer. "You shouldn't have come alone."
A breathless, disbelieving laugh escaped me. "Had to."
Damon's jaw worked. He reached—hesitated—then crushed me against him.
I shattered. Every dam broke as I clung to him, silent sobs wracking my frame.
Warm. Solid. Safe.
His arms locked like steel. "Thought I lost you."
I buried my face in his torn shirt. "Almost did."
For endless moments, just our breathing and the forest's quiet hum existed.
Then Damon pulled back, expression hardening. "We move. Now."
"Where?"
He hesitated. "Safehouse nearby. But Cynthia—" His fingers ghosted over my stomach, eyes searching mine. "True?"
The world stopped. He knew.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Yes."
Damon exhaled sharply, gaze dropping, something unreadable flashing across his face. Then—nod. Jaw set. "Then we fight."
No hesitation. No fear.
Ivan had stolen everything. Hunted me. Hurt me. Tried to break me. But I wasn't broken yet.
I met Damon's eyes. "Together."
His grip tightened on mine.
And together, we vanished into the night.
Because this war wasn't over.
No more running.
Time to take back what's ours.
Run. Don't stop. Don't look back.
Damon's alive.
That scrap of paper had lit a fire in my veins, driving me forward even as exhaustion turned my limbs to lead. I had nothing left—no pack, no home, no safety net—just this one burning ember of hope.
Branches lashed at my skin like whips, shadows playing tricks at the edges of my vision. The wind shrieked through the trees, carrying warnings I couldn't afford to hear. My body begged for rest, but stopping meant death. I knew Ivan. His hunters would already be combing these woods!
And if they caught me this time, there'd be no second chances.
My fingers tightened around the stolen dagger—my only prize from the guards' quarters before my escape. Not much, but enough to promise I wouldn't go down without a fight.
Ivan's smug face flashed behind my eyelids. Will you stop fighting me?
In your dreams.
Movement flickered to my right—my pulse skyrocketed. I slammed against a tree trunk, straining to hear past my ragged breathing. The forest had gone deathly still. No wind. No insects. Not even a leaf stirring.
I wasn't alone anymore.
A guttural growl vibrated through the darkness. My knuckles whitened around the dagger hilt. The shadows rippled, then—
Moonlight revealed a wolf.
Not just any wolf. A rogue.
Matted fur crusted with old blood, yellow eyes burning with pure savagery. My breath caught. He was enormous—bigger than any natural wolf, muscles rolling beneath his filthy coat.
One rogue meant company. They always ran in packs.
I scanned for escape routes. Too many trees. No outrunning them.
The beast snarled, haunches coiling.
Think, Cynthia! Think!
Shifting would make me faster, but I was running on fumes. A wolf fight might finish me. The dagger bit into my palm. Wound and run—my only play.
The rogue sprang.
I twisted aside, his snapping jaws grazing my neck. My back smashed into bark, pain lightning down my spine. He whirled—coming again—I swung the blade toward his throat—
A second wolf blindsided me.
Ribs exploded in agony as I hit dirt, lungs screaming for air. I barely rolled before claws shredded earth where my skull had been. Scrambling up, dagger raised—
Too many. Too fast. This was it.
A bone-shaking howl split the night.
Everything froze.
The rogues went statue-still, ears pinned, tails tucked. Panting, I followed their terrified stares.
A shadow emerged from the black.
Tall. Broad. Impossibly familiar.
Damon.
His dark eyes blazed with fury, chest heaving as moonlight revealed him. Bloodied. Bruised. Clothes in tatters. But alive.
Relief hit me like a tidal wave—my knees nearly buckled.
He never took his eyes off the rogues. "Back off," he growled, voice like grinding stone.
The wolves hesitated, torn between fight and flight. Damon advanced—his mere presence bending the forest to his will. Fists clenched. Battle-ready.
One rogue dared a snarl.
Damon shifted.
Instant transformation—man to massive black wolf in a heartbeat. Twice the rogues' size, midnight fur bristling, golden eyes radiating pure dominance.
The rogues chose wisely. They fled.
Silence.
I swayed, adrenaline crash hitting hard.
Damon shifted back, breathing ragged. His gaze swept over my bruises, jaw tightening. "Cynthia." Rough. Broken. "You're hurt."
I exhaled shakily. "I'm fine."
Lie. But who cared? He was here.
He stepped closer. "You shouldn't have come alone."
A breathless, disbelieving laugh escaped me. "Had to."
Damon's jaw worked. He reached—hesitated—then crushed me against him.
I shattered. Every dam broke as I clung to him, silent sobs wracking my frame.
Warm. Solid. Safe.
His arms locked like steel. "Thought I lost you."
I buried my face in his torn shirt. "Almost did."
For endless moments, just our breathing and the forest's quiet hum existed.
Then Damon pulled back, expression hardening. "We move. Now."
"Where?"
He hesitated. "Safehouse nearby. But Cynthia—" His fingers ghosted over my stomach, eyes searching mine. "True?"
The world stopped. He knew.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Yes."
Damon exhaled sharply, gaze dropping, something unreadable flashing across his face. Then—nod. Jaw set. "Then we fight."
No hesitation. No fear.
Ivan had stolen everything. Hunted me. Hurt me. Tried to break me. But I wasn't broken yet.
I met Damon's eyes. "Together."
His grip tightened on mine.
And together, we vanished into the night.
Because this war wasn't over.
No more running.
Time to take back what's ours.
End of The Alpha's Betrayal, I Married My Family's Killer Chapter 10. Continue reading Chapter 11 or return to The Alpha's Betrayal, I Married My Family's Killer book page.