Defying the Rogue Alpha
Chapter 71: Bloodied

Chapter 71: Bloodied

Dorian stormed into the dungeon. His boots struck the cold stone floor with a force that echoed through the underground prison. He had been fuming all night, and now he was on the verge of exploding.

"You were touching yourself to the Alpha’s woman?!" His voice thundered through the dungeon. "And not just any woman...Ava?! The Alpha’s woman?!"

Kade sat there, bloodied and battered, chained to the wall. The silver cuffs burned against his wrists, but his wounds were already healing. Still, his head hung low, shame and exhaustion weighing him down.

"Dad, I... I’m sorry," Kade croaked, voice hoarse, barely above a whisper. He swallowed hard. "I couldn’t help myself. She was in heat. She had just been marked."

"The Alpha marked Ava?" His voice came out strangled.

Kade scoffed weakly, lifting his bruised face to look at his father with dark amusement. "Thank you for the concern, Dad. I see what’s truly important to you," he muttered bitterly. His lip was split, his left eye swollen, but the sarcasm in his voice was sharp as ever. "Not that your son is beaten half to death in the Alpha’s dungeon, oh no. The real tragedy here is that Lucas finally marked Ava."

Dorian ignored the jab. His mind was still reeling. He gritted his teeth. "You really think Ava is good for the Alpha? That doesn’t bother you?"

"Yes," Kade admitted, his voice firm despite his bruises. "As much as it hurts me to say it, yes." He exhaled sharply. "Can’t you see what she’s done? The Alpha Raventhorn we once knew would’ve ripped my head off in one swipe, no questions asked. But he didn’t. He showed mercy, Dad."

Dorian’s jaw tightened. "Shut up and stop being a child. Mercy makes us weak."

"No, you stop being blind," Kade shot back. "This pack has lived in fear for years. Everyone tiptoes around Lucas, afraid that the slightest mistake will get them killed. But ever since Ava came, he’s changing. He’s calmer. He’s better." Kade clenched his fists. "He’s becoming the Alpha we need."

Dorian snorted. "Need? This pack gets its strength from our Alpha. Every other pack fears us because of him. That’s what keeps us protected."

"Protected?" Kade let out a hollow laugh. "Protected from what? Ourselves? Because last I checked, Lucas is the biggest threat we have." He stared his father down. "Someone breathes the wrong way, Lucas goes crazy, and the next minute, there is another body to bury."

Dorian folded his arms. "Yes! That keeps everyone in line."

"You don’t care about the pack, Dad." Kade’s voice was quieter now. He was watching Dorian carefully. "This isn’t about the pack, is it? It’s about you. You’re not afraid of Ava ruining the Alpha. You’re afraid of losing him."

Kade tilted his head. "That’s it, isn’t it?" he whispered. "You’re scared that Lucas has someone who matters more than you."

Dorian’s face darkened.

"You arrogant little..." He took a threatening step forward.

But Kade just smiled. "You can hit me if it makes you feel better. It won’t change the truth."

The dungeon fell into a heavy silence.

Dorian inhaled sharply.

Lucas had always been the untamed beast. And Dorian had been the one to keep him grounded. The only person the Alpha ever truly listened to. But now, there was Ava.

She had tamed the storm, softened the beast. And Lucas let her.

His eyes flicked back to Kade. "You love her too, don’t you?"

His silence was the answer Lucas needed.

A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. He shook his head. "Sarah was right. Ava really is a witch."

*****

Ava’s body was exhausted.

Two days. It had been two whole days since Lucas had marked her, and in that time, neither of them had left the bedroom. Not even once. She wasn’t even sure if the rest of the world still existed. She had lost count of how many times he had pulled her under, how many times she had screamed his name, how many times she had melted beneath his touch.

Her body should have been sore, but the bond between them kept her in a strange state of perpetual pleasure, a never-ending loop of euphoria that left her breathless and boneless. She had tried to complain, tried to tell Lucas that maybe they needed a break before she lost her ability to walk forever but he would just smirk, kiss the protest off her lips, and tell her he couldn’t get enough of her.

Zari and one of the Alpha’s servants had been the only ones brave enough to enter their sanctuary, dropping off trays of food at scheduled intervals. Ava barely remembered eating. Lucas would feed her himself, making sure she got every bite, every sip, before carrying her right back to bed as if she were some delicate thing that couldn’t function on its own.

But they couldn’t stay hidden forever.

The world outside their cocoon hadn’t stopped turning, and there was a storm brewing. War was on the horizon. The peace they found in each other wouldn’t last if they didn’t fight for it.

Lucas sat on the edge of the bed, shirtless and gloriously disheveled, pulling on his boots. His muscles flexed with each movement, his body still humming with power.

"I leave tonight for the Crimson Pack," he announced. "I’m meeting up with Jake secretly to get some more information. And also to case the battleground before tomorrow."

Ava sat up. "Are you going alone?" she asked.

"No," he said. "With Dorian. The council will be in charge in my absence."

"No!" she blurted out before she could stop herself. "Please, take Kade."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "I know Dorian can never be your favorite person," he drawled, "but he is still my Beta." He leaned down, placing his hands on either side of her, caging her in. "Besides, Kade is still in the dungeon."

Ava’s lips pressed into a firm line.

She pushed the sheets off. "As your Luna-to-be," she said, "I need to be able to trust whoever is with you. I trust Kade." Her hands moved to his chest. "What happened wasn’t his fault."

Lucas tilted his head. "You do realize Kade is Dorian’s son."

Ava’s eyes widened. "What?"

Lucas chuckled. "I figured you didn’t know that," he said, enjoying her reaction far too much.

Ava’s mouth opened, then closed. She blinked.

She shook her head, letting out a breath. "I still trust him," she said firmly.

Lucas exhaled through his nose. "Ava..."

"Lucas, please."

For a long moment, he just stared at her, as if trying to find the right argument to counter her request. But then he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine," he relented. "But I think you should be wary, I still might kill him."

Ava smiled, patting his chest playfully. "Be nice. And I’ll see you tomorrow."

Lucas narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean see you tomorrow?" His voice darkened. "Are you still adamant about joining the battle?"

Ava crossed her arms. "You may need me, Lucas. My healing powers..."

"No," he interrupted. His tone was absolute. "I’m never letting you go through that again. The last time almost killed you."

"It didn’t," Ava pointed out. "And if I can’t use my powers to protect my Alpha...my mate...then what use am I?"

"When did you become so sweet?" he muttered, his fingers trailing down her spine.

Ava laughed, resting her forehead against his. "I think it’s this mark," she teased. "It’s doing weird things to me."

Lucas smirked, his lips ghosting over hers. "You wear it proudly." He nipped at her bottom lip. "I’d love to see Leon’s face when he sees it on you."

Ava pulled back slightly. "Why would it concern him?"

"You didn’t know he still loves you?"

Ava blinked. "I didn’t know that." She shrugged. "Not my problem."

Lucas let out a low chuckle, shaking his head as if he found her completely oblivious. Before she could press him for details, he leaned down, capturing her lips in a slow, deep kiss that left her breathless all over again.

When he pulled away, his expression was softer, but his eyes still held that edge of dominance. "Stay here. Rest. Tomorrow, I will inform Nolan to bring you."

Lucas kissed her one last time, and headed out the door.

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