The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate novel Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Let’s Talk About Dex

Elara moved through the hidden passageway like she owned Drakenfell’s blueprints, yanked a portrait aside, and shoved them both into a storage room before Serena could get a word in.

As soon as the door swung shut, Serena pulled her into a hug.

"Elara, I am so glad you are okay."

"Thanks to you. Thank you for not giving up on me," Elara whispered. "And for not letting the dragons kill me either."

"None of that was your fault."

Elara glanced down, only just noticing the bow and quiver in Serena’s hands. She smiled and looked back up at her, curiosity clear, but before she could ask—

Serena clapped her hands and bounced in place.

"I just remembered. Hale marked you."

She squealed with the kind of pure, infectious joy reserved for watching someone finally get the life and happiness they deserved and getting to witness it firsthand.

Elara groaned, her face turning red. "I am mortified."

"You know they used to do public markings in ancient times," Serena said helpfully.

"Gods," Elara pressed both hands over her eyes. "They also used to do mating rituals in public. That does not help."

Serena laughed, but then her expression shifted and went serious so fast it caught Elara off guard.

"I had sex with Dex," she blurted.

Elara blinked a few times, not having expected that.

"First of all," Elara said, deadpan, "Dex rhymes with sex. Second of all, holy shit, that was fast."

Serena’s cheeks burned. "We had sex twice, actually. When he marked me, I fell unconscious and he cleaned me up after while I was unconscious. Which meant he saw blood from losing my virginity. So if you want to talk about embarrassing—"

She did not finish the sentence. Elara squealed, clapping her hands like she had just been told the best news of her life.

Serena buried her face in her hands, mortified and laughing all at once.

"Damn that’s embarrassing. But mine is still worse," Elara said flatly, then her grin faded. "I wanted to talk to you because Hale is starting to ask questions about where we are from."

Serena didn’t hesitate. "Of course you should tell him."

"Are you sure? I would not tell him everything. Just a little more. He does not understand how you speak so many languages, or why I am trained in matters of duty and pack leadership."

"He deserves context. And Hale is not stupid."

Elara exhaled slowly, tension easing from her shoulders. "Alright, I will give him more context."

"Good. I trust Hale completely. If he thought repeating anything would hurt you or me, he would not. He is a good one."

"He actually just mindlinked me. We should get back. Your mate is stressed and deliberately did not mindlink you because he did not want to be overbearing."

"Aww, really?" Serena’s heart swelled at that.

She giggled and shook her head once. There was no chance he would ever smother her. If anything, she had been worried she was doing that to him with how much time they had spent together.

She caught Elara’s arm before they moved. "Wait. Something else is bothering you. Tell me."

Elara looked up at her, hesitated for exactly half a second, then blurted it out in a rush.

"We tried to have sex, but he is too big, so he stopped, and now it is awkward."

Serena’s jaw dropped. "I mean. He is a big man. Did you tell him to stop?"

"Yes. I panicked." Elara’s voice cracked on the last word.

"That is not awkward," Serena said firmly. "That is consent working exactly like it should. Hale stopping is a green flag the size of a damn castle."

Elara tipped her head back and stared at the ceiling. "It’s still awkward. I wish he wouldn’t have stopped now. Gods."

To: King Reginald Viremont

Father,

The situation has deteriorated beyond diplomacy.

Dexmon has marked his whore. Rumor has it, she’s being crowned in three days. Crowned, Father. As if she earned it. As if she belongs here.

She’s turned Dexmon against me. He humiliated me in front of all the nobles over her.

Bloodpetal’s Kiss failed, their healers reached her too quickly.

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