~Marcus~ The fire that surged within me as I watched Ares stroll out of the pack house hand in hand with Milli was blinding. My grip on the vodka bottle tightened as I snatched it off the counter, downing its contents in a single gulp. Just as I moved to follow them, Derek stepped in front of me, blocking my path. "Marcus, this event's far from over. There are still hours ahead. Keep your wits about you." "Step the hell aside," I growled, the sight of him igniting an indescribable rage within me. He had the audacity to kiss Sunshine, even though he damn well knew she belonged to me. I shoved him away and caught a glimpse of Ares and Milli vanishing through the doorway. Clamping my jaw, I yanked my phone out and fired off a message - 'Blacklist: Milli Jane.' I stormed out of the damn house. "You finally witnessed that bitch's true colors?" Kai drawled, leaning against the pillar outside, another bottle of whiskey dangling from his fingers. He moved toward me, blocking my path,

I entered the pack hall the following day. Thankfully, Kai hadn't returned to the bedroom the previous night. Despite my fear, I struggled to fall asleep until the early morning hours, constantly on edge, fearing his arrival at any moment. The lack of sleep weighed heavily on me as I made my way to the hall. Upon arriving, I noticed that everyone had already finished breakfast. Silently, I ate my own meal while overhearing hushed conversations and glances directed my way."Hey," a gentle voice caught me off guard from behind. Startled, I looked up and saw Ares standing before me.I stood up, the sudden movement making me feel dizzy. Ares swiftly steadied me, preventing me from collapsing, and helped me back into my seat.Taking a place in the chair next to me, he faced me directly. "Are you feeling better now?""Somewhat," I whispered, my voice barely audible, unable to speak in a loud voice without feeling a throbbing ache in my head.”"You turned out to be Kai's mate," he remarked

His body stilled immediately as if I had hit him. I didn't even see his face when he abruptly detached from me and left the room without giving me another glance.Turning towards my bed, I buried my face in the pillow, tears soaking the fabric as my body shook with sobs.***"Milli, you're mated to Kai?" My uncle's voice echoed in my ears, a mix of surprise and concern evident in his tone. It brought back a sense of nostalgia but he was too far away for me to hug him I mustered a faint smile, attempting to infuse some cheerfulness into my voice. "Yes, Uncle. I didn't want to bother you while you were busy with the investigation. I'm sorry I couldn't let you know earlier."His voice held a note of caution. "Are you doing

~Milli~ The world spun around me in a whirl of chaos.  "Uncle… please… Wake up!" My voice trembled as I struggled against the grip that was crushing my neck.  Panic clawed at my chest as his hold tightened, making it hard to breathe. His eyes blazed with a furious red, like he was trapped in a nightmare he couldn't escape. Those burning eyes felt like they were seeing right through me, as if he saw a stranger in my place. Blackness edged my vision, my strength waning. His grip was a vise, threatening to snap my neck any moment. Just as I teetered on the edge of losing consciousness, Marcus appeared out of nowhere. With a swift move, he wrapped his arms around my uncle's neck and yanked him ba