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Chapter 23
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The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 24
"That is a very serious accusation, Hila," Luna Seneca stepped forward and leveled her darkest gaze on the shewolf, who then shrank back and relinquished some of her anger. It seeped from her heaving shoulders, and Ariella could almost taste the tension and bitterness in the air.The newly widowed shewolf was shocked, grieving. Pointing a finger of blame would either help her deal with the tragedy, or stir up a deeper resentment towards the young Alpha."How else do you explain it?" Hila tentatively raised her eyes to her Luna. "This is the fourth death in the last few months. No one has found the killer. Which means, he is among us still."Malachi tensed beside Ariella and his eyes flashed, "We are doing everything we can to solve this.""Are you? Are you really?" Another shewolf spoke, the one that Ariella assumed was Stacey. "When? When will you solve it? After more people die? After I lose my mate too?" her lips quivered in the fading light, her arm wrapping around Hila to give he
The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 25
~ Two hours earlier ~Malachi almost felt skinny next to the bulky mass of muscle.Almost, but he knew his own strengths. And they weren't in brawn like what most of the older warriors possessed. No, the young Alpha liked to think of himself as fair, unprejudiced, smart, and quick thinking. He made good decisions for the pack, having everyone in mind when deciding the courses of action. Not unlike the traits that all Alphas had, including what his father was like, Malachi was strict and determined.But in some ways, he was nothing like his father.Alpha Dennison somehow had it in his mind that males ruled supreme over the weaker gender, and not many wolves in his pack mourned his early death. Most breathed a sigh of relief, except a few of Dennison's most loyal warriors."Archie." Malachi addressed the older warrior as he came up beside him. The training field lay before them, the setting sun casting their long shadows across the short grass.The strong and well-muscled warrior turned
The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 26
"What do they mean?""Hmm?" Malachi opens a sleepy eye and looks up at me."Your tattoos. What's the meaning behind them?" I point my finger at his chest and stomach where black ink is traced in intricate designs. I want to lean closer to inspect them, but I am aware of the intimate position we are in. The morning sunshine edges the curtains in gold, casting a rosy glow over the bed where we both lie.Malachi is shirtless, and the sight of his bare torso rippled with muscles excites me in ways I don't want to think about just yet.I want to be close, so much closer, and feel his skin and ink beneath my fingertips. But I don't think our relationship—whatever it is between us—is ready for that yet."They don't mean much," Malachi sits up and runs a hand through his tousled hair. I think he is trying to smooth it down, but it doesn't cause anything to that effect. Still, I marvel at the action, at the way his bicep flexes in such a tantalising way. I can't help but remember the time thos
The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 27
"Alright, guys," I clap my hands to get their attention. They stop their arguing and six pairs of eyes turn to me begrudgingly. I swallow my fear and wipe my sweaty hands on my shorts. "You could keep talking all day, getting nowhere. Or, you could follow me and we could check out—""Oh, just be quiet," one of the guys throws at me. "You've never done this before so just keep your thoughts to yourself. We know what we're doing.""Clearly," I mutter under my breath, tilting my head in annoyance while I watch them walk in circles at the edge of the lake. They still think the scent goes somewhere, but I can feel it tugging me back down the path, the way we came, deeper into the forest."Fine," I put my hands on my hips. One girl spares me a glance, but the rest have gone back to ignoring me. "I honestly don't care if you follow me or not, or even if you find the flashlight or an alligator out there in the stupid lake. But I'm heading back." I turn on my heel and start marching away, but
The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 28
My eyes close, the force of the wind pushing my lashes flat against my skin.I am breathless, my limbs flailing in the freefall that has enveloped me like a scorned lover.In the fraction of a second I have to think, I know this will end badly. No one falls head first off a sixty foot cliff into a solid pool of glassy water and survives. If I had jumped myself, I could have angled my body to enter with my feet, breaking the surface tension and thus protecting my fragile body.But I was not given that choice. I was pushed, left grappling for traction, slipping before I could even utter a cry of alarm.A rough and throaty howl startles me, and I open my eyes in time to see a dark form looming above me, coming closer and closer as they have thrown themselves off the cliff after me.Malachi!His black hair is rushing back with the speed at which he reaches for me, his determined eyes riveted on me.Time seems to disintegrate. I don't know how long I have been falling, all I am aware of is
The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 29
Malachi jolted awake with the painful scream."Noooooo!""Ariella? Ari, wake up! Ariella!!" he shook her carefully, his heart twisting at the painful expression on her face. She thrashed around, her hands pounding into his chest."No, no, no!" she sobbed, tears leaking from her eyes."Ariella, it's okay. I'm right here." After flicking on the light, he pulled her to his chest, holding her close. "It's okay, I've got you."Her eyes flew open, glazed with the nightmare, and took a moment to search his eyes. Many emotions crossed her face. Fear, terror, disbelief. But when realisation crept across, he felt her sag against his chest."You're alive. You...you're okay," she placed both of her palms over his heart, and loosened a sigh when it sped up. He wasn't sure what she had been expecting, but feeling his heartbeat seemed to wipe away the vestiges of her nightmare. She looked back up at him and smiled weakly through the tears that were still slipping from her wide brown eyes. "It's beat
The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 30
"What is it, Alpha? If it's about Ezra, I vowed to have him in shape before the end of the month, and I still plan—""It's about my mate."Hendrik shut his mouth and swallowed hard. "Alright, well, you should know that what I said yesterday, I didn't mean it. I wouldn't have said it if I'd known she was your mate—""That's not what I want to talk about," the Alpha cut him off again. "But what did you say yesterday?" He turned a dark stare to his Gamma."Oh, I.. uhh.. nothing. It was nothing, really," Hendrik rubbed the back of his neck and looked everywhere but at his superior.Malachi nearly chuckled at the nervous energy that surrounded the usually very confident male wolf."Forget it. I want to know about the reports. Have they been handed to Hamilton yet?""No. Us team captains were just about to finish them and hand them in tonight. A lot of the new warriors have made so much progress.""Alright, good," Malachi crossed his arms and tried to stop the distracting thoughts of his be
The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 31
"Ariella. Sit."With that simple yet powerful command, I instantly plop down onto the nearest sofa, my hands twisting around themselves in my lap. I swallow convulsively, my throat drier than the Sahara, as the Beta stands in front of me and crosses his arms across his impressive chest. I can't believe the amount of trouble I'm in now, caught snooping in his house like this."Why in all the universe did you break into my house?"His hazel eyes bore into me with an intensity that raises my heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety all with one glance. Hamilton is angry with me, but it's more than that. I see the hurt in his eyes, and I hate having disappointed him like this.Opening my mouth, I scramble for an excuse. "I...it's uhh—""You better have a completely honest answer. Or else don't bother answering at all," he tells me in a clipped tone. He commands, demanding the truth and I realise I don't want to give him anything less."I came here to talk about Harlow.""She's not here. Yo
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The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 40
The song above is 'The Song of the Caged Bird' by Lindsey Stirling, an amazing violinist. Later in the chapter, when Ariella plays her violin, I imagine her song to be similar to the one above :)4312 words8Flames dance between us, glowing orange and golden. Their light is reflected in his onyx irises, illuminating them with amber and scarlet sparks. With a gaze like a cunning predator, he watches me watching him. Aware. Alert. Direct and unrelenting.An icy fist squeezes my chest, making it hard to breathe under his unwavering attention. I blink, and when I meet his gaze once again, his eyes are shifting from navy blue to the signature azure hue I love so much. One side of his beautiful mouth tilts up in a small smile, and my heart jolts after perhaps stuttering to a stop only a moment before.What have I just seen?It doesn't matter. Nothing matters now that he is here. Now that my mate has come to be with me.My legs act before I even command them to move, eating up the distance a
The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 39
"And this is my doll, I named her Sandy because her hair is yellow like sand. She looks so pretty in this pink dress, don't you think?"Emerald picked up the doll from its place amongst other stuffed animals, and smoothed out the dress that was covered in flowers, ribbons, and buttons. Her side of the room that she shared with her sister was all soft and girly with pretty pink things everywhere, while Savannah's side was decorated with unusual things like smooth rocks from the creek, slingshots made from sticks, and curious leaves dried between books.The two Alpha daughters were opposite in many ways, but so alike in their love for their family and friends."It's gorgeous," Ariella agreed, patting the doll and looking about the room. When Ariella and her mom came to visit for the day, both girls instantly pulled her upstairs to excitedly show her their latest gifts and toys. Now while Emerald was proudly pointing out her neatly arranged collection, Savannah sat in the window seat fli
The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 38
"He really hasn't changed at all.""Who?""Caleb. Who else would I be talking about!" Lexi placed the stack of plates in a cupboard then wiped the sink dry, and turned a raised eyebrow to her Alpha."Oh, right. What about him?" Chesca asked while hanging up the dish towel. The kitchen was now tidy and clean from the dinner preparations thanks to Lexi's help, but she knew by breakfast the next morning, it would once again be it's usual mess."I saw him chatting to Miranda the other day, down by the lake. You know the spot by the pines? Private. Romantic. He was standing so close to her like he always used to. Leaning, if you know what I mean."Chesca groaned and poured the freshly boiled kettle of water into her teapot. Soon the scent of black tea with rose buds permeated the air, and Chesca felt herself instantly unwinding with just the anticipation of a good cup of tea. This time of night, when her pups were in bed, was a part of the day she looked forward to. Because though she love
The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 37
"You're leaving?"Malachi is shocked, more so than I expected. He stands up abruptly, nearly pulling away the sheets that he had unconsciously scrunched between his fingers, and looks at me with wide eyes. I see a swirl of storms in his blue eyes, more shadow than light in the dim morning dawn that surrounds us, and I might not be imagining the hurt that creeps in the edges and wrinkles his forehead.It nearly makes me change my mind."You're going home...to ForgedHearts pack?" he questions, like he needs to clarify where I call home. Maybe my choice of wards was poor, but this hasn't felt like home, not ever, even in the small moments I'm enveloped in Malachi's embrace. For a flicker in time, being with him feels right, but everything else around us is so wrong."Just for a few days."He visibly relaxes, his shoulders slumping forward and his clenched jaw loosening while he sits on the edge of the bed. I scoot back and pull my knees to my chest."It's almost the new moon, and I want
The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 36
I grip the doorpost and feel his words smack into me like a tidal wave of relief. "Who?"Malachi huffs and runs a hand through his hair, an action I've come to know means he's frustrated and agitated, tired of not being in control of the situation."It's complicated. Hamilton and I aren't even sure yet, but we're close. We can feel it.""Then tell me who you're suspect of? Who do you think could have murdered your warriors so disgustingly?"His eyes snap to mine, the blue a riot of crashing waves. "That's the point. It's a terrible accusation to make, so we're not calling it yet. We have to go over the facts again, see if there's anything we missed."He looks tired, and troubled with the fact that he still hasn't yet found the person causing such crimes in his pack. As Alpha, he wants to protect everyone, I know."So do you think you can solve it? You'll be able to stop them before anyone else gets hurt, right?" I'd nearly forgotten about the threat to our lives, so caught up have I b
The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 35
The air is heavy with my dread, making it almost too thick to breathe. Especially with my mate's hand squeezing my shoulder, his thumb pressing in under my collarbone. Although it doesn't hurt, I understand his meaning clearly."I asked, where have you been?" Malachi growls at me again when I take too long to answer. "And who were you with? I can smell his scent all over you."An extra wave of fear engulfs me as I look into Malachi's dark eyes, dotted with dancing red embers. I know the type of risk a jealous mate poses to another male, especially if it's a jealous Alpha mate. Their strength can be magnificent when fueled by fiery possession.I try and tell him he has nothing to worry about though. "It—it was just a boy—""Don't lie to me!" Malachi leans into my face and snarls, making me flinch. Squeezing my eyes shut, an involuntary whimper escapes my throat.Suddenly Malachi steps back from me, leaving a rush of cold air between us.When I open my eyes, his gaze is to the floor, a
The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 34
Cornflakes crunch in my mouth, their cracking sound the only thing I can hear in this silent and empty house.As I pour milk into my bowl, I wonder where everyone is, and figure they must be out training, working hard, or avoiding me. The last realisation stings, as I know that Malachi never came home last night. Our bed remained cold and empty beside me.I don't know where he went or why he just ran from me last night. It had been going so well, the pizza and fellowship night I organised in full swing, and I was sure Malachi was happy and proud of what I'd done. I'd seen it in the way his blue eyes were watching me the entire time I told my story. I felt it in his racing heartbeat when I led him to the dance area and wrapped my arms around him.I'd heard it in the gentle way he said my name.But then he was gone.Pushing through the crowd and disappearing into the shadowed forest like my touch was burning him, like the bonfire behind us was consuming his sense and reason.What reason
The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 33
The pounding on the front door startled her.Who would be calling at this time of the morning?Chesca washed her hands of the fresh fruit she had been slicing, and moved to the door.Opening it slowly, she sensed who was on the other side before seeing him. But the sight of the little boy standing there in dripping wet pyjamas, dark curly hair plastered to his forehead, was still a complete shock."Justin—?""Hey Aunt Chesca, where is Sav—" His eyes widened as they looked past her. "Vannah!!"The he dashed past the Alpha with a shriek and lightning quick speed, and before Chesca could even think of stopping him, he'd tackled a sleepy looking Savannah to the ground. They rolled on the floor of the living room, grasping each other around the neck and shoulders, hitting and yelling at each other in a way that was so not appropriate for this early in the day. This hullabaloo would surely wake baby Isaiah if Chesca didn't get them under control."Children! Get off each other right now!" Ch
The Alpha's Chosen Mate Chapter 32
"No, I haven't. Is she okay? Maybe I should go visit—""No, no, Ariella. It's fine. She's fine. Just..." Beta Knight leads me to a bench that's situated along the path, encircled by old and brittle shrubs, and takes the time to explain to me. "She gets really bad headaches, maybe two or three times a year. It's gotten worse ever since the Alpha died. When she's suffering, she likes us to all stay away. The noise and interaction only make it worse, you know?""Oh," I frown and wish there was something I could do for her. "Does she like flowers? Maybe I could give her some lavender. Or I could make her some soup! Or—""Ari, really," Knight lays a hand on my arm, stopping me and my mouth slowly shuts. "She likes to be left alone. You have no idea what she's really going through."I nod, deflated."But enough dark thoughts for today. Cheer up! We can still carry on. What did you have planned for today? Let's get that cheerful smile back on your face," he tells me warmly, and I squint my e
