Chapter129 Marcus has been attacked!
Aliya POV
I had just finished talking to Ava and Patrick when my phone rang.
Victor's name flashed on the screen, and I could already imagine why he was calling. I stepped away from the remaining guests who were still discussing the evening's dramatic events.
"What's wrong?" I answered, trying to sound casual.
"What's wrong?" Victor's voice was sharp with disbelief and barely controlled anger. "Do you have any idea what's trending on every social media platform right now? They're saying you and Marcus are engaged! The photos are everywhere!"
I closed my eyes, realizing the media had indeed picked up the story from tonight's events. The reporters present had clearly wasted no time in getting the story out. "There's a good explanation for that."
"What kind of explanation could possibly justify this?" Victor demanded, his voice rising. "Do you realize how this makes Nikolai look? His supposed ally is now publicly engaged to his biggest rival!"
"Marcus and I are fake engaged," I said quickly, lowering my voice even further. "It's all for show, Victor. He promised me that after this performance, he'll withdraw from the Alpha King race completely."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and I could hear Victor's heavy breathing as he processed this information.
"And you believe him?" Victor asked finally, his voice dripping with skepticism. "You actually trust Marcus Stonecreek to keep his word?"
"It's a calculated risk," I admitted. "But it was the best way to expose Sarah and deal with Henry. You saw what happened tonight. Sarah's false identity is completely blown, and Henry's alliance with her is in ruins."
"Aliya," Victor's voice dropped to a warning tone that sent chills down my spine, "have you thought about how you're going to explain this to Nikolai? He's going to see this as a betrayal of the worst kind."
"It's not a betrayal," I protested. "It's strategy. Nikolai will understand when I explain the full plan to him."
"Will he?" Victor asked grimly. "Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like you've just publicly chosen his enemy over him. The media is already spinning this as the romance of the century, the Luna who chose love over politics."
Before I could respond to Victor's concerns, I heard shouting from behind me. The sounds were urgent, panicked, and growing louder by the second.
"Victor, I have to call you back," I said quickly.
"Aliya, we're not done discussing this—"
I hung up and turned toward the commotion. Thick, black smoke was suddenly pouring out of the ballroom where we'd just held the reception.
Guests were running out in panic, coughing and stumbling over each other in their rush to escape. Women in elegant gowns were lifting their skirts to run faster, while men in tuxedos pushed past each other without regard for courtesy. The orderly, sophisticated atmosphere of just moments before had dissolved into chaos.
"Fire! There's a fire!" someone screamed.
"No, it's not a fire!" another voice shouted. "There are people fighting in there!"
Patrick emerged from the smoke, his usually immaculate appearance disheveled. His jacket was torn, and there was soot on his face. I grabbed his arm as he passed, my heart racing with fear.
"Patrick! What happened in there?" I demanded.
"There's been an attack!" he said breathlessly, his eyes wide with shock. "Rogues appeared out of nowhere and went straight for Marcus! They knew exactly where to find him!"
"Rogues?" I stared at him in disbelief, my mind racing through the implications. "How is that possible? How could rogues get into the pack center? How could they breach Stonecreek security?"
Stonecreek territory was one of the most heavily guarded in the region. The idea that rogues could simply walk in and attack during a major social event was almost inconceivable.
"I don't know," Patrick said, still catching his breath. "But they weren't random rogues. They moved like they had a specific mission, like they knew exactly what they were doing."
"Where's Marcus now?" I asked urgently.
"I don't know, but you can't go in there!" Patrick tried to block my path as I moved toward the building. "You'll get hurt! The fighting is still going on!"
"I have to see what's happening!" I said, pushing past him.
"Aliya, no!" Patrick called after me, his voice filled with genuine terror. "It's too dangerous!"
But I was already pushing against the flow of panicked guests, fighting my way toward the smoke-filled entrance.
Getting rogues into the heart of pack territory was nearly impossible under normal circumstances. The security measures alone should have prevented any unauthorized entry, let alone an organized attack during a high-profile event with multiple Alpha families present.
Something about this didn't add up, and I needed to understand what was really happening.
If I’m right, the attacker is exactly who I think it is.
The smoke was thick and acrid as I entered the ballroom.
Glass crunched under my feet from broken windows and overturned tables.
I'd barely made it ten feet into the chaos when someone grabbed me from behind, strong hands seizing my arms and forcing me roughly to the ground.
"Alpha!" the voice shouted over the noise, his grip tightening painfully on my wrists. "I've got a woman here acting suspicious! Found her sneaking around in the smoke!"
"Let me go!" I gasped, trying to twist free. "I'm not a threat!"
Then I heard a familiar voice that made my blood run cold and my struggles cease immediately.
"Why did you come in here?"
I turned my head as much as I could, and through the smoke and shadows, I saw Nikolai approaching.
"Nikolai?" I whispered.