Chapter 140 Chapter 140

Chapter 140 Chapter 140
THE MISSING SCARF  

TIANA’S POV

I woke up slowly, my body heavy and aching all over. My eyes fluttered open, and I realized I was back in my own chamber, lying on my soft bed. 

The familiar scent of jasmine and clean linen filled the air. For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to understand what had happened.

How did I get here?

The last thing I remembered was the dark forest, the rogues grabbing me, their filthy hands on my body, and the terrifying feeling of the mark forcing my body to respond against my will. 

Then Seraphina… and running… and fighting…

I sat upright quickly, my head spinning a little. That was when I saw Constance sitting on a chair beside my bed, her eyes lighting up with relief.

“Finally! You’re awake!” she blurted, jumping up from the chair. “Thank the Goddess!”

She rushed over and hugged me tightly, almost squeezing the air out of me.

“I was beginning to wonder if you were dead,” she added excitedly. “The healer was right after all. She said you just needed rest.”

I pulled back slightly, still confused. “How did I get here? And…” I glanced around the room again, my heart beating faster.

“Where are the rogues? And Ezra… and the others?”

“You don’t need to worry,” Constance said with a bright smile, surprising me with how calm she sounded. “Let me get your food first. You need to eat to regain your strength.”

She walked over to the small table near the window, picked up a tray of food, and brought it back to the bed. She tried to feed me a spoonful of soup, but I gently pushed her hand away.

“I need to know, Constance,” I said with a stern face. “How did I get here? Where are the rogues? Is Seraphina safe? How about Ezra and the others?”

“Everyone is fine!” Constance blurted, still smiling. “Fine, if you really want to know. The Alpha heirs brought you back. And the rogues have been arrested. They’re currently in the dungeon.”

My heart sank instantly when she finished speaking.

“The rogues have been arrested?” I repeated, clearly shocked.

I turned my gaze to Constance, who was nodding her head, looking happy and relieved.

A sudden surge of excitement rushed through me. If the rogues were truly arrested, that meant Ezra and his brothers must have fought and defeated them. 

They had come for me. They had saved me again.

The realization made my throat tighten. How many times had they saved me already?

How many times had they stood between me and disaster?

I wasn't foolish enough to believe I meant nothing to them anymore. Not after this. Not after they had chased rogues into the forest to bring me home.

The thought made my eyes sting with fresh tears. For a brief moment, I wanted nothing more than to see them.

To thank them.

To know they were truly safe.

To hear their voices and convince myself that the nightmare was finally over.

Tears gathered in the corner of my eyes as I remembered what happened when I was in the rogue's captive.

I remembered the way they'd molested me. The fear, the pain, and the horrible way the mark made my body react even when I didn’t want it to. 

I wanted to meet those rogues as well. I wanted to give them a dirty slap for what they did to me. 

I wanted to look them in the eyes and demand why they had taken me, why they had touched me like that. 

Without a word, I got up from the bed, my legs still a little weak, and started walking toward the door.

“Tiana, you can’t go out yet!” Constance said quickly, rushing after me. 

“The healer said you need more rest. You were exhausted and… the mark was reacting strongly. Please, just stay here a little longer. The brothers will come to see you soon.”

I paid no attention to her words. I grabbed the door handle, ready to push it open, but I stopped abruptly as something caught my attention.

The scarf.

I wasn’t feeling it on my neck anymore.

I raised my hand slowly to my neck. Surprisingly, my skin was bare as I had feared. The scarf was gone. 

Completely gone.
How the hell did that happen?

My heart skipped a beat as I turned to Constance with a pale face, fear flooding through me.

If the scarf was no longer there, that meant it had been removed.

And according to Constance, the Alpha heirs had brought me back. Could it be that they saw the mark?

Who had taken off the scarf anyway? The questions crashed into my mind like thunder. 

I pressed a trembling hand against my chest as my breathing became uneven.

If the brothers had seen the mark, what would they think of me? Would they believe I had let someone else claim me? Would they turn away from me?

I stood there, frozen, my hand still touching my bare neck, wondering what would happen next.

"Are you alright?" Constance's voice cut through my thoughts instantly.

I looked up slowly and found her gazing at me.