Chapter 168: Standing Where I Once Belonged

Chapter 168: Standing Where I Once Belonged
Marcus POV

I couldn’t contain my joy when Dana finally forgave me and pulled me into a tight hug. For a moment, everything else faded away, the fear, the guilt, the danger, the weight of my past mistakes. It felt like being allowed to breathe again after nearly drowning. I almost lost a friend because of my stupidity, but thankfully she's back fully.

I smiled to myself as we continued the journey, my steps lighter despite the long distance we had already covered. The silence between us was no longer tense like before, it carried hope, fragile but real.

“That’s the place,” I said eventually, pointing toward an old, isolated building ahead of us.

Finally,” Alex muttered, his eyes darting around as if expecting danger to leap out from every shadow.

“But Zade is seriously full of drama,” Dana said, shaking her head as we walked closer. “How does he even find places like this?”

The building looked abandoned, unfinished walls, broken windows, dust hanging every look and cranny, It was the kind of place trouble hid comfortably without anyone noticing.

As soon as we stepped inside, we saw them, men standing around in groups, their expressions hard and unreadable. We didn’t need anyone to tell us who they were. They were definitely Zade’s boys.

We didn’t come to fight. Not yet.

“Please,” Alex said calmly, stepping forward, “can you tell Zade that we’re here to see him?”

One of the men looked at us over from head to toe, his gaze sharp and judgmental. He shook his head slowly.

“I’m sorry,” he said coldly. “You can’t see him right now. He’s in the middle of something very important, and wouldn't want to be disturbed.”

“Then at least take us to him,” Dana added, her voice firm but controlled.

The man laughed a dry, mocking laugh. “You should leave while you still can. Zade wouldn’t want to see you.”

“Just go inside and tell him to come out here right now,” Alex barked, his patience snapping.

The man raised an eyebrow, amused. “Is everything okay at home?” he asked sarcastically.

We all stared at him in surprise. What was that supposed to mean?

“Did you employ me?” the man snapped. “Who gave you the right to order me around?”

I quickly stepped forward before things escalated. “We’re really sorry,” I said, raising my hands slightly. “We don’t mean any disrespect.”

Then I swallowed hard. “Please, just go in and tell Zade that Marcus is here to see him.”

The man paused, studying me closely. His eyes softened just a little.

“You’re lucky,” he finally said, sighing. “At least one of you knows how to talk.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

I heave a sigh of relief the moment he left.

I turned to the others. “People like this,” I said quietly, “you deal with them calmly. One wrong move and they won’t hesitate to kill.”

“Noted,” Kyle said, patting my shoulder. “And thanks for the rescue.”

“It’s nothing,” I replied with a small smile, though my heart was pounding.

A few minutes later, the man returned.

“Marcus,” he said, “you can go in.”

“What?” I asked, stunned.

“Yes,” he replied. “The rest of them were too disrespectful, so I can't let them in.”

I glanced at Dana, Alex, and Kyle. Dana’s jaw was clenched, anger flashing in her eyes, though she said nothing.

“Please, sir,” I pleaded. “We all came together. Let them come in too.”

The man turned his face away as if they didn’t exist.

“Please,” I repeated.

He sighed heavily. “Fine. You can all go in. But if any of you act like you own this place, trust me, your friend over here, he said pointing at me, will only leave with your bones.”

“Thank you,” I muttered quickly as we stepped inside.

The inside of the building was worse than the outside. Dust coated everything, unfinished walls loomed over us, and the air felt so dusty and suffocating.

Then I saw him.

Zade.

He was seated casually on a concrete block, like a king on a throne. When his eyes landed on us, a slow grin spread across his face.

“I knew it,” he said smugly. “Dana, my once fated mate. Kyle and Alex, I knew you’d show up.”

His gaze shifted to me, surprise written briefly across his face. “But Marcus? I wasn’t expecting you.”

I said nothing at first. I looked at Dana, Alex, and Kyle, silently asking if any of them wanted to speak. They remained quiet, their eyes fixed on Zade.

My throat felt dry. “Zade,” I began, clearing my throat, “we’re here for Damian.”

His laughter echoed through the building as he stood up.

“Marcus,” he said, walking closer, “you don’t need Damian. Besides, you’re not meant to associate with people like this.” He placed a hand on my shoulder. “You belong to me Marcus, we are Betas and they are not.”

I stiffened and slowly removed his hand. “I don’t belong to you, Zade. Neither do I belong to anyone. I'm on my own.”

His smile faded slightly.

“I was deceived once,” I continued. “By your plans of kidnapping the school, chasing some twisted idea of equality between everyone, but not anymore.”

I took a step closer, meeting his eyes. “Turn yourself in. Stop all this before it’s too late.”

He burst out laughing. “Weakling.”

“If you can’t fight for what’s yours, don’t involve me,” he sneered. “I’m nothing like you Marcus.”

“You can never be me, Zade,” I replied calmly. “Just give us Damian peacefully, and we’ll leave.”

“Never!!” he snapped.

“That boy took everything meant for me,” he growled. “He’s living my life while I’m left with nothing. I, Zade Frost, have decided that today, Damian must go down.”

His eyes gleamed with madness. “And your presence won’t change that.”

I stood there, frozen, my heart pounding as I realized something terrible.

Dana, Alex, and Kyle were still silent.

Too silent for my liking.

I was scared no doubt, because most times silent speaks louder than any word we can think of. And with the trio quietness, I could sense something was about to happen.

And I wish Zade can be sensible enough to release Damian, but he kept acting so adamant.