Rebirth of the Alpha's Slave Mate (Samantha and Kade) novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28

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Samantha’s POV

Over the coming days, I continued my training with the Gammas-in fact, whenever I wasn’t busy with my Omega tasks, I was training in the barracks.

The Gammas quickly took me in as their own, and I even began to make a few friends. Particularly, I formed a quick friendship with Lana, the Beta’s daughter. She trained frequently with the Gammas, too, and started insisting on sitting next to me during lunch break.

I liked Lana. She was outspoken and gregarious, every bit the future Beta like her father and mother, and she always snuck me snacks from her mom’s pantry. We quickly grew close, and for the first time since before Kade took me as his slave, I had a real friend.

All of the females in Crescent Hollow hated me. They were often the ones who bullied me the most, as if I were actually in competition against them for Kade’s affection.

As if the humiliation I faced in his bed on those rare nights was anything close to affection.

But as the days passed in Nightshade, I found myself thinking about my time in Crescent Hollow less and less. I had other things to think about-like my recovery and training and staying out of Natasha’s hair.

It was a cool and misty Friday morning during my third week in Nightshade, and it had been an uneventful week so far. Strangely, I hadn’t seen Natasha at all that week, so my spirits were particularly high.

Lana and I were leaning against the fence outside the sparring arena that morning, watching as two warriors battled within. Amelia was barking orders at them-more than usual.

“On the right!” she was shouting. “No, no-what are you doing? Your right, not mine!”

I’d never seen Amelia so angry during training before; usually she took the positive reinforcement route, not the negative one. I wasn’t even sure if I’d ever seen her frown at anyone except Melvin.

“Are they preparing for a battle or something?” I asked, leaning closer to Lana. “Amelia is being particularly aggressive today.”

She pushed one of her long black braids out of her eyes. “You don’t know?” she asked.

I frowned. “Don’t know about what?”

“The Alpha Ball. Nightshade pack is hosting it this year.”

The Alpha Ball. That must have been where Natasha was-as Luna, part of her duties involved hosting events like that. And the Alpha Ball was huge; everyone who was anyone in the territories attended the annual ball.

In fact, most Alphas found their fates mates at the Alpha Ball,

“Tyler still hasn’t found his mate,” Lana went on, brown eyes darting around as she watched the warriors spar in the ring. “So you should be careful if you attend the ball. His admirers will come out in droves that night.”

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“Right,” I muttered, cheeks reddening faintly. It was no secret to me that Tyler’s fondness for me had been turning heads in the pack lately-much to Natasha’s ire, and many other females’, for that matter.

“But Tyler and I don’t see each other that way,” I pointed out.

Lana shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Everyone thinks you’re going to steal his heart away at the ball. Especially Melvin.”

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Chapter 28

+25 Bonus

I glanced over at the Delta in question and suppressed a shudder. He wasn’t looking at me, but his aura as he leaned against the other side of the sparring ring was nothing short of commanding and hateful.

And Melvin’s daughter, Beth, was just as hateful of me. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, I supposed. I was pretty certain that she thought I stood in her way of Tyler, who I was starting to view as more of a brother than anything.

“Well,” I said firmly, “that’s not going to happen. Even if Tyler and I weren’t basically siblings, I’m not interested in finding a mate.”

Lana snorted like I was making a joke, but it really was true. After everything I’d been through, the stars in my eyes over such things had long since guttered out.

Right now, all I cared about was staying safe and healthy and putting my past as far behind me as I possibly could.

Just then, Tyler appeared at my elbow. “Elena.” He and Samson still used my fake name in public, which I appreciated. “I was just looking for you. I have a question for you.”

“What’s up?” I turned to him.

“Will you attend the Alpha Ball with me?”

My mouth dropped open. “You mean… As your date?” Lana asked, leaning over my shoulder with a grin.

Tyler shrugged. “Well, as friends, but still.”

Tyler’s eyes were hopeful, but I knew I had to decline; even if I wanted to go to the ball with him, I couldn’t. Kade would likely attend, so I’d have to hide away in my room all night. I couldn’t risk running into him again. Life had been pretty good since I’d last seen him and I hoped to keep it that way.

But Tyler, almost as if reading my mind, touched my arm and said quietly so only I could hear, “Kade won’t be attending, so you don’t need to worry. I just received official word that Crescent Hollow refused the invitation.”

“Oh.” I blinked, both relieved and surprised that Kade was passing up the opportunity. Lana nudged me with her elbow, and after a moment of hesitation, I finally nodded. “Alright. I’ll go with you.”

…

Kade’s POV

“The deadline to RSVP for the Alpha Ball is approaching, Alpha. Have you made your decision?”

Kade’s jaw clenched at the Beta’s mention of the annual ball. He never attended these sorts of events, not since his parents had died. Ever since that fateful night, he’d lost all interest in finding his fated mate-frankly, he had no desire for one.

It was easier to be alone. Easier to keep his heart untangled so he could focus on taking care of Debbie and Crescent Hollow pack.

“Decline,” Kade said without looking up from the paperwork spread across his desk. “I’ve never cared for those sorts of events.”

The Beta hesitated. “Are you sure, Sir?”

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