All Chapters of The Alpha's Mute Mate: Chapter 1 - Chapter 6

The cool night air whips against my tear-stained face as I run through the deserted park. My lungs burn, and my legs ache, but I can't bring myself to stop. Every step takes me further from Kevin's betrayal, from the suffocating pity of the partygoers, from the life I thought I had.Kevin's words echo in my mind, each repetition a fresh wound. "A mute? You're a freak." The cruel twist of his lips as he said it, the disgust in his eyes – it all plays on repeat in my head, a torturous loop I can't escape.I've always known I was different. Being mute in a world of voices is hard enough, but add lycanthropy to the mix, and you've got a recipe for isolation. I thought Kevin had seen past that, had seen me for who I really am. God, how naive I was.The park stretches out before me, a maze of shadows and moonlight. In the distance, I can hear the faint rush of cars on the highway, a reminder of the normal world I'm running from. Closer, the rustle of leaves in the gentle night breeze and the

The sleek black car glides smoothly along the highway, eating up the miles between Anton's territory and my home in Cedar Grove. I stare out the window, but I'm not really seeing the landscape rushing by. My mind is still back in that room, replaying Anton's rejection over and over.I want to scream, to demand answers. How can he just dismiss our mate bond like that? Doesn't he feel the pull, the inexplicable connection between us? But even if I could voice these questions, there's no one here to answer them. The driver, a stoic older man with graying hair at his temples, hasn't said a word since we left.My hand moves to the notebook Anton gave me, now tucked safely in my bag. I'd considered writing him a note before I left, pouring out all my confusion and hurt onto the paper. In the end, though, I couldn't find the words. How do you explain to someone that they're throwing away something precious, something rare, when they refuse to even acknowledge its existence?As we near Cedar G

The SUV winds up a long, private driveway, gravel crunching beneath its tires. I press my forehead against the cool glass of the window, watching as manicured gardens and ornate fountains scroll past. After twenty minutes of driving through dense forest, this sudden display of wealth and refinement is jarring.The vehicle comes to a stop in front of what can only be described as a mansion. My breath catches in my throat as I take in the imposing structure. Three stories of elegant stone and gleaming windows rise before me, the architecture a perfect blend of modern design and classic grandeur. It makes our pack house back home look like a cottage in comparison.Home. The thought sends a fresh wave of pain through my chest. Somewhere out there, my aunt is being held captive because of me, and here I am, arriving at what looks like something out of a fairytale.I step out of the SUV, my legs stiff from the long ride. Instinctively, my eyes search for Anton, but he's already disappeared.