The Alpha's Unwanted Bride

Chapter 35: WHO GAVE HER THOSE MARKS?

Xaden gaped at her back in shock, unable to believe what he saw.

The lines were dark and seemed to have been on her back for a very long time.

Probably since she was a child.

Xaden watched in horror at the outlines of the marks that formed circles and shapes.

She had been whipped.

He instantly fell sick.

He turned to catch Erik’s eye, who had been staring at the exposed back in shock and disbelief.

The healer was the only one who looked interested.

He used an instrument to cut her nape and then poured a tiny bottle of ointment into it.

Then he went on cleaning her up.

”This mark is recent.” The healer showed the place where she had been stabbed. ”Probably about less than twenty-four hours.”

Then it hit Xaden.

She must have been injured during the struggle when she was taken hostage.

”I didn’t notice it. It must have happened earlier on.” He replied.

The man humped and went back to work.

Xaden stepped away, unable to keep on seeing what he had just seen.

Erik went to his side and went to his massive French windows.

Neither of the men could even speak.

Xaden was in a dilemma.

”Where did she get those marks from?” Xaden asked.

”You didn’t see it when you slept with her?” Erik asked.

”No, I didn’t,” Xaden replied.

They both went quiet.

”Are you sure she is his daughter?” Erik asked. ”Those marks are marks of torture or punishment. I don’t even have those.”

Xaden couldn’t wrap his head around it.

Things were getting more and more complex. He didn’t have an answer to his questions, and he sure as hell needed one.

The doors to his room opened.

”Xaden!” It was Aurora. ”That bitch escaped the dungeon! Erik betrayed us and took her out of the

She stopped when she saw Erik and Xaden standing together.

”You!” She accused. ”Xaden. He took that enemy’s daughter out of the dungeon and set her free! He betrayed us!”

Erik wanted to snap Aurora’s neck.

Xaden raised his hands, silencing her.

”You would never speak to my next in command in such a disrespectful manner in your life again.” He warned her.

Her mouth dropped in shock. ”But, Xaden, you didn’t hear me. I just said that he

”DID YOU HEAR ME, OR IS IT TILL I BEAT YOU FOR LARGE MOUTH YOU UNDERSTAND?’ He barked, and his onyx eyes glowed.

The entire room went quiet.

Even the healer, who had initially complained about them being too loud, didn’t say a word.

Aurora knew when she had overstepped her boundaries, and she went quiet.

”No.” She replied quickly.

”Now apologize!” He snapped.

”I’m sorry, Gamma Erik.” She said, her eyes down to the ground.

Erik folded his arms. He didn’t need her apology. He just wanted her to steer clear of him.

”And when you speak to me, you regard me by my title.” He told her. ”Know your place, woman!”

”Yes, Alpha Xaden.” She said it quietly.

”Now tell me how the fuck Jasmine was poisoned.” He demanded.

It was then that she turned to the bed and saw Jasmine lying down, half dead, with the healer working on her.

She looked at him. ”I don’t know about that.”

”You’re lying to me.” He said. ”I told you that you would only put her through hell. I strictly told her not ever to attempt to kill her. Was that not my order?”

She said nothing.

In an instant, he was at her, and he gripped her by the hair.

He hated disrespect.

”WAS THAT NOT MY ORDER?!” He yelled.

”Yes, Alpha Xaden.” She begged in pain.

He pushed her off.

”You push me to the wall, Aurora.” He warned. ”If she dies, you won’t like what I’ll do to you. You better pray she doesn’t die, Aurora. Pray.”

She was mute.

”Get out,” he whispered, deadly.

She hurriedly left.

The healer turned to him.

”She is going to live.” He said. ”I’ve cleaned the fresh wounds and then administered the wolfsbane to her neck. Her pulse has returned. I will be back to see her tomorrow.”

And with that, he gathered his things and started to leave.

”She would have to be moved, otherwise

The healer stopped. ”If you plan on moving her, then sorry to bust your bubble, but that’s not going to happen. Leave her as I have left her. If she moves, it could affect the administration of the drugs to her, and then she could die.”

”Leave her the way I’ve left her until she awakens. Even then, she isn’t to be moved from that space.” He said. ”The body is too fragile and exhausted. I don’t know what extreme method of torture you used on her, but it’s only so bad because she has already suffered for years.”

And with that, the healer left.

”She is in my bed,” Xaden said. ”Where the fuck do I sleep?”

Erik blinked at him. ”Someone is probably half dead. The woman you’re supposed to torture alive is in between life and death, and all you’re saying is, Where are you going to sleep?”

Xaden raked his hands through his hair.

He hated this.

His plans weren’t turning out well.

The girl he hated with his entire being. The person who was supposed to be where he turned his frustration and hatred of her father was lying in his bed.

In his bed!

Wasn’t it convenient that this was happening for the second time?

First, it was when she fainted and passed out for two weeks.

Now, he was being forced to act friendly to her.

Erik turned to leave.

”Where are you going?” Xaden asked.

”Stay with my daughter; what do you think?” Erik asked him.

”I’m coming with you,” Xaden said goodbye. ”I’ll stay in a spare room.”

”No, you’re not,” Erik said, stopping him.

Xaden blinked. ”Excuse me?”

”Xaden She is struggling to recover. You can’t just leave her like that.” Erik said.

”I wasn’t going to. I’ll put guards at the door.” Xaden said.

”That’s not enough. If Aurora could attempt to disobey you once, do you think she won’t do it again? Think about it,” Erik said reasonably. ”Stay here. Only you can protect her because you’re Alpha.”

”And where do I sleep?” Xaden asked, angry.

”Look at that nice reclining chair,” Erik said. ”Just grab some pillows and a blanket, and you’ll be fine.”

With that, Erik left the room, and then Xaden heard the lock turn.

Erik had locked him inside with the second person he hated the most, after Bale.

His enemy’s daughter.