Marked by the Cursed CEO Alpha-Chapter 36: Heather—The Tracker

"Work?" Kaelen’s jaw tightened.

"She wanted to go," Riven said quietly. "After everything that happened, I didn’t push."

Kaelen looked away, his eyes darkening as something complicated flickered across his expression.

"She shouldn’t be there," he said.

"I know," Riven replied. "But she didn’t feel like a victim. And honestly? I don’t think she is one."

Kaelen’s wolf stirred at that restless and uneasy.

"She doesn’t understand what is circling her," Kaelen said. "Not yet."

Riven studied him. "And you do?"

Kaelen didn’t answer.

Instead, he said, "Double security at Blackthorn Enterprises quietly, no uniforms."

"I already did," Riven replied. "She won’t even notice."

Kaelen nodded once.

"Riven," he added, voice lower now, controlled but edged with something dangerous. "If anything happens to her—"

"It won’t," Riven cut in firmly. "Not while I am breathing."

For a moment, they just stood there—Alpha and Beta, bonded by loyalty older than the curse itself.

Then Kaelen straightened.

"Go," he said. "Track heather first and then the vampire."

While the two men were discussing, Rogan entered the apartment.

He stopped the moment he stepped inside the apartment.

The wall was cracked, plaster dust clung to the floor, a chair lay overturned near the corner, wood splintered where it had struck concrete.

His chest tightened. This wasn’t a break-in, this was violence.

"What the hell—" His gaze snapped up.

Two men stood near the center of the room.

One he recognized instantly.

Kaelen Blackthorn.

The Alpha didn’t look rattled, didn’t look aggressive. He stood still, coat dark against the wreckage, presence heavy enough that Rogan felt it settle in his bones before his mind caught up.

The other, dark-haired, sharp-eyed shifted slightly, positioning himself without blocking Kaelen.

He was definitely a Beta, protective and alert.

Rogan’s instincts flared.

"What happened here?" Rogan demanded, voice tight.

Kaelen met his gaze evenly. "A vampire."

Rogan’s blood went cold. "In my apartment?"

"Yes."

Rogan took a step forward before stopping himself. "Is Lyra—"

"She was here," Kaelen said.

The words hit like a blow.

Rogan stared at him. "She was what?" Then he frowned. "She is supposed to be at work."

"She is safe," Kaelen added immediately. "She left before things escalated."

Rogan’s breath hitched. "You let her walk out after this?"

"She chose where to go," Kaelen replied. "We didn’t force her."

Rogan dragged a hand through his hair, fury and fear colliding in his chest. "You are telling me a vampire walked into my home and you think choice was the priority?"

Kaelen didn’t bristle.

Instead, he said quietly, "I think survival was."

Rogan’s gaze flicked back to the damage, his mind racing. "Why is a vampire after my niece?" he asked. "I thought they weren’t allowed to cross your threshold."

"They aren’t allowed," Riven answered. "We are looking into it."

"What did they come here for?"

"He came for Lyra," Kaelen answered, "Because she triggered my curse and also calmed it."

Silence slammed into the room.

"Lyra is—" Kaelen’s jaws tightened. "She is my mate."

Rogan slowly looked back at him. "That’s not possible," he said as he felt the ground tilt beneath his feet.

"That curse has killed mates," he said hoarsely. "It’s never—"

"I know," Kaelen cut in. "Which is why she in danger."

Rogan clenched his fists. "I can protect her."

Kaelen nodded once. "You have for years."

That acknowledgment stunned him.

"But that won’t be enough anymore," Kaelen continued. "Not with what has started moving."

Rogan studied him for the first time. The Alpha wasn’t posturing or asserting dominance, he was worried.

"You are saying they came for her," Rogan said slowly.

"Yes."

"And you let the vampire leave."

"So he can lead us to the others."

Rogan exhaled shakily. "You are using my home as bait."

"No," Kaelen said. "They used it first."

Riven stepped forward then. "We will place protection on you and Lyra, you won’t even feel it."

Rogan opened his mouth to refuse then closed it because the cracked wall behind them was proof enough that the threat had already crossed a line.

"Fine," he said finally. "But she stays with me."

Kaelen didn’t argue. "Agreed."

Rogan hesitated. "You said she triggered your curse."

Kaelen’s voice dropped. "She calmed it."

Rogan swallowed.

"That’s impossible," he whispered.

Kaelen’s eyes darkened. "So was today."

They stood there, the wreckage between them, understanding settling heavy and unwelcome.

Rogan had spent years hiding Lyra from the world.

Now the world had found her anyway.

And the worst part?

The most dangerous Alpha alive was suddenly standing on the same side as him.

....

[Somewhere deep in the Enchanted Forest]

The forest was quiet in the way only places untouched by civilization could be.

There was no traffic, no electricity, just layered sounds of leaves shifting, insects humming and distant animal calls threading through the dark.

Heather crouched low on a thick branch, her boots planted securely against the bark as she watched the narrow path below. Her breathing was slow, controlled, almost meditative.

She moved like she belonged there.

The vibration hit her wrist first.

Heather glanced down at the device strapped beneath her sleeve and sighed softly. "You have got to be kidding me."

She dropped from the tree without a sound, landing lightly on the forest floor.

The message was brief.

Alpha. Urgent. Track.

A second later, another signal pinged.

It was the coordinates.

Heather rolled her shoulders once and started moving, her pace unhurried but lethal in its certainty.

Minutes later, she stepped into a clearing where a Blackthorn courier waited, rigid and alert. He didn’t speak, just extended a sealed evidence bag.

Inside was a dark handkerchief and Heather didn’t need to ask.

She pulled it free and brought it to her nose and the world sharpened instantly.

There was no doubt it was vampire blood—stale, bitter, tainted with fear but beneath it, it was something else like old magic, arrogance.

"Javier," Heather muttered.

"So," she murmured, eyes gleaming silver-gold in the dim light. "You pissed off the wrong Alpha."

She tucked the handkerchief into her jacket, crouched once and pressed her palm to the earth.

Her senses flared outward, vampiric speed blending seamlessly with the predatory instinct of a wolf.

She was half vampire, half werewolf and fully lethal.

Heather took off.

The jungle blurred around her as she moved faster than the eye could track, following the invisible thread of scent Javier had left behind.

He hadn’t covered it well which meant one thing. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"He is scared," Heather said under her breath.

And scared prey always made mistakes.

....