The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate novel Chapter 60

Chapter 60: If This Is My First Shift, Then Fuck You

Serena bathed, and the water felt soothing, washing away some of the waves of grief rolling through her.

She knew breaking any matebond would have consequences, let alone a fated one. And she was feeling physical pain in her core.

It started towards the end of the meeting in Shadowclaw’s tent and was getting worse.

She put on a silk chemise that was packed for her and sighed. Yet another reminder.

She laid on the bed, hair still wet, formal combat suit laid out and prepared for tomorrow. She had no appetite but ate a few things to avoid anyone fussing over her.

She did her best to push all thoughts of him out of her mind, but laying here on a bed that was meant to be his didn’t help.

Hot tears fell from her eyes. She’d shed enough already and was frustrated at herself. But they didn’t stop.

A wave of heat washed over her. She shivered a second later with chills. Wolves don’t get fevers, but she knew she had one.

Her wolf hadn’t spoken to her since her dream.

"I’m sorry, Aurelia," Serena whispered aloud.

Aegon was Aurelia’s true mate. That’s what Dex had told her. The thought made her feel even more sick. She hadn’t just severed a matebond. She’d severed something that ran deeper than this life.

She got off the bed and ran into the attached bathing chamber, puking.

Then extreme pain lanced through her insides and another heatwave crashed over her.

Her body started to hurt everywhere.

She washed her mouth and splashed cold water on her face.

"Maybe I need some fresh air," she murmured.

She’d been going from tent to tent, and the moments she had outside were either with Dexmon, which was not relaxing, or walking the grounds being watched by an entire war camp of twenty packs, which was also not relaxing.

Maybe a moment to herself outside would help.

She pulled on her full suit meant for the following day and grabbed a black cloak. The one she wore earlier to move to Shadowclaw’s tent without being seen.

She knew she was supposed to wear her crown everywhere. An identifier that she was not to be trifled with. She understood it now, how powerful a crown was. People saw, people knew.

She sighed, putting it on. At least if she was seen, people assume she was guarded.

The crown was beautiful. Maybe in another life, she could have kept it.

It made her sad thinking she’d have to give it to someone else.

The crown flashed white hot at that thought.

"That’s unexpected," Serena murmured.

She exited the sleeping chamber and crossed through the main room. Thankfully no one was there. Hale and Gav had their own tents nearby, but hers was the central tent, the one meant for meetings and receiving guests. It felt too large for one person.

She slipped out into the night and made her way to the forest on the outskirts of camp.

Her insides were hurting again.

She walked for a few minutes, then stopped at a large jagged boulder, leaning against it.

Something was off. Chills again.

Extreme pain lanced through her insides. The pain splintered through her limbs, and her bones felt like they were breaking again and again. But she looked down and they weren’t.

Her arm exploded white hot. Her Hidden Flame mark burning.

Panting, she slid to the ground, back against the boulder.

The amount of pain was unbearable. But she’d had worse.

She wondered if it was from breaking the matebond.

It had to be. What else could it be?

She wasn’t sure how long she stayed like that. Only that the pain didn’t pass. It grew, amplifying. She didn’t realize her panting had turned into high pitched, strangled, distorted gasps.

She grit her teeth, not wanting to cry or flinch.

She rolled onto all fours, dry heaving, but nothing came out.

She crawled back, putting her back against the large boulder.

At that moment, all of her limbs felt like they were breaking.

She gasped and stifled a yelp. This pain was on par with the level she felt the night Drakenfell was invaded.

A sob escaped her lips.

She looked down but her limbs were fine. Nothing changed.

She fell over onto her side, still breathing ragged. She immediately tried to push herself upright, and it took her a minute.

Cold sweat dripped down her temples.

Maybe it was a shift? She reached for her wolf, not fully sure if Aurelia could hear.

Serena: Aurelia, are you there?

Nothing.

Serena: Am I shifting for the first time?

Still silence.

The pain intensified, both in her body and on her mark.

Her breath came in sharp gasps with staccato whimpers. She gritted her teeth, trying not to make noise, but the pain overcame her. It was taking all her effort not to scream.

That’s when someone came running.

She had fallen over again and was laying on her side.

"Serena!" Finnick Shadowclaw put his arms around her, helping her sit up against the boulder.

She didn’t realize Fin was holding her hand until he gave hers a squeeze. Just an I’ve got you gesture. She understood it.

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