Contract With The Alpha King by Brey Mitchylle

Chapter 99

into the shadows

Soon enough, they reached a narrow path leading toward the forest. The woman motioned for Fiona to keep

moving, the blade hidden beneath her cloak. The trees loomed ahead, their dense foliage offering both cover

and danger. Fiona's heart pounded as they stepped "Keep going," the woman ordered, her voice low. "No tricks

As they moved further from the village. Fiona suddenly stumbled, her hand brushing against a low-hanging

branch. She stopped briefly, feigning a struggle to regain her balance.

"What are you doing?" the woman snapped, stepping closer.

"Etripped," Fiona said, her voice even, though her hand had already left a subile mark on the branch-a small

ribbon from her sleeve, tied in quick knot. It was barely noticeable but enough for Elijah, if he followed, to

recognize it as a sign. "Move" the woman barked, jabising Fiona lightly in the back with the blade.

Fiona complied her mind calculating every steps. She needed to bide her tuntil she found an opening to fight

back. However, just as she thought this couldn't get any more complicated, a loual hund suddenly interrupted

her thoughts.

She frowned, her senses immediately on alert

"Ignore that!" the woman hissed

"Rogues!" Fiona uttered.

"| said-ignore-"

Another loud howl interrupted the woman.

"Those fucking pigs!" the woman hissed.

The air thickened as another howl echoed through the forest, closer now. Fiona's senses sharpened, her eyes

scanning the trees. She caught a fairi whiff of sulfur mixed with the unmistakable stench of unwashed bodies and

decay. Her stomach twisted-rogues. The howls multiplied. overlapping like an eerie symphony of predators

closing in.

Suddenly, figures darted past them, swift shadows cutting through the trees. The rogues, their forms mangled

and primal, didn't stop. They surged toward the village, snarling and growling as they disappeared into the

underbrush. Fiona tensed, her pulse quickening as she realized the village was under attack-on broad daylight

Clearly, this was nothing but a distraction so they could take her away.

Still, Fiona found it a little too bold and stupid. Were they planning to have those rogues killed by Elijah and his

ment?

The woman holding her hissed a curse, tightening her grip on Fiona's arm. "Keep moving"

However, before Fiona could take another step, a figure emerged from the shadows ahead. He was tall and

imposing his chest bare and covered in intricate markings that serined to glow faintly under the dappled light.

His tattoos were dark, jagged symbols that snaked across his muscular tono and down his arms. Long black hair

fell in wild waves around his face, framing piercing blue eyes that seemed to glow with an unnatural intensity

Fiona froze, her breath catching. The man's gaze locked onto hers, and a slow, menacing smile spread across his

face, revealing sharp, wolf-like fangs. He wasn't a vampire-she could sense that much-but a rogue, one who

carried himself with dangerous confidence. "Why are you here?" the woman demanded, her tone sharp and wary.

She stepped partially in front of Fiona as if shielding her from the man's piercing gaze.

The rogue chuckled, the sound low and guttural. "Romero doesn't trust you, Arlen," he said, his voice dripping g

with mockery. "He sentto escort you and your precious package back."

Fiona's stomach dropped Romero-the Rogue King. Her suspicions had been right. Romero wanted her, and now

she was in the middle of his carefully orchestrated trap.

eed your interference. | have

Arlen, the woman who had taken her hostage, stiffened. "Escort us back?" she repeated, her eyes narrowing "I

don't need your everything under control"

The rogue tilted his head, has smule widening as his blue eyes returned to Fiona "Control? You mean holding a

blade to someone's throat and loping no one notices? Serum sloppy to me. His gaze traveled over Fiona, his

expression turning almost contemplative. "Although, I'll admit, I didn't expect this."

Arlen glared at him. "What are you talking about!"

Chapter 99

"She's pretty," the rogue said, his lips curling into a smirk. He leaned slightly closer, his eyes never leaving Fiona.

"Romero didn't mention that. If Td known. | might've volunteered woner."

"Enough," Arlen snapped, stepping between Fiona and the rogue. "Stop 4 village tracks us

staring at her and forms. We need to get moving before someone from the

The rogue's smirk didn't waver as he leaned back, crossing his arms over his tamoned cheat. "Relax, Arlen. The

mutts back there are making enough noise to keep everyone busy. The prince and his men will have their hands

full dealing with the attack." Fiona narrowed hereves, her gare lived on the rogue before her. There was an

immistakable aura of danger about him, a foul stench of blood and decay clinging to him like a second skin-a

telltale sign of someone who had taken the lives of both humans and werewolves. The realization sent a chill

down her spine, this situation was far graver than she had initially thought.

"You're wasting time, Arlen snapped "Let's move."

The rogue's eyes flicked back to Fiona, his smirk fading slightly. "Fine. But don't think for a second that I'm here

to take orders from you, Arlen Romero sentto make sure she gets to him in one piece. If you screw this up,

it's on you. The man suddenly approached Fiona and took a deep long breath

"What the hell are you doing?" Arlen asked as she tried to push the man away. "You disgusting"

"You smell good," the man said, opening his eyes and thing his head. "I like it."

Fiona narrowed her eyes. Then, without a second thought, her hand shot out, touching the man's cheek. It was

an action neither the rogue nor Arlen anticipated.

Almost immediately, the rogue's smug demeanor vanished. His body jerked violently, as though an unseen force

had taken hold of him. His piercing blue eyes rolled back, leaving only the whites visible. A guttural sound tore

from his throat as foam began to bubble from his mouth. His imposing frtrembled uncontrollably, the

tattoos on his skin appearing to write as if alive.

Arlen stumbled back, her knife hand trembling. "What.. what did you do to him?" she demanded, her voice a

mixture of panic and disbelief.

Fiona adjusted her sleeve, her gaze sharp. She stepped closer to the writhing rogue, her calm demeanor

unshaken. "What | do to perge overstep their boundaries,’ she said. She knelt briefly beside the rogue, brushing

his convulsing form with the tip of her fingers. "Hell Arler's grip on her blade faltered. "You you poisoned him!

How? | didn't see you

Fiona straightened, locking eyes with Arlen "That's not your concern. What should concern you is that this," she

gestured toward the rogue's trembling form, "is what | can do without even trying.

The rogue let out a low, pitiful groan as he slumped to the ground, his breathing shallow. Arlen's gaze flicked

between Fiona and the fallen man, uncertainty flashing in her eyes.

"Pick him up, Fiona ordered, her voice calm but commanding

Arlen narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean!"

"You're going to taketo Homero, Fiona said firinly, stepping closer to Arlen. "I'm tired of playing games with

shadows and pawns. If the Rogue King wants something from me, he can tellto my face."