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CHAPTER TWELVE

Author: Bella Lore
last update Last Updated: 2023-01-07 17:32:31
I am still too wiped out to make it very far, but the sound of a branch breaking has woken me up. My head is pounding, and I feel like I'm hungover, even though I didn't have anything to drink last night.

Still, I don't have time to wallow.

I am terrified that the guards are going to find me, and I know I can't defend myself against them. I'm not strong enough to take down even one of them, and there's no way I could take on all of them at once.

The Alpha was their leader.  They won't hesitate to attack me if they see me.

There's a snap of another branch, and I know I have to get away.  I don't know if it's the guards, but I can't stay here.

I get up and start running, hoping that I'll be able to outrun whoever it is.

I run as fast as I can, but I don't get far. Within seconds, I have lost my footing and fallen into a mud pit.

I feel the mud seep into my skin and clothes, and I know this is it.

Whoever, or whatever, this is, they're going to find me. I'm stuck here, and there'
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    MAXA scream leaves my lips. I run towards her, my heart racing, fear a bitter taste in my mouth.Victoria is sprawled on the rock, unconscious, blood seeping from her mouth and ears, her body limp. She is dressed in the mating robes and she had been probably waiting for m.I start checking for injuries but I see none. It is almost as if she was suddenly seized by an illness.I put my ear to her chest and hear a death rattle.Panicking and terrified for my mate, I pick her up in my arms and run all the way back the pack. The celebrations are still going on and they come to a screeching halt when I barge in with my unconscious mate. Shocked faces greet me till the Alpha forces his way from between the crowed, his voice urgent, “What’s going on, Max? What happened to your mate?!”People have already summoned the pack healer as I begin to recount how I found her. The pack healer is by my side within seconds and the first thing he does, while I’m still holding Victoria in m

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    MAX“Jacklyn wants me to have this?” I ask in disbelief, looking at Grace.Grace nods and her voice is filled with sympathy, “She is trying her best to come to terms with it, Max. With all of it. I know she messed up and she knows it too. But you have to understand, she’s loved you since we were all children. You loved her too.”My heart tightens at the memories.Grace sounds sad, “You were the one who found your true mate, not her Max. You’re happy and in love. Her heart has been crushed. I’m not saying what she did was right but Victoria could have given you two some time to work things out. She immediately rushed you into a mating ceremony-““I was the one who rushed her,” I say, sharply, looking at Grace. “Victoria has suffered a lot. I want to give her some stability. And I did talk to Jacklyn. I explained everything to her and she told me she had no hard feelings. Grace, this happens. Sometimes true mates do appear and you can’t do anything. Jacklyn should understand that.

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