The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7: For Her Safety. (Sure, Dex.)

Gavriel was already moving before anyone could stop him, Dexmon and King Tiberon close behind.

Aegon: The Gamma is already ahead of us.

Dexmon: I noticed.

Serena walked swiftly behind Elara, who still had her arm. Her breathing was uneven, and the gold glow still hadn’t faded.

They had barely cleared the side entrance of the castle when Serena swayed. Her knees gave out completely.

Dexmon was there in an instant, catching her before she hit the stone. He scooped her up immediately, primal instincts overriding rational thought.

Aegon: Finally.

Dexmon: What the hell is wrong with you?

Aegon: Carry mate. This is correct.

Gavriel watched Dexmon scoop her up like he had rehearsed it. Twice. In front of a mirror. The scoreboard in his mind updated. Dex: three rescues. Gav: zero. Unacceptable.

"Follow me," Alaric said quietly.

He reached for a framed portrait along the corridor wall and swung it aside, revealing a narrow passage hidden behind it. Hidden from most, but not all.

Dexmon stepped through without slowing. Serena’s head rested in the crook of his neck.

When her forehead brushed his skin, his body jolted. He adjusted his hold at once, smooth and practiced, as if nothing had happened.

A bead of sweat traced his temple. The sensation refused to fade, drowning out everything else.

Another frame shifted aside, and they emerged back into the recovery chamber Serena had been staying in.

Aegon: Don’t you dare put her down.

"She’s burning up," Dexmon said, jaw tight as he lowered her carefully onto the bed.

Serena’s face was drawn, her brow creased with pain, lashes damp against her cheeks.

Aegon: Pick her back up and fix it.

"She’ll be alright," Elara said calmly, stepping closer. "She just overheated during our tour."

Every head turned towards her.

Elara did not flinch. She had lied to Alphas before. Admittedly, never two in the same room.

Aegon: The woman is lying.

Dexmon: Brilliant observation.

The door opened a moment later.

Hyran Thornfell entered, his attention landing on Serena before the door had closed behind him.

"That explains it."

Elara stiffened, eyes widening.

Alaric clocked it immediately. "Hyran is our Master Mage."

Hyran brushed past Elara, without sparing her a glance, stopping at Serena’s side.

Gold light flared in his palms momentarily, but he froze before making contact, brows knitting together.

He mindlinked Alaric without thinking to shield it.

A fatal mistake. Unshielded mindlinks could be heard by the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma.

Hyran: She is overpowered. Healing magic will hurt her, not help. Did anyone see her blood?

Alaric: No. But if they remain here and I place an I.V., they will.

A third presence slid into the link, uninvited and unmistakably amused.

Gavriel: What’s special about her blood?

Hyran and Alaric both went still.

Careless.

Too late.

Gavriel: I want you both to know, I did not break in. You left the door wide open.

Hyran: Her blood isn’t normal. It shouldn’t exist.

Silence followed.

Gavriel’s next question was not mindlinked.

"What is she?"

Alaric exhaled through his nose in a way that communicated an entire paragraph of disappointment.

Elara felt the shift and assumed the worst.

"She has a wolf," she answered quickly, stepping closer to the bed. "She just overheated. That’s all. I can take care of her."

She turned towards King Tiberon and Dexmon.

"We appreciate your hospitality. Once she wakes, we will leave. We won’t trouble you further."

Aegon: No.

Dexmon: No. There was absolutely no chance of that happening.

Gavriel glanced at Dexmon’s face and had to look away before he laughed.

King Tiberon, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.

"Her secret is safe here," he said quietly. "We do not press power that is not ours to name."

He paused, then looked directly at Elara.

"Does King Viremont have any understanding of her abilities?"

Elara’s eyes flicked to Alaric in disbelief.

Alaric did not meet her gaze.

Tiberon watched the exchange and drew his own conclusion.

"Viremont is the only region that chains women in silver. That narrowed the field considerably."

Elara swallowed.

Aegon: Did you feel that?

Dexmon: Obviously I felt that.

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