The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate novel Chapter 239

Chapter 239: Every Bridge The Gods Built, He’d Burn

Dexmon had broken bones. He’d been stabbed, burned, and given Viper’s Kiss. None of it prepared him for what this memory was about to do to him.

He watched Asher’s horror, revulsion, desperation. He could feel himself fighting it the way you feel someone gripping your hand in the dark, knuckles white, holding on. He was holding on. But the fact that he had to hold on at all was the thing that was killing her.

Natalia let go. Her eyes were welling, but she held her composure, not letting any tears fall. She took a steadying breath, swallowed, then turned, leaving the hall.

Asher stood frozen, unaware for a minute.

Then he shook his head once, coming back to his senses.

"Nat—"

He looked to his right where she was just standing, but she was gone. His eyes widened. He shoved past anyone in his path without apology, heart hammering.

Across the ballroom, Ronan’s hand flew to his sternum. He pushed his way through the crowd, following Asher.

As soon as he reached the hall, he broke out into a full-on sprint, following both of their scents. But when he turned the corner, he stopped cold.

Natalia stood before Asher, unflinchingly strong.

Asher reached for her, desperate.

"Natalia—"

Her voice shook, but her spine didn’t. "Asher, what is the one thing I asked of you the day you asked me to be your mate?"

She swallowed. "You gave me your word. Do you remember what it was?"

He didn’t speak. Couldn’t.

She pressed on. "I said if you ever met your fated mate, you would honor that."

There was pure panic in his eyes. "Nat, I said that to get you to agree to be my mate. I never meant it. Ever. You’re it for me. We should be fated. My wolf agrees. It makes no sense why we’re not—"

She held up a hand cutting him off, and took a step back from him.

"If you break a fated bond, you will regret it for the rest of your life."

"Regret?" He laughed, and it was the ugliest sound he’d ever made. "I will regret losing you on my deathbed. I choose you. I will always choose you. Every day for the rest of my life. The Moon Goddess can take her fated matebond and choke on it."

His eyes were red-rimmed. His hands were shaking. The desperation pouring off him through their matebond was so thick it was suffocating.

"I don’t want her, Natalia. I have never wanted anything in my life the way I want you. Tell me you know that. Tell me you believe me."

"That’s not true." Her lips trembled. "I feel what you’re feeling and you’re trying to fight it. Trying to do the right thing."

"You’re tangling your feelings with mine, baby," Asher said, voice softening. "I am not trying to do anything like that."

"Ash..." A tear slipped down her cheek. "It’s not your fault. You rejecting your fated mate dishonors her."

"Then I’ll be dishonorable." He said it without hesitation. "Write it in every history book in this kingdom. Asher Valerion, the fool who loved a woman so much he burned every bridge the gods built for him. I will wear that. Gladly. For the rest of my life. Because the alternative is a life without you, and I have looked at that future, Natalia, and there is nothing in it."

"I won’t be the obstacle standing in the way of someone’s destiny."

"Nat." His voice cracked on her name. "I’ll break it with Odette. Let me fix this, baby."

She didn’t say anything.

He reached for her, with both arms, wanting to pull her to his chest. But she stepped back from him, not letting him touch her.

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