The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate novel Chapter 277

Chapter 277: Tip Of The Iceberg, Alpha

Serena stopped abruptly, holding up her hand. The group halted behind her.

"Everyone stay behind me." Her tone left no room for negotiation.

"Serena," Dex and Fin both said at the same time, in the same way. They both took a step forward, only to have a pink dome snap around the group, which consisted of everyone except for her.

"Serena." Dex slammed his palm against the barrier. "No."

"Serena, take this down," Fin snapped, his wolf surging. "Now."

Two apex alphas stood shoulder to shoulder, palms flat against a glowing pink dome, wearing identical expressions of fury.

Behind them, Hale was already sitting down. Avalon chirped from his chest, unbothered.

By the time Dex hit the dome a third time, the rest of the group had settled in. Elara was leaning against Hale, petting Avalon. Gav was lying flat on his back staring up at the pink ceiling.

Hyran was watching Aeron sketch a rune.

Her eyes were green. This wasn’t a trance. This was Serena, fully aware, fully present, choosing every action with purpose.

She pulled, aimed, and released in a single motion.

The pink arrow streaked through the jungle and struck a distant structure, one none of them had noticed until the impact shattered its camouflage. It had been masked perfectly in the treetops, concealed by both greenery and magic.

The structure burst apart in a shower of pink motes.

Standing inside the now-exposed platform were five warriors, bows raised, arrows trained directly on Serena. Their weapons glimmered with a purple magic.

Serena: Don’t use your magic. They’ve already seen mine. Let them think that’s all we have.

Aeron: Their magic shouldn’t have been able to do that. I’ve never felt anything like it. What energy is that?

Maelor: Your gold, Serena, will counter it better. This is closer to mage magic than Fae.

Serena: Understood.

A second dome slammed into place over the group, gold this time, replacing the pink one that had just failed. She was not under this one either.

The bow in her hand vibrated, changing into gold without her moving it. Then she stepped forward, bow still drawn, and her voice cut through the jungle with a cold authority that made every man behind her go still.

"If you fire again, you don’t walk away. Choose."

Nine words. Flat. Final. Delivered in common tongue with the calm of a woman who had already done the math on every outcome and decided which one she preferred.

Fin exhaled slowly through his nose. Dex’s mouth curved.

The nearest warrior barked something back in a harsh, ancient cadence. A language none of the wolves recognized. But the mages and Elara did.