All Chapters of The Alpha’s claimed mate : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

The forest had grown eerily quiet as we neared the edge of Alice’s territory. Even the faint hum of nocturnal life seemed to have stilled, replaced by a suffocating stillness. Ezra slowed his pace, his eyes scanning the treeline ahead with practiced precision. The tension in the air made my wolf restless, and El growled softly in my mind, her unease prickling at my senses. “We’re here,” Ezra said, his voice low as he gestured to the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the trees ahead. “That’s the border. Alice’s guards won’t patrol this far out, but we need to move quickly.” I nodded, clutching the strap of my bag tightly. "You’re not coming with me?" Ezra hesitated, his sharp green eyes locking onto mine. "No. I’ve already stretched my loyalties thin by bringing you this far. My place is back in the pack, even if it kills me to leave you here alone." His voice softened slightly, an unexpected vulnerability slipping through. "You’ll be safe once you cross. Alice has her own

The lock clicked again, the sound sharper this time, pulling me from my frantic thoughts. The door creaked open, but the figure that stepped inside wasn’t the blue-eyed man. This one was younger, with features that seemed both familiar and out of place—a strong jawline, sharp cheekbones, and piercing green eyes that reminded me too much of someone I’d been trying to forget. Kael’s cousin. The air in the room seemed to shift, the weight of his presence making my stomach churn. His expression was unreadable, his posture casual as he leaned against the doorframe. He wore dark clothing that blended into the dim room, and his gaze settled on me with a mix of curiosity and something else I couldn’t quite place. “Well, well,” he said, his voice smooth but tinged with a sardonic edge. “The infamous Astrid. You’ve certainly found yourself in a mess, haven’t you?” “Lucian,” I said, my voice laced with suspicion. “What are you doing here?” He smirked, crossing his arms. “That’s funny. I

Elias glanced at the door before looking back at me. “We wait for the guard rotation. That’ll give us ten minutes—tops—to reach the passage. But when we move, we move fast. No hesitation.” “And Ezra?” The words slipped out before I could stop them, my voice catching slightly. Elias hesitated, and I didn’t miss the flicker of doubt in his expression. “Getting him out complicates things. If we delay too long—” “I’m not leaving without him,” I snapped, my voice hardening. “If he’s alive, we’re not abandoning him.” Elias studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. “Stubborn,” he muttered under his breath. “Fine. But if we’re going to get him, it means splitting up. I’ll guide you to the passage, then double back for him.” “No,” I said immediately, shaking my head. “We stick together. If we separate, we’ll just end up getting caught.” El growled her agreement. Good. Trusting him is one thing, but being separated makes us weak. Elias sighed, running a hand through his

The tunnel seemed endless, the air growing colder with every step. My breath puffed in quick clouds, my lungs burning as I half-dragged, half-supported Ezra. His weight was heavy against me, his injuries slowing us down. “Ezra, stay with me,” I whispered, my voice cracking under the strain. “I’m not... going anywhere,” he muttered through gritted teeth, his steps faltering but determined. The walls trembled again, dirt and rocks falling around us. The sound of the structure groaning echoed behind us, and I knew Elias’s time was running out. My stomach churned with guilt, but El’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. *Focus, Astrid. You can’t save him if you don’t save yourself first.* I forced my legs to keep moving, even as my heart ached. The tunnel opened into a larger cavern, faintly illuminated by glowing moss along the walls. The sight of it gave me a spark of hope. “There,” I said, urging Ezra forward. “We can rest there for a second.” He nodded weakly,

The cabin fell into a tense silence after Elias’s words, the weight of everything pressing down on us. Ezra had drifted into a restless sleep, his breathing shallow but steady. I sat by the small table near the window, fiddling with the edge of the cloth I’d used to bandage him, my thoughts churning. Elias stood near the door, his arms crossed and his sharp gaze scanning the forest outside. Even though we’d made it out of Aric’s stronghold, it didn’t feel like much of a victory. Kael and Lucian were still there, fighting to buy us time, and the thought of leaving them behind gnawed at me. “What’s the plan now?” I asked finally, breaking the silence. My voice sounded steadier than I felt. Elias didn’t look at me right away. He stayed focused on the dark woods beyond the window, his jaw tight. “We regroup,” he said after a long pause. “Find a safe place to lay low for now, get Ezra healed, and figure out our next move.” I frowned. “And what about Kael?” Elias sighed, finally t