Rebirth of the Alpha's Slave Mate (Samantha and Kade) novel Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Kade’s POV

“You are making a mistake, Kade. The child will only bring misfortune to the pack.”

Kade didn’t look at Priscilla as he carried Ivy up the stairs. “Don’t be superstitious, Priscilla. She’s just a child, not a bad omen. And you’re lucky I haven’t banished you yet for taking my heir out into the wilds against my wishes.”

“Your heir?” Alistair coughed. “You’re seriously naming the little bastard your heir?”

Kade stopped on the stairs and turned to look at the Elders. They shrank under the cold, angry glare he cast down on them. “She’s not a bastard.”

“She’s the child of a slave-”

“Regardless of Samantha’s past, she was still my fated mate,” Kade cut Alistair off. “She is not a bastard, and yes -I am naming her my heir. Any future attempts to harm her will result in banishment or death.”

With that, Kade turned and continued up the stairs. He briefly considered taking Ivy back to the nursery, but quickly decided against it and took her to his room instead. It would be safer to keep her close to him from now on.

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Naming a child his heir with no official Luna was risky as it was, and even more so given the circumstances of Ivy’s birth. Many people in the pack would likely try to eliminate her-they already had, and that was when she was just the unwanted child of a dead slave.

Now that Ivy was his heir, she would be even more of a target. Ambitious women who wanted to become Kade’s Luna might try to get rid of her so their own children could gain the inheritance. Traditionalists might be angry that a female had been named heir and would try to keep her from becoming the future Alpha.

Kade had to be vigilant. He couldn’t let anyone hurt Ivy. Not again.

So that night, Kade carefully washed the blood off of Ivy in his bathroom sink, staring in awe at her little face. She held his gaze the entire time. There was a knowing, intelligent look about her that was equal parts fascinating and unsettling. He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of woman she would grow up to be.

Thinking such thoughts, of course, made Kade think about Samantha. About the ex-rogue girl in Nightshade pack who looked too much like her.

If that girl were truly Samantha somehow still alive, would she come for her child?

Kade didn’t believe that Samantha would abandon her child. Maybe she had a bad past, but if there was one thing he knew about her, it was that she valued family.

A thought formed in Kade’s mind then as he put Ivy down to sleep in the bassinet that he brought to his room. What if he didn’t have to make threats to get Samantha to come back? What if publicly announcing his heir would make her come back on her own, wanting to see her child?

Of course, this was all speculation. For all Kade knew, that girl from Nightshade might just be a coincidence. Hell, perhaps she was a forgotten third daughter-a triplet to Serena and Samantha, hence the unexpected mate bond.

But if it was somehow Samantha…

Kade found his heart pounding more than he expected at the thought of her returning for their child. But he shoved the unwanted thoughts down and went to bed, only letting his eyes tear away from the sleeping baby beside him when he was too exhausted to hold them open anymore.

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Chapter 49

+25 Bonus

One week later, and the pack was in an uproar. Kade had announced Ivy as his heir a few days ago, delighting a few and angering most. The child of a slave, no less the woman who had caused the death of the previous Alphas and the rape of sweet Debbie, now the heir to Crescent Hollow?

But Kade ignored the gossip and focused entirely on Ivy. The healers said she was weak due to being born prematurely and not having a mother, but her condition seemed to improve when Kade was around, so he kept her as close as possible.

One day, Kade had just put Ivy down to sleep when he received a mindlink from Ajax.

“Alpha, you might want to come to the gates. You have a… visitor.”

“Who is it?” Kade pulled his hand away from the sleeping bundle in the bassinet and straightened. “I’m busy.”

“It’s Tyler Thornhill.”

Kade’s heart lurched. He knew what this was about: the threat he’d made against Nightshade a few weeks ago. Tyler must have come to negotiate.

A few minutes later, Kade found himself standing at the gates. Tyler stood a few feet away from him, hands clasped, eyes flashing with anger. Kade’s nose, although healed, was still a little sore from the punch Tyler had thrown the last time he’d seen him.

Ghost wanted Kade to return the favor and repair his dignity, but Kade restrained himself. If Tyler was here to negotiate, then Kade wanted to hear him out before he made any rash decisions.

“I take it you received my letter,” Kade said by way of greeting.

Tyler’s jaw tightened. “Indeed. A threat of war over one girl, Kade? Seriously?”

Truthfully, Kade never intended to start a war. He just wanted to scare them into handing the girl over. Whatever connection she had to Samantha, Kade wanted to figure it out. If she was innocent, of course, he would let her go. But he sensed that something was off with her, and he couldn’t let go until he was certain.

But of course, Kade couldn’t let Tyler know any of that. So he nodded and replied, “It’s well within my rights. You might be harboring the criminal who destroyed my family. It’s not like I take slaves for no reason, Tyler. Surely you’re smart enough to understand that.”

Tyler’s eyes narrowed, but Kade knew he had no argument for that. Despite what people thought, Kade wasn’t a barbarian. He wasn’t taking slaves for the fun of it. It was an ancient tradition meant only as a punishment for the severest of crimes.

Which Samantha had committed.

And if she was alive…

Kade’s wolf chuffed, claiming that Kade only wanted her back now because she was his mate and the mother of his child, and it had nothing to do with the crime she’d committed. Kade ignored him.

“You sent rogues into my pack to kidnap her, Kade,” Tyler said curtly. “They attacked an innocent woman thinking she was her. And you dare to pretend you’re not tlie type to take slaves for no reason?”

Kade blinked at that. “Rogues? I never sent any rogues.”

“Oh, yeah? Then what’s this?” Tyler handed Kade a small scrap of paper. On it was written a note in jagged handwriting that simply read “Take her alive. -Kade”

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Chapter 40

+25 Bonus

Kade looked up at Tyler with lifted brows. “I didn’t write this.”

Tyler folded his arms. “I don’t believe you.

“I really didn’t, Tyler.” Kade’s jaw tightened as memories of that awful day those rogues got ahold of Debbie flitted through his mind. He would never wish anything like that upon anyone. Never.

But Tyler still didn’t believe him. “Consider this a formal warning.” Tyler’s voice was low and dangerous. He sounded like his father when he spoke like that. “Call of the war and leave us alone, and you’ll never hear from us again. But if you refuse, then the war is on. Nightshade has a powerful military. Even you wouldn’t stand a chance, Kade.”

Before Kade could answer, Tyler turned and left. Kade watched his caravan pull away, his mind racing.

It was true; Crescent Hollow was powerful, but Nightshade was even more so. Kade had merely been bluffing when he sent them a threat of war, and Tyler and his father knew it. They knew that Kade wouldn’t be stupid enough to actually go to war with them over something like this.

But maybe Kade had another way to draw Samantha, if it was her, back to Crescent Hollow.

Ivy.

Kade turned on his heel and returned to the house. He heard Ivy fussing upstairs and made his way toward her, his mind still whirling with ideas. Perhaps he could host a banquet to celebrate his new heir with an open invitation- an excuse for Samantha to show up. Or perhaps-

Kade froze when he stepped into the bedroom doorway and saw a familiar figure with long, golden hair leaning over the crib. Her smile was radiant as she scooped Ivy into her arms, speaking in a soft voice.

“Samantha…” Kade whispered.

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