The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate novel Chapter 425

Chapter 425: Congrats Auntie, Now Back The Hell Up

DRAKENFELL — GAMMA QUARTERS

Elara Vaelor was holding together five lives with bullshit and willpower, and the bullshit was running low and the willpower was running on fumes and the whole damn operation was one hand-touch away from detonation.

"Is his shoulder okay?"

Serena reached to touch the bandage on Gav’s shoulder absentmindedly.

Elara slapped her hand away. "Serena. Don’t touch his wounds. That’s weird."

She was running a fucking espionage operation in a sick room, and the only thing standing between Serena and the goddamn matebond mark was a bandage.

Serena shook her head once. Twice. Then grinned. "That was weird."

Hale had fainted twice, Gav was marked in his goddamn sleep, and Serena was three inches from blowing the whole thing wide open because she couldn’t keep her fucking hands to herself.

The fact that Serena hadn’t already figured the whole damn thing out was either a miracle or proof that the universe owed Elara a favor and was finally paying up.

Serena reached for Gavriel’s hand instead. Of course she did.

Elara saw her do it in slow motion. She knew the second Serena’s skin made contact with Gavriel’s, she would feel the sparks.

Elara couldn’t hide it forever. But damn, Serena had three days to learn how to shift and learning she marked the goddamn Gamma right now would be the absolute worst thing for everyone involved. A meltdown.

Elara moved in front of Serena, blocking her. Yes, this was a temporary fix. Yes, it was wrong. Yes, Elara was going to do it anyways and had zero remorse about it. Mostly.

Serena froze, tilting her head at Elara. "What is it?"

Elara needed this conversation to change direction. Immediately. Before Serena’s curiosity, which was the most dangerous force in Drakenfell, decided to ask a follow-up question. Her curiosity was a fucking menace on a good day, and the menace was pointed directly at the one damn thing in this room Elara needed her to ignore.

"Hale fainted," Elara said. "It was bad."

Serena’s full focus snapped to Elara.

"What? When? Is he okay? What happened?"

"Last night. In this room. He just went down. And then again this morning in our chambers."

"Oh no." Serena’s hand went to her chest. "Where is he right now?"

"Our chambers. He is resting. He keeps waking up and then going back down."

"I’m so sorry, Elara! That’s terrible. What’s wrong with him? Is he sick? Should I get Alaric?"

The questions were rapid, genuine, carrying the escalating concern of a woman whose inner circle was shrinking by the day, with Gav in a coma and Hale apparently fainting, and the shrinking was activating every protective instinct she had.

Elara looked at her. Looked at the door. Looked at the ceiling. Looked back at Serena.

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