Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow novel Chapter 511

Chapter 511: The Ritual: Introductions

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Chapter 511

~Ella’s POV~

Aira continued gently, "I just thought you should know. Not because you need to drop everything, but because you’d want to hear it from me."

I exhaled slowly as the tension leaked from my shoulders. "And you’re sure she left willingly?"

"No," Aira said without hesitation. "And that’s the problem."

I sat down, my fingers drumming restlessly against the wood. "Still. I should come back."

"She wouldn’t want that," Aira repeated. "She’d want you to do exactly what you’re doing—help Richard get the Lycans to fully back the alliance. She was counting on that. And also grow your relationship. Just like the rest of us, you deserve that too."

"And so does Zara, but it seems like she isn’t even catching a single break. Zara needs loving."

"And she will get it once we find her and bring her back."

I closed my eyes briefly.

Of course, she was counting on me for so many things. But knowing Zara, she would want me to put myself first.

Everything Zara did... it was never just for herself.

"Alright," I said softly. "I’ll stay. But the second you need me—"

"I’ll call," Aira promised. "We’ll find her, Ella. We just have to hold the line until then."

I nodded, even if she couldn’t see me. "Thank you for telling me."

And as the call ended, I sat in silence for a long moment, heart heavy.

Then I stood, already pulling out the war brief from my satchel.

If I couldn’t protect her from here, then I’d damn well make sure the support she fought for didn’t fall apart in her absence.

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~Zara’s POV~

Pain pulsed in my wrists from the enchanted cuffs locking me down, chaining me to the cold slab at the center of the salt-drawn circle. Black and red candles flickered wildly around me, their flames dancing like shadows from a different world. The air was thick with incense, burnt sage, and something darker—blood magic. My body felt heavy, the magic soaking into my bones like wet sand.

Ten witches stood in a wide ring, their black cloaks brushing the floor, hands raised high as they chanted in a low, guttural tone. The markings on the floor glowed beneath me, ancient symbols drawn in salt and ash—carvings I could barely make out, but my soul recoiled from them all the same.

And just beyond the witches, near the dark altar, stood Luna Slaton.

She wasn’t alone.

Her voice rang low as she spoke with a group of men. I strained my neck to look, and my heart lurched.

Alpha Wayne. His unmistakable sneer still carved into his face.

Kent Wayne beside him, as smug and poisonous as ever.

Melvin Devereaux.

Gods.

My body froze in recognition. I’d hoped never to see his face again. The sick joy in his expression sent bile rising up my throat.

And then... two other men I didn’t know.

No—one of them I did know. My soul knew.

The last one moved forward, closer than the rest. His eyes were hollow, sunken, yet burning with a sick, greedy hunger that chilled me to my bones.

Even without speaking, I felt the revulsion in my spirit before my mind caught up.

Luna Slaton turned, her long fingers motioning to me without a word. The witches silenced instantly.

Alpha Wayne was the first to speak, stepping into the circle with a laugh that curled my stomach.

"Well, well. Isn’t this a sight? After everything... after years of chasing you, look at what you’ve become. A captured heir of Gold... chained and waiting for your powers to be harvested like fruit from a dying tree."

Melvin Devereaux stepped beside him, his twisted smirk wide. "Don’t worry, darling. When they’re done... I get my turn. For what you and Snow did to my brother. For humiliating our name. For burning what was ours."

Kent Wayne gave a mock bow. "So lovely to see you again, Alpha Gold’s second heir. Pity Ella isn’t here to watch this—maybe she’d learn that bloodlines don’t make you invincible."

I groaned and tried to lift my head. My voice failed. My tongue was sealed by spell.

Then the last man—him—stepped in closer, until he was so near I could see the faint scars lining his jaw. His voice was guttural.

"You may have failed to fulfil your role for my family... but you’ll still serve. You’ll serve the grander purpose. The dark alliance will rise through your sacrifice."

I frowned, heart racing. Who was he?

Luna Slaton’s low chuckle filled the room. She lifted her hand and with a simple flick of her fingers, the pressure on my tongue lifted, like she had been ready.

I gasped and inhaled sharply as though that simple, normal human function was too hard for me to take/make.

"Who... who the hell are you?"

The man tilted his head, smiling with a sickening twist. "You’ve forgotten so easily?"

I searched his face. That sneer... that energy. That name burned on my tongue even before I said it.

"Ivan’s father."

"Yes," he thundered.

They laughed and watched.

"Gentlemen, calm down."

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