All Chapters of The Alpha's Mate: Chapter 121 - Chapter 130

Once Sterling and I are inside the lunar eclipse, we can breathe a little easier.Unfortunately, that’s just about the only thing that’s easier. In the celestial realm, lunar eclipses aren’t just things that happen occasionally - they exist all the time, floating around and waiting to overlap with the earthly realm.In here, everything is dark. True, real, celestial dark. I can’t see anything, even if I close my eyes and rub them.“Make sure you hold onto me,” I say, squeezing Sterling’s hand. “Otherwise, we won’t be able to find each other.”“This is crazy,” I hear Sterling say. It’s just a whisper, barely a breath, but since I’m completely blinded by the lunar eclipse, the rest of my senses are heightened. I can hear his heart beat, the blood rushing through his veins, as Sterling stands beside me. “We’re safe here,” I promise him. “No one can find us as long as we stay in the lunar eclipse.”In response, Sterling just hugs me close. Without my eyesight, all I can

Sterling and I head to bed together around midnight. It’s our first night together as a real mated couple, in a big shared bed, in our own room. I feel incredible. Unfortunately, the peace and happiness of our newfound safety doesn’t last long. We’re awoken late in the night by a strange noise outside. Something like thunder is rattling the windows to our bedroom.Sterling is already awake, pulling on his boots. I rush to the window and look outside, my heart sinking like a heavy anchor when I see who’s standing out on the beach.There, bathed in bright moonlight, is Coello. He’s flanked by the other shifters, who I now know are Regan, Isaac, and Martell. “Come out, come out, darling little wolf,” Coello is singing. His voice is deep and booming, and I can see the shifters beside him trembling. “Let’s end this once and for all,” Sterling says through gritted teeth. We head down through the darkened pack house, glad to see that no one else is awake.“Greyson and Nas

Sarah and Nash try to dissuade me from returning to the celestial realm, insisting that there must be some way for them to go after baby Stella instead.But Layla agrees with me. Though I can tell it breaks her heart to have to send me back there again, she convinces them that it’s our best chance of returning the Crescent Child safe and sound. We put the bonfire out and trudge back to the pack house. I know I ought to sleep, but I’m too keyed up, so I offer to take one of the first patrol shifts while everyone else settles down to an anxious night.The next morning, preparations begin. This time, I’ll be returning to the celestial realm with some readiness, some idea of what I’m facing and what I’ll be there to do.I go over to Layla’s, where she and Arnold have just about torn the place apart. There are books and scrolls everywhere, and every table is littered with various magical items.“Here’s what I have for you,” Layla tells me, handing me a black velvet bag. Insi

I can hardly believe what I’m hearing.“Sterling, please,” I whisper, clinging to his hand as if I could hold him back from making a deal with Coello. “Don’t do this.”“It’s more important to return Stella to her family,” he insists. “She’s a Crescent Child. And a baby. I’m just a soldier. I’ve always been ready to sacrifice myself for my pack.”“But you’re not just giving yourself up,” I plead. “I can’t live without you. Sterling, please!”“That won’t be a problem,” Coello says, striding down the steps toward us. “Because I’ll accept the young man’s offer, but only if you’re included as well.”“What?” Sterling snaps.“I want both the soldier and the Star Twin,” Coello says. “If both of you agree to submit to serving me, I will let the child go.”“No,” Sterling says. “She was never part of my offer.”“Well, she’s part of mine,” Coello tells him. “It’s a deal, then,” I say. “Ayala!” Sterling’s eyes are wide. “Are you sure?”I nod. “At least I can stay

Time stretches by. There are no days or nights in the celestial realm, so it’s impossible to know just how long we spend trapped in the Moon Rabbit’s dungeon, but it’s a long, long time.Sterling and I pass the time by talking with each other. We share stories from our childhood, and make plans for our lives together when we finally manage to escape. We make up games to play, and come up with so many strange inside jokes that sometimes I wonder if anyone will still be able to understand us once we make it back to earth.Being in this strange isolated world with Sterling feels sort of like how it used to be with Layla. Back when we were just two Star Twins roaming the world together, seeking magic and learning new ways to wield it. We also had our own language, our own stories, our own dreams and hopes, a vision of a future that we shared and cultivated together.Layla. I miss her so much. I wonder what she thinks of my decision to trade myself for Stella, to willingly go back