Mark of Sin: Bound to the Cruel Alpha

"Let me finish working through the end of today, please," the words tumbled out before I could even filter them. I looked at the head housekeeper with pleading eyes, capturing her palm between both of my hands because I didn’t know what else to do to survive this moment. "I’ll leave tomorrow morning, I promise. I just... I have nowhere else to go tonight..."

She narrowed her eyes, tilting her head back to study me with a gaze so razor-sharp a chilling shiver scraped down my spine.

"What on earth did you do? Tell me right now," she demanded, her voice laced with the strict authority of a pack elder. "If I don’t know the exact reason for your dismissal—"

"I didn’t do anything, I swear to you! I—"

"Alpha Magnus does not fire staff without cause!" She snatched her hand out of my grip, the movement so sharp and sudden that I flinched. "Our Alpha is a fair leader. He values those who serve his estate properly. Speak!"

Panic clawed at my chest as my mind wildly churned through every terrible possibility. Had he caught me creeping through the corridors on security cameras during my night scout? Had he smelled the faint, lingering scent of my anxiety? Goddess, no.

"I... I was dusting upstairs yesterday," I began cautiously, lacing my fingers together tightly to suppress the violent tremor in my hands. "A cobweb fell across my face and I sneezed, making the stepladder wobble. I would have taken a nasty fall if the Alpha hadn’t caught me. I swear on my life, I didn’t try to cross any boundaries! He asked if I was new here, and I simply said yes. That was all. I swear that’s everything—I don’t understand why..."

My words degenerated into a frantic babble, the precise narrative slipping away as terror surged within me like a cresting floodwave. Slow. Inexorable. Submerging every hope under its icy current.

My entire mission. Everything I had risked to infiltrate his stronghold. Leaving little Matthias behind. My son’s life... It was all about to crumble into dust right here, right now.

The woman stared at me for a long, heavy second, something subtle shifting in her eyes. Her posture didn’t soften, but the harsh edge of her glare dulled slightly.

"This makes very little sense, Mia," she murmured at last, her voice hovering between sheer exhaustion and lingering skepticism. "I believe you are telling the truth. But I still do not understand... If it is his direct command, I must honor your termination. I will attempt to speak on your behalf so you may at least stay the night, but I can promise nothing."

She turned and walked away.

I stood rooted to the spot, watching her figure disappear around the bend of the hallway until the click of her heels faded into silence. The moment she was gone, my knees gave out completely. I slammed my hand against the cold stone wall to keep from collapsing, a dizzying wave of weakness washing over me so intensely that my vision went black around the edges.

I dragged myself down the corridor to my quarter, sliding onto the floor beside the bed and pulling my knees tightly against my chest—the only way to anchor my trembling frame.

With shaking fingers, I pulled out my phone and dialed Askold.

Every single ring stretched out into an agonizing eternity. I was almost certain he wouldn’t pick up, but then the line clicked open.

"Talk to me."

"I don’t know what’s happening," I gasped, the words tearing raggedly from my throat over the suffocating knot choking my airways. "He sent the housekeeper... He’s firing me..."

A string of raw, virulent curses exploded through the speaker, so foul it made me wince. I buried my hand deep into my hair, tugging sharply at the roots—just hard enough for the sting of physical pain to briefly ground me against the sheer, agonizing panic devouring me from the inside.

"Did you come face-to-face with him?"

"Yes," I choked out. "I lost my balance on a stepladder, and he caught me."

"My guess is he felt something," Askold said, his voice grim. "A faint echo of your bond. But because you look completely different, his mind can’t bridge the gap. He’s reacting on pure wolf instinct—purging the anomaly to protect himself.

We have no choice now. You move tonight. Do whatever you have to do to negotiate staying until morning. Tell them someone is driving in to pick you up at dawn. I’ll reach out to Derek right now."

The line went dead. I let out a ragged sob, staring blankly at the wall.

Fuck. How could everything spin so wildly out of control in a matter of seconds?

A sharp, abrupt knock rattled the door frame. Before I could scramble up, the head housekeeper pushed the door open. I scrambled to my feet, wiping my cheeks—the last thing I needed was for her to see me unraveled like this.

"Alpha Magnus has granted permission for you to stay until morning," she said, her tone even. "No vehicles are making the trip back down to the city tonight. Besides, the estate is hosting a major banquet tomorrow evening to announce the next development phase for the Alpha’s charitable foundations.

Given the circumstances, you will assist with the evening preparations. Tomorrow morning, you will receive a full month’s severance pay, as Alpha Magnus acknowledged this termination was through no fault of your own. Those were his direct orders."

A wave of intense relief broke over me. I stepped forward and threw my arms around her—an impulsive, awkward embrace. She stiffened in surprise for a second before softening, stroking my back with a slow, sympathetic hand.

"Do you at least have somewhere to go, child?"

"Yes," I nodded hurriedly, rubbing the back of my hand across my eyes. "It’s just... I wouldn’t have made it back to the Lower District before dark. And I didn’t have the fare for a private transit. I’m so deeply grateful that he’s paying me out... though I feel terrible taking money for work I didn’t finish..."

She waved a dismissive hand, letting out a weary sigh. "You are a hard worker, Mia. It is a shame to lose you. But when the Alpha gives an order, I must execute it. I am sorry."

She turned and left. As the door clicked shut, a nauseating wave of deja vu washed over me.

"I’m sorry. You’re a beautiful breeder. But an order is an order."

Those were the exact words spoken by the assassin who had slipped the poison into my cell five years ago...

I pressed my back flat against the wooden door, closed my eyes, and counted to ten—forcing slow, deliberate breaths into my lungs until the erratic hammering in my chest leveled out.

Opening my eyes, I knelt beside my suitcase. I unzipped the lining, meticulously inspecting every hidden tool, every vial, every piece of gear stashed inside. Every tiny detail had to be flawless.

Tonight, I was stepping into the lion’s den. And there would be no second chance.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!