Rebirth of the Alpha's Slave Mate (Samantha and Kade) novel Chapter 107

Chapter 107

“She was so lonely and desperate,” I went on, “so I started bringing her what I could. Little animals I’d killed and cooked. Handfuls of berries. But as a rogue, I didn’t have much, so usually I could only offer my company.”

I sniffled. “I think she wanted the company the most. She was okay with starving and being malnourished, but it was the loneliness that was really crushing her. We talked a lot, and over time, we became close friends. Eventually, she told me the truth about her situation: what I just told you. How her family let her live as a slave for years when it wasn’t her who committed the crime, and they knew it.”

Kade’s eyes narrowed. Behind him, Serena looked like she was going to be ill.

Little did they know that all of this, save for the part about my alleged “crimes”, was just a fantasy. It was a dream I’d had many times as a slave-sometimes, when the loneliness became too much to bear, I would shut my eyes in my dark little closet and imagine that I had friends. People who cared about me.

It was never real, of course. But saying it out loud now felt like a balm to my wounded spirit. As if, by saying the words as Elena, I could make it true. I could make Elena’s past real. I could make Elena’s friendship with Samantha real. I could make these parts of myself separate and whole.

“She’s so broken,” I went on without fully realizing it. “All she wants is a real friend… And for someone to hear her story. To believe her. I believe her, even if no one else can. And I will ensure her child is safe, because that’s what she wants.”

My voice trailed off after that. I couldn’t seem to get any more words out; I was too exhausted, too choked up with tears that I didn’t want to fall. They fell anyway, though, one after the other, rolling down my cheeks in silent streams.

When I was finished, I looked up at Kade, realizing now for the first time that I had sunk onto the chair behind me while I was speaking. He and Serena were still staring at me. I didn’t dare to interpret the faint glimmer of something in his eyes as compassion or regret, although he did look strangely intrigued by my tale.

Serena, however, broke the silence with a curt scoff. “Another manipulation, as usual. Even her tears are fake.” She turned away, still holding Ivy in her arms. “You should just banish her, Kade. She’s using my late sister as a tool for her own gain, and I won’t stand for it anymore.”

My chest clenched painfully. I wouldn’t have been surprised if Kade had taken Serena’s side in this now; I could see the confusion and distrust swirling in his expression. Perhaps I had damned myself and my future with Ivy already.

But to my surprise, Kade ignored Serena and leaned closer. “At the end there,” he said, “you spoke about Samantha in the present tense.’

My stomach dropped. “What?” I breathed.

Kade pointed at me. “You said that she is broken. That she wants someone to hear her story. That she is worried about Ivy. You said it all as if she’s still alive.”

Oh, shit.

Serena’s breath caught. She whirled back around to face me. “Is Samantha really alive?” she asked.

I froze. My mouth opened and closed several times, but no sound came out. For the first time, I couldn’t seem to

Chapter 107

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